chips away?

[jberks]

I have a couple of minor bits of paintwork that want doing, such as the usual chunk out of the edge of the rear door (Thanks mother in law!) and a small scrape on the edge of the bonnet where presumably it caught the wiper arm. They are fine as they are out of the way so I'm quite happy. However, I also have a small U shaped 1.5" scratch just above the driver's door handle. Very small and only laquer deep its almost invisible. I know the chips guys can make it disappear, but what concerns me is what it will look like in a few years time. Will I have a duller patch where the treatment was done. How does their fix age alongside the rest of the paintwork?

 

[clive williams]

I have a couple of minor bits of paintwork that want doing, such as the usual chunk out of the edge of the rear door (Thanks mother in law!) and a small scrape on the edge of the bonnet where presumably it caught the wiper arm. They are fine as they are out of the way so I'm quite happy. However, I also have a small U shaped 1.5" scratch just above the driver's door handle. Very small and only laquer deep its almost invisible. I know the chips guys can make it disappear, but what concerns me is what it will look like in a few years time. Will I have a duller patch where the treatment was done. How does their fix age alongside the rest of the paintwork?

Jberks,
All the dealers use companies like Chips Away for most of the vehicles they deal in and I've never heard of or seen a car that has had a duff repair either a recent acquisition or one held for some time. If you can't tell its been done then it can't be too bad? I would have confidence in using them

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[c13tay]

Used them a few times - cos its a franchise set up suppose you can get some good and some bad depending on the operator.

My experience is that it is a good repair if you are selling the car !!!!

Longterm my experience isnt that good -- had an area for flaking laquer done on a corrado rear wing - finished job looked brilliant. However after having polished the car a few times the "join" between the old and new surfaces became evident and slowly moved with each polish.

Trouble is, they only apply a very thin layer of paint/laquer. Suppose you could get round this by only lighly polishing or not ploishing at all in the affected area.

My local body shop, who are excellent, on average charge £100 to spray any particular panel - considering chips away are about £60 per panel no matter what the mark is - Id prefer to pay the extra and have a proper long term fix

Just my experience

 

[jberks]

Thanks guys. Its pretty much as I was thinking.
Certainly a good idea when selling the car and it does look excellent when done and works well where there aren't any joins, e.g. if they pain the bottom panel of a door. But ..
I've just got the car and intend to keep it for at least 5 years, then may well pass it to my Dad so I'm looking at 10 years minimum. I couldn't see how a bloke with what is effectively a spray can could apply paint that would be as hard wearing as the factory applied stuff and if it isn't, it's going to age and wear at a different rate and end up looking worse than the original problem, which means it will need re-doing every couple of years. Fine on an older car where the existing paint is past its best and needs upkeep anyway but more of a concern on a new one.

 

[clive williams]

My local body shop, who are excellent, on average charge £100 to spray any particular panel - considering chips away are about £60 per panel no matter what the mark is - Id prefer to pay the extra and have a proper long term fix

Just my experience

I must admit I'm inclined to wait and get whole panels/fronts/rears/sides etc done by my usual bodyshop who have been excellent at refurbishing even rusted areas for long term durability. The barge will go in after Xmas for a front end and tailgate job.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210