Expert: John Scharnhorst - 4/30/2007

Question
I drive into a small pile of crushed stone and put fine scrathes on the lower part of my front plastic bumper. The scrathes  look like white lines.. I do have a clear coat on this car... can a  professional detailer buff  them out?  or can I buy something to fix the imperfections i have created

Answer
Karen, It's going to depend on the severity of the scratches. You could start by trying to buff them out with some rubbing compound from your local auto parts store or taking the car to a detailer to see if they can be buffed out and/or touched up. If those two options don't provide satisfactory results then you'll need to take the car to a body shop. I would recommend getting 3 or so estimates from several different shops. Ask them about cost saving options like "spotting" the damaged section instead of removing and repainting the entire bumper. Without seeing the damage or knowing what kind of car you have I can't advise you on whether those options would be available or advisable for that matter, but if you ask, they should let you know if it's possible and whether it's an advisable method considering all the factors.