A4 painted bumper durability? (no Q content)

[John Legelis <jlegelis@fmrco.com>]

My 97 A4Q is the first car I've owned with painted bumpers.  After only 7k 
miles ther rear bumper has been  scuffed and marred in a number places by 
careless bumper-kissing New England parallel parkers.   It's quite 
frustrating to have a shiny, dent-free car blemished in this fashion.  Have 
other people experienced this issue?  Any thoughs?  Is respraying the 
bumber expensive?

Thanks.

p.s. My car is dark blue metallic - perhaps it shows damage a little more 
readily than the other colors?