[bfung]

can anyone tell if this is paint peeled off, or sth minor that i can wipe off?

[L~R~G nor cal]

Looks like you have a nice little chip there. Clean it up and you will be able to tell 4 sure.

[SpecC]

needs a better picture. i can't really tell. but yeah, cleaning it up first would be the first thing i'd do

[bfung]

this is the bottom of my front bumper...i went to the same restaurant i used to go every week 4 lunch and parked at the same spot (safest spot from door dents)...but someone decided to put a log in front of the spot all of a sudden to prevent cars from falling off the 1ft lil cliff in front

[bfung]

i'm also worried that if it's paint peeled...then cleaning it would make it worse

[BK]

Cleaning it will not make it worse. If it is paint chipped/peeled, you should clean it and fix it.

[bfung]

i'm still not able to take a good look at it...it's not visible even if i crouch down...unless i stilck my head right underneath the bumper...i can feel the scratches a bit when i put my hand there tho...damn guess i'll bring it to the detail shop that i go to for car washes and c if they can do sth to it....damn it's bugging me

[BK]

I think it's probably chipped or gouged paint. Basically, they'll clean it, sand it down a bit, clean it again, put some touch up paint on it, then even the surface out and polish it. It will look much better but won't be invisible with this method. You can do this yourself, but it shouldn't cost too much, either.

That's assuming it's chipped. If it's just a little dimple in the paint after cleaning it off, you should probably just leave it alone and chalk it up as a battle scar.

[bfung]

Originally Posted by BK

I think it's probably chipped or gouged paint. Basically, they'll clean it, sand it down a bit, clean it again, put some touch up paint on it, then even the surface out and polish it. It will look much better but won't be invisible with this method. You can do this yourself, but it shouldn't cost too much, either.

That's assuming it's chipped. If it's just a little dimple in the paint after cleaning it off, you should probably just leave it alone and chalk it up as a battle scar.

ok i'll leave it to the detailer then...since i dun haf a clue of how to do this myself...dun wanna worsen it...coz if it's paint peeled i might end up brushing more paint off...how much should this cost me from the detailer?

i've been one of the most careful person when i park since i got this car...i dun even mind looking stupid to get in and out of the car several times to make sure it woudln't have a chance touching anything...i actually parked somewhere in the middle then switched to this spot at the far corner when it became available in order to avoid door dents...and it was a spot i'm familiar w/ i didn't do the stupid in and out..really regret this...should've just left the car in the middle spot...the worst would've been a door dent

[BK]

I really think you should just clean it off yourself, then, assuming the paint is chipped, ask in your regional forum for a recommended person for paint chip repair. Most detailers do not also do paint chip repairs (some do).

As for cost, paint chip repairs might cost $50-75 or so. I'm not sure. You really could do it yourself, but it shouldn't cost too much to have a pro do it. Here's a good description of what gets done (Google "paint chip repair" and the like for more): http://www.autoeducation.com/carcare/paintchips.htm

[bfung]

Originally Posted by BK

I really think you should just clean it off yourself, then, assuming the paint is chipped, ask in your regional forum for a recommended person for paint chip repair. Most detailers do not also do paint chip repairs (some do).

As for cost, paint chip repairs might cost $50-75 or so. I'm not sure. You really could do it yourself, but it shouldn't cost too much to have a pro do it. Here's a good description of what gets done (Google "paint chip repair" and the like for more): http://www.autoeducation.com/carcare/paintchips.htm

thx 4 being w/ me BK...another reason i dun wanna clean it myself, apart from the fact that i dun want any further paint loss, is that i dun haf any equipments to lift the car up so i can have a good look at the bottom...i understand how some scratches wun look as bad once u wipe it off...hopefully this is the case 4 mine...

i'm trying to tell myself not to be too bothered by this...i mean it's barely visible i just went to the parking lot during lunch and i cant even c it when i crouched down...but i'm still struggling to get this off my mind..

maybe it's time for an aerolip

[The_Blob]

Dude, use your finger and feel it. If it doesn't feel glossy, then it's chipped.

[bfung]

Originally Posted by The_Blob

Dude, use your finger and feel it. If it doesn't feel glossy, then it's chipped.

i did...the entire bottom felt glossy except for 2-3 spots ard there that only not felt smooth but also not flat...kinda like scars

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by bfung

thx 4 being w/ me BK...another reason i dun wanna clean it myself, apart from the fact that i dun want any further paint loss, is that i dun haf any equipments to lift the car up so i can have a good look at the bottom...i understand how some scratches wun look as bad once u wipe it off...hopefully this is the case 4 mine...

i'm trying to tell myself not to be too bothered by this...i mean it's barely visible i just went to the parking lot during lunch and i cant even c it when i crouched down...but i'm still struggling to get this off my mind..

maybe it's time for an aerolip

i know you are just being really careful about this. if you have some instant detailer and a soft towel, then you should be fine. after you clean it, then you can see if you have a scratch. if you do, then you can gauge how deep it is too. then i think it'd be a good time to assess the situation

[328i]

That scratch is nothing, if you go crazy over it and try to fix it you'll end up doing the same thing again in a month. That's way under the bumper, it's probably impossible to see unless you're under the car. An aero lip is just going to make it easier for you to damage your bumper since it sits lower.

[bfung]

i actually got over it last nite...coz it's pretty hard to spot even tho i know where it is...wun c a thing if i just casually crouch down...seriously the only way to spot it is to either touch the bottom and feel it...or stick my head right underneath it which i can't do for long...

it kinda came bak this morning tho...i'm starting to think whether the bumper's been tilted and whether the scratches would affect the aerodynamics at high speeds (i highly doubt either tho...i think i should stop thinking coz i'm starting to go a lil crazy)...

all i can say is i've been extremely careful while parking w/ it for the past yr of my ownership...and the bumpers have not been in contact w/ anything

hopefully i can be completely over this within the next few days