imported_Indy YZF
New member
Ive got an Alpine white '99 M3 with 71k miles. Im a fanatic about keeping it spotless and always polished. I try to not drive in the rain, and when I do, I immediately dry it with my large microfiber waffle weave.
Because the car is 8 yrs old, over the years, Ive accumulated some surface, clear coat level scratches, primarily on the hood. IN daylight, the car glistens and shines, and people are awed by its appearance.. But under the indoor lights in the garage, its true character belies its condition. These are scratches that you can not grab with a fingernail, but theyre definitely '3 dimensional', although the edges have been polished down.
After having used the Porter Cable on it for 8 years, its getting to the point where Im a little afraid to polish into the clear much further for fear of having it fail, or outright braking through it. Over the years, Ive used usually Finesse It by 3M, or medium strength cleaner wax by 3m which Ive found to be a fabulous clear coat cleaner. And occasionally Poorboys 2.5 polish, or occasionally 3m med strength rubbing compound. When I see any scratching now, I usually take care of it the best I can by hand, and a cotton terry towel combined with 3M Med strength Cleaner Wax. But its getting to the point where Id really like to do the whole hood with the Porter Cable, polishing bonet, and Finesse It, or Poorboys 2.5. I have a paint thickness gauge, but its one of those hand held magnetic 'pen' type ones that dont cost very much.. Not all that useful. Ive got to take another reading soon, but last time, I recall I had about a mil less paint on the hood then on the roof or trunk, so Ive definitely removed some of the paint. HOw big a danger is it breaking through the clear like this? If Im really close to it, Id better just suffice it with hand polishing scratches as they occur, and forget about overall polishing of the hood with PC and any of the polishes I usually use.. Maybe some mild 3M swirl remover, or even some P21s Paintwork cleanser is all I should venture.. Ideas?
***EDIT update****
Took some paint thickness readings tonight.. Best was the trunk which was recently repainted. It registered 9mils. Next was the roof measured 7 mils. Last the hood which has had the most polishing because it is the cars leading edge and is always the one that suffers when cars kick up gravel on the highway. It only measured 6 mils. I beliefve the hood can still be polished, but nothing more potent than Porter Cable and perhaps a moderate strength polish like 3M Finesse it, or its equal.
Because the car is 8 yrs old, over the years, Ive accumulated some surface, clear coat level scratches, primarily on the hood. IN daylight, the car glistens and shines, and people are awed by its appearance.. But under the indoor lights in the garage, its true character belies its condition. These are scratches that you can not grab with a fingernail, but theyre definitely '3 dimensional', although the edges have been polished down.
After having used the Porter Cable on it for 8 years, its getting to the point where Im a little afraid to polish into the clear much further for fear of having it fail, or outright braking through it. Over the years, Ive used usually Finesse It by 3M, or medium strength cleaner wax by 3m which Ive found to be a fabulous clear coat cleaner. And occasionally Poorboys 2.5 polish, or occasionally 3m med strength rubbing compound. When I see any scratching now, I usually take care of it the best I can by hand, and a cotton terry towel combined with 3M Med strength Cleaner Wax. But its getting to the point where Id really like to do the whole hood with the Porter Cable, polishing bonet, and Finesse It, or Poorboys 2.5. I have a paint thickness gauge, but its one of those hand held magnetic 'pen' type ones that dont cost very much.. Not all that useful. Ive got to take another reading soon, but last time, I recall I had about a mil less paint on the hood then on the roof or trunk, so Ive definitely removed some of the paint. HOw big a danger is it breaking through the clear like this? If Im really close to it, Id better just suffice it with hand polishing scratches as they occur, and forget about overall polishing of the hood with PC and any of the polishes I usually use.. Maybe some mild 3M swirl remover, or even some P21s Paintwork cleanser is all I should venture.. Ideas?
***EDIT update****
Took some paint thickness readings tonight.. Best was the trunk which was recently repainted. It registered 9mils. Next was the roof measured 7 mils. Last the hood which has had the most polishing because it is the cars leading edge and is always the one that suffers when cars kick up gravel on the highway. It only measured 6 mils. I beliefve the hood can still be polished, but nothing more potent than Porter Cable and perhaps a moderate strength polish like 3M Finesse it, or its equal.
Im referring specifically to my old standby, 3M Cleaner Wax Medium oxidation Remover. This stuff is as strong for scratch removal as Menzerna IP and as 3m Finesse It polish! Thats according to several lists which have appeared on these pages, and from my own personal experience as well. Its so strong that, if youre not careful, when applying by hand, you can create new swirl marks. The trick in using it is to apply with 100% cotton terry cloth, run in firmly, but do NOT let it dry.. Once it starts to dry, thats when the new swirls get created.. But using it teh way I suggest, it acts like an eraser and very effectively removes swirls up to a moderate depth.. For instance, swirls I create by rubbing to hard with it or any other strong polish Im easily able to remove simply by reapplying but not to the point where it starts to dry. Just dry it off and the swirls are gone.. Not filled, but removed.. I love this stuff and have used it for years for hand removal of swirls that catch my eye as Im examining the surface, but dont want to lug out the big guns, PC etc, to remove them. Try it if you havent .. I think that for a hand removal product, it works better than products like Meguiars Scratch-X, I believe, and, it leaves a wax cover when finished!!
but this stuff just isn't that big a priority to me