I was at the car wash today spraying some bugs off my car, and there was a small rock chip I forgot about. I thought it was a bug, so I blasted it, and this happened:





I don't mess around so it is already (within an hour of it happening ) getting fixed by an extremely reputable local paint guy, but I know it will never be as good as it was before. I'm really bummed out about it, just felt like sharing.

 

Ah man sorry bud.

 

That is a bummer and glad you are fixing it as it stands out like a sore thumb

 

That stinks.

 

Has your car been repainted? First time I have seen this happen on factory paint.
Bill

 

Not that I know of, it is a 99 and I have owned it since early 2005. The pressure washer wasn't that bad, but the painter put some masking tape on it and ripped it off, which pulled a little more off. He is going to try and spot paint it, and if that doesn't come out right he is going to respray the bumper. I was already having a bad day when this happened, this just made it worse. Oh well...

 

Sorry man, I did the same thing with 1980 C3... I about cried, also the flags went flying off and I lost them in the car wash bay... So had to order a new set of those as well. =(

GL with repaint

 

It's probably the best idea to repaint the entire bumper. Might fix up some smaller road scars as well...

 

My concern with a repaint is durability. Nothing will be as durable and forgiving as the factory paint, and if he can make this spot look good then I won't sweat a few other teeny spots. From what I understand, a repainted bumper will be far more prone to stone chips and whatnot, and I don't want to deal with it.

 

Good luck with the repair

Chuck

 

Just did that to my Trans Am last week. Damn I was pissed. It was a Maaco paint job so I wasn't overly surprised. I have to blame myself also because I did have the high pressure pretty damned close. I put touch up paint on it but I think I'm going to have them redo the bumper. Although I'm sure others won't notice it, I'll see it everytime I look at it.

 

sorry about your luck

 

Sorry to see that happen. Hope the local guy can make it look good again.

 

Good luck on your fix!! It always has to happen to the Best of us!!

 

Good luck with the paint.

 

good luck with repair

 

Don't feel bad, had the same exact thing happen today on mt drivers side mirror. Spot about the same size.

 

I disagree...GMs paint is really nothing special, remember their mantra, "good enough is best" There are several really top notch paint chemistry companies , BASF, House of Color, and few others, that make great paint products, and that offer great training to the shops that use their products. On the flexible bumpers, special adhesion additives and flexibilizers are needed. Your bumper sounds like it may have been resprayed at one time without the correct additives, allowing it to have poor adhesion and poor flexibility.

The key on your baby will be properly strip all the old paint off the fascia, and start again with a higher grade paint product. Color under clear, flake size and lay in metallics,etc are well matched these days. Sherwin Williams paints has a guy whose sole job it is is to match every character of OEM paint, and write up tech notes on how to best use the blends. I saw a documentaries on TV at both BASF, and S-W, and have seen the degree of precision that they go to...it would blow your mind. In most cases, their products, and those of the other top paint formulators, will outlast OEM if applied properly. It aint like the old days of acrylic lacquer or simple catalized enamel anymore!

I should add that a small chip will allow moisture into and under the paint film, and result in growth from tiny, to blotches of barely attached paint, easily cracked or lifted. If you notice a chip, it is best to daub it with a spot repair to re-seal the edges of the paint film. It will prevent it from growing over time, in most cases.

 

Not bad, less than 24 hrs later ON A WEEKEND! 'Tis good to know people

 

Based on your experience in this instance you actually still think that?

I'd be willing to bet it isn't factory paint on that area, as it should've come off that easily at all. It sounds like it was touched up and that's why it flaked off so easily. Even if you're the original owner of a car you can't guarantee that all of the paint is original as a lot of new car dealers will repaint small sections of their new cars if something happens on the lot (such as someone scratching the paint, dropping something on the car, minor accident moving the car around on the lot, etc.)