Hi all, my 2017 paint looks awful after I waxed my car. Am thinking the small front “bumper” and the entire back bumper are plastic? Is that correct? Any way to make this look less junky?

(The scratches on the back are from moving beach chairs in and out, but that doesn’t explain the wax scratches/dullness).

Dealership told me I’d need entire new bumpers aka $900+ body work.

 

The front you may be able to wet sand and polish to bring some of the looks back. The rear bumper is bad. And it looks like somebody has been scratching it loading and unloading from the trunck.
The estimate you received is for removing and completely repainting.. The rear bumper not difficult to remove and you may save some money removing it having it repainted and installing it yourself. You do did another person to help mostly just supporting it while the fatteners are applied. Paint and supplies will still be about 300 dollars with about 200 labor .

 

Thanks for your reply...that's what I feared re: the scratches, but it's weird how the waxing made the sides of the rear bumper so much worse. Like the deep scratches yes, but then all the general faxing/hash marks...

 

Its hard to say it may have been your choice of "WAX" If you did use paste wax then I can see that happening. You can likely polish out the front and even make the rear look better. But it will take a little "grunt" power and 3 step application of POLISHES now.
Also do not polish any part of a painted surface in the sun of if the body parts exceed 80F degree. So early in the morning where you live is best time.

 

Thanks for following up. Do you have any specific polish suggestions?

I used Meguiar wax thinking I was doing something good to protect the scratches etc, and it worked on the rest of the body but I guess these parts are more plastic…didn’t expect the entire back panel to be so plastic.

 

Well... you many want to stick with Meguiars. It is a good line, but you need to get the correct polishes to use. You should be able to get most any of their product in your area. Go to their website and learn what will work best for you. It is going to take a little effort, but you can make it a lot better looking than its current state.
I use some Meguiars but mostly Protect-it product line and directly get all my supplies from Products – Protect It Inc.