Big Scratch in Frozen Paint HELP!

[Joshbot007]

On Friday I picked up my new to me m3, a 2013 Frozen Blue. Overall I am very happy with the car. I expected and found a good amount of paint imperfections, most of them are livable or something I want to try to address in the near future except for ONE. There is this big a$$ long scratch on the rear bumper that I feel as like it defines the car and honestly has me too embarrassed to drive it like this. In certain angles and light it becomes less visible but in direct light its the most noticeable part of the entire car. So far the only ideas I cam up with are

-try BMW matt nano wax ($$$) and doesn't claim to repair just protect.

-try another brand matt wax or product[IMG][/IMG]

- tape off completely around the scratch and use a regular wax to only fill in the scratch itself and no other paint. This way I would just deal with the scratch itself becoming a little more reflective than the rest of the paint.

-try touch up paint

If anyone has any ideas or experience fixing or at least making this less noticeable please reply! I know what I got myself into with frozen paint but I really need some help on how I should address this thanks!

[roastbeef]

A cheap approach would be to use this stuff I recently discovered- paint matched vinyl from ColorX labs. A small roll cost about $175. I used it on my wife's car with great result. The paint match was fantastic to my eye.

[Joshbot007]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

A cheap approach would be to use this stuff I recently discovered- paint matched vinyl from ColorX labs. A small roll cost about $175. I used it on my wife's car with great result. The paint match was fantastic to my eye.

That does look pretty good! Optimally I would like to just fill it in for now and make it less noticeable but I could see myself doing the front and rear bumpers in this down the line

[EnVe46]

With matte paint for you can't do a lot. Once it's there, you're pretty much screwed unless you go the vinyl route like posted above. Waxes won't do much and you can use anything with a gloss in it. Compound will make it swirly and marring so you can't do that. I'd either live with it until you can stomach the repair costs or find good vinyl

[Joshbot007]

With the vinyl you are covering the whole panel or just the scratch? And if just the scratch how noticeable are the lines around the edges of the vinal?

[Joshbot007]

The biggest thing is that I just want to make this less noticeable/white scratch looking when in the light. I understand I can't completely repair or remove and it will always be there. I feel like that is definitely possible, either with some type of product or touch up paint until I have more money for a wrap or respray down the line.

[SAMM3Y]

I don't know if it works with the frozen paint but I have had good results with touch up paint, a very fine brush and a magnifying glass and then getting some 1500 grit sp and working up to 3k on the surrounding area before buffing/polishing. The goal is to flatten down the TUP to help blend it with the rest of the paint, the bmw tup even comes with clear to go over with... you should just try and fill it for now.. you don't have much to lose

[EnVe46]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

I don't know if it works with the frozen paint but I have had good results with touch up paint, a very fine brush and a magnifying glass and then getting some 1500 grit sp and working up to 3k on the surrounding area before buffing/polishing. The goal is to flatten down the TUP to help blend it with the rest of the paint, the bmw tup even comes with clear to go over with... you should just try and fill it for now.. you don't have much to lose

Unfortunately with Matte paint, you can't do this. The polish with create a shine to the matte paint. Very frustrating for sure.

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by EnVe46

Unfortunately with Matte paint, you can't do this. The polish with create a shine to the matte paint. Very frustrating for sure.

Yeah I figured that's why I suggested just filling it for now. Happened on my brand new street bike too which has a matte finish, let my dad borrow it and it came back with a big ol tank scratch from his zipper, I just banged a tank guard over the scratch. Maybe a craftily placed sticker can work for you too?!?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Don't mess with it .It's full of scratches and there's also a dent .Our cars deserve only the best.. Repaint !

[Joshbot007]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Don't mess with it .It's full of scratches and there's also a dent .Our cars deserve only the best.. Repaint !

Unfortunately the whole car has small scratches and imperfections. In the end it would be best to wrap the car the same color but I am looking for a simple way to make it less noticeable for now until I wrap. Touchup paint is likely the best option for now it seems.

[eatsleepboost]

You won't drive the car due to a scratch.... Come on bro

[Joshbot007]

Originally Posted by eatsleepboost

You won't drive the car due to a scratch.... Come on bro

I will but it is embarrassing lol

[amrazM]

Come to nyc I have Someone that can paint that correctly for you.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Joshbot007

That does look pretty good! Optimally I would like to just fill it in for now and make it less noticeable but I could see myself doing the front and rear bumpers in this down the line

if you try to use touchup paint or spot treat it, it will probably be more noticeable than it is now.
this vinyl would be good for a spot treating a small area, you don't have to do the whole bumper. the lines of the vinyl against the paint look like the edge of a clear bra on my wife's car... from a few feet away, you can't see it.

[dparm]

Leave it be until you can get the bumper repainted. The ideas in this thread are going to make it look even worse.

[BayE30]

buy a frozen bmw they said, it will be fun they said.

really though, Frozen is the biggest PITA to take care of. also no fun to paint. I have turned away a dozen or so Frozen BMW and Merc from my shop because its just not worth the hassle, and nobody wants to pay for the labor it actually requires.

[Frozen]

I have a Frozen Red and the paint itself is easy to take care of. I haven't needed to do it yet but I was also told that most body shops can match the paint. It's just the base paint with a different type of matte clear coat. In my case the color is Sakhir Orange (not red).

IND for example sells the front euro bumper and they told me they can easily paint it in any of the Frozen colors and it will match perfectly.

[Tewie]

She's totaled

[Joshbot007]

Originally Posted by Tewie

She's totaled

Lol

[Joshbot007]

The best option it seems is to get the rear and front bumper painted or wrapped. I am still going to try a thing or two to try to see if I can get it any better by testing non noticeable spots and imperfections first but at the end of the day I think it's going to have to be like this for a little while. After a little dust gets on the car the scratches should be less noticeable anyway. Thanks for the input

[Tewie]

I would go the re-spray route and spend the extra money to use a BMW body shop. Wouldn't try to touch up since the paint/matte finish will likely not match up and if you need to sand/buff you're probably gonna get caught in a shit storm.