I accidentally scratched the rear side door of my car today. Thankfully it's a superficial scratch, so shouldn't be difficult to repair.
Does anybody have tips for where to get the work done? I found several old EnglishForum posts recommending garages across the border in Germany but the links all appear to be broken. Does somebody have recent experience and recommendations they could share?
If you can see bare metal or primer it ought to be painted. Otherwise I would attack it with some T-cut and see what it looks like after. If you haven't got any, I would lightly use Solvol Autosol which is available in Switzerland and Germany. It might look perfect after this treatment.
Thanks p42! Some metal is visible, but it's not deep, thankfully. Nonetheless, it seems that I'll have to have it professionally painted. Do you (somebody) perhaps have any recommendations from garages in Germany (assuming that's the cheapest option)?
Maybe not a recommendation but at least some info for comparison. I got my entire front bumper painted for 800chf by Linda Garage . As I wanted to have it done as close to my home as possible (Eglisau, close to the border), I haven't researched German paint shops.
For smaller scratches most dealers do what is called 'Spot repairs', which, if I recall, is a couple of hundred bucks per scratch. Don't always shy away from main dealers, as they can often provide good value in some instances.
Perfect, thank-you everybody for your tips. jazh, especially, since I live in Altstetten so your recommendation is the most convenient for me. Thanks again!
If you want to go the DIY route and can't buff it out with compound + polish, I recommend Dr Colorchip. Can order a kit that will match your paint and fill in the scratch. Obviously will not be better than professionally done job, but works pretty well.
But the compound and polish approach would only work if the scratch is still within the clear coat, isn't it? Otherwise indeed you have to fill it in with solutions like Dr ColorChip or have it painted.
Still, thx for the hint with Dr CC! I'll try it myself.
It's very much like asking "How long is a piece of string" Take your car to a garage and ask for a quote to start with. You are under no obligation to accept the quote
I like to understand someone else's situation better, I like to know what was the exact issue of the car, how it was handled and for what price. To get a better understanding of the market, quality of service etc.
I'm in no need for service like this now. But I like to know, that's it.
Full replacement and spray painting of a damaged front bumper (BMW). From what I remember, the cost was somewhere between CHF 1200-1500, which included a rental car for 2 or 3 days. This is not a tiny neighborhood garage, these guys are professionals.