full of scratches

[Awarine]

my car is full of scratches, i dont even know how I got them..lol

[15WhiteA3]

Interior or exterior? Should be able to buff most of it off.


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[DarkSideGTI]

Do you use automatic car washes? Those are really bad for your paint.

[HearMeSpool]

I'm with you sir! That's how I feel about my front bumper sprayed with rock chips. I swear they appeared overnight...

[selp]

Pictures or riot!!

[six.machete]

Even the "touchless" car washes?


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[markn1689]

were gonna need some pics

[will13k7]

Even the "touchless" car washes?

Not really "touchless", just no touches from machines. The workers re-use the same wash mitt car to car, collecting dirt and debris as they go along which mars your paint.

[MkUrMark]

Do you use automatic car washes? Those are really bad for your paint.

There was an interesting article I read on consumer reports I believe that Automatic car washes cause less scratches then traditional car washes... Read a long time ago... I know right... I found it hard to believe too.

[DarkSideGTI]

I hand wash my car every time to minimize scratches and swirls.

[MkUrMark]

I do too... But frankly, Sometimes I don't have the time for it.

[3Peat]

Automatic car washes, self serve car washes, hand car washes... even washing your car yourself will result in some form of paint scratches. Best to wash the car yourself with two buckets, two sponges and get some paint protection if you leave your car outside a lot.

Unfortunately we don't drive in dustless, rockless, debrisless vacuums. It's like shoes, they're gonna get dirty and roughed up somehow!

[LINDW4LL]

Not really "touchless", just no touches from machines. The workers re-use the same wash mitt car to car, collecting dirt and debris as they go along which mars your paint.

Touchless meaning the automatic washes that spray and wash the car without ever touching it...

[MkUrMark]

Touchless meaning the automatic washes that spray and wash the car without ever touching it...

Ive heard touch-less are great but the chemicals on their soap are pretty abrasive to wax/sealants and therefore breakdown wax or sealant quicker.

[LINDW4LL]

Ive heard touch-less are great but the chemicals on their soap are pretty abrasive to wax/sealants and therefore breakdown wax or sealant quicker.

This is true.

I always hand wash, usually once a week. The only exception to that is if it needs a wash during a long road trip. Then I will do touchless.

[sjh13]

Has anyone on here used Opti-Coat? What's the cost to get it professionally applied and would a new car would need paint correction?

[Sandman626]

Has anyone on here used Opti-Coat? What's the cost to get it professionally applied and would a new car would need paint correction?

I got my car Opti-Coated the same day I picked it up, so the detailer didn't have to do any prep work and I only had to pay for the Opti-Coat. Cost depends on the place; I've seen between $500 and $700.

[ECP]

Has anyone on here used Opti-Coat? What's the cost to get it professionally applied and would a new car would need paint correction?

I had it done, it wasn't cheap. Around 1k

[onequick4door]

my car is full of scratches, i dont even know how I got them..lol

Coming full circle to help Awarine -

A. Avoid car washes that have rotary brushes at all costs
B. Two bucket washes are the best
C. Now that you have the scratches time to deal with them. I'd recommend paying for a reputable dealer to buff them out(paint correction), it will cost you. Get a good orbital buffer(Porter Cable is the lowest level model I would consider, not the crap off Habor Freight), get good chemicals(there is a whole detail section in the forum that they discus this ad nauseam)and learn to do it yourself. It's not overly difficult, just takes a lot of time and patience to do it right.

[will13k7]

Touchless meaning the automatic washes that spray and wash the car without ever touching it...

some that advertise they are "touchless" actually do a hand wash in the tunnel:

http://www.touchless.com/

[DarkSideGTI]

I had my R32 coated in CQuartz Pro almost two years ago and it is still looking great. The car is parked out in the sun too all day as I do not have a garage.


DSC_1737 by Nick Larson, on Flickr

[markn1689]

rock chips on front bumper- you tailgate or follow to close to other cars and trucks

fine scratches- you take your car to the 15$ local carwash

the thought of letting someone touching my car give me nightmares. dirty rags... you don't know where they have been... and then some fat dirty bastard with terrible BO gets into your car to drive it onto and off the rails? Helllllllllllz naaaaaw

now if you take your car to the local coin wash be sure to bring a bucket with suds and only use the final rinse spray settings with the lowest pressure. NEVER use high pressure! and be sure to do this late and night (there are still lights) when its not full of people waiting for a bay

[forbiddenbeat]

Buy yourself a polisher (Flex 3401 ftw, but start with a PC 7424) and learn to polish your car. I do it once a year. Takes a full day, but it's so worth it.