I just wanted to hear the advice of anyone who has dealt with this and what they recommend. I’m leasing the car, so I’m considering driving it and repairing any scratches when the lease is nearly over. It’s frustrating.
It’s unfortunate but inevitable. You could try some touch-up paint but paying for a repair at the beginning of a lease isn’t ideal since it could happen again. If it were my car, I’d drive it and then try touch-up before turning the vehicle in.
@Indy
Thanks. That was my initial thought too. Appreciate the comment.
Teo said:
@Indy
Thanks. That was my initial thought too. Appreciate the comment.
Clean it up, buff it, and BMW sells touch-up paint. By the end of the lease, they probably won’t even notice it.
I did the same thing to my 330e. Clean it well and lightly sand it with some fine grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Then touch it up with the matching BMW color. I forgot about it after a while and it wasn’t noticed on lease inspection.
@Orin
Such a bummer! Sorry to hear you went through this too. Can you message me on how you did this safely step by step? I don’t want to make it worse.
I would fix this. Here’s how: Sand it starting with a medium grit and go up to a very fine grit. This prepares it for touch-up paint. I recommend using a high-quality paint like Color N Drive or Dr. Color Chip. These are more forgiving. Good luck, and don’t sweat it too much!
@Jody
I’ll definitely try this out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Teo said:
@Jody
I’ll definitely try this out. Thanks for the suggestion.
You’re welcome! And remember, it happens to the best of us.
Teo said:
@Jody
I’ll definitely try this out. Thanks for the suggestion.
You’re welcome! And remember, it happens to the best of us.
Thanks, trying to keep my spirits up!
It’s totaled… I’ll buy it from you for a low price as a joke!
Dalen said:
It’s totaled… I’ll buy it from you for a low price as a joke!
I might have to take you up on that!
Dalen said:
It’s totaled… I’ll buy it from you for a low price as a joke!
I might have to take you up on that!
Just kidding, you’ve got a great attitude!
Tough situation. Maybe see if a local body shop can wrap that section? It could be a good temporary solution.
Gale said:
Tough situation. Maybe see if a local body shop can wrap that section? It could be a good temporary solution.
That’s a good idea, thanks!
If you’re worried about the lease, you probably don’t need to do anything major. Minor wear and tear is typically expected. If it bothers you visually, then maybe consider fixing it sooner rather than later.
@Dallas
Thanks for the perspective. That makes a lot of sense!
I made it a year but just did it last week. Despite driving it for a year I still feel like pushing the toggle back should be reverse.
Paz said:
I made it a year but just did it last week. Despite driving it for a year I still feel like pushing the toggle back should be reverse.
Totally understand that!
I understand how you feel. I am financing my car, and to me, even a small scratch seems like it spans the entire bumper. It’s such an eyesore that I’d prefer to deal with it sooner rather than later. I am leaning towards hiring a professional for the repair. I am just worried that if I try to fix it myself, it might end up looking even worse.