I am just curious what in your guys opinion is the best way to remove rock scratches and just small scratches all over the car from over the years.

I ordered some OEM touch up paint, im wondering whats the best way to "Prep" the car before touching it up.

I was reading use 2000 grit wet sand paper, then hit it with some turtle wax rubbing compound then put on the touch up paint, let it sit for 15 min, hit it again. Then wax it.

Does that sound right?

 

Rock chips/scratches are incredibly hard to cover up properly. Although you may have the correct oem factory paint color, matching a car's paint that is at the youngest ~6 years old with exposure to plenty of UV/sun (I see that you live in AZ), it is close to impossible; unless you have alot of experience with auto paint. If you do not, I would just get it painted and clear bra the front bumper/front half of hood to prevent rock chips in the future. I do realize you may have scratches and I apologize that this is not exactly what you want to hear, but the best way to go is to get a quote from a professional auto paint shop.

 

Where are the "scratches"?What color is your car?
As already mentioned,its difficult to get a perfect color match.The OEM paint
you are getting prolly will not match.Depending on any other color than black,you
may have to do some mixing with other touch up paints to get the right shade.
I'd be careful with your plans to wet sand and use rubbing compound.You may end
up having a bigger mess than just the scratches.I'd just use cleaner to remove any wax and rubbing alcohol.Any of the areas in spots that can be covered with body mods like carbon fiber?

 

I've used the Langka system, but it requires some attention to detail. Works well on deeper chips and scratches than the really tiny stuff. You might also find a professional detailer in your area who may be able to work wonders. There are guys out there who service car dealers when they take in trades, and I've seen some amazing results.

http://langka.com/

 

Yeah... a profession detailer is gonna charge me an arm and a leg, and I dont wanna buy and new bumper and paint it, im trying to take the cheap route. Im not expecting perfection. The color is daytona blue.

 

 

Haven't tried that, but it appears to be similar in principle to the Langka stuff.

 

Pics -

 

That's pretty rough. If you cab find a good color match, you get the proper brushes (no toothpicks, or the brush in the cap of the paint bottle), you thin the paint (so you can put on multiple super-thin coats without building up a big blob), and you're very patient, it might turn out OK. You might even try buying aerosol paint, since it's already water-thin, and apply with a good-quality natural sable brush.

 

Hate to tell you this, but you definitely arent going to match that with a paint marker OEM color or not.

It needs to be re painted then a clear bra sprayed if you want it to last.

 

I suggest some valerian root.

 

I've airbrushed chips using PPG paint, have to have an artist's eye to blend it perfectly. Now, I just wrap over the entire car and it looks brand new.

 

I don't think you are going to have much luck with the bumper - I took mine in for paint a couple years back ( mines an '03 with now, 142k on the clock ) and they convinced me it made more sense to replace it. I think unpainted it was around $350 or. They said the prep work would cost at least half of that and it still would have issues. And mine is black, not difficult to match. I use the Dr Color Chip for the little things and it works pretty well.

 

I think you guys think im expecting perfection, im not.

Im sinply looking for the best/cheapest solution to IMPROVE it and make it look a bit nicer, im not looking/expecting for it to look factory brand new without having the paint the whole bumper, its an 11yr old car, the rest of the car has other scratches, dents etc from over the years, as expected.

 

I have decades of experience with touch-up paint, and my results are excellent. But this has gone too far for a quick fix. Time to get the bumper painted.

 

davidv is correct. I had mine repainted and then 3m bra put on. No more chips, looks new, shines like a champ. That would be a good route for yours, it's a lot more chipped then mine was. It would like brand new then. Mine a 2003 also.

 

Dr colorchip works great, as said a repaint then PPF would be the best solution