Looks today like the snow cleared from my bonnet has scratched the paint, but have been grit on the bonnet before.
Whats the best to get them out.
They are long, around 2-3 ft and just visible not deep.
Should I flat them out with 2000?

 

No....no no, no sanding required if they are just surface scratches.

These should be polished or jeweled out either using a D/A with a LC euro foam cutting pad and Meguiar's M105 or if they are more severe than that a rotary polisher will do it....Is this something you plan on doing or taking it to a professional. If you could post some photos of these scratches that would help out a lot.

 

Thanks for that, I will post pictures in the morning.
I will do it my self.

 

Cannot take a picture good enough to show the marks.
They are all over the bonnet, looks like a cat has been on it.
Is polishing it going to be better that wet flat and polish?
Also just found some one has removed flys from the front bumper with a scotch bright!
Need to get these out as well, looks like 400G in the small areas around lights.
Again flat with 2000?

 

Ok not a problem........

Here is an example of a 2011 Tesla that I recently was hired to correct for Tesla Motors. take a look at these photos, are these similar scratches to what you are describing?







These photos show scratches that the dealer described as "Something dragged" across the hood of the vehicle.

If they are anything like the photos above, yes flat (spot) sand with wet 2000 and then polish up with a wool pad and M105















Happy New Year!

 

Thanks for the help.

 

I'm not sure if it was snow/salt/chemicals or what-have-you but my white 07 XK suddenly looks like the paint around the edge of the doors has been sandblasted! I will take some photos tomorrow to post, but has anyone else had this problem or am I just lucky?

 

How long have you owned this vehicle?

While road rocks will blast the paint its usually not on the edges>???? My guess, with out a photo, is that maybe this area was touched up and the winter just popped loose the touch up. I see this a fair amount in my winter wonderland.

Are you seeing little orange dots on your vertical panels of the car? If so you can clay to get them off, or better yet use a decon system to remove them....more of a professional technique.

Cheers,
GREG

 

Finally got a chance to snap a few photos of the mysterious paint chips along the seams of both doors on my 07 XK. Recently while at the dealership, I looked closely at a gold 07 XK that was in the dealership showroom and noticed that it had the same chips around its doors, so maybe this is a common problem??

 

it looks like a paint problem, too thin in that area. Doesn't quite look like rock chips, as they would cover an area and from the photos it looks like its isolated.

Cheers,
GREG

 

Looks like those seams kinda stick out just a little bit. Probably the aerodynamics of it all causes the grit on the road to strike that door at that spot and causes the pitting.

 

Road salt removal is difficult to remove as many State authorities use an additive based on molasses, a bye product of the sugar refining industry, along with the salt solution to ensure it adheres and is therefore more effective. The salt / grit / sugar mixture is the reason you must be careful when removing 'snow' from a paint surface to avoid surface scratches.

Clear the Snow / Ice Safely

Stand on one side of the car. Using a long-handled snow plough (Snow Mover™ ) push the snow on the roof of the car as far to the other side as you can reach, leave a 1/2-inch of snow to melt by itself as this will avoid surface scratches. Once the roof is mostly clear, continue pushing the snow on the rear window, trunk, windshield and hood. Walk around to the other side of the car and use the snow plough to clear the piled-up snow off the car. Use the snow brush to remove any snow that hasn't come off the windshield, hood or headlights. Use an ice scraper to remove any ice from the windshield and other glass surfaces.

Clear snow from the roof as well as from windows, snow piled up on the roof can fall onto the windscreen obscuring your view and can also be a hazard to other road users (this is also illegal in some states/ countries and subject to on the spot fines).


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Jon,

Can you please give me the reference for the comment about salt/grit/sugar slurry used on roads?

Want to use that to help explain why spring detailing and winter protection are highly important to my clients. Having such a resource helps give credible science behind the concern.

Cheers,
GREG

 

Different states utilize various salts and additives to their anti-freeze salt/grit mix and I would suggest that you research your local Highway agency to find out what specific mixture they use


[A thick, viscous fluid that is made from sugar beets, looks and feels like motor oil and smells a bit like instant coffee is part of the State Highway Administration's plans to keep Maryland roadways free of snow and ice this winter.
The molasses-based substance, known as Ice Bite, will be used in a pilot project in Frederick and Howard counties to test its effectiveness in pre-treating highways before spraying salt.
Highway officials at the agency's annual Snow Show on Monday said the product will be added to salt brine to help it adhere to pavement for a longer period. Officials say Ice Bite, a sugar-free form of beet molasses, will help reduce the amount of salt that scatters when a truck sprays it onto a roadway.] Baltimore Sun
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/200...salt-spreading

 

Just use a snow brush. It has a rubber blade on one side, bristles on the other, and a ice sraper on the other end. Very common in colder climates. Comes in overall lengths from 2 feet to 4 feet.

Start the car as soon as possible. Just clear the snow from around the drivers window and mirror so the snow does not fall in when you open the door. Turn on the heated glass, defroster and side vents. Then, start in on the snow. By the time the rest of the car is broomed off, there should be water forming between the ice and glass. It will come off in great big sheets because it is no longer frozen to the glass.

Snow does not cause scratches. It is more likely the wrong tool was used.