[roll_the_dice]

So today, I decided to try my hand at wet sanding a few scratches. I didn't take before and after pics of both areas I have done so far, but I did take a picture of the largest scratch on the rear passenger quarter panel.

I had a few scratches that bugged me. I could feel the scratches with my fingernail, so I knew it was on the clearcoat and fortunately, it wasn't down to the base coat or to the metal. I took my car to a buddy of mine who has an auto blemish repair shop and he said the scratches might wet sand out, if not he could feather paint part of the rear quarter panel for me.

I figured worse case scenario he paints it for me....so off I went with sand paper and plenty of water.

I very lightly wet sanded with the 1500 then went to the 2000 and held my breath...then used Adams compounds and polishes to restore the haze left by the sand paper. I am going to get some 3k and 4k paper as well, but it has turned out better than I expected so far...


...I have a few more I am going to do this week. One before picture and two after...

[roll_the_dice]

Since there have been lots of reads...I thought people might be interested in this as well...

I did this same method with a few rock chips in the paint also...I put the paint in the "crater" left from the rock and made sure the paint was a little higher than the OEM paint. After I let the touch-up paint dry (overnight), I lightly wet sanded with 1500 then 2000 grit sand paper. This made the touch-up paint flush with the OEM paint level. I then buffed and polished the haze out of the clear coat and paint.

I am terrible at remembering to take pics for the most part...but here are 2...one after the wet sanding and one after the buff/polish.

[SHEEDI]

Nice work

[WOT Bimmer]

Looks incredible! I am apprehensive about putting sandpaper to by paint, but I might correct some scratches before doing my polishing later this week. Your pictures inspired me.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Nice work

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

Looks incredible! I am apprehensive about putting sandpaper to by paint, but I might correct some scratches before doing my polishing later this week. Your pictures inspired me.

Thanks! I was always apprehensive too...but decided what the heck. If you take your time and go slowly and use super fine grit paper, you will be good. Try it in an inconspicuous spot first. Once you do it, you will be searching for scratches to repair!

To really do it right, you will need a machine polisher....by hand you just generate enough heat to buff/polish everything out.


Tip: If you have any kind of vinyl stripe on your car, put painters tape over it first...if the scratch is near the stripe....you could run the risk of taking the stripe with it.

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Thanks, I appreciate it!




Thanks! I was always apprehensive too...but decided what the heck. If you take your time and go slowly and use super fine grit paper, you will be good. Try it in an inconspicuous spot first. Once you do it, you will be searching for scratches to repair!

To really do it right, you will need a machine polisher....by hand you just generate enough heat to buff/polish everything out.


Tip: If you have any kind of vinyl stripe on your car, put painters tape over it first...if the scratch is near the stripe....you could run the risk of taking the stripe with it.

I have (or will have) a porter cable 7424xp, so I will probably use that.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

I have (or will have) a porter cable 7424xp, so I will probably use that.

I have the PC 7424 also...You can always use your cordless drill and 3" buffing pads, but if you aren't careful, you can burn through the paint....so i recommend the porter cable, Flex, or similar.

Did you ever install your rear spoiler? I think I remember you said you ordered it...I ordered front splitters and am ordering the Mtech rear bumper today...still can't decide on the rear spoiler.

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

I have the PC 7424 also...You can always use your cordless drill and 3" buffing pads, but if you aren't careful, you can burn through the paint....so i recommend the porter cable, Flex, or similar.

Did you ever install your rear spoiler? I think I remember you said you ordered it...I ordered front splitters and am ordering the Mtech rear bumper today...still can't decide on the rear spoiler.

I am going to be polishing the entire car soon (see my thread in this forum titled "getting ready to do a detail"), so it wouldn't require any extra work to do those spots. I was actually standing beside the car the other day when my little brother (whom I love) took his HotWheel and ran it down the side of the car. I checked the paint and surprisingly it didn't scratch it.

I did install the spoiler and splitters. I posted some pics in the Cosmetic forum, but they weren't the best.

Here is my advice based upon my current feelings: get the performance spoiler. I like the m3 and I think it is best for my current setup (pretty much stock), but I think the performance spoiler would look even better. I have stock 16" wheels on the car right now (I know, I know), but I put spacers and wider tires (225 50 16) on, and the m3 spoiler looks completely proportionate. I say that because, if I can make an m3 look okay on a car with stock wheels, I think the perf would look even better on a car with bigger wheels.

I can post some pics here if you don't mind a thread jack.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

I am going to be polishing the entire car soon (see my thread in this forum titled "getting ready to do a detail"), so it wouldn't require any extra work to do those spots. I was actually standing beside the car the other day when my little brother (whom I love) took his HotWheel and ran it down the side of the car. I checked the paint and surprisingly it didn't scratch it.

I did install the spoiler and splitters. I posted some pics in the Cosmetic forum, but they weren't the best.

Here is my advice based upon my current feelings: get the performance spoiler. I like the m3 and I think it is best for my current setup (pretty much stock), but I think the performance spoiler would look even better. I have stock 16" wheels on the car right now (I know, I know), but I put spacers and wider tires (225 50 16) on, and the m3 spoiler looks completely proportionate. I say that because, if I can make an m3 look okay on a car with stock wheels, I think the perf would look even better on a car with bigger wheels.

I can post some pics here if you don't mind a thread jack.

glad your little brother didn't scratch the car!

Post pics...I don't mind a thread jack...since I asked the question!

I put 19" Forgestar F14's on mine, going to use the 16" OEM as winter wheels if I move north like I am planning.

I am putting CF splitters on and I am going to put carbon diffuser on the M Tech rear bumper...so I think a CF rear spoiler would look good. I am leaning towards the M3, but have been looking at the performance spoiler in CF lately...not sure what to do. I guess I will have a better idea when I get the splitters. I also ordered a flat splitter to put under the dual splitters....it "should" look like the GTS front splitter when I am finished. I am planning on doing a thread on it when I am doing it.

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

glad your little brother didn't scratch the car!

Post pics...I don't mind a thread jack...since I asked the question!

I put 19" Forgestar F14's on mine, going to use the 16" OEM as winter wheels if I move north like I am planning.

I am putting CF splitters on and I am going to put carbon diffuser on the M Tech rear bumper...so I think a CF rear spoiler would look good. I am leaning towards the M3, but have been looking at the performance spoiler in CF lately...not sure what to do. I guess I will have a better idea when I get the splitters. I also ordered a flat splitter to put under the dual splitters....it "should" look like the GTS front splitter when I am finished. I am planning on doing a thread on it when I am doing it.

With that setup you have to do the CF perf! That would look incredible.







Splitters:

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

With that setup you have to do the CF perf! That would look incredible.

Looks really good...very subtle. I like it. I am starting to think the performance spoiler too.

I wish I had your saddle interior!

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Looks really good...very subtle. I like it. I am starting to think the performance spoiler too.

I wish I had your saddle interior!

And I wish I had an LCI exterior. Lol

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

And I wish I had an LCI exterior. Lol

HAHA OK good point!

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

HAHA OK good point!

Here are some pics of psmitty's car w/ the perf spoiler: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=855133

He had another thread with better pics but I can't find it.

I'm debating ditching the m3 and going with the perf.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

Here are some pics of psmitty's car w/ the perf spoiler: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=855133

He had another thread with better pics but I can't find it.

I'm debating ditching the m3 and going with the perf.

I saw that post. I love his setup. that is where I got the idea of the front splitter I am doing...I am just having to make one fit, since I am changing out my rear bumper to M Tech...and keeping OEM front for now.

The performance spoiler does look really good on there...The spoiler, for me, is the hardest decision so far!