Getting rid of fine scratches on paintwork?

[doofus4000]

Ruby black and today whilst washing with the sun out for the first time in a long time I could see all the tiny scrapes from washing I assume. Fine ones you would see around the door handles and around the edges of bumpers where dirt has been rubbed into the paint resulting in scrapes. They look so obvious and bad in the sunlight. What is the best way to get rid of these? I handwash the car maybe two times weekly and polish+wax it once a month.

 

[mmm-five]

You're probably over-washing it.

I snow-foam and rinse regularly, but it only gets a proper was every month or so - or if I'm going to a show. Then it gets a professional detail every year (just about to get another).

The only way to remove them is to get some paintwork enhancement or correction treatment done on them.

 

[peddy]

mmm-five, when you just snow foam and rinse do you then dry the car?

 

[doofus4000]

You're probably over-washing it.

I snow-foam and rinse regularly, but it only gets a proper was every month or so - or if I'm going to a show. Then it gets a professional detail every year (just about to get another).

The only way to remove them is to get some paintwork enhancement or correction treatment done on them.

So when you snow foam and rinse is your car clean enough that you can run a chamois over it and dry it off to prevent water marks etc?

 

[mmm-five]

mmm-five, when you just snow foam and rinse do you then dry the car?

No, as it'll be getting dirty almost straight away again, and there'll still be plenty of 'bits' on the car that I can't remove without a proper clean, so if I dry it, then there'll going to have to be contact between the drying cloth and any dirt that's still on the paintwork.

It's mainly to get the salt & grime off as quickly as possible without worrying too much about having to spend 4 hours every day cleaning it just to get it filthy the next day.

It's a compromise between spending hours cleaning it, and putting more and more scratches into it, or leaving it slightly mucky for a bit longer.

 

[mmm-five]

So when you snow foam and rinse is your car clean enough that you can run a chamois over it and dry it off to prevent water marks etc?

No, I don't dry it, as there's no point when it's raining/snowing and it'll be driven again and covered in muck.

 

[doofus4000]

mmm-five, when you just snow foam and rinse do you then dry the car?

No, as it'll be getting dirty almost straight away again, and there'll still be plenty of 'bits' on the car that I can't remove without a proper clean, so if I dry it, then there'll going to have to be contact between the drying cloth and any dirt that's still on the paintwork.

It's mainly to get the salt & grime off as quickly as possible without worrying too much about having to spend 4 hours every day cleaning it just to get it filthy the next day.

It's a compromise between spending hours cleaning it, and putting more and more scratches into it, or leaving it slightly mucky for a bit longer.

I see what you are saying - so your car is never truly clean and shining because you are not risking scratching it further.

Its not like I wash my car religously - I wash it once a week and if its dirty half way through the week I give it an extra wash. It doesnt get much driving but if its dirty midweek it gets a wash. But only giving it a rinse more or less does not do it for me and would drive me nuts seeing it sitting there if its not shining straight after a wash.

What do other black z4 owners think/do?

 

[mmm-five]

I'm not trying to claim either way is right or wrong, but it's just a fact that cleaning it will give you scratches, despite being extra careful with the two-bucket-method, grit-guards, multiple sponges/mitts for different parts of the bodywork/trim/wheels/etc, patting instead of rubbing, and using micro-fibre cloths once before throwing them in the bin.

Sometimes they'll be so light that it will take 4 or 5 washes to see any, but if those 4 or 5 washes are done over the course of a week compared to over a month, then you'll see more scratches, more quickly.

In the summer the car looks fabulous for days or weeks at a time, but in the winter it looks terrible almost immediately after it's been washed.

If I know the car's not being used for a week or so, then I'll wash & dry it properly (although I get someone else to do the claying & waxing when it needs it).

 

[doofus4000]

Yea Im with you buddy. No other ideas for getting rid of these fine scratches then?

 

[mmm-five]

Yea Im with you buddy. No other ideas for getting rid of these fine scratches then?

Not from me, as I know if I try to use any of those scratch remover products I'll end up doing more damage than I had to start with. Just ask Woots what he did to Blueflash

 

[BluZiff]

Yes lots can be done, find a very low abrasive polish something like autoglym super resin polish and hand apply that. (see youtube for guides on how to).

Personally I would do this as part of a step by step process;

1: rinse
2: Two bucket wash
3: towel dry
4: clay bar
5: hand polish to remove swirls and light scratches
6: repeat 123
7: seal with wax

As long as your cautious and keep a keep eye out for any dirt on the paintwork in the products or on your cloths/pads then you shouldn't have a problem.
mmm-five, you seem to be a little over cautious, you dont even clay or wax your own car?

 

[tjlazer]

I recently used poorboys black hole and can thoroughly recommend it for dealing with swirls and scratches. It is very easy to use and works great until the weather improves and the car can be machine polished properly as it is only filling in the paint rather than repairing the surface. Wash and clay first then apply and wax with a good synth wax like zaino clear seal or z5. This will last a good few months and all you'll need to do is a quick clean as per the instructions above...be gentle and don't polish so regularly and all will be well!

 

[doofus4000]

Yes lots can be done, find a very low abrasive polish something like autoglym super resin polish and hand apply that. (see youtube for guides on how to).

Personally I would do this as part of a step by step process;

1: rinse
2: Two bucket wash
3: towel dry
4: clay bar
5: hand polish to remove swirls and light scratches
6: repeat 123
7: seal with wax

As long as your cautious and keep a keep eye out for any dirt on the paintwork in the products or on your cloths/pads then you shouldn't have a problem.
mmm-five, you seem to be a little over cautious, you dont even clay or wax your own car?

thats exactly the method I use - also using autoglym clay bar, super resin polish and high def wax. Using this polish doesnt really get rid of the fine scratches. They make some of them less noticeable but dont get rid of them. Maybe something more abrasive is needed? I agree with you that being careful using this method of washing leads to only a rare scratch or two being imposed on the car.

 

[doofus4000]

I recently used poorboys black hole and can thoroughly recommend it for dealing with swirls and scratches. It is very easy to use and works great until the weather improves and the car can be machine polished properly as it is only filling in the paint rather than repairing the surface. Wash and clay first then apply and wax with a good synth wax like zaino clear seal or z5. This will last a good few months and all you'll need to do is a quick clean as per the instructions above...be gentle and don't polish so regularly and all will be well!

Thanks - Sounds good, I'll try it out - where did you buy it from/wheres cheapest? lol

 

[GAZA62]

1st of all you can not over wash a car you can wash it everyday if you like as long as you do it correctly.

Re Polish+Wax you only need to do this every 6 months.

Clay
Polish
Seal
Wax

Then just carefull washing using a QD after washing for that just waxed look

 

[peddy]

Stop using a chamois. Use a plush MF drying towel.

Not sure what wash mitts you use, but I'd recommend...

Using a MF wash mitt for the wheels. I use this by Turtle Wax...

And a lambs wool wash mitt for the body. I use this by Dodo Juice...

 

[T-J]

I just love cleaning my Zed only spent 4hr on it today.
Rinse with clean water. Hose , to get rid of any grit as the grit will mark the paint.
Wash with a wash and wax I use Turtle Wax Zip Wax. Have used it for the past 40+ years.
A good rinse with cold water.
Towel dry.
Then polish to day I used a Turtel Wax Liquid polish, But my preference is AG super resin polish then AG extra gloss protection.
On the 108 s I used Turtel Wax then Then Poorboys World Wheel Sealant

 

[scottbt]

Sounds like heavy pressure when washing or that some fine grit particles have migrated and reappeared from your mitt resulting in the fine scratches.

Rinse
Foam
Rinse
Foam
Wash from top to bottom via 2 buckets and ensure your mitt / sponge is regularly checked for grime /grit
Rinse
Quick detailer ( to aid drying )
Dry using soft drying towel

There is no such thing as 100% safe and swirl / scratch free wash but doing things in order and gently will reduce how much damge is inflicted. The more washing, the more chances of causing those such scrtaches /swirls.

 

[BluZiff]

Yup I really need to look into getting a pressure washer and foam lance, im guessing this would really help shift the dirt that seems to accumulate at rear of the car this time of year.

 

[scottbt]

Snowfoams on the market typically loosen the thick of it but wont clean completely. You can get foams with higher cleaning levels but at a price of weakening any forms of protection on your paint. these foams are more akin to traffic film removers which are alkali's and can stain trim / rubbers and even paint so a standard 2 bucket wash routine will still be neccesary but foaming does help out a lot imo.