So, I just picked up my 2006 Black Touring on Saturday 11/05 and when I got the car home I noticed two scratches on the roof that are bugging the hell out of me. What im wondering is what steps to take to "get rid" of the scratches, I also noticed a couple on the drivers side that I want to "get rid" of.

Thanks in advance, all feedback welcome.

-Karl

 

It all depends on how bad the scratches are? If they are only "swirl marks" then they can be easily polished out with a swirl mark remover (SMR). If they are a result of something rubbing against the car, it may be deep enough that it would require a light compound then SMR. If it's something that so deep that you can feel it with a fingernail, then it will probably need to be sanded, etc.

You can start with something really mild like 3M SMR or one of several other "scratch removers". If that doesn't work, then you'll have to try the next step up (compounds). If that doesn't work, take it to a body shop or back to the dealer if you trust them to get it done correctly.

 

Thanks a lot Dave, I've been looking around and think I've found a decent place that will be able to get the job done correctly.

Again, thanks for the response.

-Karl

 

Is '3M SMR' what I'm looking for? Who would carry that? I have a scratch just over the rear fender and I can't seem to rub it out ... originally I thought it was something on top of the paint, but it looks like a scratch ... relatively 'deep' ... almost like someone rubbed a piece of metal or a key along it. It's only like 5-6" long, so it probably wasn't on purpose ... I'm guessing someone trying to get into their car carrying something rubbed against mine with something hanging out of their pockets (keys, cellphone, something) ... If you can recommend where I can pick up that 3M stuff, I'll give it a shot ... or one of those 'compounds' even ...

The scratch is driving me nuts cause I know it's there ...

 

jdg345,

You can usually find SMR at places like Autozone, PepBoys, etc. We have a Carquest paint store in town that carries all kinds of paint & body related products. I suspect their regular parts stores would also carry it.

3M makes several compounds you can try, if the SMR doesn't do any good, try the fine or medium cuts. Then follow up with the SMR and finally polish/wax.

BTW, if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, chances are you won't compound it out, or it might take a machine to do it.

 

Bummer ... I can feel it with a fingernail ...

I'll head to the store and see what I can find ... Thank you!

 

if you just bought the car, maybe you should take it back to the dealer and ask 'em where the hell the scratches came from and demand they fix 'em!

 

take it back to the dealer, I too found a couple of chips out of the paint work had them completely repainted and not by a diy paint kit.

 

I had really good luck with that Maguires scratch X, for light scratches....but you just picked it from the dealership????S....Brand New??? SH*t I d take it back to their a$$ so they can fix it

 

Nono ... sorry to mislead ... it's not brand new ... well ... it is ... I've had it for a few months (since August) ... but with all the Hurricanes and Debris in the road, she has been tucked away safe in the garage ... probably has like 1400 miles on it at most. So it's new, but not that kinda new that I can take it back to the dealer ...

 

I'll try to get a picture of the scratch ... I just tried but it doesn't come out well with flash ... I washed the car today so I could try the 3M stuff but ran out of daylight. Tomorrow, I'll try to snap a picture with natural sunlight and see if it comes out enough to post here. I'll also try the 3M stuff and try some before/after shots if I can ... Thanks for all the advice!

 

I talked to my dealer and he told me to bring it in so they can fix the scratches. I pick it up later today along with my new exhaust and intake
Hopefully the scratches will be gone, if not, that dealer and I will have words.

Thanks for the replies all...

Karl

 

Okay, so I have good news, and I have bad news ... the good news is, I was able to repair the first scratch with the 3M Scratch Remover (black bottle with silver lettering). It came right out ... no issues!

More good news: I think I know where the scratch came from. The garage is now off-limits to everyone but me for home entry and exit. Apparently, someone squeezing between my shelves and my car with cellphones in their pockets are the latest suspects.

Bad news: There is now a first scratch and a second scratch. The first is all but gone. The second was a deeper 'gash' that looked as if someone took a white piece of chalk to the rear fender about 18" long. I used the 3M product on it again and it made it more 'transparent' You can still see the scratch but it isn't a bright white chalk line any longer. I applied (3) times to see and that's the best I could get.

I bought the Meguire's Scratch and Swirl remover today. The guy at Autozone said it was their best scratch removal product. I haven't tried it yet but plan to give it a shot tomorrow.

There was a mention of some additional compounds. Does anyone have any links and/or formal product names? That is my next stop if this doesn't work.

Is the Zaino scratch remover any better than the Meguire's or 3M or these other 'compounds' ?

Thanks everyone for your help!

-jdg

 

great if you can provide some pictures!

 

:bump: to see if anyone has any thoughts on what compounds I can use that are better than the 3M and Meguire's Products ...

visionboy: What pictures did you want to see? The scratch ones?

 

yes a close up of the scratches...and if possible, after they're removed

 

Meguire's Scratch and Swirl comes in a couple of different cut levels too. There's a 1-800 on the back of the bottle where you can call and get actual advice from Meguire's. I called on my swirls and the guy recommended the #9 product because my car is Super Black and they recommend starting with the milder of the two formulas on dark cars. I searched four places and never found #9 (found it on the Internet) so I ended up with 3M's swirl pad glazing compound for dark cars.

 

I'll try to give them a call then ... thanks Paul!

visionboy : I'll take some pictures today if the clouds will go away long enough to get some sunshine ... too dark without the flash and they don't show up with the flash at all ...

 

you guys recommend using the 3M rubbing compound or do you think it's too harsh?

I used some on an older black car I had, that was totally oxidized, and it brought it back to almost a new brilliant shine........I just don't want to use something too harsh on this paint but I think the rubbing compound will get rid of the swirl marks instead of me having to use the buffer. I'd of course follow up with a hand app of the 3M SMR, and Z5 followed by Z wax.

 

Thanks, that would be great