I clayed my brand new car and left marks all over

# addictiontrigger warning

Reaching for the pinnacle of gloss can lead to pictures like this...........


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Wow this thread took off! This is awesome.

To those who asked me: I would like to spend less than one week and $500 on this.
I currently don`t have a polish machine.


Took the car out in the sun and could not capture the marks.
I see them at night when the garage (neon) lights are on. So I will try tonight.

This is what I used.


attachment.php






Angus said:
Welcome! BMW`s Singapore Grey is such a nice color

As everyone else has mentioned - the clay maring is fixable and is expected to some degree prior to polishing out your paint regardless of how much lubricant used.

Before you do anything else here are 2 important things for you to consider a)how much time do you want to spend fixing the paint and b) how big is your budget to correct the paint?

By this I mean - you want to learn how to correct the paint = polish? Or do you just want to remove the marring as fast as possible and be done = AIO solution?

Based on the above, we can help direct you in the best direction for interest level + budget requirements.
Click to expand...


Singapore Grey is beautiful 90% of the time but I dislike the dark purple hue when the strong lighting hits it.
It makes the car otherwise much more discreet than Alpine White for instance.

I just want to remove the marks. I instructed the dealer to not touch the car and took delivery with the white paint protective sheets still on. So I am not sure a paint correction is necessary? Have no clue.
Don`t both endeavors wear out the clear coat, one less than the other though?

Since I got the car, I always used foam gun/ rinse to soak and pre-wash before using the buckets method with a new or clean mitten and drying it, all by hand.
The last time was last week. That`s why a couple of days ago, I just foamed and rinsed to remove the little dust that had accumulated on the car before claying (without drying the car up thinking it would be "better" while wet).

@Ronkh`s supply stock is impressive. I have the feeling he tested out things as he went along and stuck with what it liked.
You don`t use all of that stuff, do you?
 
Poorboy said:
Clay is an abrasive ... were you rubbing it or letting glide ..
none the less it`s done and we all make mistakes ..
what`s important is learning from the mistake and learning how to repair mistakes ..
you will probably need to do a light polish, preferably non-abrasive and your new finish will return ..
Click to expand...

I have found that different clay (even ultra fine) can cause marring in the paint.
Different clay and clay alternatives may or may not cause marring in the paint.
I have a few different "clay" products. I do a "test spot" first to see the results!

Good news...A light polishing can remove the marring you caused by "claying".
 
Merlin said:
I have found that different clay (even ultra fine) can cause marring in the paint.
Different clay and clay alternatives may or may not cause marring in the paint.
I have a few different "clay" products. I do a "test spot" first to see the results!

Good news...A light polishing can remove the marring you caused by "claying".
Click to expand...

Now the question is: Do you want someone to do it for you or do you want to learn how?
Be careful how you answer...(as we all know) there is a dark rabbit hole you can fall into.

2017-Porsche-718-Cayman-5-AMD.jpg
 
Welcome

Just saw your other thread. Where in So Cal are you? If you`re close, I can come by with some products and machines for you to "play" with. Don`t listen to these guys, they just want you to get hooked. Join us... huh what?!?! JOIN US... Resistance is futile.

Confession: I`m hooked, too. I`m with these guys.

Joking aside, they`re a good bunch of guys here with crazy levels of experience. And yes, I was serious about coming by with products and machines for you to try out. If that helps. Granted, I`m not a pro, but I`ve done a little work here and there.
 
trashmanssd said:
Ron you very badly need to get some garage organization going on in there.
Click to expand...

Poorboy said:
What you talking about Trashman .. that is organized :D

Ron knows where everything is B)
Click to expand...

Mistakes said:
Wow this thread took off! This is awesome.

To those who asked me: I would like to spend than one week and $500 on this.
I currently don`t have a polish machine.


Took the car out in the sun and could not capture the marks.
I see them at night when the garage (neon) lights are on. So I will try tonight.

This is what I used.


attachment.php









Singapore Grey is beautiful 90% of the time but I dislike the dark purple hue when the strong lighting hits it.
It makes the car otherwise much more discreet than Alpine White for instance.

I just want to remove the marks. I instructed the dealer to not touch the car and took delivery with the white paint protective sheets still on. So I am not sure a paint correction is necessary? Have no clue.
Don`t both endeavors wear out the clear coat, one less than the other though?

Since I got the car, I always used foam gun/ rinse to soak and pre-wash before using the buckets method with a new or clean mitten and drying it, all by hand.
The last time was last week. That`s why a couple of days ago, I just foamed and rinsed to remove the little dust that had accumulated on the car.

@Ronkh`s supply stock is impressive. I have the feeling he tested out things as he went along and stuck with what it liked.
You don`t use all of that stuff, do you?
Click to expand...

I`m starting to think you may NOT have caused most the damage you see.

Dealerships use a heavy glaze wax to cover their problems. IMHO you may have just deconed it enough to see it.
 
Mistakes said:
Gents,

A couple of days ago, I washed my car (which I had washed a week prior and just got dusty from a couple of drives) with a foam gun, rinsed it and proceeded to clay it.
Now I have marks all over the car.

Yes I used plenty of lubricant. No, did not drop the clay.

Here is what I did. I am looking for expert help on how to fix this. :yikes:

- I did not dry the car prior to claying and I see from all the reading I did while waiting for my account to be approved that I should have.
I thought the water will help keep everything "lubricated".

- I used a Meguiare Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit and used the Quick Detailer spray that came with it
URL]


- I did not spray the clay before starting/ touching the paint. Mistake # 2 apparently. Anyone noticed my screen name?:unsure:

- I did one panel at a time and folded the clay over and over before moving on to the next panel

- The clay did not catch much. The paint was mostly free of contaminants.

- I did not dry each panel after claying

- I used the foam again when done, rinsed and washed the car one panel at a time with the two buckets method.

- Dried the whole car up with 3 large microfiber towels: first one to get most of the water off. Second while using a liquid gloss liquid formulated to be applied while drying the car (Chemical Guys) and third towel to dry the windows and get all the small spots water runs down from after leaving the 4 doors, gas tank cover and trunk opened for a while and to do the door jambs etc.

I`ll post pictures later in the day to show the damage done. The paint is smooth as glass but those marks...


Left the car alone since, no wax or anything. Didn`t even drive it I am so bumped out.

Looking forward to learning from this.

Thank you everyone.
Click to expand...

Weeellllll, I would like to cover something that might not have been said. Lubricity could have caused the marring as well. I too have experienced surface marring from claying, however, that was with using Sprayaway Glass Cleaner for lube (on an already wet panel). For those that have not used Sprayaway Glass Cleaner, you`re in for a treat in the context of the clay`s ability to clean the paint, but surface marring is the trade off. Grade of clay will play a role in surface marring as well, unfortunately any time we touch the paint, we are leaving some kind of mark behind, some are just bigger than the others.

Welcome to the addiction!
 
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