Expert: John Scharnhorst - 5/17/2007

Question
QUESTION: Somebody rear-ended my car at a stop-sign and the bumper now has two screw marks where the paint screwed up. There are two other scratches nearby, small but obvious. Question is, if I want to restore the bumper to its original condition, should I get someone to do it professionally and repaint the whole bumper, or should I just do it myself and paint over the damaged areas? Really, should I repaint everything for the few blemishes?

ANSWER: You'll be better off either leaving the damage alone or having it professionally repaired. Unless you're a seasoned auto body professional, any attempt to repair the damage yourself will just create a more noticeable and obvious spot.

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QUESTION: Will there be negative consequences, if I leave it alone? I know it's the bumper... But will the paint start to peel off over time? Is it more advisable to fix the problem or to leave it alone? Any ballpark figures as in how much it will cost to fix this problem? Thanks!

Answer
If the bumper has the factory paint on it it shouldn't peel. You haven't told me what kind of car you have so I can't give you an estimate on repairing it. Bumper repairs range from about $300 to to over $1000 depending on year make model, paint color, etc.