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Devastated- Advice Needed

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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 06:43 PM
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Default Devastated- Advice Needed

Hi Guys, looking for your thoughts. While trying to get my C7 GS AW positioned in the shade for her weekly washI got too close to the garage divider column and hit the front lip above the splitter. What are your thought for a repair 1) gentle sand and touch up with paint 2) apply body filler sand and touch up or 3) take it to a body shop to deal with it.

If I use touch up paint is going to be visible? Will it have the same gloss to the rest of the paint?




Last edited by capeli; Mar 18, 2018 at 06:48 PM.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 06:52 PM
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Sand it a little and give it a couple coats of touch up. I did the same thing to the rear bumper blade edge when I backed into my minivan . I touched it up and only I know its there.

Last edited by C5Driver; Mar 18, 2018 at 06:53 PM.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:04 PM
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I would take it to a body shop and see what they say. I would want it to look perfect and I am not sure light sanding and touch up paint would meet my standards.

Last edited by dvilin; Mar 18, 2018 at 08:14 PM.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:09 PM
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Touch up paint, and stop being devastated. It's a car, not an antique work of art. Unless you never drive it, these things will happen.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:25 PM
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Yeah, if you want it to be less noticable, then you’re going to need a little body filler, sand, and then several coats of touch-up paint. 1,500-2000 grit to level, polish, buff, and wax. I wouldn’t bother w/clear...
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by capeli
[left]Hi Guys, looking for your thoughts. While trying to get my C7 GS AW positioned in the shade for her weekly washI got too close to the garage divider column and hit the front lip above the splitter. What are your thought for a repair 1) gentle sand and touch up with paint 2) apply body filler sand and touch up or 3) take it to a body shop to deal with it.

If I use touch up paint is going to be visible? Will it have the same gloss to the rest of the paint?
Annoying but not worth worrying about too much. I would suggest some gentle sanding to get off any loose paint and then using touch-up paint. Maybe stretch a little emery cloth over the eraser end of a pencil to make a tool suitable for this very small area. Build up the paint in a couple layers.

Once you have done this no one else likely will notice. If it still drives you crazy after a week or two there's nothing to stop you from having a pro re-do the touch-up.

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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:34 PM
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I would take it to a body shop. They will do a better job of touch up, maybe a little filler.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 07:59 PM
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You're lucky it's white. It'll touch up well. I'm good with those things, so I'm confident I could make it look almost perfect. I would sand it a bit, put several layers of reduced touch up paint on (not the thick stuff), and polish it with a fine compound. If you aren't good with these things then just get it done. Either way, if done right, it'll turn out great.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 08:12 PM
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Unless you do body work then why try?I doubt it will be that expensive to fix.Theres A good chance you won’t get it perfect.Then every time you see it you won’t be happy.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 08:24 PM
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DIY or call a mobile paint and repair. They do touch up daily.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 08:39 PM
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Try touch up first.

If you don't like what you see, then go to body shop.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 09:00 PM
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I'd probably take it to the body shop. I doubt that will cost much to repair. If you do go the body shop route, I'd keep insurance out of it. Probably best for your premiums to keep something that small out of their system.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 09:51 PM
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Thanks for the responses all. I’m leaning towards a mobile touch up guy, ive found one who’s got some real good online reviews. I’m too OCD not to get someone who knows what they’re doing vs doing it myself.
Does anyone have experience with using these mobile guys, and where you happy with it? One advantage is it doesn’t have to sit in a body shop with who knows what else is happening around it.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by JJAY
Try touch up first.

If you don't like what you see, then go to body shop.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 11:00 PM
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Damn, that looks awful.

Body shop time......

Do you not have front cameras?? .
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 11:05 PM
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Mobile touch up guy. And remember, down road can always have it resprayed. Just think about the next time you come out to your car and see a bigger chip than that on the other fang. You'll be glad you didn't fret over the first one. From 2 ft away youll never notice it even if you touched it up yourself.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by capeli
I’m too OCD not to get someone who knows what they’re doing vs doing it myself.
.....might want to seek further medical treatment for your "OCD."

The damage shouldn't really be that much of a life-changing deal for you.......
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Old Mar 19, 2018 | 12:47 AM
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A good mobile repair shop should be able to get that looking like new again.
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Old Mar 19, 2018 | 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by mcoomer
I'd probably take it to the body shop. I doubt that will cost much to repair. If you do go the body shop route, I'd keep insurance out of it. Probably best for your premiums to keep something that small out of their system.
Ah yeah ,,, id be keeping insurance out of it. Otherwise it will end up on the Carfax report.
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Old Mar 19, 2018 | 09:26 AM
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I'll be the voice of reason here.. You see those cracks? Unless you get rid of them, it's will just get worse.

You need to sand it back to undammaged material, fill with the proper filler, sand, feather edge, seal, prime and paint.

If it's warm where you are, a mobile guy can do it. (i'd wait til it's consistently over 60F with a mobile guy. yes some will say no problem, but it is a problem..) Or a body shop.

And yes, I'm a certified BASF small damage repair tech....
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