I was at the local MINI dealer last Saturday to test drive an '05 and while waiting for the car, I looked over the other cars in the show room. I noticed that every bonnet that I looked at (four of them) had several parallel (fine) scratches in the upper left area (when facing the car standing in front of the car). Some had fine scratches elsewhere as well. I have the same on my own car and I always thought I had done it the first time I washed it Maybe not! Is there a sticker on there when the cars arrive at the dealer and maybe they use a not-so-clean rag to wipe it up after removal of the sticker?

I used Zaino Z-5 (? I think that's the right number) to try to fill in the fine scratches on my car but I still notice them when the light is right.

 

I have those scratches as well. I noticed them right off when I picked up the car. They are very small so I imagine with the right polish, they should go away. I notice them on the left and right sides of the bonnett.

I used a camel hair brush (very soft bristles) today to get some dust off of the back of the car and after I noticed the brush scratched the surface! I couldn't believe it! I am hoping it is polish that is scratched and not the paint finish. These are very fine scratches, you wouldn't see them if you were not looking.

 

Yes, the scratches are pretty fine, but still quite visible in the right light. It seems the MINI's clear coat is softer than usual. My wife's Accord gets washed (for free) at the dealer where I would expect a lot of scratching but I haven't seen similar scratches on her car.

 

They are swirl marks from when they were detailed. A good polish and wax will take them away (assuming you don't do the same thing).

 

You need a California Duster for dusting your car. They sell for $9.99 here and work great.

here is a link to e-bay

http://search.ebay.com/california-du...fkrZ1QQfromZR8

Problem is they sell it for $9.95 and shipping is also $9.95.

Earl

 

Hey, ofioliti,
I will be hosting a BMW/ MINI club Detailing Seminar in May. Get in touch with me and I will give you the details. They are great! If you are in the St. Louis Mini Club you will get an invite.

Anyway, you are welcome to come on over to my "sanctuary" and we can detail your Mini or devise a detailing plan when it arrives! (Unless you have it already...I wasn't sure)

Brad
Fellow St. Louisian

 

Yeah, it is pretty annoying. I should have specifically told the dealer not to 'prepare' the car for delivery as I know others have done.

 

Hi Brad,
I'll be there! I paid my club dues so I should get the invite. See you in May!

 

Awesome! In the meantime if you need anything let me know!

 

Did they make you pay extra for the dealer installed swirl-marks and scratches?

A guy in my neighborhood had a brand new black BMW 7 series (stunning car) that was covered in swirlmarks. It looks like somebody had sanded the side of the car with 80 grit sandpaper! The buffer-jocky at the dealership must have had some grit in his buffing wheel and covered it over with high-gloss wax. Once the wax disappeared (1-2 washes) the scratches were uncovered. I'm glad I wasn't at the dealership when that "conversation" happened....

 

yah, it's extremely disappointing to find the swirls, same thing happened to me. I was excited before i got the MINI that the dealer had free washes every saturday, but now I don't even want them to touch it after a service or anything.

sad that they can't figure out how to wash cars correctly.

 

Some dealers seem much worse than others. I brought our Saab in for service last month and noticed that all of their cars in their showroom were incredibly swirl-marked. It was extremely obvious under the lighting. I was tempted to ask them if they sanded them down before putting them on display.

I always tell them to not wash my car when they're done working on it.

Mark

 

I didn't always have an obsession with my car's looks. This car does strange things to people

My neighbors must think I am nuts looking at all surfaces of my MINI at various angles. I have a mental map of all the little nicks and blemishes on my car that it gets as a daily driver, and when I find a new one I nearly have a heart attack!