The car door has a minor scratch, should it be partially or entirely repainted?
4 Answers
The car door has a minor scratch and needs to be entirely repainted; otherwise, there will be color differences. On the same object and plane, even a slight color variation can be very noticeable. Once color differences occur, the paint surface will look like a patch, appearing very unattractive. Therefore, except for the front and rear bumpers, which can be partially repainted, the rest must be repainted as a whole surface. Relevant details are as follows: Standard automotive paint process: The standard automotive paint process includes inspecting the lines, flat (arc) surfaces, gaps of the repaired sheet metal parts, sanding and finishing beveled edges, dust removal, cleaning, masking, applying primer, filling with putty, sanding putty, applying masking paper, spraying intermediate paint, sanding intermediate paint, removing fine dust from the car body, spraying solid color topcoat, spraying base color paint, clear coat spraying, baking, waxing, and polishing. Process requirements: Most automotive repair units in China perform body surface paint repairs using manual single-vehicle operations. To ensure the quality of the body surface paint, automotive spray painting equipment is generally required. Spray painting and baking booths are produced by several manufacturers and come in large, medium, and small sizes. Large ones are suitable for group buses, medium for minibuses and travel vans, and small for cars. When small equipment is unavailable, medium or large ones can be used as substitutes.
After a minor door scrape, as an ordinary car owner, I believe localized treatment should be prioritized. For shallow scratches, using a touch-up pen or small-area spray painting is sufficient: clean surface dust, sand the dented area slightly, then cover with matching paint—cost-effective and quick. If the metal is exposed, localized sealing to prevent rust is crucial. Full treatment is too expensive, costing at least several hundred yuan, and may affect the original factory coating. I recommend first assessing the depth and location of the scrape: if it's on the middle of the door or a corner, touch-up paint can blend evenly; but if it's deep or large, consult a professional shop for full repair to ensure a consistent appearance. Regularly inspect the paint surface to minimize delays, turning minor issues into non-issues. From a long-term maintenance perspective, adopting a habit of minor repairs extends the door's lifespan and avoids unnecessary expenses.
I personally think minor door scratches don't require immediate full-door repainting. After thorough cleaning, localized treatments like polishing compound or touch-up paint can restore 80% of the appearance while saving significant costs. However, pay attention to the scratch condition: shallow scratches can be DIY fixed at home; for deep damage or exposed metal, professional spot repair or full anti-rust repainting is necessary. Color matching is crucial to avoid noticeable mismatches. Economically speaking, solving big problems with small investments makes more sense. I've encountered similar situations where delayed treatment led to moisture corrosion worsening the damage. Quick action is advised, along with regular paint maintenance to prevent future issues. With this approach, the car's exterior appearance won't be significantly affected.
For minor door scratches, I prefer localized treatment. It's affordable and convenient: clean the stain, apply a small patch to maintain the original color consistency. However, if the scratch is deep enough to expose bare metal, localized sealing is crucial to prevent corrosion. Full treatment is costly, time-consuming, and may not match perfectly. First, assess the extent of the damage; try DIY for minor issues, and consult professionals for major ones. This approach maintains aesthetics while saving money.
