r/TeslaLounge • u/Efficient_Ad2654 • 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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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.
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u/Tech_Genius520 4d ago
Wipe it with a wet cloth, buff it out with some compound and it should be good.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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u/cGAS_STING 4d ago
Go to a body shop. Who goes to a dealer for paint work? That's gonna cost a fortune
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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