Driveway scrapes...

iamrawr · 05-15-2013, 11:35 AM

So I was making a k-turn in my neighborhood the other day by going through some person's driveway which didn't seem so high at all, but before I realized, BAM. Heard some serious scraping. At first I thought it was just the air dam, but when I got out of the car I felt some nasty scrapes from under the front bumper... Pretty deep too... Not too noticeable when you look at the car, but i know it's there (and feeling some guilt about it too) Some paint was hanging off but no exposed undercoating.

I was planning to get opti-coat for my car before this happened, so I've decided to repair his myself, mind you this will be my first time doing a scratch repair that will require some sanding/polishing. Any tips/cautions that I should look out for? What materials and steps would I need for a nice turnout? Would I need one of those porter cable buffers?

Looked up some sites like eHow and the like, but I'm not fully satisfied with their directions. I'm just afraid I'll mess up =/

my beautiful pearly white... =[

blackcherry20 · 05-15-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamrawr

So I was making a k-turn in my neighborhood the other day by going through some person's driveway which didn't seem so high at all, but before I realized, BAM. Heard some serious scraping. At first I thought it was just the air dam, but when I got out of the car I felt some nasty scrapes from under the front bumper... Pretty deep too... Not too noticeable when you look at the car, but i know it's there (and feeling some guilt about it too) Some paint was hanging off but no exposed undercoating.

I was planning to get opti-coat for my car before this happened, so I've decided to repair his myself, mind you this will be my first time doing a scratch repair that will require some sanding/polishing. Any tips/cautions that I should look out for? What materials and steps would I need for a nice turnout? Would I need one of those porter cable buffers?

Looked up some sites like eHow and the like, but I'm not fully satisfied with their directions. I'm just afraid I'll mess up =/

I'll post some pics once I'm done moping in my bed lol

you scraped up your beautiful white Z?!? gawd. I hate that.

probably no more than you though.Just remember, it can be fixed and now that it's done it is done. You don;t have to worry anymore about when it is going to happen. be thankful it wasn't a stoopid raccoon and a cracked chin spoiler (like mine is, a year later)

Chin up!

kenchan · 05-15-2013, 12:03 PM

that looks too deep to do a perfect repair. you can try buffing it to make the clear coat a tad smoother, but chances are you will need a repaint or get a lip.

kenchan · 05-15-2013, 12:04 PM

oh wait, you have a '13... no lips out yet.

iamrawr · 05-15-2013, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

that looks too deep to do a perfect repair. you can try buffing it to make the clear coat a tad smoother, but chances are you will need a repaint or get a lip.

if that's the case what i'm thinking is to get some scratch filler, some sand paper, and clear coat spray from a local auto store and then getting the exact paint color from my dealer. i already have some turtle wax rubbing compound in my garage. would this be enough material? I already know that my repair won't be perfect, but i want it just good enough for me to not notice it, and apply my opti-coat 2.0 on a seemingly perfect exterior =P

kenchan · 05-15-2013, 12:54 PM

yah, spot bondo, sand paper (several grits), primer, and factory paint from places like:

Touch Up Paint from PaintScratch.com
PaintWorld - Automotive Touch Up Paint and Supplies

they can make your mix in aerosol cans.

is your car white or does it have pearl? if just white, i think it can turn out pretty good.

if pearl, then nearly impossible to match unless you know how to paint using airbrush.

iamrawr · 05-15-2013, 01:03 PM

It's pearl white...!

oh man...

kenchan · 05-15-2013, 02:41 PM

well, give it a shot since it's near the bottom. you might be able to get it to match closely. worst case, take it to the bodyshop.

1st · 05-15-2013, 03:30 PM

Are you on H&Rs?

iamrawr · 05-15-2013, 03:45 PM

^the car's completely stock. Just a little over 2 weeks old

1st · 05-15-2013, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamrawr

^the car's completely stock. Just a little over 2 weeks old

Ouch bummer bro. Best of luck.

cptspeed · 05-15-2013, 06:11 PM

Loved hearing scrapes as I drove the dragon

iamrawr · 06-14-2013, 11:54 PM

okay so after a few weeks of research i finally attempted to repair it myself. now i've hit an obstacle: after sanding the area and applying a few coats of pearl white factory paint (ordered straight from my local nissan dealer - paint code QAB), sanded again, it doesn't quite match very well with the surrounding areas... (pics provided below). is there a cure time that i have to know about before applying the pearly topcoat? will it gradually blend to be almost like the rest of the paint once given adequate time to dry? your help is much appreciated!

fairly new to the whole sanding/polishing thing. and i'm doing everything by hand. using 1000,1500,2000,3000 grits. and swirlX for sanding mark removal once i finally get the topcoat on there.

sorry for the crappy pics. iPhone didn't know how to focus into the scrapes on the left side. the section that i worked on is on the right of the scrapes. kind of patchy... you see:

all in all... how do i blend this...?

DEpointfive0 · 06-15-2013, 01:00 AM

Your problem, factory paint... It blows...

Dr. Color chip, or buy an aerosol can off eBay

iamrawr · 06-16-2013, 10:58 AM

Should I complain to the dealer about the product not working as intended?

05-15-2013, 06:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	Loved hearing scrapes as I drove the dragon __________________ FI CBE, 20" forged specialties rims, swift springs, boston subs, kicker amp, focal components

06-14-2013, 11:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
iamrawr Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 25 Drives: '13 White Z w/SP 6MT Rep Power: 12	*Update* okay so after a few weeks of research i finally attempted to repair it myself. now i've hit an obstacle: after sanding the area and applying a few coats of pearl white factory paint (ordered straight from my local nissan dealer - paint code QAB), sanded again, it doesn't quite match very well with the surrounding areas... (pics provided below). is there a cure time that i have to know about before applying the pearly topcoat? will it gradually blend to be almost like the rest of the paint once given adequate time to dry? your help is much appreciated! fairly new to the whole sanding/polishing thing. and i'm doing everything by hand. using 1000,1500,2000,3000 grits. and swirlX for sanding mark removal once i finally get the topcoat on there. sorry for the crappy pics. iPhone didn't know how to focus into the scrapes on the left side. the section that i worked on is on the right of the scrapes. kind of patchy... you see: all in all... how do i blend this...? __________________ K&N Typhoon Intakes \| Ark DT-S Catback Exhaust \| Fast Intentions Non-Resonated HFC Last edited by iamrawr; 06-15-2013 at 12:14 AM.

06-15-2013, 01:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	Your problem, factory paint... It blows... Dr. Color chip, or buy an aerosol can off eBay XiP likes this. __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

06-16-2013, 10:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
iamrawr Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 25 Drives: '13 White Z w/SP 6MT Rep Power: 12	Should I complain to the dealer about the product not working as intended? __________________ K&N Typhoon Intakes \| Ark DT-S Catback Exhaust \| Fast Intentions Non-Resonated HFC

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05-15-2013, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	that looks too deep to do a perfect repair. you can try buffing it to make the clear coat a tad smoother, but chances are you will need a repaint or get a lip.

05-15-2013, 12:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	oh wait, you have a '13... no lips out yet.

05-15-2013, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, spot bondo, sand paper (several grits), primer, and factory paint from places like: Touch Up Paint from PaintScratch.com PaintWorld - Automotive Touch Up Paint and Supplies they can make your mix in aerosol cans. is your car white or does it have pearl? if just white, i think it can turn out pretty good. if pearl, then nearly impossible to match unless you know how to paint using airbrush.

05-15-2013, 01:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
iamrawr Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 25 Drives: '13 White Z w/SP 6MT Rep Power: 12	It's pearl white...! oh man...

05-15-2013, 02:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	well, give it a shot since it's near the bottom. you might be able to get it to match closely. worst case, take it to the bodyshop.

05-15-2013, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
1st A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: I 80 Biz U.S. 50 Posts: 1,710 Drives: Platinum Z Rep Power: 1616	Are you on H&Rs?

05-15-2013, 03:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
iamrawr Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 25 Drives: '13 White Z w/SP 6MT Rep Power: 12	^the car's completely stock. Just a little over 2 weeks old