At the summit of the picturesque fens
My E89 has had a crease in the centre of the rear lower bumper/ valance since we got it two years ago. It looks like somebody reversed into a towbar or the corner of a post. On and off for those two years I have been considering how to sort it out. Used items from eBay are usually knackered and expensive and a replacement from BMW is very expensive.
So yesterday I took the valance off and set about trying to sort it. I didn't have much hope of improving it, as the crease was pretty sharp (you can see what is was like in the following pictures).
I heated up the creased area with a hairdryer and while still pretty warm, I tapped the top down with a hammer, the end covered in electrical tape to help with added dents. From the inside, again while quite warm, I used a thin piece of steel on the crease and hit that with a hammer. I had to do this a few times, heating it back up each time. I managed to push the dents below flush; so then filled the area with U-Pol plastic filler.
Once dried I sanded it all back flush with 320, 600 and finally 1500 grit wet and dry. I then sanded the whole piece with 600 grit to flatten the paint.
I bought a can of 'Sophisto Grey' metallic (A90 code) from Halfords and sprayed it with a couple of coats. Then finished it with a few coats of clear lacquer.
I was not expecting much TBH and was preparing to buy a replacement bumper if it didn't work well.
I am well chuffed with how it has come out; not 100% perfect but probably 95% and you can't notice any imperfections unless you runa finger across it. Cost me £10.99 for the paint; I had the plastic filler and lacquer already from a previous repair to the front valance.
Before:
After:
So yesterday I took the valance off and set about trying to sort it. I didn't have much hope of improving it, as the crease was pretty sharp (you can see what is was like in the following pictures).
I heated up the creased area with a hairdryer and while still pretty warm, I tapped the top down with a hammer, the end covered in electrical tape to help with added dents. From the inside, again while quite warm, I used a thin piece of steel on the crease and hit that with a hammer. I had to do this a few times, heating it back up each time. I managed to push the dents below flush; so then filled the area with U-Pol plastic filler.
Once dried I sanded it all back flush with 320, 600 and finally 1500 grit wet and dry. I then sanded the whole piece with 600 grit to flatten the paint.
I bought a can of 'Sophisto Grey' metallic (A90 code) from Halfords and sprayed it with a couple of coats. Then finished it with a few coats of clear lacquer.
I was not expecting much TBH and was preparing to buy a replacement bumper if it didn't work well.
I am well chuffed with how it has come out; not 100% perfect but probably 95% and you can't notice any imperfections unless you runa finger across it. Cost me £10.99 for the paint; I had the plastic filler and lacquer already from a previous repair to the front valance.
Before:
After:
Scottish Borders
:thumbsdown: 
I have another set of plates but they have Shytner on them, so rock and a hard place! 
Devon
