minor scratches

[Skunk2R0722]

i just reciently noticed some minor scratches on my hood of my 99 323i does anyone kno how i can fix these w/o taking it to a body shop or anything like that and if so what color silver would my car be? or how could i find out what color it could be?

 

[nadroj]

you could try and use a clay bar make sure you use it right

 

[christyles]

Claybar is for surface contaminants stuck on the surface like industrial fallout, tree sap, bug, tar.

Depending on the depth of scratches, anything as mild as polish will suffice. If the scratch is deeper, you might have to use compound (different grades) or even wetsand. I know there is commercial scratch removers out there like Meguiars ScratchX, but I've only used industrial grade products in my business so I don't know how well the commercial products work. Keep in mind, some scratch removal products claim to be "scratch removal" products but really are only "fillers". It fills in the scratches, and eventually the scratch comes back.

I would highly recommend taking it to a reputable auto detailer in your area. Unless you have a friend who is experienced with such work.

Good luck.

 

[Skunk2R0722]

yea ive used that scratch x before my friend has a 1995 or 94 toyota supra and the headlights were a little blurry so we tried to wet sand it and that just made it worse and then we too some scratch x and now theyre really clear but ive never heard of a clay bar before

 

[sly]

If you are inexperienced it's best to be cautious because you can easily make the problem worse, especially if you use a compound. The safest thing to do is to ask around and find a reputable detailer in your area. For less than a $100, he'll be able to remove the scratches or at least minimize them. If you do it yourself, try to polish it out with a good polish and orbital polisher. If you've never used an orbital polisher before, experiment on an inconspicuous part of your car. Remember to use light pressure and don't let the polisher stay in one spot. Move it around, and take your time. Patience is the key. It may take some time, but you should be happy with the result.

 

[christyles]

yea ive used that scratch x before my friend has a 1995 or 94 toyota supra and the headlights were a little blurry so we tried to wet sand it and that just made it worse and then we too some scratch x and now theyre really clear but ive never heard of a clay bar before

depending on the grit of sand paper, you would typically rebuff the surface with a G3 or G10 compound, then polish with a plastic polish. But normal paint polish works as well.

Just wetsanding will haze up the surface and that's that.

Skunk... if you didn't get the wetsanding right, it would be ill-advised to attempt claybar which is a useless step with scratches anyways. As scratches are below surface.

By wetsanding / compounding, your feathering the surface around the edge of the scratch to reduce the abrupt gouge that the scratch has inflicted. This is what reduces the appearance of the scratch cause your leveling out the surface. Level of difficulty is heightened by the depth of the scratch. Needless to say, if you're inexperienced with wetsanding and compounding, you wetsand or burn right through your clear cloat / paint and down to primer if do too much or if the rpm on your polisher is to high, too much pressure etc etc etc.

And like what Sly said, for under $100 bucks, you should be able to get that repaired no problem.

I run a detailing business here in Toronto and I would charge about $30 - 70 p/scratch. depending on length of scratch & depth and number of scratches.

Cheers.

 

[Skunk2R0722]

hey guys thanks for the help i think ill just take it too the local automotive collosion repar center in town and ask then what they can do thanks!