what is the best way to get them out? have them buffed out or do it yourself? has anyone buffed scratches out themselves? what are your thoughts on this.
Be very careful on what ever you do. A good wax coat will fill some of the little scratches and make it look a lot better. You could look into wet sanding your car or if the scratches are down to the primer, then get a paint detailing kit with your color red from BMW. good luck.
How deep are the scratches we are talking about??? Can you feel them with your fingernail? If that is the case, I would say hire a professional to see if they can take it out. Most professionial detailers will tell you what can or cannot be done before they start your detail.
If we are just talking about swirl marks or very light scratches, I would say do it yourself if you are up to the task of polishing the hell out of it by hand. Unless you really love deatiling, I might suggest hiring a pro. Or spend some time researching how swirl marks and light scratches are taken out. I would recommend browsing through the Autopia.com forums to find out more info. If you have any questions feel free to PM me or post them here so everyone can benefit from the answers. BTW the guy who posts here under the name of exceldetail has a ton of good info on doing swirl and light scratch removal.
I'd have to recommend getting a pro to do it. My experiences with products on the market have yielded poor results to date, and the swirl marks on my car are very shallow - you can't catch your fingernail on them.
I'm going through a transitional period with mine at the moment and one of things I'll have to address is those buggersome swirl marks - or as I keep accidentally mispronouncing them, squirl marks.
what color are the scratches??? if they are white then their is nothing that can be done b/c its down to the primer
if is not try a clay bar b/c it removes the dirt from the scrach making it less noticeable
u can also used your scratch x and just rub more it may take time but it will work
Originally posted by Cruzin 323is@Mar 10 2005, 06:18 PM unless u know what your doing?? don't try to buff them out.. because u WILL burn the paint!! and then your screwed!
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What he said... but if they ARE those swirl marks... sometimes getting it prof. waxed is what CAUSES those little bastards. Are they deep enough for pictures?
First if the scratch has penatrated the clear coat don't bother wasting you time.
Start with the finest cutting materials possible..... like a prewax cleaner and work you way to the heavier stuff.
3M makes a whole series of cutting pastes that are desginated by grit. If your not sure what your doing and willing to take the risk yourself head to local paint shop (automotive of course) and describe the scratch to them, they will recommend the right grits to cut through it...... if you get really good then they may even throw you some superfine wetting sanding materials to work it out. Just take your time and be patient!
I keep a bottle of 3M Perfect III which is this grittest they get around for serious cutting, and a bottle of topps-all Blue magic to restore the clearcoat when Im done.
To do list:
Suspension--- researching
UUC System U TDM- 3/05
M50 manifold converstion 3/05
off to the tuning shop for custom software 4/05
Cams/lightened flywheel, throttlebody........ well lets see what happens
The usual rule of thumb (or thumbnail) is if you can feel it with your nail then its too deep to cut out......you need it professionally touched up.....if you can't feel it when you run your nail over the scratch, then a carefull cutting with something like T-cut will take the mark/bruise away.......notice I say mark/bruise, if it can be called a scratch then no amonut of cutting back will eradticate it until you f**k up the paint.
Originally posted by Boxbrownie@Mar 13 2005, 05:06 PM The usual rule of thumb (or thumbnail) is if you can feel it with your nail then its too deep to cut out......you need it professionally touched up.....if you can't feel it when you run your nail over the scratch, then a carefull cutting with something like T-cut will take the mark/bruise away.......notice I say mark/bruise, if it can be called a scratch then no amonut of cutting back will eradticate it until you f**k up the paint.
Best regards David
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thnx for all the replies, this weekend i am gonna try to get some of the light scratches out and if i am sucessful i will let you know. After that i am gonna take on the chips and deeper key marks.
I have a bunch of scrattches and marks on my car? Whats the average price range that the detailer will quote me? What's too much money and what is too little?
Originally posted by afrochapin@Apr 26 2005, 10:58 PM I have a bunch of scrattches and marks on my car? Whats the average price range that the detailer will quote me? What's too much money and what is too little?
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depends really. i know that i have a friend that said he could get it done prof. for about $200. I am gonna tackle em myself at least most of them once the weather is better and i get around to it. you would have to call and price the work. i know BMW said that they charge $60 a chip.
If you want to fix it yourself, consider a PC 7424/7336. Or, get it professionaly repaired, and then wish you had spent the $ on a PC.......Its really not a whole lot of effort, and is extremely rewarding. Myself, Mathgr8er and others who are familiar with it would be more then happy to assist you.....
(Crap, this post is like a yr old !!!)
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