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Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

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  • #1

    Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

    I'm sure this technique is not endorsed by Meguiar's, but... it worked fantastically!!

    I recently bought a W63 3" backing plate for my rotary buffer. I'm still waiting for my pads to arrive, but I was in the garage tonight staring at the side-view mirror housings on my Mini (one of which had been scuffed badly when I clipped a deer last fall) when I suddenly had an idea.

    Last weekend, I picked up a pack of terry cloth applicator pads from Wal-Mart. Two of them are white and "low pile" and the other three are blue and shaggier. Well, I tried sticking one of the blue ones to the W63, and it stuck! I attached it to my buffer, applied a dab of ScratchX (I'm still looking for M205 locally in something other than a quart size) and went at my mirror.

    I went at it lightly, and on the lowest speed, and after about 10 seconds I stopped and wiped it off. I kid you not, it looks BRAND NEW! I did the other side to match, then waxed with NXT 2.0 (which I still have LOTS of) and boy-oh-boy do they look nice!

    I have half a mind to try it on the water staind on my roof, but I think I'll wait for the M205.
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  • #2
    Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

    Now that's ingenuity for ya!

    I wouldn't do it too often though - just in case that applicator pad comes off the machine and causes some terrible damage...
    Originally posted by Blueline
    I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

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    • #3
      Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

      Originally posted by davey g-force View Post
      I wouldn't do it too often though - just in case that applicator pad comes off the machine and causes some terrible damage..
      Trust me, heh. That very possibility was on my mind the entire time!

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      • #4
        Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

        bookmark. What year is your mini?

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        • #5
          Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

          2006 MCS. I might post a few pics tonight once I finish waxing the rest of it.

          Here's a quick one I grabbed with my phone last night:


          I had just finished using Ultimate Black on the exterior plastic (boy does that stuff stink!) but I still need to clay the side panels and doors prior to waxing. Still need a pass of M205 on the roof too, though I think I'll still have pitting from the water beads acting like magnifying glasses to the sun and etching the paint.

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          • #6
            Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

            We have to hand it to you for doing the smart thing and using the lowest speed on the buffer and putting the bonnet in contact with the paint for such a short period of time. The odds of a rotary throwing this bonnet off at such low speeds is almost nil, but a DA could fling it off much easier. Good idea to wait until you get some proper pads before moving on to the rest of the car. It's a whole lot cheaper to take a mirror off and paint it than to paint the entire roof!
            Michael Stoops
            Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

            Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

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            • #7
              Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

              Thanks Michael.

              It looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and pick up the 32oz bottle of M205. None of my local places have smaller bottles, and online places want as much to ship the smaller bottles as it costs for a second bottle of the stuff. I'll just HAVE to remember to bring it in from the garage this fall!

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              • #8
                Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

                I promised a pic, so here you go! Please excuse the bits of dust over on the side closed to the car. My property is nothing but trees!


                (clicky to make bigger!)

                If only I had thought to take a before pic, it would have been much more fun.

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                • #9
                  Re: Saved my scuffed up side-view mirrors!

                  Perfect! Looks great
                  Originally posted by Blueline
                  I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

                  Comment

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