[NitroLX]

So idk how it happened.. but it looks like i got a couple of nice size scratches on my car.. it is very annyoing to look at every day... i went ahead and got BMW touch up paint..

after trying a couple times.. it looks like i either A. Suck at doing it or B. its pretty tough to do.

idk either way this is my first time trying to do it.. and i think i need some help.. also i guess im not doing it the right way because im afraid to sand it down and such maybe.. i should just take it to the body shop and let them fix it? how much could it really cost..

[CalCarNut]

Sucks...I'd have a paint shop take a look. I know I'd only compound the ugliness if I tried to fix something like that......

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

Sucks...I'd have a paint shop take a look. I know I'd only compound the ugliness if I tried to fix something like that......

yea i tried with compound and some other stuff.. nothing really worked.. thats why i got the touch up paint.. but it seems like its not easy to do.

might take it to a body shop.. prob charge me what like 200

[qhuynh14]

just sand it with really fine sand paper and redo your top coat with a good layer of wax. It might be scary to do but trust me once you get a hang of it it will be really easy. Start somewhere small and hidden first, it will help. (Don't just use touch up paint. all it does is leaving a big chunk of paint on top of the surface if you just gonna paint it on top of everything)

This will take maybe $20 for all the supply
PS: there are a bunch of video on youtube that show you the process as well

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by qhuynh14

just sand it with really fine sand paper and redo your top coat with a good layer of wax. It might be scary to do but trust me once you get a hang of it it will be really easy. Start somewhere small and hidden first, it will help. (Don't just use touch up paint. all it does is leaving a big chunk of paint on top of the surface if you just gonna paint it on top of everything)

This will take maybe $20 for all the supply
PS: there are a bunch of video on youtube that show you the process as well

haha i seen the video.. but i am still worried.. ill fuck it up somehow.lol

figure it will run me less then 200 to fix ill just do that lol.

[Wires]

First off, that definitely licks.

Second, WTF is with your paint! Shat I wish mine had that gloss level. LOL

[saintpatty]

Originally Posted by qhuynh14

just sand it with really fine sand paper and redo your top coat with a good layer of wax. It might be scary to do but trust me once you get a hang of it it will be really easy. Start somewhere small and hidden first, it will help. (Don't just use touch up paint. all it does is leaving a big chunk of paint on top of the surface if you just gonna paint it on top of everything)

This will take maybe $20 for all the supply
PS: there are a bunch of video on youtube that show you the process as well

Don't do this.

[RoundelM3]

I'd recommend trying Dr. Colorchip, which will blend in with your existing paint. Google them and order one of their kits. You apply their matching paint, smear it with your thumb (you wear a glove they supply), let it get tacky, then use their blending fluid with a cloth. Works wonders. An alternative is a product called Langka, which is a blending fluid used with conventional touch-up paint. They supply a plastic card that you wrap a cloth around (preferably old T-shirt material) so you can blend it perfectly flat with the rest of the paint around it.

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by Wires

First off, that definitely licks.

Second, WTF is with your paint! Shat I wish mine had that gloss level. LOL

haha idk its glossy for sure =P

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by roundel335

I'd recommend trying Dr. Colorchip, which will blend in with your existing paint. Google them and order one of their kits. You apply their matching paint, smear it with your thumb (you wear a glove they supply), let it get tacky, then use their blending fluid with a cloth. Works wonders. An alternative is a product called Langka, which is a blending fluid used with conventional touch-up paint. They supply a plastic card that you wrap a cloth around (preferably old T-shirt material) so you can blend it perfectly flat with the rest of the paint around it.

i saw this too.. was going to giveit a try.. but figured i might as well have it done instead.. im going to a couple body shops.. see what they will charge me..

[X2 Monstah]

The scratch sucks, but Damn, that glossy paint looks good!

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by NitroLX

i saw this too.. was going to giveit a try.. but figured i might as well have it done instead.. im going to a couple body shops.. see what they will charge me..

Probably quite a bit more than either the Langka or the Dr. Colorchip. They may want to paint the entire panel rather than just the scratch.

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Probably quite a bit more than either the Langka or the Dr. Colorchip. They may want to paint the entire panel rather than just the scratch.

yea but my bs job to a pro job... might be worth it

ill check with a couple shops see what they say.. got a couple friends in shops too so hopefully they give me a good deal. lol

but it sucks. its so noticeable and annoying. =[

[5ilver-5amurai]

If you wet sand it and polish it, you will almost certainly lose the orange peel of the gloss. If you have never wet sanded a car or used a professional rotary polisher, don't start on your BMW.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this, but if the scratches aren't too deep they should buff and polish out nicely. I had some pretty bad scratches on my car and took it to a chemical guys location. The guys there were buffing a Ferrari later that week and asked me to bring the car around the same time. It took him about a pea drop of compound and 2 minutes to eliminate about 90% of the scratch. You might want to contact local detailers as opposed to proper bodyshops. You will probably get away with dropping a guy a 20 spot and having him fix up 90% of the problem. Just make sure you see the cars that are being worked on. I only felt confident that they would do a good job because I saw the ferrari they were polishing

[WillSkill]

if it's only the clear coat that got scratched then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. A shop can polish the clearcoat and add a layer a wax.

If it got scratched down to the paint then it's pretty bad.

Also when I first looked at the photo I thought you took a selfie for a second. That is paint is shiny lol

[Strudle]

Originally Posted by saintpatty

Don't do this.

My thoughts exactly.

If the scratch catches your fingernail it's probably through the clear coat, at which point it gets more expensive for a body shop to fix, i.e., they'll have to repaint the panel.

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by Strudle

My thoughts exactly.

If the scratch catches your fingernail it's probably through the clear coat, at which point it gets more expensive for a body shop to fix, i.e., they'll have to repaint the panel.

fuck.
it does catch.. FML.

i got to drop off my car at bmw tomorrow.. for something else.. maybe ill ask to see how much they will charge.. and hope to god i dont get raped. lol

[oftenimitated]

that looks to be easily buffed out from pics. Or at least made a lot less noticeable. touch up paint should be last form of trying

find someone with a DA buffer and some good polish like Menzerna 400.

DO NOT TRY TO WET SAND, you will just make it worse guaranteed.

[NitroLX]

Originally Posted by oftenimitated

that looks to be easily buffed out from pics. Or at least made a lot less noticeable. touch up paint should be last form of trying

find someone with a DA buffer and some good polish like Menzerna 400.

DO NOT TRY TO WET SAND, you will just make it worse guaranteed.

yea i wont sand it.. i tried compound.. tried polish and all it seems like a deep scratch.. ill see what bmw and some local shops charge.. im trying to get rid of my car soon for a 4.. so want to take care of this last thing.

[NitroLX]

Just a update, took my car into bmw for an oil change.. mention the scratch he said 40-50 and it will be gone.

so not a bad price for that.. will post after pictures for anyone that does care..

[Wires]

I'm totally interested in seeing the pics. Did they mention how they take it out?

[5ilver-5amurai]

Originally Posted by Wires

I'm totally interested in seeing the pics. Did they mention how they take it out?

From the original pic, it looked like a simple surface wound.

It literally takes a pea drop of compound and a random orbital polisher about 20-30 seconds to buff out a scratch like that.