This seems like it would fit under the detailing section, so here goes..
someone hit my car last night, and I'd like to fix it myself.
Not only because I'm broke, but it'd be a good learning experience.
If someone can point me in the right directions, and help me out, it'd be great.

The bumper should be simple..some repainting, sanding, etc, (although if you have any links to help that'd be amazing.)

The top part, seems a bit more complicated, since it's the actual metal, and it's dented.

Help?

 

Ehhhh, if you have never done autobody work, there is no way you are going to be able to do this by yourself. Bodyline damage is as hard as it gets to repair....I am professional body guy/painter.

If I was you, I would hire a Paintless dent repair guy. Have him do what we call a "push to paint". He will be able to get that dent fixed in 15 minutes. He will be able to work it quick because he wont worry about breaking the paint pushing from behind. Your looking at about $50 to get that straightened....

Once dent it out, wetsand the damaged areas with 220 grit and feather it out. Feel for the dent, you might need to use a glaze putty....

Once all damage is wetsanded out with 220 grit, primer the areas. Wetsand with 600 grit. Ready for paint...

To do the job right, your suppose to blend the basecoat, and clearcoat the whole panel. Meaning you need to reclearcoat the WHOLE bumper, and Whole quarter panel.

It will actually cost you more in tools etc then it would paying someone to do it.

 

I think right there you were more helpful than the other 3 page thread I had going on this, lol thanks a lot.

A few other questions,
what clearcoat/touch up paint/primer do you recommend?
Links, brand names, etc?


Also, the term "feathering out"
what exactly does that mean?

 

Before you spend your hard earned $$$ on supplies, paint etc and screw it up, and then have to pay somebody to straighten out your mess and the mess made by the other car, cut out the middle man and just take it to a pro. It will be cheaper in the long run and that really doesn't look like you will have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it. Good luck with it.

 

Feathering it out means sanding the whole area and evenly distrubuting the sanding. Otherwise if you sand just that spot, you will create a divet and it will look like crap when its painted.
You can't really get touchup paint. You need to get basecoat/clearcoat and primer. You could go cheap on primer and use a can.
I use PPG brand paint....Your looking at about $60 for a pint of basecoat. $30 for quart of reducer. $70 for quart of clearcoat...Thats smallest amount they sell. Then you need air compressor, spray guns etc...

Realistically if I was you and were looking to save money. Pay the dent repair guy, he will bang that dent real quick, easy job for them, expecially because they have tools made for bodylines. Thats going to be about $50 or so.

Then take the car to Maaco. They have a horrible reputation, but truth of matter is Basecoat/Clearcoat is quality stuff. Its not like in old days where they used enamel and laquer crap...

You can get Maaco to do the job for $200-$250....I subcontract work to Maaco all time. They will completely basecoat/clearcoat a whole car for me for $400 however I give them lots of work....

 

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, silver can be a pain in *** to blend lol....Ut oh better get Maaco....

Where in NE are you, if you near me i'll hook ya up

 

I'm in Omaha,


and thanks alot for the tips! I've gotten 2 different quotes..
The first guy said he couldn't just bang the dent out (funny because he specialized in Paintless dent repair.) The second (A collision repair center) said over $1000 to fix it all..
but they would bang out the dent, use a filler (apparently they couldn't get it back to normal shape without some) and then primer it for 200..which would leave me at paint.

So far I haven't found anywhere near me that can just pound the dent out. Although I need to do more searching.