Discussion
Finally got round to using the ScratchX I bought weeks ago:
The above is the before shot. Notice the three deeper scuffy scratch marks in the foreground, and all the other various lighter ones along the "spoiler".
After:
A vast improvement, I think. You can still see the scratches, but now you have to look closely for them. I couldn't pick them up on camera...
For all others considering the treatment the process was:
1. Saturday, wash car - two bucket method, with watering can rinse down to start and finish, Car Plan cheapo wash and wax with microfibre covered sponge (my hands are just too small for washmits)
2. Dry - microfibre towel
3. Cover car and wait 2 days, 'cos I ran out of time and the footie was about to start...
4. Last night, uncover car and go over with Meguiars Quick Detailer spray and wipe with microfiber towel.
5. Clay rear "spoiler" and boot area to remove overspray and various other stuck on contaminants - Meguiars clay bar and Quick Detailer as lube, wipe off with microfiber towel.
6. Polish scratches out - Meguiars ScratchX on Halfraud's cheapo cotton covered sponge polishing pad, wipe off with microfiber towel.
7. Wax - used the small bottle of Meguiars that came with the clay kit, using a Meguiars purple sponge and removing with microfibre cloth.
All of course performed by following the instructions on the various bottles, and separate and clean applicators/towels for each stage.
I know there have been reported problems from using clay bars (Janitor's Audi) but from what I can see, and I had to wait till this morning to see it in daylight as well, I don't think I've caused any more (serious) scratches.
I have been told that the paint on the Elise is very hard, so this may be why I've "got away with it".
Hope the photos post OK, and await to be shot down by all the serious car detailers out there, but this may give others the confidence to give it a go themselves. It will do for me anyway, until I need a full respray!
Just got to do the rest of it now... oh and put up with comments like "Do you ever drive that thing?" while I'm doing it.
The above is the before shot. Notice the three deeper scuffy scratch marks in the foreground, and all the other various lighter ones along the "spoiler".
After:
A vast improvement, I think. You can still see the scratches, but now you have to look closely for them. I couldn't pick them up on camera...
For all others considering the treatment the process was:
1. Saturday, wash car - two bucket method, with watering can rinse down to start and finish, Car Plan cheapo wash and wax with microfibre covered sponge (my hands are just too small for washmits)
2. Dry - microfibre towel
3. Cover car and wait 2 days, 'cos I ran out of time and the footie was about to start...
4. Last night, uncover car and go over with Meguiars Quick Detailer spray and wipe with microfiber towel.
5. Clay rear "spoiler" and boot area to remove overspray and various other stuck on contaminants - Meguiars clay bar and Quick Detailer as lube, wipe off with microfiber towel.
6. Polish scratches out - Meguiars ScratchX on Halfraud's cheapo cotton covered sponge polishing pad, wipe off with microfiber towel.
7. Wax - used the small bottle of Meguiars that came with the clay kit, using a Meguiars purple sponge and removing with microfibre cloth.
All of course performed by following the instructions on the various bottles, and separate and clean applicators/towels for each stage.
I know there have been reported problems from using clay bars (Janitor's Audi) but from what I can see, and I had to wait till this morning to see it in daylight as well, I don't think I've caused any more (serious) scratches.
I have been told that the paint on the Elise is very hard, so this may be why I've "got away with it".
Hope the photos post OK, and await to be shot down by all the serious car detailers out there, but this may give others the confidence to give it a go themselves. It will do for me anyway, until I need a full respray!
Just got to do the rest of it now... oh and put up with comments like "Do you ever drive that thing?" while I'm doing it.
mrssumner said:
Finally got round to using the ScratchX I bought weeks ago:
The above is the before shot. Notice the three deeper scuffy scratch marks in the foreground, and all the other various lighter ones along the "spoiler".
After:
A vast improvement, I think. You can still see the scratches, but now you have to look closely for them. I couldn't pick them up on camera...
For all others considering the treatment the process was:
1. Saturday, wash car - two bucket method, with watering can rinse down to start and finish, Car Plan cheapo wash and wax with microfibre covered sponge (my hands are just too small for washmits)
2. Dry - microfibre towel
3. Cover car and wait 2 days, 'cos I ran out of time and the footie was about to start...
4. Last night, uncover car and go over with Meguiars Quick Detailer spray and wipe with microfiber towel.
5. Clay rear "spoiler" and boot area to remove overspray and various other stuck on contaminants - Meguiars clay bar and Quick Detailer as lube, wipe off with microfiber towel.
6. Polish scratches out - Meguiars ScratchX on Halfraud's cheapo cotton covered sponge polishing pad, wipe off with microfiber towel.
7. Wax - used the small bottle of Meguiars that came with the clay kit, using a Meguiars purple sponge and removing with microfibre cloth.
All of course performed by following the instructions on the various bottles, and separate and clean applicators/towels for each stage.
I know there have been reported problems from using clay bars (Janitor's Audi) but from what I can see, and I had to wait till this morning to see it in daylight as well, I don't think I've caused any more (serious) scratches.
I have been told that the paint on the Elise is very hard, so this may be why I've "got away with it".
Hope the photos post OK, and await to be shot down by all the serious car detailers out there, but this may give others the confidence to give it a go themselves. It will do for me anyway, until I need a full respray!
Just got to do the rest of it now... oh and put up with comments like "Do you ever drive that thing?" while I'm doing it.
Good work. Would be interested to hear if your scratches reappear at all. A couple that I thought I'd got out with Scrath-X seem to have reappeared but I suspect I may have filled the voids with wax.The above is the before shot. Notice the three deeper scuffy scratch marks in the foreground, and all the other various lighter ones along the "spoiler".
After:
A vast improvement, I think. You can still see the scratches, but now you have to look closely for them. I couldn't pick them up on camera...
For all others considering the treatment the process was:
1. Saturday, wash car - two bucket method, with watering can rinse down to start and finish, Car Plan cheapo wash and wax with microfibre covered sponge (my hands are just too small for washmits)
2. Dry - microfibre towel
3. Cover car and wait 2 days, 'cos I ran out of time and the footie was about to start...
4. Last night, uncover car and go over with Meguiars Quick Detailer spray and wipe with microfiber towel.
5. Clay rear "spoiler" and boot area to remove overspray and various other stuck on contaminants - Meguiars clay bar and Quick Detailer as lube, wipe off with microfiber towel.
6. Polish scratches out - Meguiars ScratchX on Halfraud's cheapo cotton covered sponge polishing pad, wipe off with microfiber towel.
7. Wax - used the small bottle of Meguiars that came with the clay kit, using a Meguiars purple sponge and removing with microfibre cloth.
All of course performed by following the instructions on the various bottles, and separate and clean applicators/towels for each stage.
I know there have been reported problems from using clay bars (Janitor's Audi) but from what I can see, and I had to wait till this morning to see it in daylight as well, I don't think I've caused any more (serious) scratches.
I have been told that the paint on the Elise is very hard, so this may be why I've "got away with it".
Hope the photos post OK, and await to be shot down by all the serious car detailers out there, but this may give others the confidence to give it a go themselves. It will do for me anyway, until I need a full respray!
Just got to do the rest of it now... oh and put up with comments like "Do you ever drive that thing?" while I'm doing it.
Gad-Westy said:
Good work. Would be interested to hear if your scratches reappear at all. A couple that I thought I'd got out with Scrath-X seem to have reappeared but I suspect I may have filled the voids with wax.
Well I didn't manage to get them completely out, they are still visible at the moment. I think it's a bit of both - bit of polishing down and a bit of filling in. I'm still pleased with the result. I just need to get on with the rest of it now.Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff