Wife scratch my X5. How much is this going to cost?

[Dvdman]

Hello,

Just got a 2013 X5 50I last week. My wife took it out today and tried getting the mail by pulling up to the aluminum mail box. She nicked the mail box. I am not going to run this through insurance. I know my warranty covers chips. I don't think they will cover this. How much do you think this will cost? There is a light 4 inch scratch. I can't believe this. Should I see if BMW will repair it or go to a local body shop?

[smass]

Hard to tell from the pic but start with wax as a test. Press hard and try to buff out what you see. Sometimes these things look worse than they are. It may be the paint from your mailbox stuck to your paint. Rubbing alcohol also can remove extra stuff so you are left with only the scratch.

My wife scraped the side of the garage and left 2 feet of marks. 99% of it came off with the above techniques.

[Dvdman]

Great! I will give give it a try.

[pers785]

It's going to cost a new wife.

[pers785]

But agree with above. Sometimes its the paint of the item that was nicked that makes it look scratched. Won't know for sure until you try to buff it out and see what you're really working with.

[ksa]

I have appearance package warranty through my dealer and that would cover this. In fact I am getting mine repaired for kinda similar scratches on side in a couple of days. No harm in checking with them first, you never know.

[socale39]

Wow....appearance package warranty. They'll find just about anyway to bend people over won't they.

OP - before considering the dealer or body shop, get a professional opinion from a well respected detailer. As stated above, your scratch may just buff out with some simple detailing techniques.

[Cattivo]

That's barely noticeable and very easy to fix...using your index finger, run your nail vertically across the scratch to see how deep it is. If it's deep take some 2,000 to 3,000 grit WET sand paper and gently sand the clear coat until the scratch is gone(keep the area you're sanding wet using a spray bottle).

After you have removed the scratch dry the area and apply scratch and swirl remover, buff it out using a buffer set to 3(depending on your buffer) or you can do it by hand, polish it using the same method and apply either wax or paint sealer...you just saved yourself a ton of $$$

[ksa]

Originally Posted by socale39

Wow....appearance package warranty. They'll find just about anyway to bend people over won't they.

OP - before considering the dealer or body shop, get a professional opinion from a well respected detailer. As stated above, your scratch may just buff out with some simple detailing techniques.

Well to be honest it's not that bad.

It covers minor scratches, rock chips etc of course but the major thing it covers is a replacement windshield as well as key fob replacement.

The windshield alone here costs $1500 and key fobs $300+. Considering the fact that warranty cost me $800 (as I got it on cost) I don't think it's a bad deal. Windshields crack on our roads all the time especially winter and just replacing that under warranty is enough to cover what I paid. I'll also be getting a key fob even if I don't lose any of mine. Plus the body work I've gotten done would cost me a few hundred if not more than $800 anyway.

I negotiated it that way to get it at cost, otherwise it costs $1500 or something.

[omgboost]

Like others have said, I think you may be able to buff it out with some polish. Try that first and see if you get good results. I however, have deep scratches from nixing bricks on both sides of my fender which isn't going to buff out. :-(

[Dvdman]

Great thanks for the replies. I will check with BMW to see if they will cover it. I doubt it. There is a place right by my house I can get an estimate. I don't have the tools to buff it out.

[TheVazha]

Dude that's MINIMAL. From your expert photography it's thought to tell but it looks like it's just sitting on the clear.

I think wet sand is too extreme for this! Just start with wax like others mentioned. If that doesn't work, you have to go deeper. I would browse AMMO NYC channel on you tube and you'll pick up a bit more about the science of paint and how to treat it. I wouldn't worry though, it looks like you'll be fine. Just make sure to use good quality product to fix it. If you're in LA, swing by and I'll take care of it for you. Just being me beer.

[Dvdman]

Originally Posted by TheVazha

Dude that's MINIMAL. From your expert photography it's thought to tell but it looks like it's just sitting on the clear.

I think wet sand is too extreme for this! Just start with wax like others mentioned. If that doesn't work, you have to go deeper. I would browse AMMO NYC channel on you tube and you'll pick up a bit more about the science of paint and how to treat it. I wouldn't worry though, it looks like you'll be fine. Just make sure to use good quality product to fix it. If you're in LA, swing by and I'll take care of it for you. Just being me beer.

I appreciate the the help. Unfortunately I live near Chicago.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by pers785

It's going to cost a new wife.

Pics and mileage on said wife? I have cash on hand, don't mind a gently used preowned one

[-c-]

Originally Posted by Dvdman

I appreciate the the help. Unfortunately I live near Chicago.

Dude ! Check out Chicago auto pros ! Best detail I've seen in ages. They know their shit !

They deal with super high end vehicles and seen amazing quality from them. Take it their and have them do a full exterior detail and buff.

http://chicagoautopros.com

[Dvdman]

Originally Posted by -c-

Dude ! Check out Chicago auto pros ! Best detail I've seen in ages. They know their shit !

They deal with super high end vehicles and seen amazing quality from them. Take it their and have them do a full exterior detail and buff.

http://chicagoautopros.com

Thank you!

[Dvdman]

I got the first estimate $460.

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by Dvdman

I got the first estimate $460.

WOW! Must've been a stealer ...

[Dvdman]

So here is the update on my estimates-

BMW dealer- $700 to sand it down and repaint the whole panel

Repair shop #1- $460 to Prime it, Blend the color within the panel, then clear coat the complete panel to seal off the blend.
Then when it is all cured we wet sand and buff to get the factory finish again.

Repair shop #2 - $50 to sand it down, fill it and repaint.

[Cattivo]

Just get some 3,000 grit wet sand paper and a spray bottle full of water and wet sand it yourself till the scratch is gone. Since you don't have an orbital buffer just do it by hand using elbow grease...those prices are ridiculous! There's no need to repaint, those shops just want your $$$...they will do the same thing I told you to do and give you a line of bullshit how they fixed it

[ksa]

$50 sounds reasonable if you don't want to risk it yourself.

[Dvdman]

$50 is from a reputable dent shop by our house. I thought I would give them a shot first. He is going to do what everyone is telling me to do. Sounds like the rest is trying to rip me off. I guess if they do a bad job I can always get it redone. Thanks!