My wife and I were in a parking lot in the SI backing up to a spot when a teenage girl cutting across the parking lot rammed us from behind . She got out and I was about to ask her if she was ok, and the first words that come out of her mouth are, "oh it's not that bad, it's not that bad, the scratch on your car is barely noticable right!? I'm sure we don't have to get insurance involved!" She was really shakin up and scared. I told her not to worry about it and she hopped in her car and sped off.

I was sure there was no way I'd get the scratches out, it looked like it was to the paint. I suprised myself...

This is what it looked like after getting home, washing the car, and cleaning the area up with a detailing spray...



I found some fine sand paper in my model car stuff and wet sanded the area with soapy water.




After wet sanding, you can't see it in the picture, but the scratches are all still there. I was afraid once I started buffing the scratches weren't gonna go... I went ahead and started in with my porter cable. I started with an orange pad and power gloss...it was looking ok...



After I finished with the orange pad the scratches were 90% gone! I started in with the yellow pad to smooth out the roughness then went to the white and finally the blue pad with a nice coat of wax. I have to say I was dumbfounded by the results. I just didn't think it was possible. I thought I would have to take it to a body shop.

Thanks everyone on this site that have given me the info and know how to do this And thank God!

 

I am glad it came out.

Bill

 

this is exactly what I'm going to have to do w/ the corner of my rear bumper... cause some bitch tapped it......2 weeks after I had just PAINTED IT!!

 

That sucks man! Don't be afraid to wet sand. I had never done it before but it turned out great.

 

good job

 

Nice job fixing it up. I have had the same type thing happen to me in a parking lot. The people asked me the same thing about getting insurance involved, I said you better believe it, uless you are going to give me some cash. I guess I am just not that forgiving when it comes to my TA.

 

came out great good job

 

I am pretty impressed with the results as well. A little bit of work is a lot better than paying someone else to deal with it.

 

Looks good, but I would've said HELL YEAH we're getting insurance involved. I had some guy rear end me pretty hard in one of my daily drivers and it didn't do much, but now I have a brand new bumper with new paint and its the best part of my car now. LOL...

 

Did a GREAT job...

 

looks good now clean and do the rest of the car haha

 

Everytime I wash the car it snows again!

 

I can't belive it, but the fix is there! Great job!

 

Wow, you're nicer than I'd be. At least should've gotten her insurance information. I'd hate to see your bumper start showing cracks/fractures some time from now due to this bump. Hope it doesn't.

 

Porter Cable FTW!! I can't wait till I can fully detail my car again with mine but it's cold right now and they are calling for half-a-foot of snow tomorrow night!

 

looks great. do u know what grit sandpaper u used?

 

I have no clue to be honest. It's for model cars so it was very fine. If I were to guess maybe 2000?

 

Youre just lucky that there was enough clear coat and paint that you didnt burn through, that would have really cost some money. And yeah I would have gotten her insurance info.

Looks really good though!!!

 

Porter cable polishers don't burn paint like a rotary buffer would. They are basically the tool that should be given to beginners along with the book "polishing for dummies". They are damn near that idiot proof, and they work well. Good job taking out those scratches btw.

 

Great job! Looks like nothing ever happened. I wish I had the ***** to wet sand my car...