Question for the bodywork experts - stone chips

[cb1965]

Had my front bumper repainted with a lot of other bodywork and done 1000 miles since.

Washed the car today and there are over 50 stone ships on the front bumper yet none anywhere else.

The bumper is actually more chipped than it was before painting yet that had done 50K on the car.

Would you, like me, suspect the paint job on the bumper is not quite right or is this just bad luck?

PS Haven't been behind any gritters or anything like that.

 

[Leabrooks]

Unfortunately stone chips are getting worse, blame your local councils and the cutbacks on road maintenance, the really really wet weather over the last few months (which washes all the small stones out of the fields, roads, and gardens onto the road surfaces) and the fact no-one wants to sit in traffic chaos as major roads are resurfaced. If you really want to be peeved I was sprayed twice by gritters (coming in the opposite direction) on a B road at the same time twice in the same week (after a week of 'afternoons') that has made both my windscreen, A pillars, bonnet and front-end look like its been shot at with rock salt from a shotgun..........oh and I only did less than 300 miles in two weeks, add in the stone chips from the rain and I'm looking at some serious £££££ to sort it out .....but is it anyone's fault, nope.

 

[cb1965]

While I agree with you, this is different I think. The roads haven't suddenly got 10 times worse in 2 months and this is a weekend car so I don't drive it in bad weather. Also no other part of the car is getting chipped, not the bonnet or wings, just the bumper and they are big chips not tiny little normal ones. The more I look at it the more I think it's a problem with the paint application to the bumper! I am going to all the bodyshop tomorrow and ask the question. Can't hurt!

 

[hondo]

Did you get it done at a proper bodyshop or a backstreet garage? ,i would suggest that the paint is not properly cured

 

[cb1965]

Did you get it done at a proper bodyshop or a backstreet garage? ,i would suggest that the paint is not properly cured

It was done at a very reputable Mercedes approved bodywork specialist with top quality facilities (I inspected them first ). The rest of the paintwork they did is excellent, it's just the bumper.

My car was vandalised last year and needed a new back window as a result along with paint on most of the rear, but I asked them to do the bonnet, front wings and bumper while they were at it and I would pick up the extra cost.

Turned out the bumper on my car had a very bad repair so I got a secondhand one and asked them to paint and fit it. I wonder if the fact it was secondhand has something to do with it.

They are very affable and professional so I will call them tomorrow and ask them the question.... with a bit of luck they may take it back in and sort it.

 

[hondo]

It could be then the paint on the secondhand bumper b4 u had it painted is the problem

 

[cb1965]

It could be then the paint on the secondhand bumper b4 u had it painted is the problem

Yes I do wonder if it was the orginal paint on there when I got it as like you say it may well be the likely culprit. If I hadhad the work done at a cheap garge and it was all suffering then I would understand it, but it is just the bumper so that is the most likely explanation I guess!

 

[hondo]

Regardless of reason they are likely to repainted bumper free of charge anyway

 

[cb1965]

Called them up this morning and they can only summise that the previous paint on the bumper was no good, but they said that it was still their issue as they agreed to paint and refinish a secondhand bumper.

I sent them some pics at their request and they have now just called back to say they will have it back and sort it properly at no charge as it looks shocking - like it's done 5 years on gravel tracks (their words not mine)!

Result!