[caycep]

For small rock chips and dings, do people usually DIY? Or take it to a body shop?

I have a chip but I think it will be larger than what a detailer can do with it. I think I can apply small amounts (paint and clear) with the BMW paint pens with enough masking etc, although I am nervous about light sanding the area around the chip. But knowing my local body shop, I'm pretty sure they will just do touch up themselves...

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by caycep

For small rock chips and dings, do people usually DIY? Or take it to a body shop?

I have a chip but I think it will be larger than what a detailer can do with it. I think I can apply small amounts (paint and clear) with the BMW paint pens with enough masking etc, although I am nervous about light sanding the area around the chip. But knowing my local body shop, I'm pretty sure they will just do touch up themselves...

if chip is on plastic I leave it alone, if chip is on metal then I touch up with a very fine paint brush - I can pretty much get it to where if you didn't know where to look you would never notice. I usually use the thinner you'd use on an air-brush to get the the right consistency - not the blob look, best to practice on a friends car

[BEM-S4]

Dr color chip is much better than BMW paint and a lot easier to use.

[Bmw240xi18]

Originally Posted by caycep

For small rock chips and dings, do people usually DIY? Or take it to a body shop?

I have a chip but I think it will be larger than what a detailer can do with it. I think I can apply small amounts (paint and clear) with the BMW paint pens with enough masking etc, although I am nervous about light sanding the area around the chip. But knowing my local body shop, I'm pretty sure they will just do touch up themselves...

Check this out:

[Guardian]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Dr color chip is much better than BMW paint and a lot easier to use.

+1 this. I have used Dr. Color Chip multiple times and it works amazingly well.

I have used it on a chip that was about the size of a pencil eraser, and after three "coats" of Dr CC, you can't tell it was there unless you get within a foot or so. Granted that was on a black car (not my BMW) so it made it less noticeable. But, for tiny chips on my alpine white BMW and my other vehicle, after Dr CC they are invisible unless you get within a couple of inches of the paint and know exactly where to look.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Guardian

+1 this. I have used Dr. Color Chip multiple times and it works amazingly well.

I have used it on a chip that was about the size of a pencil eraser, and after three "coats" of Dr CC, you can't tell it was there unless you get within a foot or so. Granted that was on a black car (not my BMW) so it made it less noticeable. But, for tiny chips on my alpine white BMW and my other vehicle, after Dr CC they are invisible unless you get within a couple of inches of the paint and know exactly where to look.

One other thing I would add - DCC is almost impossible to f*ck up. You would have to be completely brain dead to make things worse. So yeah it might not be 100% professional quality result, but it will absolutely look better and get you 75+% back to perfect. Other products I have used I actually ended up making things worse and having a big mess of extra paint and whatnot for a pro to clean up.