Swirl marks / paint damage on bonnet

[abajaj]

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I know you are going to find this funny, but here goes - this is a description of my problem to an online paint store:

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While clearing dried bird droppings from the bonnet my car (BMW 3 series metallic
black), my wife inadvertantly used a synthetic scouring pad (the same type used for kitchen utensils) to get rid of the hard-to-remove bird poop.

This has left (cloudy) swirl marks on the bonnet that a standard wax (e.g. Turtle Wax) does not cover-up.

What would you advise for such a problem. I am loath to having the whole panel
repainted (very expensive I am sure) - but I am also afraid that a touch-up job
using a pen will be easily visible (esp. since the scratches are on the bonnet which
is the first thing one sees in a car).
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Based on this, the store folks concluded that the damage was to the laquer, not to the paint layers (or even the primer). I think that is a reasonable assessment because I dont see any removal of paint - just cloudy swirls indicting damage to the top layer of laquer.

They have advised me that I should use Farecla G3 rubbing compound (ammonia free) to see if I can remove the damaged coat(s) of laquer and also the swirl marks / scratches in the process.

They mention that BMW's have plenty of lacquer coats, so this will definitely cause damage and is certainly worth trying before going for a more expensive solution.

i) what do you think of this advice?
ii) can you please suggest another way for me to fix this damage (if this doesnt work)?

Thanks!
Anurag Bajaj

[peterkulesza]

the paint folks seem to be right. i have no clue about that compound though. i'd recommend a gentle polish (mcguire online store) followed by clay, then wax.

careful with the rubbing as you do it, cos you can take off the clear coat, and then you are screwed.

peter

[abajaj]

Instead of using a rubbing compound to take off a layer of the clear coat (to get rid of the swirls), cant I ADD a layer of clearcoat instead?

That seems to be a much more constructive option and less risky as well.

How do I go about doing that?

Or is this totally whacky?

-Anurag

[007ben]

Check the detailing section. some good info there.

[Silver4evr]

What color is your car?

Also, clear coat is just clear paint. I had a small area of my car (the bottom of the passenger side windshield pillar) painted and clear coated after the dealer put several small scratches on it that penetrated to the primer. Visually and by touch you wouldn't know it was there. So it can be done.

If only the clear coat has scratches, you should first rub it out.
I use white polishing compound by No.7 to remove heavy scratches/swirls.
Some of the detailers/painter use 1200 or 1500 grit sand paper for stuff like this.

Check the detailing forum for more info and techniques of scratch removal

Start out with the light stuff and proceed with the heavier compounds until you see results.

[abajaj]

Cosmos black (metallic black). (And hence the problem - the scratches are quite visible on that colour).

[Silver4evr]

check the detailing forum.
Good luck.

[abajaj]

OK guys, this Farecla G3 thingy is quite good. Got rid of 80% of the damage (now only I can tell where the swirl marks previously existed). I guess that the rest will go over time with polishing and a little more Farecla. These chaps are on the web too: www.farecla.com

[Silver4evr]

Let us know how it goes. You might want to post a note in the detailing section outlining everything that happened and how you solved the problem.

Good job!