tj99e320

Hello,

I'm sorry if this has been discussed in the past, but I'm having
difficulty filtering my searches to get just "removing deep scratches."

I've read that claying will remove tree sap and other contaminants that cause my car's finish to be rough when felt with dry hands. That's one task I have to accomplish.
The other is removing scratches.

How do I remove several deep scratches (I actually have no swirl marks, just some un-uniform scratches here and there) from my clear coat finish? Only some of them are visible with any light. Most can only be seen if the surface is between me and the light source as seen here:
<img src="http://members.ispwest.com/tvasquez/E320/mbe320scratches.jpg">
I have tried Meguiar's Scratch X. It seems to work on the finer scratches, but not on these.

I never thought it would bother me this much, but hey, this is my first MB...my first luxury car for that matter. I jumped from a Nissan Sentra SE-R to an E320 ... but enough about me. Please help!!!

Thanks,
TJ

JustinTRW

Thanks for the picture, it helps diagnose the problem big time. The first thing you have to determine is whether or not you can feel the scratch with your finger or not. Be careful not to make any scratches when you do this. If you cannot feel it, then generally it can be removed by a polish. If you can feel it, then the scratch has gone through the clearcoat.

Assuming you cannot feel it, all you need to do is step up to a stronger polish. Scratch-X is pretty mild and I don't think it will do much on those, but you could give it another try. If you are working by hand and not machine, you will have to use a polish that can be broken down by hand. Try using 3M Swirl Mark Remover, and if that is not enough, step up to 3M Finesse-It II or Meguiars Dual Action/Cleaner Polish. I wouldn't use anything stronger than these by hand necessarily without more work. Try using the least abrasive product a couple times and then step up if you need it.

You can also fill the scratch with a glaze, but it will be temporary (similar to women's makeup). For that, try 3M Imperial Hand Glaze or Meguiar's #7. Meguair's #9 is a swirl mark remover that is fairly mild like Scratch-X, but has some filling properties.

NYc230kChic

hope you can advice me...

first and foremost let me tell you what happened... my dad was packing my trunk with our luggages when my uncle pushed the button to open the garage door... It was going up fine when all of a sudden it got stuck... they thought the garage door was broken... but when I looked up... It was my Trunk door that was hindering the garage door from completely openning... when we finally released my trunk from the garage door... there was THE SCRATCH! It was deep... definitely went through the clear coat... and it was about SEVEN inches long. Aside from that... the little window in the rear between the tail lights (sorry don't know the correct term for it- my car is the '03 c230k coupe) that you use to look in the back when you're reversing was also severely gashed! So here's my Questions:

1. Do you think anything can be done to remedy that scratch on the rear window? If not, How much will it cost to replace it?

2. How do I remedy that deep 7 inch scratch- Detailer? or Autobody? Should I just go through the Dealer and have them take care of it? If I do this, how much do you think it will cost?

Kar don

C230kchic, I sounds like u will need a replacement glass and the trunk resprayed. However if u post some pics it may lead me otherwise. Can u feel the scratches with ur fingernail?

MrMan

You can do it yourself, if you are willing to try. Basically, it involves matching paint, and a scratch filler. And very fine sandpaper may be necessary (600+ grade). Fill it up with scratch filler. After it dries, sand it down to match the trunk's level. Paint with matching paint.

Or you can skip the scratch filler, and keep putting small layers of matching paint. Let it dry fully. Re-coat. Dry, re-coat. Keep doing it until you fully fill up the scratch. If you go past the paint level of the trunk, simply sand it down.

lars

The little window between the tail lights is made of plastic and is part of the same piece that forms the top rear of the hatch. Unless someone knows a good way of buffing scratches out of plastic it might need replacing.

98ML

there are plastic polishes available at normal auto parts stores. Another thing you might try is Klasse All in one...if the scratches are fine after using the plastic polish, it might be able to get them out. hope that helps.