Hi, as our TL approaches its one year old birthday it has some scraped rims, tiny paint chips, and a scraped clear bra, surprising none of which are attributable to me.

I was curious about the following:
1. The stock 17 inch rims are scraped around the outside edge(all courtesy of my mother), would it be possible to go over that with an abrasive bit on a dremel just to smooth them out? I am aware it wouldn't look perfect, but anything should look better than those jagged edges with dirt ground into them.
2. There are a few very tiny paint chips, what do you guys recomend for applying touch up paint to make it look as good as possible. There are 2-3 total 3-5mm in size that go down to the primer.
3. What about really light scratches that don't come out with clay, wash and wax?
4. Finally, my father scraped the lower right portion of the clear bra(seperate part on the front lip). Looking at it it just looks white(car is AM), and it has not scraped off any of the paint on the bumper. It is however quite obvious that it is there. He intends to get it replaced, but how much will it run to have that small section(lower right lip) replaced? It is Autobahnd if that makes a difference.

Thanks,

Mike

 

Maybe wash and wax sub forum would help more?

I'd get touchup and apply them to the chips...then either do a heavy rubbing compound or a very very very light wetsand

 

If this other advice doesn't work I may post that question there. I just had a few general questions and didn't want to start making threads left and right. Thanks for that info, I may try it after I get the touchup paint.

Mike

 

Also, if you grind away at the wheels you can probably smooth them out a bit...maybe even throw some finish on them to make them look nearly new again. I'd throw them on a wheel balancer just to make sure you didnt take off too much though

 

Is it something I could do tires on and wheels on, I just want to neaten them up. Hopefully at some point we will get A-specs with summer tires and put winters on the 17s(if it was my car I would, but being my fathers car I don't personally want too put much money into it, so I will hope for a gift from my mother to my father at some point)

Mike

 

You could always try to get your parents to spring for the ASPEC and hope its passed on

Unless you have a very unsteady hand just leave the tires on. Do you have access to a machine to pull them off? If you do, then it will probably make the process easier. Otherwise just take your time

 

I do have access to a tire machine and balancer. However, seeing as how horrribly we(my class) slaughter other peoples rims I'd much rather just use a diamond die on my dremel.

Mike

 

The aluminum rim is soft and you can use a file to grind down any jagged edges. You might have to file in one direction and be extra careful not to scratch any other part of the rim. Next take some wet/dry sandpaper and wrap it around the flat file and continue wetsanding to smooth out the scratch and blend it in. You'll notice that the sanded bare aluminum is almost the same color as the rim's paint except for the metallic finish. I think you'll be happy with the results until you get your new spokes.

 

Don't let your parents drive YOUR car anymore!

 

Its not his car, its his dads

 

I wish it was my car Maybe when I go of to college in two years my dad will pick up the newest model(unlikely)

In my defence I picked it out, service it, and in 3 weeks when I get my licence will be insured in it.

Mike

 

Geez...for someone who doesn't even own the TL nor have the ability to drive it legally, you sure do care a lot about it. Now imagine how obsessed you'd be w/ the car once it's all yours. LOOK OUT!!!

 

There are worse addictions and obsessions...

I care a lot about it for many reasons. It took me a 23 page paper to convince my father to get it(he wasn't going to pay for a nice car, he was looking at new ford tauruses). Also I hope some day that it will be mine. Most of all I respect the engineering and design that went into it, and I don't want to see it end up a a dented up rusted old crap box 10 years down the road.

Mike

 

have them buy you a new one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

crazymjb, try sanding the rims with a very mild "scouring pad" after you've taken off the jagged edges, I know you don't want to spend money on these but maybe another 23 page essay can get you a PC (Porter Cable orbital buffer probaly with pads and other attachements you're looking at $150) and since the rims are painted (hope yours aren't chrome ) , you can touch them up with click here and wet sand them with 2000 grit wet sandpaper and buff them, I did a friends car and standing next to it you really have to look for the damage he caused as he scrapped the entire outer portion of the rim.
But you're right take care of it soon...good luck ( and I was kidding about the 23 page essay)
BTW the PC is a tool that you will need and use if you keep thinking the way you do ( and me of course) that there is no reason why a 10 year old car shouldn't look new.

 

Hey Crazy,
I am too lazy to read the replies, but regarding the clear bra, you can buff out the white paint that is on it. The same thing happened to mine when I got sideswiped over a year ago. Hope it works for you.

 

I would like to get an orbital buffer at some point, it is on my list. So I take it PC makes a good one...

Thanks for the advice, after finals I will try get what I need to touch up the rims and body.

As for the clear bra it is not white paint on it, the bra it self is actually goughed out, appearing white. It seems as though it was dragged on the ground. Regardless it needs replacement in that one section.

Thanks again,

Mike