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C230K Alabaster white paint problems, help?

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Old Jun 21, 2002 | 11:42 PM
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chronopassion's Avatar
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C230K Alabaster white paint problems, help?

Anybody have a similar problem (and hopefully solution)? The paint directly behind the door handle (i.e. where your knuckles hit the car as you open the door) have a zillion scratches. Actually, there seemed to be the zillion in the first week of owning the car. Is there any great touch up for this problem?

CP
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 12:48 AM
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Mike T.'s Avatar
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
For corn's sake....

...keep your fingernails trimmed!

Seriously, a very light buffing compound will take this effect away.
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 02:02 AM
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I agree - except before using any buffing or rubbing compound, try something much milder, like any regular cleaner/wax like Turtle Wax.

The scratches will come right out.
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 06:29 AM
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C230K
my obsidian black coupe shows them too. Just used a soft wax (zymol), clean now.
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 09:49 AM
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C230K Manny, Albaster White/Oyster Leather/C1/C5/C7/CD
I had the same problem too. Wiped or should I say buffed it once with Zymol about a month ago and I have not noticed them yet.
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 10:05 AM
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From: Oro Valley, AZ
2001 C240 6spd
Like everyone else, I waxed the area and looked fine. Another thing I did was when I got the Stongard clear bra - they put door inserts into the handles so that it would prevent future scratches. I do not know if they they sell that separately...or if Expel sells them separately. But, no more scratches. Just another idea.
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Old Jun 22, 2002 | 02:27 PM
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2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
I learned about this problem with my previous Passat which used a similar German "soft paint" (also white), and learned to be careful not to let my fingernails touch the part behind the handles. I still do that on my M-B and have no scratches, at least on the driver's side! Now, all I need is a warning label at the other doors for when passengers open the doors. :p

BTW, Chronopassion, I recently received an IWC catalog and was very impressed w/ the bound book. While surfing on some watch sites, I came upon a picture of a Breguet skeleton tourbillon watch with some very unusual hand and indicator configurations. I thought I'd love to find one, then I found out the price is about $210K Oh well, I'd still like to see one up close...

Last edited by MarkL; Jun 22, 2002 at 02:43 PM.
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Old Jun 24, 2002 | 10:12 AM
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2002 C230K, 2001 Audi TT 225 Coupe
Those swirl marks are on every car

I have ever owned - Japanese, German, US --

This works -- 3M has some products called fine cut -- they are polishing compounds in which they vary the amount of abrasives -- I have used the Fine Cut for small/medium scratches and it works well -- they also have a 3M fine cut finish restorer for the same purpose --

You can find it at Pep Boys, sometimes at Wal Mart
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Old Jun 24, 2002 | 11:41 AM
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I don't believe this is a polishing compound, but you can run to Wal-Mart and buy some GS-27 scratch remover. I've had several white cars, and this stuff works wonders on the door handle cup scuff marks.

I usually put a dollup on a finger then lightly apply to the area then wait 30-seconds then wipe off with a cotton rag. No rubbing required, and the finish left is resistant to future scuffs for a while.

I'm sure someone will find something wrong with GS-27, but it works well for me, and on a white car, leaves no hint that you ever used it. I don't have any idea what it will do on a black car. It seems that anything scratches black.

Last edited by MB-BOB; Jun 24, 2002 at 12:13 PM.
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