Putting stickers over paintwork scuffs and scratches

[AnhBanhBao]

Normally I’d be dead against this, but I’ve recently dented a rear bumper quite badly and having popped it out have been looking into repairs for the remaining paint damage.

Smart repair isn’t possible due to the pearlescent paint, apparently, and body shop quotes are more than I’m willing to pay (a decent chunk of the car’s value).

If I was 18-19 with a drift-spec Silvia or something then maybe I could get away with those plaster-type stickers you can get, but that ship’s long sailed.

Are there any places to get any graphics/stickers from that are half-decent? Appreciate you can get these things on Etsy etc, but not sure on how long they’d stay on after weather and car washing.

[Smint]

You used to be able to buy paint patch stickers, ie a patch in the car's correct colour to stick over the damage.
Maybe you still can, might be an alternative.

[Super Sonic]

GB or UK sticker.

[AnhBanhBao]

I had a look at the paint match stickers, and the price can easily go into 3 digits, plus I wanted something a bit more honest, perhaps. Seeing the sticker edge close-up would probably annoy me (if you can indeed clearly see them, will get on YouTube later to take a look).

UK/GB sticker is a thought, however I’ve done such a great job in reversing into a wall apex that it’d likely need a couple of them together to hide it all.

[carpet_9000]

How deep is the scratch? If you aren't down to bare metal and don't want to stump up for the repair just slap some duct tape on it.

[MDL111]

I did that in my kitchen when I was told a replacement panel cost 700ish euros - thought nah, a little picture will be just fine for me. Now a pic of my family is on my bin drawer

Could you not have the bumper wrapped at a reasonably cheap cost to cover it?

[brillomaster]

I reckon the vinyls i put on to go down to le mans wouldve stayed on there indefinitely had i not peeled them off.

I've gotta ask, where and how big is the area to be covered, and what car is it?

[user123987]

Slap a giant anime girl over it

[AnhBanhBao]

user123987 said:

Slap a giant anime girl over it

This is exactly what I don t want, haha

It s just a Suzuki Swift Sport, so not worth loads. I m quite fussy about it, but not to the point of spending £500 for the repair.

Will keep on browsing online to see if anything looks acceptable. Would love to wrap the bumper, but I d imagine that s going to be a similar price to the body shop work.

[D9]

If it's the rear bumper , facing rear (not sides)

If the damage is small,have you tried the old favourite of a GB or UK sticker ?

Edit - sorry, just seen this has already been suggested, how about some other sticker like a Flag ?
Some hi- Viz tape ? etc.

Edited by D9 on Tuesday 25th August 21:33

[Lester H]

AnhBanhBao said:

user123987 said:

Slap a giant anime girl over it

This is exactly what I don t want, haha

It s just a Suzuki Swift Sport, so not worth loads. I m quite fussy about it, but not to the point of spending £500 for the repair.

Will keep on browsing online to see if anything looks acceptable. Would love to wrap the bumper, but I d imagine that s going to be a similar price to the body shop work.

Yes, the time honoured solution is a GB or equivalent sticker provided it looks level and authentic., thus better with a logo like Brittany Ferries rather than looking generic from local BP filling station The lower scratches could be waxed, then ignored , as if to suggest a mere inconsequential scuff as touch up can draw even more attention to a scrape.

Edited by Lester H on Thursday 27th August 18:30

[AnhBanhBao]

Well in the end I went for what I mentioned in my initial post - plaster stickers! Won’t be for everyone!

I actually don’t mind them so far, a bit cheeky and I can consider a replacement bumper for a few hundred rather than a body shop job for about the same.

[Milkyway]

Need a variety packet containing;

Splat
Kerpow
Zapp
Crunch
His
Hers
Ouch
WIP (Work In Progress)

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 30th August 23:29

[Robertb]

I’d have a go with some Chipex. Bound to improve it, even if not perfect.

[user123987]

AnhBanhBao said:

Well in the end I went for what I mentioned in my initial post - plaster stickers! Won t be for everyone!

I actually don t mind them so far, a bit cheeky and I can consider a replacement bumper for a few hundred rather than a body shop job for about the same.

What car have they gone on?

[Belle427]

I would have just touched it up and lived with it!

[s p a c e m a n]

Yeah I would've paint penned it just to take my eye off of it, soon forget that it's there and only notice it when you're washing the car.

Stickers do look cool though.

[Simpo Two]

AnhBanhBao said:

Blimey, were you attacked by a bear?

I have to say the stickers work in that context though.