only after 2400+ miles, a small rock came curving around an suv and nailed my hood on the highway. I looked at it afterwards and found two little chips and it has bothered me since...
i bought some paint from my ma and he suggested i use
1. the end of a matchstick to apply a very thin layer of the paint after the hood has cooled down and away from sunlight
2. up to 5 layers of the paint (20ish min to allow each coat to dry)
3. apply the clear coat and let it dry
4. wax!

any other suggestions? the chip isnt too deep but i want to do a good job...

 

the problem I've had using touchup paint is getting it to match and making the touched up area flush with the surrounding paint. I don't know how to do that. When you say "clear coat" what do you mean by that? I used dealer touchup paint from Mazda on my wife's car and it looks like crap, the color isn't anywhere close. I wish I'd left it alone. So if I were you I'd apply a test dose where you can't see it before I used it on the hood.

 

I've used these Griot's Garage applicators and spot sanding tool and have been pleased. As pleased as I'm capable of feeling about a touched-up rock chip, that is.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...rrivals&page=1

 

Yeah, color matching is the bigger challenge for many. My MCS is Jet Black so... not much of a factor.

 

Somebody found a company that sells touchup paint in a Sharpie format so you just dot it on the black. I never heard if anyone ever used it on a Mini though. They'd take your paint number on the website (I think it's under the hood). Sounded promising to me. I've got a few tiny chip marks myself, but I don't want to mess with liquid paint from a bottle after doing my wife's car. It left raised blotches, looks horrible. I think you have to sand the area some before you paint it, which makes me want to leave it alone.

 

Or you could take your problem to the nearest outfit that does this kind of thing.

 

Here are 2 ways I've used:

http://guidetodetailing.com/articles.php?articleId=27

If you don't feel confident wet sanding your paint

http://www.langka.com/

The hard part is leveling out the blob of paint so it matches the surrounding paint. Personally I think the wet sanding works better but have to be careful not to overdo it and create a little depression in the surrounding paint. The Langka is a fluid so you physically cannot remove the surrounding paint by accident. Either way you have to remove part of the blob or the repair won't look right.

 

I've seen those touchup pens on eBay. I wondered how they would work? Anyone tried them?

 

I've tried touchup paint from the dealer on my old s2000 and it didn't match at all! and if it's not a smooth application, then the paint gets all "bumpy."
My dad has a body shop and I've seen all types of paint applications, little fixes, etc. If you start sanding and stuff, you thin out the already thin paint around the chip...risky IMO. Repainting is expensive and deminishes the value of the car slightly. I'd live with it and get a clear bra to prevent future chips.

 

Try these guys...

http://www.paintscratch.com/

I got some for my WRX. Worked very well.

 

Highly recommend you post in, and search in, the Detailing 101 forum here on NAM... TONS of good info, advice, techniques, etc. on paint touch-up.