Hi all,

i have some very light scratches in my left front fender and figured they should come out with a little bit of effort. wax would cover it for only a couple of days-weeks, so i moved on to a little more aggressive methods. i used a very mild rubbing compound and that didnt do a whole lot for the scratches,but where i did use it, the paint looks dull.

i know the clear coat on audis is supposed to be really hard so i doubt i took any of that off.any ideas of how to restore a normal shine to the surface? thanks for the input

 

Pics would certainly help.

Here's a couple of 'flaws' I thought I should point out first. Wax does not have any capabilities to remove scratches...it is merely there to act as a layer of protection. Polish is what removes scratches as it comes in different grits. The harsh polishes that remove a lot of clearcoat and scratches are known as compounds.

Here are some suggestions, try using Meguiars Scratch X, and it's an over the counter product so you could pick it up at your local automotive store. And really use some elbow grease and a soft Microfibre (MF) towel.

Next, I would go to a professional showcar detailer as they are trained professionals to remove surface scratches with the appropriate machinery.

 

good idea-ill pick up some scratch x after my next car wash. i like to care for and detail my cars myself (and a lack of $200) so i really don't feel like getting a pro involved.

im out of town right now and dont have my car, so ill try and post pics when i get back,but the issue is very subtle and even hard to notice despite knowing its there. thanks again

 

It just might be in your best interest to invest about $300 into some polishing equipment that you could use on your current vehicle and many more to come later on down the road.

PC7424XP is a Dual Action polisher that minimizes the risk of burning through your paint and provides great results as well. The unit costs about $160 but with all pads and polishes you're looking at about $300. Just some food for thought if you were to consider detailing your vehicles as a side hobby. That's how I started and since then has become a profession.

 

just a little update- i bought a bottle of nu finish scratch doctor (the store on my way home didnt have meguairs), and it worked really good even with minimal effort. it cleaned up the hazed/faded looking area nicely and removed the scratches i was worried about in the first place.

it also cleaned up some backpack scratches (i park on a college campus every day where parking is tight!) pretty well...these took a bit of rubbing but its definitely an improvement