:bang: :crying:

Hi everyone,
I need your help. I got the car washed today and when I went into work, I was walking around the car and saw a quater of and inch scratch.... I don't think the car wash had anything to do with it at all. The scratch ran deep enough for me to see the black material underneith the paint. It actually looks as if someone backed into me.
The scratch is just above the passenger side turn signal in the front of the car.
I am wondering what have you all done with the scatches you have encountered. I am thinking about taking it to a body shop and see what they will charge me for repainting this small area, because the touch up paint just ain't cuttin it.
I have an 05GT silver by the way.

I have a black 05 gt - I use a mild polish - scratch and swirl remover ... and wax it...
I have had excellent success with Meguires Tech Wax and turtle wax scratch and swirl remover... I also use meguires soap.

You should never take your stang through an automatic car wash.... :eek:

It's going to be real hard for a shop to touch up a spot like that. They'll probably have to repaint and clear the whole bumper. If I were you, I'd just use some of the touch-up paint Ford sent you and touch it up. Re-painting the front bumper is pointless... it's going to get dinged up and scratched up again. No way around it. If it's just a quarter of an inch, you should be able to touch it up yourself and it will look good. I'd give that a shot first at least. Put a line of paint on it and step back a couple feet. If you can't see it, nobody else will.

You mean you didn't wash it by hand ? you know that in some areas the car washs recycle the water over and say if it is a place that does have a lot of road salt, well your car may end up with cancer.

It was a hand car wash place, no automatic machine ever touched the car. It really looks like someone hit it. darn

:topic:

thats good - you had me worried!

1/4 inch - Dont use the touch up paints brush too big, instead use a paint brush from an art shop - get a very fine, small size... after it dries - polish and wax

Definately leave it there. If you fix it, you're sure to get another. I'm thinking about going out to put the first stone chip in myself and get it over with. :jester:

Use a toothpick, or a paper match stick, trimmed to a fine point with scissors. :-D This should give you the delicate fine line you're looking for.....

I will go out of my way to wash my car with my own sponge and water, i dont trust ANY car wash. I dont have any scratches yet, but I know its gonna happen. Id use some touch up paint like everyone else says. But never ever wash your beautiful mustang with anything but your own sponge, or mitt, or rag. And always ring it out after a few wipes, guarantees no scratches or lil dirt!

I have had excellent results with a product from Langka to repair small chips. It's a bit on the pricey side but works wonders. It might work on a deep scratch, but not on light scratches. They have a product for light scratches also, but I have not purchased the product for light scratches.

http://langka.com/

How deep is it? If its surface you could use some compound and then polish which would lighten it. If its a deep scratch I would probably use touch up paint with ala toothpick. What stinks is the paint never matches which has always been bizarre to me. I mean if you are making touch up paint make the color match! Duh... Like someone else stated no sense going crazy over it cause the law of average is you will get more along the way.

I agree. Bumpers bear the brunt of a number of assaults, from parking lot mishaps to flying road debris. The first chip or scrape is always the worst. It might make more sense to wait until you've got more damage before attempting repairs. My eye is drawn to paint bubbles and imperfections; most "repairs" stand out like a sore thumb. But chips and scratches can be mistaken for dirt, grass clippings, etc. And the truth of the matter is, these imperfections bother you more than anyone else. Most people don't notice the scratches on my car until I point them out!

patcannone suggested a repair option that has a lot of merit. I checked out the link to their website and it sounds like a good product. If you are determined to keep the road rash and/or parking lot damage to a minimum at all times, perhaps you should give this product a try!

Best of luck in whatever you decide. :nice:

Question on using touch up paint. Yesterday I did the whole Zaino process and have one coat of Z2 on there. Should I remove the polish before touching up? What should I use, Dawn to wash that small spot? Then paint and polish over it again? Thanks for any advice!

This is the way I fix fine scratches too and it works great for me. If its really fine, I'll have my father do it. I don't know how he does it but he can make it look like there was nothing ever there. :nice:

Thx Andy, I will use a toothpick to actually paint the spot, but what about preparing the surface b4 I paint? Should I strip off the Zaino I have on there?

Use some 3M wax removal first. Walmart has it...

Marc,

If you are concerned about getting the Zaino off around the scratch first, Dawn will work fine. That is what they recommend on their site to remove the product.

Here's a link that may help:

http://autopia.org/kb/index.php?page..._v2&id=27&c=16

If you are going to get the body shop to do the work it's going to cost you at least $220-$260. Someone backed into my rear bumper on Christmas eve. My dealers shop took the bumper off, fixed the scratches, prepped, primed, painted, and cleared it. Took it in at noon and picked it up at 3 the next day. Final cost was $230.