I've never owned even a halfway decent car before, and now I've got a new MINI and want it to stay looking Very Nice, but have no experience whatsoever. I've been lurking on this forum the last few days, and I think I've got the basics down.

Unfortunately, after my first washing regimen, I noticed some little scratched areas in a couple places on the black roof (not swirled, but straight). I really don't know if they were there before, or if I somehow made them with the microfiber mitt when gently rubbing its well-shampooed self over the pre-rinsed paint.

So would y'all kindly let me know your opinions on possible sources, and also possible solutions (I assume I'll need to buff it out -- is there a decent over-the-counter product someone could recommend?), according to the picture below?

I've got some swirls and specks, too, but ignore those -- I think I'm getting the hang of dealing with them (biggest mistake was thinking I could wash at night by porchlight -- sure, it was cooler, but I couldn't see worth beans to tell where water was spottily gathering. I especially shouldn't have misted with the wax-as-you-dry solution until I'd gotten the hang of washing without spots and streaks, because now those spots and streaks are semi-permanentized by wax)

It looks kind of bad, like the black paint is actually scratched, but that seems unlikely... when the clearcoat is scratched on a black surface, is that the impression it usually gives? Thanks for letting me benefit from your accumulated wisdom and experience.

 

I can't tell for sure but that looks to be surface scratches and pretty light ones- try Mequiars Scratch X, follow the directions on the tube but overall it's pretty easy to use. If that does not work you might have to get it buffed out but it doesn't look that deep to me but it's hard to tell from a photo.

 

You can do the finger nail test. If you can catch them with your finger nail then chances are you will need more help than ScratchX can provide. I'm assuming you don't have a PC to help you. If not then ScratchX on a firm foam pad or a DP blue pad is the way to go. You will need to put some effort into it and it will take more than one application. I can not tell from the picture what or when these were caused.
As for spotted spray-on wax; you should never allow spray-on wax to actually dry on the paint. I understand you could not see. Try spraying the dried spots with more of the spray on wax. That should remove them. If not, time for either clay or more ScratchX.
Let us know how it turns out.

 

Those could be from dirt on a towel? They look like real scratches in the clearcoat. They should buff right out.

Yup, scratchx or just good polish should do it.

 

I bet you're right, chows, that they're scratches from dirt on a towel. I should have washed all the towels and so forth that I bought before using them.

MDK -- yeah, I suppose they're probably not that bad. My perspective is still a little tweaked due to new-new-car-owner-obsessia. Looking at them again, they really do look pretty shallow. (Sorry I couldn't get a better picture -- that's the best I could manage)

Maybe -- your fingernail test confirms it. I can't feel them at all.

I'll go grab some ScratchX and see if I can't persuade those suckers away.

There are some others kind of in that general area, then a few more on the bar running down from the roof on the other side of the car, but none anywhere else that I can see. I am feeling slightly paranoid wondering what it was that caused them, but I'll go with the dirt in a towel theory for now. I would prefer to dry without any rubbing to avoid just that, but I'm also quite enamored of the idea of hydro/spray-on-as-you-dry wax, which requires at least a little gentle rubbing while drying, doesn't it?

So the way to fix wax spots is more wax, eh? Go figure. I'll try that, too.

Thanks for responding so quickly to a question so similar to hundreds of others already asked on this forum (but which didn't quite ease my mind)

 

There's a picture of her in my gallery now. Not that she's anything special from the general perspective -- fairly generic in every way, really -- but she's special to me.

 

Good towels are a must. Don't use bath towels or old shirts. Get some quality microfiber (www.detailersparadise.com) and keep them off the ground and keep them clean. I know you will have success with ScratchX and some good towels will help prevent similar damage if this was the cause.

 

Very nice looking MINI, sneetch! I can see why you are a proud owner.

 

The scratches were definitely superficial -- It was hard to even find them in the shade, as noticeable as they were in direct sun. The ScratchX took 'em right out. I'll be careful what I use in the future to dry. Thanks for the advice.

 

Thanks cocinas, yours too. BRG remains truly classic. I especially like that green "gel" S logo on the side repeater.

 

Sneetch, she's a pretty little honey bee! (Are you a fan of Tom Petty and Heartbreakers? That's the reference.) I see why you're proud of her. I'm a little mystified by the "whaling" reference of "thar she blows", or has this to do with the turbo? Anyhow, nice car, and enjoy the experience!

 

Thanks, and nice musical reference. I'll have to serenade her with that song (or have her serenade herself, I suppose) next time we go out -- it definitely suits her (being the pretty little honey bee that she is).

I have no explanation for the whaling reference -- I just felt like using that as a caption (definitely no turbo reference, since it's an MC). I suppose if there are jumbo shrimp, there can be mini whales, right?

Apparently you're a Beetles fan, as well, eh? Definitely a nice ride you're sportin'. I was sorely tempted by the Pepper White w/black roof look myself, but narrowly decided I'd rather have a giant bee (though I sure agonized about it).

 

All scratches are hard to see in the shade.
Based on your supplied image, this is what I see



All of them except for maybe the holograms should be removable via ScratchX--you understand that this is not a product you just apply and wipe off--you apply it and rub like mad until the white cream turns clear. And you repeat this process--your MINI should be rocking as you do this, your fingers should be pretty sore, and you should be sweating after the 5th application or so. (I know you already used ScratchX and found satisfaction--just wanted to clarify the process)

A PC should remove all of this pretty easily, otherwise Hydro will improve the appearance by masking them.

Glad you found success in your efforts.

Richard

 

Nice looking honeybee, Sneetch. And welcome to the MINI detailing world in Phx! I've found the easiest way to wash here in the heat is actually IN the garage, with rinses, etc of course done toward the driveway. As long as you've got decent drainage to the street it dries out in a flash!

PS, I hope you've joined the local club - lots of fun!

 

Yes, plus Chicago, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Grand Funk Railroad and a few others, they were the best rock n roll band, ever! The good thing is Sgt Pepper is gender neutral in our present culture! So I don't have to worry about being politically correct. Never been much good at that!

 

UsCoops - I may have to try and clean out (at least half of) the garage so I can try that. I did discover the Dynamic Mini Collective while browsing around during the unendurable wait for my bee to be delivered. I think it would be a blast to join y'all in a fun run or gathering or something one of these days (I am quite enamored of the idea of a big pack of MINIs all congregated and astounding the passerby), though sadly I couldn't make the one today. Also, I 'm a fan of those custom stripes on your car! Nice rims, too -- someday I'll probably upgrade my base stock ones, but they're fine for now.

Trojan - yes, gender neutrality has become one of the cardinal virtues, so good job effortlessly achieving that.

OctaneGuy - now that is a wickedly cool visual analysis. I'm okay with not being able to do away the hologram. I think the occasional hologram adds something to any feast for the eyes.

Yep, I had to really rub the infernal things hard for a long time (wore me out) to get results with ScratchX, but it definitely had an effect. Of course, even now the scratches are still sort of there if you look just right in the full sun, but they're inconspicuous enough for the time being. Especially since I am now noticing all sorts of scratches that aren't quite as pronounced as those first ones, but that are still visible. I really do wonder whence they came. And some have definitely appeared without me touching the area in question. I guess that's just going to happen sometimes, and that's why you wax, eh?

The swirls were most assuredly not my doing, either. They're too even, too prevalent, and too present in areas where I know I didn't use a swirling motion for anything. I don't get how a dealer would think it's a good idea to do something to your car that regularly results in such an effect. Ah well.

 

Octane Guy with another impressive diagram/image for explaining.

Lucky for you that you can accept holograms on your Mini's finish.

Although you'll most likely need to put the rotary to work here, if you're satifisfied with them and happy then we're all happy with and for you.

Keep learning and keep practicing and you should be fine in no time.

Just a few things that will effect the condition of your paint and help in preventing swirls and scratches.

Do you garage your car nightly?
Is it a daily driver?
Where is it parked when you're at work?
How often and what do you use to wash it? The two bucket system?

Your paint may be scratch sensitive and you should really look into investing in some quality microfibre towels to remove wax.

In terms of your other scratches, the problem I find is when you maintain your car to highest possible standards, you notice more. For example, I just detailed what was suppose to be a Jet Black Honda Accord, and when all done and said, it turned out that its original colour is actually Nighthawk will blue metallic flakes. Point: the cleaner the car the more you notice.

Some Mini's that I've worked on seem to be scratch sensitive so you need to be really careful.

Personally if I were you, and if you have the time and are willing, I'd do a full detail and eliminate the swirls/scratches at once and then just maintain it to your highest possible ability as opposed to tackling scratches here and there. Know what I mean?

Ah, the work of a dealer detailer. Don't get me wrong, some out there might be good, while others are going to be horrible and I've had my run in with the latter of the two. Its unfortunate. No real answer as to why. Its the same as to why they hire 'detailers' and pay them $10/hour. Do you think those 'kids' (my experience) care about your car. I've seen them drop their towels pick them up and keep working on the car. That'll put scartches in for sure. And I've seen plenty of cars with holograms instilled from their detailer at the lot.

Once you got your swirls all elimanted it'll be best to try and figure out where they are coming from and stop them at the root of the problem. Get yourself some quality towels and some water magnets to dry your car and begin using two buckets to wash your car and you'll be on your way. One of the biggest problem areas is the washing. I've seen people and heard stories washing their tires with those big brushes attached to a broom handle and then move straight to the roof and the rest of the car. Swirl city here I come.

Hope that helps.

All the best.

 

Calogero, many thanks for the detailed response. It really helps to have pertinent facts individually spelled out.

While cleaning and inspecting my Mini, I felt the roots of OCDness striving to take hold of me. I don't know what balance I'll ultimately strike, but I've already spent $60 on cleaning/detailing products, and I intend to keep my bee looking nice. Moreover, I'm inclined to do as you've suggested and try to free up a Saturday to do an uber-detail to get all the swirls and scratches out, so that I can start out ahead of the game (instead of killing myself piecemeal with ScratchX).

It sounds like I'm gonna need to bite the bullet and invest in some kind of power rotary device, if I wanna resolve the current issues. I keep reading the term 'Porter Cable (PC)' - is one of their devices the most recommended for decent consumer-level detailing? Their power sander, I suppose? I'll search through the forums a bit more and see if I can get some basic info.

I did use the two bucket approach when I washed it, after having read through the posts here looking for basic tips, and will continue doing that. It is indeed a daily (my only) driver, and it is also unfortunately a purely outdoor insect. I have to park it outside in the cruel arizona sun at work, and at the moment garaging it at home is not really an option (though fortunately there's a reasonably amount of shade there at least some of the time).

I am certain that you are correct about becoming hypersensitive to scratches and so forth when ones standards are raised. It may be true that my car's extra scratch-sensitive, though who knows. Part of the issue is definitely the color -- the black roof and mirror caps are the only parts I've been able to see swirls and scratches in. Still worth having, because I love the way it looks, but it's gonna be extra work to keep shiny (and I can't help being glad that most of the vehicle is yellow and doesn't show faults easily!)

Working on the towels - also got a water blade. No tire brush will touch my paint!!