!Warning! Large image:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...894scratch.jpg

4" long, deep enough that the dealer could not buff it out. If I run my fingernail over it, with my finger pointing upwards (so that I don't make it worse), the fingernail sticks.

If you're looking at the bonnet, its horizontal, in the right dip. Almost 3/4" of the way up.

It was alone for a period of:
10 minutes in parking lot
30 minutes at work

I just got the MINI, so can't put wax down - how do I tell if waxing will help?

 

looks like it has about three grooves or distinct parallel lines to it...

sorry and good luck - hope scratch works "itself out"

 

There are actually 4. I think the 4th doesn't show.
"Works itself out"???? A little confused here. I know that some scratches can be buffed, others require a repaint. The dealership offered to repaint for cost, but I declined. I don't think it will magically disappear...

Thanks!

John

 

Trying to land on the bonet maybe.

Could you pass it off as vandalisim to your insurance co?

Then you only need to pay the Deductible...

As far as trying to wax it out im not to sure it will work. But the guys in the Waxing and scratch forums may be able to help...


Bummer!

 

someone sitting on your bonnet taking pictures maybe?
try some 3M fine cut rubbing compound..
Someone keyed my old car on the side from front fender to rear fender and I was able to get most of it out. or at least make it less visible.

 

I wondered about that : (

Can birds really scratch up a car like that?

 

You didn't have the wiper blades out from the windshield and then open the bonnet, did you?

The only other thing I can think of is if someone carelessly put something down on your bonnet while they got ready to leave their car.

 

No and no - I was with the car all the time, except two instances.

Can I try to wax or do something to this spot before the paint fully cures? it was completed July 14~15.

 

I see the 4 lines clearly. It's obviously something that while swiped was lifted up, as the lines fade going up. Probably went left to right as well, looking at the picture orentation at least. Maybe a bag or something someone had on the car, and then picked up to carry away - something like a zipper on it or something...


No matter what, buffing and wax don't cure things like that.

 

My first thought is that someone set a briefcase/handbag down on the bonnet and then drug it off the side while you were away. Someone was nice enough to do that to my car a few years ago, 2 days after I finished a full compounding / polishing / sealing job (20-some hours of work) on an older car.

I've copied and pasted some info from another thread on polishing and compounding, but if the dealer couldn't get it out with a buffer, your hopes are pretty small. Especially if it is snagging a fingernail...

From the pic, it doesn't look like the scratches made it through the pigmented layer (clear coat only). You might be able to fill in the scratch with clearcoat and wetsand/Langka to remove some if it. I'd probably go and find a professional on this one... It may cost you $100 for a good detailer to fix, but it would be worth it (and a much better alternative to painting the hood, if it works). Be sure to tell the shop the construction date so they know that the paint might be a bit soft yet.

 

I'll check with a family friend, who has a paint/repair shop. He has done outstanding work on my parents vehicles, and my brothers Honda. I want to get it fixed if it's bad enough to cause paint peeling, I can live with the scratch.

 

Maybe it was a cat?

 

It's an object, they are spaced perfectly all the way over.

 

Ururk,

From what I can tell from your pic those scrataches are fixable. If it were my car I would use 3M FINE cutting polish first, then use 3M Swirl Mark filler for DARK colors. Once applied per the instructions, use you favorite wax/polish and you should be good to go. I've had to do this a few times to scratches that appear to be about the same as yours on two black cars and this procedure fixed it each time. Good luck!
- Grumpy

 

Thanks everyone! I'm going to bring it to the shop, have them look at it, and if they say to polish them out, I'll follow the directions posted here... if they think it needs a clearcoat, yikes, I may have them do it, depending on cost.

John