I just finished washing/waxing my LL 05 and noticed a small series of faint scratches on the clearcoat. They are deep enough to feel with my fingernail but aren't noticable unless you look at them with the light shining against them. They are only about 1/2 inch long.

What alternatives do I have if Mequires paste wax doesn't remove them? I can't stand not having a perfect car!!!

 

I've had good luck with Meguiar's Scratch-X on my Dakota, but haven't tried it on my GT yet. Many on this forum say that Zaino products are the best, so you might want to check out their website to see if they offer a similar item.

 

Thanks for the tip Jim. I'll give it a try.

 

Todd,

Meguiar's Scratch X is a very good product. It works well on very find scratches but may require several applications to remove a scratch deep enough to actually feel.

I've used Zaino and their products are excellent but I don't know of any abrasive scratch removers that they offer ( I could be wrong so check them out anyway).

Try searching Motor Trend's, Car and Driver's, or Road and Track's sites because one of them recently had a comparison test on scratch removers. They rated Meguiar's Scratch X as quite good but not the best for deeper scratches. (I'll try to find the article).

Any of the "name brand" scratch removers are o.k.

I'd make sure to start with the "mildest abrasive" first and work your way up (or try numerous applications). Use the "mildest" possible, after you are satisfied with your results be sure to wax the area you've worked on (all scratch removers will also remove any wax or other paint protections you may have applied).

BTW, any product that claims they don't have abrasives in their scratch remover is then just a "filler" or "glaze" and you'll just be covering up the scratch and it will return as the "glaze" deteriorates.

It is not as complicated as I may make it seem, just the careful and you'll be alright.

 

I feel your pain! I hate scratches and chips!

Go to an auto body supply shop and buy some 3M Perfect It II Fine Cut Rubbing Compound P/N: 39002. Also get some very soft 100% cotton detailing cloths or some of those small foam hand applicators. Pep Boys sells some meguiars very thick cotton detailing cloths for like $8.00 for a twin pack and the foam pads. Clean the area very well with some Dawn detergent to remove any wax that you may have applied previously. You MUST get the area perfectly clean before attempting to remove the scratches or you could make it much worse. Tape around the scratch with some body tape (so you don't cause anymore scratching while trying to remove the scratches you want to remove). Try and remove the scratches with the 3M product hand applied with the cotton cloths. DO NOT APPLY IN A CIRCULAR MOTION, FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE SCRATCHES. IF YOU APPLY IN A CIRCULAR MOTION YOU COULD CAUSE SWIRLS) You may have good luck. IF that doesn't work step up to Megiuars Dual Action Cleaner Polish #83. See if that will take them out. Whenever trying to remove scratches ALWAYS start with the least abrasive compound then move up. I have tried scratch X before but found it is really just filling the scratches and not cutting the clear coat down around the scratch to blend the surrounding area.

If you still cannot get the scratches out:

1.) Live with it.

2.) See a professional Autobody shop. They can cut the clear down with a wool bad and buffer. But if they are pretty deep then even cutting them down you will probably see them.

I would live with it if they aren't too noticable and none of the off the shelf products work. Sometimes you can get an idiot with a buffer on your car who will cut the clear down too much or cause more swirls than you had before.

Visit www.autopia.org for helpful hints from experts.

Good Luck

 

My V6 has a hairline scratch across the left side of the hood from the washer to the front. It may have been caused by some sort of sand particle I wiped off while cleaning. :bang: It's not noticeable unless you shine a light against it. So I bought a tub of Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and applied it on the scratch. Nothing happened.

A week later, I decided to fork out $10 for a tube of Meguiar's Scratch-X. The first application didn't do much, but after spending an hour rubbing and buffing, the first couple of inches faded into a mild smudge on the clearcoat. Perhaps given a little more time, I'll be able to completely erase the scratch off the hood.

 

If you can't get it out by yourself the first time, definitly take it to an auto detailing shop. Dont mess around with it and screw up your clear, let the pros do it.

 

I tried both the 3M Rubbing Compound and Meguiar's ScratchX. Meguiar's seems a bit better, but like other people have said, ScratchX wears off over time. Any opinions on Meguiar's Swirl Remover 2.0? Are its effects permanent?

 

Look again on Zaino's site...they released a new product this year for your very needs..Z PC Fusion. I have used it with great success on light scratches.

 

I believe that product is an abrasive.

Z5 works well to fill in any light scraches, although reapplication will be neccessary in the future.