[NFS]

As you probably know I'm not the most active on the car detailing front.

However, I've just got back from my hols in the Southwest and after 2 weeks of driving down narrow lanes my first wash has revealed some very fine scratches down the passenger side of the car in the clear-coat.

Most of these are just about invisible after an application of 'lazy wax' (turtle wax - wax it wet) which is about the best I can usually manage.

One is still fairly prominent though - and it goes right through the front wing and both doors.

Is there anything I can do to get rid of it without major surgery?

I've also got a nasty door ding on the passenger side rear wing (b*stardos) as well as a scratch behind the rear drivers side door that I'm going to try to get 'chips away' to remove.

All advice would be welcome.

[booforty]

I hate that... every time I go into a bush I come out with scratches...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beauforty

I hate that... every time I go into a bush I come out with scratches...

Get them to shave.

[Micky Dee]

but watch out for stubble..........

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Micky Dee

but watch out for stubble..........

Meanwhile .... what should I do about the scratch marks on my car ....

Sell it and buy a 335i

[mjh93sa]

That's the only way of really being sure they're gone.

If they are only in the laquer you night be able to polish them out. Take a look at somewhere like www.detailingworld.co.uk or the "detailing matt" section on babybmw.net for lots of people polishing cars to good effect. A decent detailer with all the right kit might be a bit pricy, but should make it look as close to new as possible.

[silverbmwz3]

NFS. If you can feel your finger nail catching in it then I believe it means it has gone through the clear coat. The detailers Matt is reffering to will probably "wet sand" it which sounds harsh but they simply reduce the level of clear coat surrounding the scratch to the same level as the scratch then polish it up.

Once mine gets some marks (it already has a few) I intend to get it professionally detailed and the paintwork corrected. Will probably cost a few hundred quid but to get rid of stone chips and scratches (which they can do) and take it back to as-new condition I reckon it'll be worth it. There's only so much they can do though. Usually someone in your area will pop out if they are around your way and give you a free quote.

See if only you had an auto you'd have been concentrating on driving and not changing gears and it wouldn't have happened Only kiddin.

Post some pics?

[booforty]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

Post some pics?

Of the offending hedge...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

NFS. If you can feel your finger nail catching in it then I believe it means it has gone through the clear coat. The detailers Matt is reffering to will probably "wet sand" it which sounds harsh but they simply reduce the level of clear coat surrounding the scratch to the same level as the scratch then polish it up.

Once mine gets some marks (it already has a few) I intend to get it professionally detailed and the paintwork corrected. Will probably cost a few hundred quid but to get rid of stone chips and scratches (which they can do) and take it back to as-new condition I reckon it'll be worth it. There's only so much they can do though. Usually someone in your area will pop out if they are around your way and give you a free quote.

See if only you had an auto you'd have been concentrating on driving and not changing gears and it wouldn't have happened Only kiddin.

Post some pics?

You definitely can't feel it. The scratches are very fine ...

I was kind of hoping that a better quality wax might hide it. Also what about t-cut ... will that feather the edges a little?

Can anyone recommend a detailer in Solihull? That might be my best bet.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beauforty

Of the offending hedge...

I didn't get any pics of the hedge ... I was going too fast

[silverbmwz3]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

You definitely can't feel it. The scratches are very fine ...

I was kind of hoping that a better quality wax might hide it. Also what about t-cut ... will that feather the edges a little?

Can anyone recommend a detailer in Solihull? That might be my best bet.

I think you can get some waxes that act like 'fillers'. I got some Meg's scratchx for fine scratches on mine - if you watch the vids on their site it is amazing but I worked really hard on it and didn't get a result.

If you post some pics it might help (of the scratches, seen enough hedges

Best bet for detailers is to post on detailing world. I reckon there'll be loads near you, even a decent amateur with a polishing machine could probably do the job by the sound of it.

I'd steer clear of T-Cut - think its a hammer and nut kind of stuff.

You could email my favourite supplier at polishedbliss who are also top detailers and ask their advice (again pics will prob help), they might even know someone near you.

enquiries@polishedbliss.co.uk

tell them Paul sent you.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

I think you can get some waxes that act like 'fillers'. I got some Meg's scratchx for fine scratches on mine - if you watch the vids on their site it is amazing but I worked really hard on it and didn't get a result.

If you post some pics it might help (of the scratches, seen enough hedges

Best bet for detailers is to post on detailing world. I reckon there'll be loads near you, even a decent amateur with a polishing machine could probably do the job by the sound of it.

I'd steer clear of T-Cut - think its a hammer and nut kind of stuff.

You could email my favourite supplier at polishedbliss who are also top detailers and ask their advice (again pics will prob help), they might even know someone near you.

enquiries@polishedbliss.co.uk

tell them Paul sent you.

Cheers for that .. the scratch x looks worth a try, but I'm concerned it didn't work for you.

The link Matt posted had some stuff about 'glazes' to temporarily fill the clear coat ... are these any good ... can anyone recommend ?

[mjh93sa]

Try this for a bit of light reading: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...es_polish.html

I've never used more than the Zymol HD-Cleanse, which is a very light polish that is really only intended to remove all the wax and crud from the paint surface as a preparation for proper waxing.

[OriginalFrak]

It's always hard to tell without seeing the depth and width of the scoring but..

We live in the southwest, and I'm always telling my wife to not try and squeeze past other tourist cars on the lanes especially when there are lovely bramble bushes on the passenger side.

Their needles leave those super thin but very deep scratches all down the left hand side of her car. (Bonnet to rear quarter)

So far though - I've been able to "fill them up " with a polish with fillers in.
I've had good results with Auto Glym Super Resin Polish - but you seem to need to use more on the application cloth than you think is required for best filling results.

Not so much that you leave a horrible thick white powedery coating on the paintwork though - would be hell to get off by hand without leaving marring.

Really work it in with a terry pad until it almost disappears - then leave couple of mins - then buff off with a microfibre - rinse and repeat if necessary - maybe the second time applying with a foam applicator to make sure your not overdoing it.

This article comparing polishes that cut and fill should give you some idea of what can be achieved by hand.
Auto Glym SRP Versus Other Cut and Fill Polishes

[2GPP]

Time to trade it for a 335i
Absolutely loving mine!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by 2GPP

Time to trade it for a 335i
Absolutely loving mine!

Maybe so ... but I should probably sort the hedge marks out first to maximise resale value

Poor shot of the scratch from my phone camera.

It's not deep at all, just fine scuffing of the top layer of clearcoat. You can't feel it at all, but it is quite visible:

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I didn't get any pics of the hedge ... I was going too fast

Use a faster shutter speed.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Use a faster shutter speed.

OK, this time following SoYanks advice ... here is the offending hedge:



The farmer has trimmed it now, but there were long sticky out green bits which brushed against the side of my nice shiny car.

[silverbmwz3]

NFS I'm dissapointed - there's at least 2 cars width there before you start scratching the paintwork

I took my e90 to devon with lanes like that when it was about 7 days old. The only hazard I had trouble with was seagulls when I got to my car in the morning, it looked like they'd been out for a curry the night before and then decided to use my car as target practice. Still got the marks on the roof to prove it.

[ChrisMWard]

I've had the same problem, my wife comes from Cornwall.

Last time she was back home the 335 came back with some serious bush marks down the passenger side. My cousin (also lives down there) recommended Turtle Wax Safe Cut Scratch Remover. It worked really well and got rid of the offending marks in combination with the Autoglym SRP.

Regards

Chris

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

NFS I'm dissapointed - there's at least 2 cars width there before you start scratching the paintwork

I took my e90 to devon with lanes like that when it was about 7 days old. The only hazard I had trouble with was seagulls when I got to my car in the morning, it looked like they'd been out for a curry the night before and then decided to use my car as target practice. Still got the marks on the roof to prove it.

OK .. it wasn't that exact hedge, but it was similar - just with more sticky out bits ...

Chris ... thanks for the turtle wax scratch remover tip !

[OriginalFrak]

That bit of road there is good for at least 70mph.

Well it is for the locals where I live anyway.

I wondered why the churches were so busy on a sunday round here - then realised they were all asking for a top-up of divine intervention for the blind bends in the lanes.

I reckon that scratch will be a thing of the past shortly.