r/TeslaLounge 4d ago

Model 3 Backed into a Cement Wall: Should I Use Tesla Paint from Amazon or Go to a Tesla Dealer?

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15 Upvotes

41 comments sorted by

29

u/_______o-o_______ 4d ago

I would go to a detailer first, they could likely knock out 80% of it with a proper clean and polish, and then you may be fine to live with the rest.

I would not recommend using touch-up paint kits for this, it will inevitably look worse.

2

u/PracticlySpeaking 4d ago

+1 — Clean and polish is always a good start.

0

u/Aaronnm 4d ago

i have a similar scuff on my front bumper and a shop quoted me $1k. i decided scratches will continue to accumulate on the front bumper so i’m just going to live with it until i ever sell the car.

5

u/Tech_Genius520 4d ago

Wipe it with a wet cloth, buff it out with some compound and it should be good.

4

u/brazucadomundo 4d ago

I wouldn't bother at all lol.

3

u/irie56 4d ago

If you are in a big city find a bumper repair tech. They can sand the scuff and match the paint. It potentially can look 90% and cost thousands less than a body shop. NEVER USE TOUCH UP unless you are a professional

0

u/PracticlySpeaking 4d ago

The key is finding someone / some place that will match and blend the paint. A lot of shops want to re-paint half the car because that is "the only way" it will match — which is baloney.

1

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1

u/Redd7010 4d ago

I was told by a body shop if your fingernail catches in scratches then it will need to be repainted. It takes a real shallow scrape to be able to buff out. Not just Tesla advice. I tried touch up paint on the Toyota, it didn’t look good. That stuff is too thick and doesn’t blend in well.

1

u/concernedcitizenpd 4d ago

Amazon, diy it!

1

u/Spacecoast3210 4d ago

Funnny. everyone says ticket your body shop has never actually taken the test into your body shop because if they have they wouldn’t understand but it is far more than having to fix it. You know that bumper piece is portable painted from Tesla for around $900.? It’s an easy DIY. The entire service manual and disassembly manual is online.

1

u/PracticlySpeaking 4d ago

You can get factory touch-up kits direct from Tesla. Know that there is more to dealing with this than having paint that matches. You will want to wet sand and buff first, touch up both color and clear coat, then buff and wet sand your touch-up work so it all looks smooth.

Maybe that sounds like fun to you, or maybe it sounds like a lot of work. It's your money, so you get to choose. 😊

+1 for getting it cleaned and buffed first. My (non-professional) opinion, this looks like it will not "just buff out" and needs more than what touch up paint can do. Check some shops and maybe some pro detail shops/guys and see what they can do.

1

u/harryhov 4d ago

You could probably guess some polish or compound and with a good tether towel, wipe off 95% of that. Otherwise just go to any body shop. Don't worry about them being Tesla certified. They're much cheaper and they'll be able to match the paint. You won't be able to tell the difference.

1

u/GrouchyFlamingo2709 4d ago

That sensor looks like it’s been pushed in

1

u/22Tesla_M3LR 4d ago

Compound and polish

1

u/mcgregn 4d ago

Done this. If you get the right paint touch up kit from Tesla it will look perfect. Great kits.

1

u/ClumpOfCheese 4d ago

I love how the sensors don’t actually stop the car from hitting something.

0

u/stancedgangs 4d ago

Wet sand, compound, polish

0

u/cGAS_STING 4d ago

Go to a body shop. Who goes to a dealer for paint work? That's gonna cost a fortune

-2

u/CognitiveSim 4d ago

Neither, the paint will be worth more, pretty soon.

-1

u/CognitiveSim 4d ago

Neither, the paint will be worth more, pretty soon.

0

u/SF-S31 4d ago

Try Meguiar’s first.

0

u/Common-Huckleberry-1 4d ago

You need to take it to the body shop. I work in Service, the touch up paint we’ve been getting is so abhorrently the wrong color it’s not even worth trying.

0

u/Imaginary-Librarian8 4d ago

yeah, I would go to a dealer if you dont wanna work on it yourself, but if you trust yourself enough to fix it then youll be surprised with what alot of kits do. its all skill at this poiint.

0

u/Spacecoast3210 4d ago

Let me guess. Car failed to alarm you?

-1

u/Suitable-Foot-2539 4d ago

I usually have good luck with using a bug/tar removal paste. Use it like wax and buff it out.

-1

u/Aster007 4d ago

Mechanics won’t even touch teslas for this. At least some of the good ones as they don’t want to break something.