Paintwork advice needed.

[AMGeed]

I washed the car this afternoon as it rained yesterday and the car was covered in a sandy deposit. I wasn't pleased to find this on the offside rear quarter.


Ignore the spots below the scratch, that is a reflection of wood chips on the ground from my next door neighbours handiwork cutting down a back gate to size. I suspect he could have done the damage as it wasn't there last time I used the car last Friday. It's been parked up on the drive ever since. I can't prove it so just got to suck it up and try and fix it.

I tried to remove the scratches with some Farecla Scratch remover on a hard pad with a rotary polisher but it didn't touch it. What are my choices apart from using a Chips Away repair?
Could it be removed with very fine wet & dry (2k grit going down to 3k) and then polished out?
It's annoying me on an otherwise immaculate paintwork.

 

[Teego]

Personally I wouldn't use any mobile franchise on that. My body man in Derbyshire would fix that for not a lot. You should find one near you.

 

[MancRick101]

I assume you can’t feel them when running the back of your nail over them? If you cannot, they ‘should’ in theory polish out, but failing that, as you say, you could try gently with some fine wet sandpaper, then buff it off and finish with a fine finishing pad.

I may be tempted to try that, but the sensible advice is probably as above; get a pro - a body shop will sort that at the blink of an eye.

Such a horrible feeling though. I’ve been there several times!

 

[Smiley]

You might be able to remove the worst of it using 2000 grit wet and dry - use it wet with a bit of soap on it. Then use a rubbing compound like Farecla G3 to buff it. Not much to lose giving it a go - will only take a few minutes to try it and it won't make it any worse for a body shop if that is where you end up.

 

[Smiley]

And rub the wet and dry in the same direction as the scratches.

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

Difficult to say without having a “feel”. I would be tempted to give it a go as suggested by Smiley. It is damaged now, have a go. Just annoying though.. a few cold starts at 0600 should make you feel better..

 

[Cmonyoureds]

Personally I wouldn't use any mobile franchise on that. My body man in Derbyshire would fix that for not a lot. You should find one near you.

I agree, not worth the risk, you do get some good franchisees but unfortunately you also get some bad ones who usually have minimal training and minimal experience. I would be paying that little bit extra and taking it to a good bodyshop.

 

[sgregory124]

I washed the car this afternoon as it rained yesterday and the car was covered in a sandy deposit. I wasn't pleased to find this on the offside rear quarter.

The 'sandy deposit' is more than likely Saharan sand/dust that's been all over Western Europe in the last 3 weeks. Was in the Alps 2 weeks ago and it played havoc with the snow and was covering every car I saw. Might have been the cause of those scratches, although they look excessively coarse for fine sand to be the culprit......

 

[st13phil]

I wasn't pleased to find this on the offside rear quarter.

How irritating, Roger.

I tried to remove the scratches with some Farecla Scratch remover on a hard pad with a rotary polisher but it didn't touch it.

One thing I learnt when I had my Obsidian E63 detailed is that the lacquer MB use is incredibly hard and it takes lots of polishing.

Before attacking it with wet & dry or taking it to a paintshop, I'd be inclined to take it to a good detailer and ask them if they can polish it out. If they say "no", then you know that it's a paintshop job; if they say "yes" it won't be expensive for them to do it for you.

 

[AMGeed]

How irritating, Roger.

One thing I learnt when I had my Obsidian E63 detailed is that the lacquer MB use is incredibly hard and it takes lots of polishing.

Before attacking it with wet & dry or taking it to a paintshop, I'd be inclined to take it to a good detailer and ask them if they can polish it out. If they say "no", then you know that it's a paintshop job; if they say "yes" it won't be expensive for them to do it for you.

Good call Phil
I also have a good friend who owns his own bodywork shop. Might call in on him tomorrow for his opinion too.

 

[AMGeed]

The 'sandy deposit' is more than likely Saharan sand/dust that's been all over Western Europe in the last 3 weeks. Was in the Alps 2 weeks ago and it played havoc with the snow and was covering every car I saw. Might have been the cause of those scratches, although they look excessively coarse for fine sand to be the culprit......

That Saharan dust must still be circulating around N Europe. Washed yesterday, rained last night, covered again in sand this morning

 

[sgregory124]

That Saharan dust must still be circulating around N Europe. Washed yesterday, rained last night, covered again in sand this morning

I'd put money on it - my car is currently also covered in it.

 

[DSM10000]

I'd put money on it - my car is currently also covered in it.

Ditto!

 

[AMGeed]

Visited my body shop mate this morning. Booked in for repair on Mon morning.
He reckons the scratches are too deep to buff out with wet & dry alone.
He will try wet &dry followed by cutting paste on a DA. If that doesn't work, he has Obsidian Black on the shelf from a very recent job so he will blow in the whole rear bumper quarter. He did point out the rear bumper has already had a (poor) respray before my ownership.

He has a contract with the local Jaguar dealership to repair their cars and I have full confidence the repair will look as good as new.
I'll post up some photos when its returned.

 

[AMGeed]

OK, got the car back today and to say I'm pleased with the job is no exaggeration.
Once the lacquer was removed, it was clear the whole bumper had to be resprayed or there would have been a clear line showing the old and new paintwork. He did me a mates rate job and of course gave the new paint a coat of clear lacquer.

Here's one of the car masked up and flatted and prepared for painting.


Corner with scratch before and after



Mates rate bill


Account number incorrect so no problem posting it.

Really glad I took the trouble to get the scratch fixed. My OCD wouldn't allow me to ignore it!
While I was chatting I told him the dealer I bought the car from fooled me by hiding the stone chips on the front bumper. Well known trick he told me is to use a black felt tip pen on a black car. Just a little tip to look out for.

 

[DSM10000]

OK, got the car back today and to say I'm pleased with the job is no exaggeration.
Once the lacquer was removed, it was clear the whole bumper had to be resprayed or there would have been a clear line showing the old and new paintwork. He did me a mates rate job and of course gave the new paint a coat of clear lacquer.

Here's one of the car masked up and flatted and prepared for painting.
View attachment 125591

Corner with scratch before and after
View attachment 125592
View attachment 125593

Mates rate bill
View attachment 125594

Account number incorrect so no problem posting it.

Really glad I took the trouble to get the scratch fixed. My OCD wouldn't allow me to ignore it!
While I was chatting I told him the dealer I bought the car from fooled me by hiding the stone chips on the front bumper. Well known trick he told me is to use a black felt tip pen on a black car. Just a little tip to look out for.

Glad you found an honest and skilled professional

Good to see a handwritten invoice as well

 

[Alps]

good job there Roger, good to see its sorted, good price too.