Please HELP w/ scratches

[charlieb]

hello,
please HELP!! i have a new black mini cooper and after coming home from a spray wash, i noticed that there was a bird etching residue left on the end of the car hood. i am so new to this sort of thing so i tried goo gone but it didn't help ( so silly of me to do so especially after just reading this forum ). i mentioned this to my mom, went up stairs, and think nothing of it. little did i know my mom used the kitchen green pad to scrub it but unfortunately, it did no good but leave lots and lots severe scratches along with the etching ( almost 3 inches in diameter ). i was shocked at first, got a bit upset with my mom ( i know she meant well and i loved her for trying ) and now i am freaked out. i just have this car for about a month. apparently freaking out isn't doing any good so i figure i best try to find a solution and try to fix it as best as i can. oh god, i am so nervous and don't know anything about car detailing etc. i am such a newbie. any suggestions on how to go about tacking this problems? i have went out early today before work to pep boys and purchased scratchx, ultimate compound, terry cloth and foam applicator pads. any help and advice is so greatly welcome and appreciated. thank you.

Fong

[MondayQB]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Post a pic! It would bring a lot of help and advice from this forum.

[BlueZero]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Sounds like you bought the right tools for the job.

I would try the Ultimate Compound on a foam applicator pad first. Work in on the area with some firm pressure till it starts to go clear. If it looks better after that but not perfect just repeat it a few more times. You may have to follow up with scratchx to get it perfect.

Edit: I noticed your in California. If your near Meguair's (Irvine), I'm sure you could stop in during an open garage and they would show you how to fix it up better than new.

[charlieb]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

that's a good idea MondayQB. i will tried to take pictures of it tonight when i get home and post it then.

thank so much for the tip scott. maybe in a day or two i will try it. for now, i'm just too nervous especially for a girl who has no clue when it comes to CARS.

thanks again guys.

Fong

[Murr1525]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Here are a few links to read, and one is a link of Mike Phillips using the old ScratchX to fix a small area of swirls. You will want to do a similar style thing with spreading the product around a small area, then working it in.

You will probably want to try the mildest product, your ScratchX, first. Do you know if you got the ScratcHX 2.0?

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How To Remove a Bird Dropping Etching by Hand using M105 Ultra Cut Compound

How to correctly apply ScratchX to remove swirls and scratches

[charlieb]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

thanks Murr1525 for the links. i will read up on it before attempting to start on it. oh no, i did purchase the scratchx 2.0. i didn't see any scratchX at pep boys. should i go to target or walmart to purchase the first one? thank you.

[charlieb]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

i couldn't wait to get home tonight so i just step outside really quick and took it with my camera. here's the pics: i know, the scratches are really severe and BAD ..

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Goodness. She scrubbed for a long time...

Your best bet is to find a bottle of Ultimate Compound. My guess is that is going to take a few passes to remove.

Let us know how that works, and post some after shots.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Ouch!

That hurts to look at!


If you want to try to return the ScratchX 2.0 and then get some Ultimate Compound, Marks right in that the Ultimate Compound will work faster.

You probably could do it with ScratchX 2.0 though if you want to give it a try.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

*** Check your Private Messages***

[charlieb]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Mike, on a grander scheme of things, this isn't so bad but yeah i have to admit, it sure does HURT to look at. Thanks.

[BlueZero]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Mike, on a grander scheme of things, this isn't so bad but yeah i have to admit, it sure does HURT to look at. Thanks.

I'm going to have nightmares all night.

Hope it works out for you. Be sure to post some after photos (so the nightmares can stop).

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

Mike, on a grander scheme of things, this isn't so bad but yeah i have to admit, it sure does HURT to look at. Thanks.

If you can, bring your car to Thursday Night's "Open Garage", first we'll captures those swirls with high resolution camera and then we'll show you how to remove them by hand or machine and both.

Thursday Night "Open Classes" for 2009
2009 Thursday Night "Open Garage" Schedule

March
March 19th - First Thursday Night "Open Garage" - Click here to sign-up

We would love to help you tackle this project.

[mb911]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

I hope you take them up on the offer to go to the Meguiar's event. You want to get your car fixed up.

Otherwise, take your UC and the foam pads, with some passion and multiple passes, but I'd try to read up and maybe watch some videos online? I thought htere was a video using scratch X on a car, use similar method with your Ultimate Compound and foam pads.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Please HELP w/ scratches

If you are in driving distance to the Open Garage, it is definitely something worth going to.