How to fix cracking paintwork and dents on your car bumper

Here’s how to fix damage to a plastic car bumper, right through to repairing the paintwork using colour-matched car paint.

Fixing dents and gouges in your car paintwork

Tools

• Plastic filler
• Sandpaper and block
• Panel Wipe & Cloth
• Masking tape

A note about plastic filler

We recommend plastic filler for repairing plastic panels & bumpers. Our MPEX Plastic Filler is a flexible product specifically for this job. Importantly, its flexing qualities prevent future cracking if the substrate flexes. It’s also got great adhesion to all plastic types.

How to fix the damage

1. Mask the area you need to sand - sometimes it’s hard to judge by eye where you need to stop.
2. Sand the area using sandpaper. Using it with a block will allow you to apply even pressure across the damaged area and avoid creating more damage. Your aim is to flatten raised damage and remove old paint down to the primer (the white layer). Sanding also provides a key for the filler that creates better adhesion.
3. Remove dust with the cleaner and a cloth.
4. Apply your plastic filler, filling the damage so it’s standing proud of surface level. Let it harden.
5. Use your sandpaper and block again to carefully sand the filler to the surface level of your bumper.

Fixing cracking paint on your car bumper

Tools

As above, plus:

• Reinforcing mesh/tape

How to fix the damage

1. As above - mask the area.
2. As above - sand the area front and back.
3. As above - remove dust.
4. Cut a section of mesh to size and put it to one side. Make sure it will overlay the damaged area with good margins on all sides - 20-30mm should be sufficient.
5. Gently align the split edges. You might need to apply a length of tape to the front of the crack to stop them offsetting again.
6. Apply your plastic filler to the back of the bumper. Quickly, while it’s still pliable, affix the reinforcing tape, making sure it will bond well to the filler and the back surface of the bumper. Let it harden. No sanding required.
7. On the front surface of the bumper, apply a layer of filler and work it into the crack, again giving good margins so you can blend it in. The layer should stand a little proud of the original surface so you can blend it in. Let it harden.
8. As above, use your sandpaper and block again to carefully sand the filler to the front surface level of your bumper.

Painting your bumper

Tools

• Primer aerosol
• Colour-matched car paint aerosol
• Lacquer aerosol

How to paint your car bumper

1. Order your primer, paint and lacquer, plus other accessories like masking tape and sandpaper. You can select your most convenient timeframe for delivery at checkout.
2. You won’t need to paint the back surface of your bumper.
3. Mask off an area with wide margins, bigger than the damaged/fixed area. This will allow you to blend in your primer, paint and lacquer so the repair isn’t obvious.
4. Either vertically or horizontally, apply the primer in smooth cross coats 250mm distance from the repair.
5. Leave to dry.
6. Repeat the same for the car paint. Let it dry for 15 minutes before applying a second coat if necessary.
7. Leave 24 hours before applying the lacquer.
8. After use, turn the aerosol upside down to empty the nozzle valve to clean, so you can use it again if you need to. Hopefully, you won’t!
9. Our Professional Scratch & Scuff Repair Kit will help you blend in the repair even further.

Read our full list of tips and advice about how to use touch-up car paints before you start.