What is a scratch down to the primer?
Grey, white or black in the line, clearly not your colour, is the layer under the paint. On a metal panel that is primer. On a bumper it may be the plastic itself. Either way, the clear coat and colour are both gone along that line.
What kind of repair does it need?
A spot repair. The area is prepared, the colour matched and applied, and clear coat goes over the whole panel. The good news: primer or plastic showing means no bare metal, so no rust yet.
Also sold as SMART repair. Often done at your place, often the same day. Ask for it by name, because a shop quoting out of habit will quote the whole panel.
What to do next
Ask for a spot repair, also sold as SMART repair, by name. A shop quoting out of habit may quote the whole panel. Mobile repairers often do this at your place. Ask whether a body line, a panel edge or your colour would push it up to a panel price. Tell them if your paint is metallic or pearl.
Sources
- BASFpaint maker
Spot repair on a basecoat/clearcoat finish is defined as applying color only to the…
- HBC System (repair equipment maker)equipment maker
SMART is an acronym for Small (to) Medium Area Repair Technology.
- Touch Up Guys (Australia)repairer
SMART stands for Small to Medium Accident Repair Technology
- KH Automotive Collision Repairrepairer
The bumper cover (also known as the fascia), the painted plastic cladding, is cosmetic rather than structural and is generally made from TPO or polypropylene.
- Chemical Guysproduct seller
If you catch the scratch with your fingernail, it likely extends into the paint layer.
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