There is a small spot on one of my doors where the clear coat is dull with a lot of fine scratches -- looks like it was rubbed too hard. I have a feeling this happened when the dealer was prepping my RDX. It got a little better when I did my first wash/wax last week, but I think I should probably try to polish it a little bit (hopefully without making it worse, as the dark blue paint shows scratches pretty easily).

I was curious what products you guys would use in this situation, so if you have recommendations pass them along. I guess I would either like to polish the scratches out, or fill/hide them somehow. Thanks!

 

A product called Scratch Out works pretty well, u can find it at any auto parts store

 

Sorry I can't offer an elixir, but since it apparently was there before you took possession, it might be worth asking the dealer to have their bodyshop vendor take care of it. Or check the wax/wash forum section. Good luck!

 

I've had luck with Meguiars Cleaner Wax. Works well even on black for light to moderate scratches without ruining the finish.

 

I got some Meguiars Scratch-X. It improved the dull section a bit, but did not take it all the way out (good enough for now). However, it totally eliminated/hid some other scratches I found, so I am pretty impressed with the product. I believe it is a super fine polishing compound (fine enough that it is safe for clearcoats). From what I read, it rounds out the edges of scratches so that they are less visible (don't catch the light). This allows follow on wax coats to shine and hide the damage.

 

I am no expert at this but a good detailer or body shop can wetsand and buff them out. You dont want your new car painted there if you can avoid it. Allot of bodyshops will say yea we are going to have to reclear this area and than fade it and before you know it they have painted 3 darn panels and the bill is at 1400 and it looks like crap. So dont let anyone paint it if you can help it.

 

Agreed -- I try to preserve the factory finish at all costs. In this case, the damage is very light, and not worth taking extreme measures.

I got a scrape/dent in the driver's door of my previous car -- someone must have grazed it with their bumper when pulling into a parking spot. The insurance estimate ($500) involved repairing the door and then repainting the whole side of the car to blend it in . I ended up with paintless dent repair for $65, some clay bar work, and some polishing. Unless you got up close the damage was not perceptable. I shudder to think what the outcome would have been if they repainted the whole side of my brand new car at that point.....

 

Can you imagine what some poor unknowing people get suckered into by bodyshops. Miss we are going to have to fade that scraped bumper up to the hood and left fender. lol