Aaargh !!! Look what i did to my Genesis - Need suggestions

[bpajax]

Well, I guess it's bound to happen eventually, but I would have preferred not in the first week of ownership. I was pulling into a parking spot last week and the front bumper caught the curb. Not sure if the curb was too high or the bumper too low, but you can see the end result:

http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=713
http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=712

I'd like to try to fix this myself since it's in a fairly inconspicuous spot. I assume I'll need some touch-up paint, sand paper, filler, etc. If anyone can give me detailed instructions, I'd appreciate it. Or maybe I better leave it to a professional - thoughts?

 

[ctrcbob]

I'm glad you posted this. I was parking in a place that I go to often. Never had problems whenever I used my other car or former cars. Normally just go up to the concrete bumper and tires stop the car. Well, I pulled up and good thing I was going extra slow.
I heard a scrape. Before I backed the car out, I got out and looked. Sure enough, the bottom of that front cover was laying on top of the concrete bumper. I then backed out slowly and checked again. No paint damage, as it scraped on the black part on the bottom of that front cover.

I'm now aware just how low the front is, and I park well away from those concrete bumpers. I guess you could say that the front cover is too low.

 

[sandy]

Well, I guess it's bound to happen eventually, but I would have preferred not in the first week of ownership. I was pulling into a parking spot last week and the front bumper caught the curb. Not sure if the curb was too high or the bumper too low, but you can see the end result:

http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=713
http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=712

I'd like to try to fix this myself since it's in a fairly inconspicuous spot. I assume I'll need some touch-up paint, sand paper, filler, etc. If anyone can give me detailed instructions, I'd appreciate it. Or maybe I better leave it to a professional - thoughts?

Depending on how handy you are, try and fix it yourelf as it doesn't look too bad in the pictures. Doesn't look like you need to remove any dents so you will not make it worse. If you aren't happy with the results, you can then take it to a pro. Since I'm retired and always looking for things to do, when my daughter scraped her bumper I went to to an auto-body supply store and they provided not only the simple materials, but some very good DIY advice/tips. Results were pretty good. Of course, that was on an older Honda Civic, not a beautiful Genesis.

 

[ultra63]

Well, I guess it's bound to happen eventually, but I would have preferred not in the first week of ownership. I was pulling into a parking spot last week and the front bumper caught the curb. Not sure if the curb was too high or the bumper too low, but you can see the end result:

http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=713
http://genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=712

I'd like to try to fix this myself since it's in a fairly inconspicuous spot. I assume I'll need some touch-up paint, sand paper, filler, etc. If anyone can give me detailed instructions, I'd appreciate it. Or maybe I better leave it to a professional - thoughts?

Did the park assist provide any warning?

 

[bpajax]

Did the park assist provide any warning?

Funny you should ask - my wife asked the same thing. I don't think the park assist provided any warning - the curb was probably too low for them to detect (but not low enough for the bumper to clear). It was really just stupid on my part though. I should have been more careful. Lesson learned though - I'll stop well short of curbs and parking stops in the future. In this instance, I wanted to make sure I was far enough forward in the parking spot to be well off the road.

 

[ultra63]

Funny you should ask - my wife asked the same thing. I don't think the park assist provided any warning - the curb was probably too low for them to detect (but not low enough for the bumper to clear). It was really just stupid on my part though. I should have been more careful. Lesson learned though - I'll stop well short of curbs and parking stops in the future. In this instance, I wanted to make sure I was far enough forward in the parking spot to be well off the road.

I can see a brick wall in front of me. I hope park assist would pick up those damaging low barriers that are not so obvious.

 

[cviz]

My park assist picks up the concrete stop block and curbs. Make sure you have the audio alert turned on. I didn't at first and wasn't sure if it was working. Now that I have it turned on, no problems with coming close to any objects.

 

[PINGGOLF]

WOW! I really hate that happened to you.

I have noticed the the parking sensors will not pick up as well the faster you whip into a parking spot. I have came within inches before the sensors started blaring.

My brother just bought an 09 Camry SE with the ground effects. 10 min. after we left the dealership (and yes, I followed in the Genesis and had a great time watching all the Toyota guys drool) we went to Ruby Tuesday's to grab some dinner. I was following him and watched him pull into a parking spot. I was HOLLERING so loud that I thought he would have heard me...but he didnt. He took his front end all the way up the curb till the front wheels hit. Horrible damage...and 2 grown men crying yet laughing at the same time. He came out of a Tacoma Truck... Needless to say, we both learned a lesson and his insurance is already on the rise!

Remeber, its better to leave your butt hanging out!

 

[GS300rich]

Since that is a rather large spot im not sure touch up paint would work the best, that is mostly for paint chips and things of that nature. What I would do is sand the area down until smooth, using 800 on up to 2000 grit. make sure to keep to the inconspicuous area and I would put a few layers of blue painters tape around the area that you dont want to sand. This will prevent damage to the surrounding paint. If you go to a place that sells automotive paint you can have them mix up your color code paint and then put it in an aerosol can, this way you can spray on some smooth even coats. After a few coats of paint then at least one coat of clear, more likely 3 to 4. Once that is dry I would lightly sand with 2000 grit sandpaper, make sure to keep it very wet, to smooth out the clear. Then you should be good. It is very important to mask off the surrounding area and then also take paper or some kind of plastic and cover the entire front end. Paint in a spray can will travel far. You cant mask off too much area. This has worked for me several times and since this is such an inconspicous place its the perfect spot to give it a shot.

 

[charlesleiss]

I hate to admit it, but I did the exact same thing....with only 500 miles on the odometer. I was (and still am) pissed! If you can offer a reasonable suggestion on a DIY repair I too would appreciate it. I just purchased some proper touch-up paint!

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[bpajax]

Since that is a rather large spot im not sure touch up paint would work the best, that is mostly for paint chips and things of that nature. What I would do is sand the area down until smooth, using 800 on up to 2000 grit. make sure to keep to the inconspicuous area and I would put a few layers of blue painters tape around the area that you dont want to sand. This will prevent damage to the surrounding paint. If you go to a place that sells automotive paint you can have them mix up your color code paint and then put it in an aerosol can, this way you can spray on some smooth even coats. After a few coats of paint then at least one coat of clear, more likely 3 to 4. Once that is dry I would lightly sand with 2000 grit sandpaper, make sure to keep it very wet, to smooth out the clear. Then you should be good. It is very important to mask off the surrounding area and then also take paper or some kind of plastic and cover the entire front end. Paint in a spray can will travel far. You cant mask off too much area. This has worked for me several times and since this is such an inconspicous place its the perfect spot to give it a shot.

Thanks very much GS300rich. I may give it a try. Or I may stop by my friendly auto body shop first and see how much they will charge. I'll keep you guys posted. I gotta do something though - I can't stand that blemish, even if it is mostly out of sight.

 

[njohnson]

That might be tough to get out depending how rough it is and how deep it goes. Is the black we are seeing through the external paint layer?

My girl scraped the cement on a house with her mirrors and while it was white nad appeared visually that it went through the paint I was able to buff it out with a porter cable, some cutting pads, and some optimum compound. Then increasing to a finer pad and polish and eventually wax.

If the scrape you can feel with your fingernail and is through the paint you are screwed and are better off just letting a pro do it, it's going to look sloppy otherwise unless you know what you are doing.

 

[bpajax]

That might be tough to get out depending how rough it is and how deep it goes. Is the black we are seeing through the external paint layer?

My girl scraped the cement on a house with her mirrors and while it was white nad appeared visually that it went through the paint I was able to buff it out with a porter cable, some cutting pads, and some optimum compound. Then increasing to a finer pad and polish and eventually wax.

If the scrape you can feel with your fingernail and is through the paint you are screwed and are better off just letting a pro do it, it's going to look sloppy otherwise unless you know what you are doing.

Yes - the black you see on the photo is the black plastic bumpber under the paint. So I'd first have to sand it smooth before I'd be able to even start applying paint. I might give it a try and then let a pro fix it if I don't like the results. I'll try not to make it any worse.

 

[GS300rich]

Yes - the black you see on the photo is the black plastic bumpber under the paint. So I'd first have to sand it smooth before I'd be able to even start applying paint. I might give it a try and then let a pro fix it if I don't like the results. I'll try not to make it any worse.

you cant make it any worse, unless you overspray half the front end A body shop is going to charge you to paint the whole bumper, or at least the lower half. So for a few bucks you can give it a shot yourself and if it turns out bad then take it to the shop and let them do it. If this was in a spot where it would be highly visible I would absolutely say dont mess around and take it to a body shop. But since this isnt I say give it a shot. You learn by doing things. If you are a DIYer like me you hate letting other people do work on your car

 

[pm1234]

Heard it is a PITA to paint bumper. Paint can peel off easily since it is plastic. Not sure if it is true. But I know I've seen cars with peeling paint on bumpers.

Could be worse. Scrape the oilpan and have some oil leak.

 

[njohnson]

Yes and bumpers flex more than other parts of the car so you have to make sure there are enough flex agents in the paint so that when it does flex it doesn't crack or peel.

Make sure to take some photos, I'm curious to see how it turns out.

 

[Tufast]

Since that is a rather large spot im not sure touch up paint would work the best, that is mostly for paint chips and things of that nature. What I would do is sand the area down until smooth, using 800 on up to 2000 grit. make sure to keep to the inconspicuous area and I would put a few layers of blue painters tape around the area that you dont want to sand. This will prevent damage to the surrounding paint. If you go to a place that sells automotive paint you can have them mix up your color code paint and then put it in an aerosol can, this way you can spray on some smooth even coats. After a few coats of paint then at least one coat of clear, more likely 3 to 4. Once that is dry I would lightly sand with 2000 grit sandpaper, make sure to keep it very wet, to smooth out the clear. Then you should be good. It is very important to mask off the surrounding area and then also take paper or some kind of plastic and cover the entire front end. Paint in a spray can will travel far. You cant mask off too much area. This has worked for me several times and since this is such an inconspicous place its the perfect spot to give it a shot.

Good DIY description. I took autobody at tech school & would describe it the same way.

Yes and bumpers flex more than other parts of the car so you have to make sure there are enough flex agents in the paint so that when it does flex it doesn't crack or peel.

Make sure to take some photos, I'm curious to see how it turns out.

+1 on the flex agents, esp needing to be in the primer prior to base & clear coats.

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

Right there with you BPAJAX. And I'm glad (sort of) to see that it happened to others. I caught my Platinum bumper in about the same spot, but under different circumstances. I took the turn into my driveway too sharp and I was on the curb with no foot near the brake peddle as the warning was going off. SKOOBALA (it's Greek... look it up). I'm thinking a body shop is my only answer.
(NO PICS TO SHOW... EMBARRASSED)

 

[bpajax]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I decided not to pursue a do-it-yourself project. I went to our local Carsmetics (a minor repair place) and talked them into doing it for $120.

 

[GS300rich]

that is not a bad price at all. by the time you gathered the materials to do it yourself you would have been about half of that or more. how did it turn out?