I just sent my champagne red metallic-painted 2007 S-type through a commercial car wash and it emerged with minor but ugly scratches in the paint surface. I think they are superficial and wonder if anyone has advice for how to get them out without significant expense. Also, any advice on how to avoid this syndrome in future?

 

checkout the detailing section Nomdevdt, maybe ask our resident detailer for his opinion of the best off-the-shelf product... and I hope you learned your lesson my friend.

 

You betcha!

 

Zaino makes some very nice products, they can be a bit pricey but are well worth the money. I own my own detailing business and swear by Zaino and Meguiars M105, but you wont have to worry about the 105 if the scratches are just very light in the clear coat.

 

Never ever ever go to a car wash. Hand wash only..

 

I like the Griot's Garage assortment of detailing products. Speed Shine and clay bar and their wax is really good. Glass polish and other compounds have really served me well.

BB

 

Car wash is a sure way to get swirls. Good news is they can usually be buffed out. Check out Autogeek.com and poorboys.com for some great products to do it yourself. Otherwise, find a local detailer and have them polish and wax or apply a paint sealant. The hand wash!

 

Never ever ever take your ride through a drive through car wash, although I'm sure you've learned that by now.
Hand wash is the only way to go.....A decent pressure washer is a good investment as are quality wash mitts and micro fibre towels.
Then of course there is the " two bucket wash method "

Why not check out the detailing section for hints and tips nomdev?

 

I have had luck with Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0 fine scratch and blemish remover. And best of all..you can find it at any local auto parts store.

 

^^ meguiars scratchX, got it...works well for the small ones on a regular hand applicator pad.

 

I will repeat everyone else's responses: NEVER NEVER EVER EVER go through a commercial car wash! Your Jag is getting washed with dirt embedded machines, not to mention those tracks that pull your car through can scratch the sh*t out of your rims. If you live in a colder climate, and have no ability to hand wash your car in the winter, find a touchless carwash (no tracks). If it is a type of place that dries the excess water off the car for you, ask them to use unused and/orclean towels, or just not to do it. Usually these type of washes wont get your car crystal clean by any means so when i get home i use clean microfiber towels and detailing spray (Lucas SLickmist from advanced auto parts works great). Will take you 5-10 minutes but really does the trick. I also use the detailing spray on my rims.

This is coming from an **** owner of a black car that gets sick when my car does not have a mirror/wet shine.

 

So right Bull, sometimes I use my local jet wash guys and pop in if my cars really bad and just give it a quick once over, I'm so **** I actually do it myself......and pay them for the privelege of using their equipment. Usually just a quick powerwash to take of the worst is enough to keep me going until I can do it properly myself.

On a side note - While at the Audi garage I was looking at an A8 in black, beautiful piece of kit. Gave it the once over ( bear in mind it was a NEW car at over $77,000.00 US
There were about 3 million tiny scratches on it from the resident car wash guys...what a nightmare
It was worse than my 3 year old 66k mile A6!!!

It all made sense when I saw one of them using a chamois leather to dry the paintwork
Then he actually dropped it on the floor - proceeded to pick it up and use it again

Needless to say when my car goes in I tell the service guys UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you wash my car. I've even been known to leave notes to that effect on the passnger seat in BIG BOLD LETTERING...lol