Conor

Today I was sitting in my car, in my school parking lot, waiting for it to warm up, when the person parked next to me comes out to their car. As he opens his door, it looked like he slipped on ice, and the door slammed into the side of my car. He has a 300zx, so pretty big doors. He looked at me in the car, and said sorry, and I just looked at him and I think shook my head. I didn’t get out then to survey the damage to talk to him, because 1, I didn’t think it would be too bad, and 2, I can see the kid tomorrow. So, I haven’t talked to him yet.
It seems the door hit harder than I thought. There is now a rather large paint chip and white mark above it on my door. Here are the pics:

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/cfgriffin/chip.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/cfgriffin/chip2.jpg" alt=" - " />

Here is a close up of the chip
<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/cfgriffin/chip3.jpg" alt=" - " />

and for size reference
<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/cfgriffin/chip4.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/cfgriffin/chip5.jpg" alt=" - " />

It looks like ****, essentially. I’m gonna talk to him tomorrow, as I see it he should give me some money, at least for what I will spend to fix it myself, because I’m probably not going to take it to a place. Which brings me to my next question, how do I fix it? I remember past posts about using touch up paint, paint thinner, and possibly clay bar to fix various chips, but it that too big? There are other chips, much smaller though, that I would fix at the same time, so it looks like I have another project on my hands. Any help on procedure or where to buy supplies it GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks again,

Conor

BC

In your own way, which is hopefully polite, you might simply wish to ask for his insurance info. This is what people have insurance for, and he may or may not wish to deal with it that way. I would start with that FIRST. That one close up looks as though there is bondo under the paint. Anyway, I know nothing about auto body work, but I am in Insurance, so I thought I would throw that out at you. He did a door ding, which is simply a smaller version of a fender bender.

Then, if he says, hell no, he may wish to settle this privately.

Rich Sandor

That's humm dinger!!!

Make the irresponsible ****** pay for it!!!!

you will get screwed if you don't!

joseph mitro

the white mark may be able to simply be buffed out if the paint is not chipped. as for the paint chip itself...damn i hate it when that happens!

the best way (but also most labor intensive) to fix the chip would be to fill it, paint it, then wet sand it until it blends in to the surface. problem is - it may be difficult to find red paint that will exactly match yours (especially if your paint is older and has started discoloring a bit).

good luck!

Conor

Thanks for the help!

The paint is not original,although it appears to be matched pretty good to guards red. I don't mind spending alot of time on this, so could you expand on the wet sanding process? I've heard of his before, but am rather unfamiliar with the actual procedure.

Thanks!

Matt O.

Conor -- sorry about that. If the person is like your average selfish teenager, he won't offer to pay. Make him pay. People should owe up to responsibility.

-Matt

Rich Sandor

I agree with Matt

Conor

I don't think he's a bad kid, so i'm really only worried aout getting the car fixed. The funny thing is, this morning I parked next to him thinking it was a good spot because with that car he drives I figured he had a lttle respect for it. Oh well.

Conor

User 462021

I say beat him up.

mideastmafia

here is how to fix it....

if your car has clear coat:

get 1500 grit sandpaper and fill a bucket up with water and a little bit of dishwashing soap. get the door wet and dip the sandpaper in the water. sand the whole area around the chip making sure the sandpaper is ALWAYS soaking wet.
sand it untill the water stops comming off as a milky white color. (dont sand too much or you will go thru the paint)
then...
get some red touch up paint that matches and dab it on with a brush ABOVE the current surface of the paint. when its dry, sand again with 1500 untill the touch up is flush with the original paint.
then...
apply rubbing compound onto the surface with a wool buffing pad and a rotarty buffer untill everything is smooth
then...
apply swirl mark remover with a foam buffing pad.
then...
add some of your favorite wax.

if you DONT have clear coat then skip the original sanding and start by applying the touch up first.

take care,

SHAUN

Conor

Well, I talked to the kid today, and told him that I was going to see how much it will be to fix, then we can figure out what to do. I think that I'm going to take it somewhere to get fixed, because I think its just too big and noticable for me to do myself.
Shaun-great directions, i may use that procedure to fix some other littler spots.

So, does anyone have any sugesstions on where to take it near central MA. I looked at some old posts, and people mentioned the Chips Away franchise, anyone know if they havce one locally up here?

Thanks again,
Conor

User 462021

I still say beat him up...

SamGrant951

I agree with Timmy. Beat his *ss, then throw his head into his own oversized door.

Chris_924s

Conor- that's too bad- sorry to hear about it. Not ALL of us midwesterners are violent, I assure you.

Tremelune

If the kid slipped on ice, it's not like he was swinging his door all over the place. I don't know if this kid's an *******, but it might be bigger just to deal with it yourself.

**** happens.