I know I haven't been around these parts lately but I desperately need some help!!!!! I recently bought a new '08 Bullitt Mustang. My first new car. I have always bought vehicles used and sold them in far better shape then when I bought them. I wanted a new one this time. Something that would be in perfect shape. No blemishes, scratches, rock chips, etc. I have always been 100% confident that I could keep any car or truck of mine in brand new shape. Until today. I had a judgement lapse and drove the car to a block party at a friends house. Parked it on the street right in front of my friends house so I could keep a close eye on it the whole time. I walked out to the car to grab my phone charger and saw it. A 4" scratch down the side of the passenger's door. Apparently I had left too much room between my car and the curb, and some kid thought they could ride their bicycle through there. About 3" or the 4" scratch is deep: real deep. You can feel it with your fingernail. I know this will never again be perfect, and that pains me beyond words. However, I am asking, begging even, for some help. One of this forum's heros RollingRock helped me out a great deal on the last truck I had. I am hoping with everything that I have that I can ask our forum member here again for some assistance, it would mean a lot to me. Any help, wise words, or insight is appreciated. Now if you will excuse me, I need a drink..:mad

 

well bud, you've got a couple of choices. It depends on how well of a detailer you are. if it catches with your fingernail it narrows it down to 3 things. You can try scratch x with a rotary preferably, or a da if you dont have one. By hand would be an option, but you dont have as much power this way. Second you could have it repainted. Cost a good bit so I dont know if it would be worth it for you or not. And lastly, what I would do, but only if you feel combfortable with it is wetsand. Get some 1500+grit sandpaper and some liquid and sand away. After you sand and remove a little bit of clear, its time to polish to remove the sanding marks. After that polish to remove haze, holograms, swirls etc. After that jewel the paint and then proceed to wax it. Ive had a few drinks so i hope this makes sense. Im sure others will post with their ideas but id try the least aggresive method first, i.e. the scratch x. You could also try buying a color pen and filling in the scratch and polishing or sanding away excess so the newly filled in area is the same paint thickness as the surrounding area.

 

PICS@!!@#@%%&$@%

If it were my car, I would love that thing so much I would sleep in it. But seriously, I would dish out the cash and have them repaint it or have Ford send it in for a perfect color match.

 

I'd do the same ^^^^, especially since it is new and the color isn't faded yet.

 

I don't know about wet sanding factory paint. From what I've heard, factory paint is not like an expensive custom paint. It's put on pretty thin, especially the clear. I think wet sanding would remove all the clear and leave the paint exposed.

I'd try Scratch-x and see if you can make it less noticeable. Beyond that, I'd think about having a body shop sand it and repaint the area.

 

wet sanding is perfectly safe if done by someone combfortable doing it and knows what they're doing.

 

Brian

Do you want to bring it by the house on Sunday?


I'll be around, cell phone will be in your PM..

 

Hello gentle readers. I work in the paint shop at TMMK, topcoat (we apply the color and clear). The basecoat (color) if anything is applied on the heavy side to cover any defects in the underbody. In fact, it's a quality issue--trying to apply color as heavy as possible without sagging (paint runs). It's true that the clearcoat is thin, but that is to prevent aforementioned sagging. Anyway, if you can feel that scratch with your fingernail DO NOT wetsand it, with your level of particularity I have a feeling you will not be pleased with the result. Bite the bullet--take it to a pro. Get good references, there's a lot of crappy ones out there but there's also some Picassos--you'd be amazed at what they can accomplish, not even your mother will know the difference. I know it's your baby, send it to Harvard, not junior college. Hope this helps. By the way, EVERY paint job is a custom paint job.

 

Pretty well said....as I recall there is another member here who works in the Ford Paint shop..offered similar advice. Brian if you want me to look at it, no problem, but if it's worse than anything on your old truck, you could probably skip me and call Berry at Fender Mender in Keller. Best paint guy round these parts.

 

I agree with vince. Honestly, if you're asking for advice on here, then you have no business using a rotary or trying to wet sand something like that. And scratch x isnt going to put a dent in that either way. Take it to a pro.

 

I'll throw in my two cents and just agree with everyone else here. If you feel it with your finger nail, than it's time for paint work, generally. It sounds like you want it to be perfect so don't try to put a band aid fix on it. Sorry to hear about your mishap though, that really sucks !!

 

well if you know it going to be a repaint, here is your chance to practice with a rotary machine, and try half the door by wet sanding....if it does not come out no problem you were already going for a repaint...in my opinion i dont think shoot and fades are good, yes cheap but i have not seen any right...you (I) can always see were the clear fades into the factory stuff and the orange peel does not match and just does not look right....fwiw the only way i will accept a repaint touch up on my car is for a repaint if the entire panel that is damaged...

 

Which is exactly what I was saying. If you know your're gonna have to repaint it, why not try wet sanding it and seeing what happens. Troberts and I agree on something, id never thought id see the day, wait, we both like 3M compounds and polishes. Truce?

 

I am not going to have it painted. I would rather live with the scratch as is than have the paint never be right again. RollingRock, I will give you a call.

 

Its a brand new car, it wont look messed up to have it professionally done.