Scratches over roof and below door windows

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SamR92

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Hi guys,

I always snow-foam the car, and wash from top down with a wash mit using the two bucket method, and then dry using a towel (only dab dry - not wipe)

However it seems no matter what I do, there are scratches left behind. It's mainly noticeable on the roof and doors just below windows. You can't see them in natural light - only under car park lights at the right angle (unfortunately my parking space is right under one of these).

Any idea what I'm doing wrong, and best way to remediate? Scratch X / G3?

I've attached a few pics, but it's quite hard to see it in a picture.

Thanks
Sam
 

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Looks to me as if you have picked up a tiny bit of dirt on you mitt and it's damaged the paint. Easy to do and show up on a dark car.
Personally I'd go with Megs Ultimate Compond. Cheap and does the trick. They'll be others who will use different things but I've found that the Megs is a great all rounder.
What are you protecting the paint with?
 
Megs Liquid Wax is applied every couple of months as it's the only wax I've found that is easy to apply and doesn't give off powder residue - seems to do a good job.

I had a look at Ultimate Compound but have seen many horror stories about it as it's quite hard to apply? I've got a bottle of AG SRP that I'm going to try applying a little over the scratches and see if that helps at all
 
SRP won't do anything to it. It has no cutting power whatsoever. All it will do is make the surrounding area a little more shiny!
Megs UC is simple to use and gets results. Audi paint is very hard. Put a tiny 10p size amount on a microfibre or applicator pad and go over the area applying minimal pressure. The particles in the polish degrade and breakdown with every movement thus it won't damage your car. Buff it off once the white becomes clear. Repeat as necessary. Works very well.
Using Liquid Wax will put a layer of protection on the car that will last one possibly 2 washes. The protection will be gone by then and the SRP won't protect your paint at all.
If you want easy protection, get some CarPro Reload. Spray wipe, buff.
Ultimately it's up to yourself what you do to your car and what products you use. This is what I would do. As I said before, others will have other products that they prefer to use.
 
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Will see if I can get some UC at the weekend for next time I get a chance to clean the car. The liquid wax has worked pretty well for me so far - I've not applied it for 3 months and it's still got some great beading over the majority of the car, but then since moving down to Glasgow into a flat cleaning hasn't been so easy without water and power, and no where nearby has any sort of rent-a-wash bay style garages so it only get's washed once a month if I'm lucky when I go back up the road (bad for someone with car ocd)

Will take a look at Reload when I run out of Meg as it looks quite good and easier to apply, thanks!
 
There's some great hand car washes in Glasgow. Do your research of the local area. I'm just outside Glasgow and when I'm not fit enough to do my car then it's a wee place in Mossend (Autocar wash), just behind Autoparts that do mine. Loads of others around but I've never had a bad wash off these guys. I always judge washes on their ability to clean alloys properly and apply tyre sheen. Again, never let me down. There's one just round from VW just off Dalmarnock Cross heading towards the M74.
 
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SamR92 said:
Hi guys,

I always snow-foam the car, and wash from top down with a wash mit using the two bucket method, and then dry using a towel (only dab dry - not wipe)

However it seems no matter what I do, there are scratches left behind. It's mainly noticeable on the roof and doors just below windows. You can't see them in natural light - only under car park lights at the right angle (unfortunately my parking space is right under one of these).

Any idea what I'm doing wrong, and best way to remediate? Scratch X / G3?

I've attached a few pics, but it's quite hard to see it in a picture.

Thanks
Sam
Click to expand...
Ultimate compound as said is good (used it carefully) make sure you keep polishing it until everything is clear. I use that to get most if not all marks out and then go over with Poorboys black hole. Funny enough just posted in another thread about it :)

Mine last year, before is on the left!!!

*Edit this is before I used the megs UC as well.
 
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Loved using PB BH on my old black car. Hid any wee bits you missed. And it gave an outstanding gloss finish.
 
Thanks guys - does UC add any shine to the paint at all? as in could I just use it on the isolated scratches, or would I need to do the entire car so that it's not noticeable?
 
You could use it on an isolated spot but better to do a larger area and then ensure you seal it. eg if your scratch is on the front wing, polish it all and seal it all. If it's the roof like this thread is about do a larger area than just the scratch, and seal it.
 
Remember that after compounding you need to then polish. The compound creates slight scratching that the polishing then removes.
Basically, Meg's 105 then 205 is the best option at the moment.

This might explain more -
 
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AG SRP is a polish and is abrasive although too mild to remove scratches.
If you want to remove them with readily available stuff then Megs scratch X 2.0 then their Swirl Remover. Beat to use a DA machine if available or if you do it by hand don't polish in straight lines.
 
To get these sort of fine scratches out, then in my experience it will need to a rotary polisher. I'd wash car, then when still wet, use a clay bar and a little detergent and remove any contaminants. Wash again.

In terms of cutting compounds, I'd use Mezerna 203S. It's a fine cut, so perfect for light scratches on mid speed setting. After cutting, wash down. You can finish with Mezerna PO85, again wash down. Seal with a couple of coats of Collinite 476S wax.
 
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