What to do about this scratch...

Los Donuts · 03-27-2018, 12:15 AM

So a few weeks ago I found this on my z and I’m trying to determine the best way to go about sorting it out. It isn’t too deep (the flash of the picture makes it look worse than it actually is), I can feel the scratch but I don’t catch my nail on it. Also I put a tiny amount of clear coat touch-up on it and it completely took away the scratch, so I am assuming it didn’t reach the paint. I have rubbing compound, 2000-grit sandpaper, and polish compound. But I am not sure if it is worth trying to get this out myself, or go to a detailer, or go to a collision shop for this. Any thoughts? Thanks!

RonRizz · 03-27-2018, 04:22 AM

wet sanding is risky business if you have never done it before. there is not much clear on this car to begin with, and it is very easy to get too aggressive. always start with the least aggressive approach. I would try polish first, and whatever the polish will not take care of, go to the compound. if you cant catch your nail on it, compound should do the trick.
I repaired rock chips on my front end for 5 years with touch up and wet sand, literally dozens of times, and was very confident with it...... last year I wet sanded right through the clear on a spot .. front end re-paint. You can never be too careful, and should not take the most aggressive approach first. use the wet sand as a last resort.

Los Donuts · 03-27-2018, 07:40 AM

Yeah good point, I definitely want to stay away from the sand if I can. I feel like it would do more harm than good on my clear coat. I'll give the polish and compound a try! If I need to resort to the compound, do I hit it with the polish again after that to restore the shine? I hear the compound could take that away a bit and that I would need to polish after.

Los Donuts · 03-27-2018, 07:45 AM

PS Awesome job on the paint match! I want to try that on my engine cover at some point.

RonRizz · 03-27-2018, 03:47 PM

yes, you want to polish after compounding

JARblue · 03-27-2018, 03:56 PM

If you really want to try something without the possibility of messing it up worse, go for some Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0. If that doesn't get the job done, then just take it to a competent shop. It won't be a difficult fix for someone that knows what they're doing.

Los Donuts · 03-27-2018, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonRizz

yes, you want to polish after compounding

Awesome just making sure. Thanks!

Los Donuts · 03-27-2018, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

If you really want to try something without the possibility of messing it up worse, go for some Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0. If that doesn't get the job done, then just take it to a competent shop. It won't be a difficult fix for someone that knows what they're doing.

I'll definitely give that stuff a try, I'll pick some up and hopefully that takes care of the issue. Thanks!

bigaudiofanat · 03-29-2018, 06:55 AM

OP, I'll be up in NYC this weekend for the auto show if you'd like me to take care of this for you. I'd think wet sanding fallowed by 2 stage correction should bring it out. You could use a toothpick and about an hour of your time and use your clear coat to lightly fill the scratch too.

Los Donuts · 03-29-2018, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

OP, I'll be up in NYC this weekend for the auto show if you'd like me to take care of this for you. I'd think wet sanding fallowed by 2 stage correction should bring it out. You could use a toothpick and about an hour of your time and use your clear coat to lightly fill the scratch too.

Hi I really appreciate the offer! However, I actually just got it repaired today. I may be in touch soon about some possible ideas I want to look into related to car electronics though. Thanks!

Picture of panel after scratch removal (difficult to get a good pic with this paint color)

Jayhovah · 03-29-2018, 01:36 PM

looks amazing. how did they do it?

Los Donuts · 03-29-2018, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhovah

looks amazing. how did they do it?

Thanks! I unfortunately didn't get to see the specific process because I had to take an important phone call. But from looking at the finished job I would guess that they did a very thorough buff/compound/polish. It's possible that they also may have done a remarkably clean sanding job, because it really looks flawless from every angle. Whatever they did, they did it right!

RonRizz · 03-29-2018, 05:18 PM

Looks great

03-27-2018, 12:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Los Donuts Base Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Posts: 39 Drives: '16 370z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 7	What to do about this scratch... So a few weeks ago I found this on my z and I’m trying to determine the best way to go about sorting it out. It isn’t too deep (the flash of the picture makes it look worse than it actually is), I can feel the scratch but I don’t catch my nail on it. Also I put a tiny amount of clear coat touch-up on it and it completely took away the scratch, so I am assuming it didn’t reach the paint. I have rubbing compound, 2000-grit sandpaper, and polish compound. But I am not sure if it is worth trying to get this out myself, or go to a detailer, or go to a collision shop for this. Any thoughts? Thanks! __________________ 2016 Black Cherry Nissan 370z Touring 7AT Stillen G3 CAI \| Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust \| Motordyne ART Pipes \| GReddy KW Performance Coilovers \| UpRev Tuned Last edited by Los Donuts; 03-27-2018 at 12:17 AM.

03-27-2018, 04:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
RonRizz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pine grove, Pa Posts: 2,132 Drives: 2 feet, 3 pedals Rep Power: 6774	wet sanding is risky business if you have never done it before. there is not much clear on this car to begin with, and it is very easy to get too aggressive. always start with the least aggressive approach. I would try polish first, and whatever the polish will not take care of, go to the compound. if you cant catch your nail on it, compound should do the trick. I repaired rock chips on my front end for 5 years with touch up and wet sand, literally dozens of times, and was very confident with it...... last year I wet sanded right through the clear on a spot .. front end re-paint. You can never be too careful, and should not take the most aggressive approach first. use the wet sand as a last resort. __________________ P99rs Head Unit--- Amps- 2 Pioneer Prs800d --- Zapco ST1000MX---Zapco ST-4XSQ---- SI BM mk5 Subs---SI TM65v2 Midbass--- SI M3 mids--- SI M25 xbl2 tweeters ----- 2016 MECA street class 3rd place at world finals

03-27-2018, 07:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Los Donuts Base Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Posts: 39 Drives: '16 370z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 7	Yeah good point, I definitely want to stay away from the sand if I can. I feel like it would do more harm than good on my clear coat. I'll give the polish and compound a try! If I need to resort to the compound, do I hit it with the polish again after that to restore the shine? I hear the compound could take that away a bit and that I would need to polish after. __________________ 2016 Black Cherry Nissan 370z Touring 7AT Stillen G3 CAI \| Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust \| Motordyne ART Pipes \| GReddy KW Performance Coilovers \| UpRev Tuned

03-27-2018, 07:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Los Donuts Base Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Posts: 39 Drives: '16 370z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 7	PS Awesome job on the paint match! I want to try that on my engine cover at some point. __________________ 2016 Black Cherry Nissan 370z Touring 7AT Stillen G3 CAI \| Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust \| Motordyne ART Pipes \| GReddy KW Performance Coilovers \| UpRev Tuned

03-27-2018, 03:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
RonRizz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pine grove, Pa Posts: 2,132 Drives: 2 feet, 3 pedals Rep Power: 6774	yes, you want to polish after compounding __________________ P99rs Head Unit--- Amps- 2 Pioneer Prs800d --- Zapco ST1000MX---Zapco ST-4XSQ---- SI BM mk5 Subs---SI TM65v2 Midbass--- SI M3 mids--- SI M25 xbl2 tweeters ----- 2016 MECA street class 3rd place at world finals

03-27-2018, 03:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	If you really want to try something without the possibility of messing it up worse, go for some Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0. If that doesn't get the job done, then just take it to a competent shop. It won't be a difficult fix for someone that knows what they're doing. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

03-29-2018, 06:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 852	OP, I'll be up in NYC this weekend for the auto show if you'd like me to take care of this for you. I'd think wet sanding fallowed by 2 stage correction should bring it out. You could use a toothpick and about an hour of your time and use your clear coat to lightly fill the scratch too. 2011 Nismo#91, JARblue, Ghostvette and 1 others like this. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

03-29-2018, 05:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
RonRizz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pine grove, Pa Posts: 2,132 Drives: 2 feet, 3 pedals Rep Power: 6774	Looks great Los Donuts likes this. __________________ P99rs Head Unit--- Amps- 2 Pioneer Prs800d --- Zapco ST1000MX---Zapco ST-4XSQ---- SI BM mk5 Subs---SI TM65v2 Midbass--- SI M3 mids--- SI M25 xbl2 tweeters ----- 2016 MECA street class 3rd place at world finals

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