Light scratches on car after dealer carwash
 

Anyone have any recommendations to remove fine scratches all over the body of my car? The dealer automatically washes the car after each service and I forgot to let them know not to do it. They ether use old ass rags or they use those car washes that gas sations have with hard brushes. These are really fine scratches all over the car and are only noticed when up close. It still annoys the hell out of me. The car was zainoed twice this year already and just put three layers of zaino on top of it. I had thought the zaino worked but 2 weeks later after a regular wash, the scratches are still there. Any suggestions? I don't want to have to remove the zaino but I will do anything for her. I used meguairs before and they are great. (That and I have enough zaino for about 5 more coats :D .) I'm sorry baby.. I love you. I won't be so forgetful next time. Specific brands would be helpful. Thanks for your help.

That happened to me too. I applied a small amount of turtle car wax for 2 minutes and it buffed right off. Honestly though. It is impossible to not get any micro scratches on your paint finish. Well, not unless u store your car in a vacuum and never drive it. <LOL>

Cars are like shoes. They get dirty and some wear and tear when you use them. It's good to try to keep 'em clean and minimize scratching. But, it's also good to learn how to let things go and not become obsessive compulsive about it. Just enjoy the car and you'll be a happier person. Worrying about every cosmetic flaw is futile- because there will always be more to come.

My .02 anyways...

First try clay bar. It will take out most fine surface scratches. If not, have it professionaly buffed. Make sure to throw a nice coat of wax back on the paint to protect it. I myself am guilty of wax whoring my car. I wax once a week or sometimes every other week. My 8 only sees the daylight 1-2 days a week, primarily weekends. No matter how much I try to take care of it there are some things you cannot fight. Always make sure you use clean microfiber towels for waxing. I found out that 100% cotton terry towels will scratch your car as well.

Your best bet is to pay a professional detailer to make the paint perfect with polish and a buffer. Then you need to learn how to keep it that way.

Try www.autopia.org for that part. Search "2 bucket method" and you'll find everything you need.

also don't let the dealer wash your car anymore, they could care less about scratching it or not.

My dealer (whom I hold in low regard) actually ASKED if I wanted the complementary wash. I asked what kind of brushes they had and then declined. They must have had others complain about their wash methods.

Same thing happened to me a few days after I bought it and had to take it back into them. But I noticed there are scratches above the rear window after they did the tint. Looks like they drove screwdriver into it. They will be fixing that soon. :D

Sorry for the mistypes, the laptop keyboard doesn't enter every key.

I was just about to ask about this. I was starting to freak out thinking that I needed to get my body kit or mudflaps or somthing ASAP to keep gravel from leaving scratches. It was either that or the dealer, and surely the dealer would make sure not to scratch my brand new car washing it right? :rolleyes:

You could try clay but most of those micro scratches will never go away... but you can hide them with wax and polish usually. As for the dealers washing my car... I usually either tell them not to or put a note in the winshield that says not to wash it. This way, even if the service writers doesn't note it on the write up, the tech's know not to send it for a wash.

Give Zanio Z-PC a try. I just used it two weeks ago along with Calybar and it helped eliminate the small swirls in the paint. After that, use a few layers of Z-5, then Z-2.

Z-PC literally got the paint "squeaky clean" as the towel I used to buff it out made the car squeak. The car paint has never felt as smooth, (much more than Claybar alone)

Give it a shot!

As long as I still consider that I still have a "close to perfect" finish on my '8, I will not let the Dealer wash it. Obviously you don't know what kind of rags they are using to drag over your finish while they are washing and drying your car. That award winning off road 4x4 with the 2 inches of sandy mud might have been the one to go thru the wash just before they pulled yours in. It's almost lunch time and why should they take the time to bring out new towels when they can get to lunch sooner if they just use the muddy ones? I shudder at the thought! :eek:

Zoom, Zoom! :beer05: