Expert: Dan Gardener - 2/25/2011

Question
Hello,

I purchased a 2007 TL this past July. After a few washes, I noticed that the paint on the bumper was actually turning a different shade of white than the rest of the car….almost like a yellowish white. I called the dealership where I purchased it from, and they agreed to paint the bumper free of charge.

The second paint job on the bumper came out good. About two months later, I went to wash my car once again, and now noticed the “new paint” was breaking and peeling off of the back bumper. I called and once again, they agreed to re-paint the back bumper.

It is now Feb 25th, and I noticed that the paint on the bumper is now, once again, peeling and cracking, except this time in a different spot. I called the dealership, and am now fighting with them to have the car brought back down to have it repainted once again.

My question is, how should a correct paint job of a bumper be performed? Should the bumper be taken off? What questions should I ask before an additional paint job happens? I want to avoid this headache in the future. Is this just bad quality work that is being done?

Thanks,

Declan

Answer
Hello Declan
I would like to know the paint code. The bumper needs to come off the car for this kind of a paint operation. If the cracking and peeling paint came off the yellowish substrate then the preparation was not sufficient enough to allow the new application of base to adhere. I can imagine it would be a bit embarrassing for the shop, but it is their responsibility. They bought in once to fix the color , they are on on the hook until the issue is solved. That is what any top drawer shop would do. Hope this helps.
Dan