HELP: Faint scratches all over my Cerbies body!!!!!!
Discussion
As you all know, we love the gleam of our TVR's, especially in the night under the street lights.
Recently I've noticed that there are faint scratches and scuffs on my cars body. The gleam is still there, but real close up, if you're looking for them, you can notice them!
This has really pissed me off, and I want to get them off, I know that they're only on the laquer.
But I have no idea of what to do or where to go to get anything done.
I dont talk to my dealer much more, they're all a bunch of con-artists. Ever since I started doing my own work on the car, it runs sweeter than ever.
I want the scratch free surface back.
Anyone got any pointers?????
Recently I've noticed that there are faint scratches and scuffs on my cars body. The gleam is still there, but real close up, if you're looking for them, you can notice them!
This has really pissed me off, and I want to get them off, I know that they're only on the laquer.
But I have no idea of what to do or where to go to get anything done.
I dont talk to my dealer much more, they're all a bunch of con-artists. Ever since I started doing my own work on the car, it runs sweeter than ever.
I want the scratch free surface back.
Anyone got any pointers?????
They are very light and faint, you cant see them at all. Only in the dark, and putting your head on the adjacent to the body surface and looking across the panel, can you see them.
Everybody keeps saying wax it. But what wax? How shall I wax it???? Who knows any professionals who can do it???? and I most definitely want a permanent job, and not a fake seal till next car wash or two.
I cant get to sleep properly till I know how I can get this sorted. She is a beauty, and I just cant stand knowing that the body can look smooth and showroom shiny and it isnt.
I mean, why the hell are TVR still using laquer???? This new high-gloss-super-poly is what everyone else is using nowadays, I wouldnt have to put up with faint scuffs and scratches due to chamois drying if they had used the more modern paint finishes????? Forget the stone chips - they're another nuisance.
Everybody keeps saying wax it. But what wax? How shall I wax it???? Who knows any professionals who can do it???? and I most definitely want a permanent job, and not a fake seal till next car wash or two.
I cant get to sleep properly till I know how I can get this sorted. She is a beauty, and I just cant stand knowing that the body can look smooth and showroom shiny and it isnt.
I mean, why the hell are TVR still using laquer???? This new high-gloss-super-poly is what everyone else is using nowadays, I wouldnt have to put up with faint scuffs and scratches due to chamois drying if they had used the more modern paint finishes????? Forget the stone chips - they're another nuisance.
quote:
They are very light and faint, you cant see them at all. Only in the dark, and putting your head on the adjacent to the body surface and looking across the panel, can you see them.
Rodney old mate, I'm surprised you can bring yourself to touch it for fear of leaving some fingerprints on the paint. I think it's called wear & tear!
TVR owner one day soon
Probably swirl marks.
If you wanna get really anal about it, get hold of some Zymol (www.zymol.com/www.zymol.co.uk).
Expensive stuff, but use it on my MX5 and will be using it on the Tuscan when it arrives. The polish and then wax application removes all the swirl marks and gives the car a shine like no other polish i've tried (and I've given all the Halfords jobs - Mer, Autoglym, Turtle Wax etc - a go).
Lasts a good few months as well before it needs doing again if you use their shampoo (and this is on my daily driver that sits out in the rain, sleet, snow and does 25k miles a year).
-andy-
If you wanna get really anal about it, get hold of some Zymol (www.zymol.com/www.zymol.co.uk).
Expensive stuff, but use it on my MX5 and will be using it on the Tuscan when it arrives. The polish and then wax application removes all the swirl marks and gives the car a shine like no other polish i've tried (and I've given all the Halfords jobs - Mer, Autoglym, Turtle Wax etc - a go).
Lasts a good few months as well before it needs doing again if you use their shampoo (and this is on my daily driver that sits out in the rain, sleet, snow and does 25k miles a year).
-andy-
Zymol looks good but is pricey. You may sort it with some sort of cutting compound, but dont bother with t-cut as its as much use as t!ts on a pig.
There is a pro one called G3, but you need to be careful and you need to feel energetic to use it, and it needs to be used in conjunction with a very good polish.
Something between the two and a very high quality wax will probably do you.
No point just clearcoating on top of the scratches as the light will still catch them.
Matt.
There is a pro one called G3, but you need to be careful and you need to feel energetic to use it, and it needs to be used in conjunction with a very good polish.
Something between the two and a very high quality wax will probably do you.
No point just clearcoating on top of the scratches as the light will still catch them.
Matt.
quote:
I mean, why the hell are TVR still using laquer??? This new high-gloss-super-poly is what everyone else is using nowadays, I wouldn’t have to put up with faint scuffs and scratches due to chamois drying if they had used the more modern paint finishes???
Rodney, have you looked at the paint job on most modern cars - absolute crap! Orange-peel like the surface of the moon, just take a look at any mass-production job, it's no wonder you can't see any swirl marks - there isn't a panel with a smooth enough finish. Sounds like you need to "really" give it a good polish with some elbow grease and a decent product like Auto-Glym or Zymol. Oh and the lesson is, always change your water when rinsing the car and DON'T drop you leather on the floor any grit it picks up will rub straight into the paint.
I know it sounds paranoid but I keep a separate bucket, sponge and leather for my TVR because I know my 3 x teenagers raid my garage when washing their cars and they ALWAYS put the sponges and leathers on the drive instead of in the bucket – kids eh? Don’t you love ‘em…? R...
quote:
...Anyone got any pointers?
Yes - get out and drive the thing, and stop worrying about minute scratches you can only see in the dark if you put your head on the bodywork.
You're not currently under arrest in Greece by any chance?
Edited by Neil Menzies on Wednesday 5th December 11:45
Sorry to be anal, but I'm with Rodney. My Chimaera has an absolute beauty of a paint job, so I go incandescent when it gets scratched.
I usually use Colour Magic Polish (NOT the Colour Magic Restorer, which is a T-cut type product). If you're patient enough to keep applying it to the same small area many times over, it totally masks swirls and scratches (mine are mainly from parking on the wrong side at petrol pumps and dragging the tubing across the offside rear wing). It keeps my pride and joy looking the d's b's, anyway, so I'm happy. And it's cheap.
PS - Thanks to whoever it was who recommended Brasso for livening up chrome bits a while back. That did the business too. And that's REALLY cheap!
PPS - Before I'm accused of being one of those saddos who wheels the car out of the garage on Sundays for a quick wax and then puts it away again for a week, I should like to point out that it's used every day, even in this shite weather we're having now!
I usually use Colour Magic Polish (NOT the Colour Magic Restorer, which is a T-cut type product). If you're patient enough to keep applying it to the same small area many times over, it totally masks swirls and scratches (mine are mainly from parking on the wrong side at petrol pumps and dragging the tubing across the offside rear wing). It keeps my pride and joy looking the d's b's, anyway, so I'm happy. And it's cheap.
PS - Thanks to whoever it was who recommended Brasso for livening up chrome bits a while back. That did the business too. And that's REALLY cheap!
PPS - Before I'm accused of being one of those saddos who wheels the car out of the garage on Sundays for a quick wax and then puts it away again for a week, I should like to point out that it's used every day, even in this shite weather we're having now!
I agree with cockers the colour magic works, I have a mettalic blue Cerb and the day after I had it delivered my partners Springer Spanial decided to do a Trovel and Dean across the bonnet
( I now have a nice liver and white furry Davy Crocket hat), 
anyway similar damage to Rodneys Cerb bonnet so after a few calming Malboro's shot down the road and picked up a blue wax touch up pencil, the old C magic and Autoglym, quick clean of the area, rub the wax pencil into the scratch then CM followed by the Autoglym, came up great, still see the scrtaches if you look very hard but good job and save the dog's a***.
Car used daily in all weathers sun rain and snow though the latter with clenched cheeks but have found that waxing every three months keeps the paintwork looking good, hope this helps.
( I now have a nice liver and white furry Davy Crocket hat), anyway similar damage to Rodneys Cerb bonnet so after a few calming Malboro's shot down the road and picked up a blue wax touch up pencil, the old C magic and Autoglym, quick clean of the area, rub the wax pencil into the scratch then CM followed by the Autoglym, came up great, still see the scrtaches if you look very hard but good job and save the dog's a***. Car used daily in all weathers sun rain and snow though the latter with clenched cheeks but have found that waxing every three months keeps the paintwork looking good, hope this helps.
Mine gets cleaned a leathered every weekend. Each month gets waxed (I use any high wax polish that's on special offer). Once a year I completely G10 the car (very, very fine cutting compound used by the specialists) then re-wax again. Comes out speckless... I am the same as you though - the stone chips get on my gonads!!
The frequency is only because I use it all the time in all weathers.
I'd probably say more important is protecting the underside (ie. waxoyling etc... especially through out the winter with the salt and all.)
The frequency is only because I use it all the time in all weathers.
I'd probably say more important is protecting the underside (ie. waxoyling etc... especially through out the winter with the salt and all.)
Ahhh G10, now thats interesting. I have used G3 in the past so I assume this is the same stuff but with less cutting action.
Right, thats me off to a bodyshop supply company this weekend then!
I imagine G3 could be used to rectify very very small stonechips as its possible to cover them in the surrounding paint, but there is always the worry that you will cut too far.
Matt.
Right, thats me off to a bodyshop supply company this weekend then!
I imagine G3 could be used to rectify very very small stonechips as its possible to cover them in the surrounding paint, but there is always the worry that you will cut too far.
Matt.
I would have imagined that AutoGlym Resin Polish should sort it - but I'm not sure if it's compatible with the TVR paint finish.
After many different attempts at cleaning cars, my current (rather sad) method is to use two buckets and two sponges. Bucket and sponge one is used first, and is used to clean the wheels and the bottom bits of the car. Bucket and sponge two is then used to wash the top of the car down. This means that the big bits of road dirt and brake dust don't get into the water and sponge (long term) and scratch the paintwork. Then using a well looked after and clean (wet) chamois dry the car.
I think most scratches and smears are caused by dirty sponges or chamois with soap in them.
After many different attempts at cleaning cars, my current (rather sad) method is to use two buckets and two sponges. Bucket and sponge one is used first, and is used to clean the wheels and the bottom bits of the car. Bucket and sponge two is then used to wash the top of the car down. This means that the big bits of road dirt and brake dust don't get into the water and sponge (long term) and scratch the paintwork. Then using a well looked after and clean (wet) chamois dry the car.
I think most scratches and smears are caused by dirty sponges or chamois with soap in them.
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