San Marino Blue F30

pshahani · 06-24-2018, 08:05 AM

hi All

My SM blue 3 series has a scratch on the right rear door.. seems to be superficial, not very deep. I've spoken to a couple of car wash places that told me a machine polish would remove it but I am sceptical. They quoted £100-120

Wanted to check with you folks on the best way to repair the scratch - should i give it to BMW to fix & how much would it cost as a guide? Or will the machine polish at my local car wash actually work?

Pics attached - during the day so a lot of light reflection, but the horizontal scratch should be visible about 5 inches up from the bottom of the door.

teaston · 06-24-2018, 08:58 AM

Do the finger nail test, if you can't feel it then it will polish out, if you can feel it it would probably need wet sanding, if your nail catches on it then it probably needs repainting.

pshahani · 06-24-2018, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Do the finger nail test, if you can't feel it then it will polish out, if you can feel it it would probably need wet sanding, if your nail catches on it then it probably needs repainting.

thanks!
finger nail does not catch when moving over the scratch so thats a relief.
do you recommend this going to a BMW authorised bodywork garage? i'm thinking long term too with regards to insurance / resale value etc
does it makes sense to not ask insurance to pay for this since its minor work?

teaston · 06-24-2018, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshahani

thanks!
finger nail does not catch when moving over the scratch so thats a relief.
do you recommend this going to a BMW authorised bodywork garage? i'm thinking long term too with regards to insurance / resale value etc
does it makes sense to not ask insurance to pay for this since its minor work?

Can you feel the scratch?

NotGotABimmer23 · 06-24-2018, 10:39 AM

If you can't feel it you could try to take that out by hand. If you do want it machine polished out then go to a professional detailer, not bmw.

XAlp · 06-24-2018, 10:41 AM

I saw something on YouTube - squirt of wd40 basic cloth give it a rub and hey presto. I was dubious but worked on two scratches on my car...

SilverGrey · 06-24-2018, 10:50 AM

Some Meguiars Scratch X should help with that. You can apply it by hand.

TodmordenLad · 06-24-2018, 10:56 AM

If you want it back to perfect, these guys are good, given you're in London. They do loads of work for BMW and other premium brands. Ask for Tony

http://www.thepaintandbodyshop.co.uk/

pshahani · 06-24-2018, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

If you want it back to perfect, these guys are good, given you're in London. They do loads of work for BMW and other premium brands. Ask for Tony

http://www.thepaintandbodyshop.co.uk/

great, thanks for the suggestion!

pshahani · 06-24-2018, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Can you feel the scratch?

yes i can feel like but its very fine, like moving a fingernail over a very thin piece of paper (for lack of a better explanation)

pshahani · 06-24-2018, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverGrey

Some Meguiars Scratch X should help with that. You can apply it by hand.

thanks, just saw a couple of videos on youtube and does seem to work, maybe i'll give that a try first

SilverGrey · 06-24-2018, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshahani

thanks, just saw a couple of videos on youtube and does seem to work, maybe i'll give that a try first

No problem. Always start off with the least aggressive compounds and then work your way up the scale if you need something stronger. Good luck!

teaston · 06-24-2018, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshahani

yes i can feel like but its very fine, like moving a fingernail over a very thin piece of paper (for lack of a better explanation)

Polishing won’t completely remove it then, but it’s still worth you getting some Meguiars Scratch X or Ultimate Compound and giving it a good rub to improve the look of it.

XAlp · 06-24-2018, 05:55 PM

Checked my earlier wd40 fix tonight - it didn’t work after all. Hides it temporarily, that’s all.😟

999rigger · 06-25-2018, 04:57 AM

This stuff is really good.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/pai...r-liquid-500ml

Daftasabrush · 06-25-2018, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

If you want it back to perfect, these guys are good, given you're in London. They do loads of work for BMW and other premium brands. Ask for Tony

http://www.thepaintandbodyshop.co.uk/

They fitted and sprayed my new tailgate too. Cracking work on that but the 'wash' they did to it required a lot of correction

06-24-2018, 08:05 AM	#1
pshahani New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 340i M sport San Marino Blue Join Date: May 2018 Location: London iTrader: (0)	San Marino Blue F30 - Scratch removal hi All My SM blue 3 series has a scratch on the right rear door.. seems to be superficial, not very deep. I've spoken to a couple of car wash places that told me a machine polish would remove it but I am sceptical. They quoted £100-120 Wanted to check with you folks on the best way to repair the scratch - should i give it to BMW to fix & how much would it cost as a guide? Or will the machine polish at my local car wash actually work? Pics attached - during the day so a lot of light reflection, but the horizontal scratch should be visible about 5 inches up from the bottom of the door. Attached Images
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06-24-2018, 08:58 AM	#2
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Do the finger nail test, if you can't feel it then it will polish out, if you can feel it it would probably need wet sanding, if your nail catches on it then it probably needs repainting.
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06-24-2018, 10:39 AM	#5
NotGotABimmer23 Colonel 834 Rep 2,114 Posts Drives: 340i touring - incoming Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Leicestershire UK iTrader: (0)	If you can't feel it you could try to take that out by hand. If you do want it machine polished out then go to a professional detailer, not bmw.
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06-24-2018, 10:41 AM	#6
XAlp Major 483 Rep 1,353 Posts Drives: Volvo XC90 T6 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Cambridge iTrader: (0)	I saw something on YouTube - squirt of wd40 basic cloth give it a rub and hey presto. I was dubious but worked on two scratches on my car...
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06-24-2018, 10:50 AM	#7
SilverGrey Lieutenant 126 Rep 418 Posts Drives: BMW 330i M Sport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Chestefield, England iTrader: (0)	Some Meguiars Scratch X should help with that. You can apply it by hand. __________________ Current: G20 330i M Sport Previous BMW's: F36 420i Gran Coupe M Sport; Z4 Coupe 3.0si M Sport; E46 325i Sport coupe;
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06-24-2018, 10:56 AM	#8
TodmordenLad Brigadier General 2876 Rep 3,966 Posts Drives: Audi A4 Avant Join Date: May 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	If you want it back to perfect, these guys are good, given you're in London. They do loads of work for BMW and other premium brands. Ask for Tony http://www.thepaintandbodyshop.co.uk/ __________________ Owned: 440i GC LCI with MPPSK, F31 330D M Sport with MPPK, F11 530D SE, F11 520D SE, E61 530D M Sport, E36 325i plus many MB's, Audi's & Volvo's
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06-24-2018, 05:55 PM	#14
XAlp Major 483 Rep 1,353 Posts Drives: Volvo XC90 T6 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Cambridge iTrader: (0)	Checked my earlier wd40 fix tonight - it didn’t work after all. Hides it temporarily, that’s all.😟
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06-25-2018, 04:57 AM	#15
999rigger First Lieutenant 88 Rep 314 Posts Drives: F33 4 Series Convertible Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (0)	This stuff is really good. http://www.halfords.com/motoring/pai...r-liquid-500ml
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