Paint Scuffing?

[amin2020]

I removed my spoiler the other day and used a rubber wheel to remove the adhesive from my trunk. Now there are what seem to be light scuffing…. I’ve tried using soap, alcohol, and rinsing but it didn’t work. Is this normal and do I just need to have my trunk buffed or polished (or both) or did I damage my paint and now need to have it paint corrected ?…

Thank you in advance

[faze2988]

Needs to be buffed out

[tracer bullet]

Agreed. I see paint under it so you don't seem to have gone all the way through it.

Look up polishing compound and scratch remover. Watch some videos. Get a microfiber and go for it.

[DrVenture]

Might've stayed too long with the rubber wheel in a few places. One example where it really "ought just buff out". lol

To be more specific and keep it really simply, try some Meguiars ScratchX with a simple foam applicator pad and some microfiber towels to wipe it off. Apply wax/sealant to the area afterwards.

[amin2020]

At the time I just assumed that these spots were because the adhesive was spreading… didn’t think too much of it. Agree on spending too much time using it than I should have… I was just focused on making sure the rubber wheel didn’t get hot…

[Swen6]

When I removed our standard spoiler to fit the Carbon Fiber version to our G01 I used the good old Dental floss and then an few hours worth of AutoGlyms Instant Tar remover….if I’d only known about the ‘toffee’ wheels.

If you feel there’s adhesive residue left then try something like I did to lift the remaining glue, You may need to use a paint renovator and then give it a good polish. If your replacing with a newer spoiler, dry fit to see if it’ll hide any imperfections in the worst case 👍🏼

[amin2020]

I’m not it’s being replaced with a wing from Adro

[tcphoto]

A heavy compound then polishing with a DA Polisher should smoothen it out.

[amin2020]

After the buff

[tracer bullet]

Looks good!

Final step, put some kind of protection on it now, wax, polymer, ceramic, whatever your choice is.

[amin2020]

Getting the whole car ceramic coated. I was quoted $800 for a 3 year protection. Does that seem reasonable?

[tracer bullet]

Depends how much work they do. If they spray some stuff on and wipe it off, I'd say no. If they spend the day polishing it and doing other prep first, then probably yes.

It's not a tough DIY, really. For prep, you've already done part of the trunk! For application, depending on what they have in mind, you can consider a spray coating that goes onto a microfiber towel, wipes on, then buffs off with a 2nd towel. You'll spend the day doing it but it'll be $100 worth of stuff if that. Depends what your time is worth.

[amin2020]

I don’t think that’s what they’ll do because it’s 3 year protection? But still seems expensive, I’m not sure. When I first got the car I was quoted 500 for full ceramic and 1600 for front + rockers. Now I’m at 10,000 miles… so I don’t think I’ll be worth that much to pay for ppf.

[tracer bullet]

The # of years of protection quoted are basically 1) Proportional to how much of the ceramic business is being applied, thin (i.e. from a spray bottle that's easy to wipe on and off) or thick (from a small bottle that's being applied, allowed to wait a bit, then removed with sometimes a little more effort needed), and 2) A bit of a stretch of the imagination from the place installing it, if they give you the "up to X years in a perfect scenario" or "we promise half what the label says because that matches reality".

If the quote's gone up it could be either a sign of the times or because they plan to do some polishing and such first. You'd have to ask.

You could also do something like this, and then perhaps DIY a ceramic yourself, a spray bottle claiming 1 year protection for example, and apply it say every 6 months. Keep doing that and it'll basically be coated for life. These are pretty easy to DIY after a wash.