Recently I've found a scratch on the side of the hood, and I'm so pissed! I dont know how I got this, but I think it's a rock chip, although I dont even know what most rock chips looks like. I just DONT know what to do right now. I'm quite a newbie with cars, and I kind of know that a detailing shop can help, but I have no idea where to find one and was hoping I can deal with this myself. I use the zaino products and I remembered that there were some swirl marks remover but seeing that it's the winter now I cant apply them yet. Anyone have adivce/ideas? sigh, much appreciated.

 

If it really is a rock "chip" you have then Zaino won't help much. The Z5 is meant to fill in light swirl marks.

I imagine that most detail shops you go to will say they can buff it out but personally I don't recommend using a high speed buffer unless absolutely necessary as you will reduce or even remove the clear coat in order to "blend" the scratch or chip.

I would try going to a reputable body shop first and asking their opinion. It won't cost you anything for them to look at it.

Also, if you have a garage for your car you *can* apply Zaino in the winter as long as you are using the ZFX drops. It shouldn't be too hard to keep the garage around 40 degrees F to apply (and not suffer frostbite).

~Jon______________________
'04 C 6M/T - Laser Red/Graphite, Nav, 4 Piece Aero, Premium

 

Unfortunately, I dont have a garage. I guess at this point I'll have to find a reputable body shop and ask for myself. Thanks for the tip on buff it out, although if this is what I should avoid, what are the alternatives that the body shop are likely to offer?

 

Depending on the deepness of the scratch they could use some touch up paint to fill it in and then a light buff to smooth it out. A reputable body shop will give you some options.

~Jon______________________
'04 C 6M/T - Laser Red/Graphite, Nav, 4 Piece Aero, Premium

 

If it's just a small scratch, I would leave it be, experience has proven to me, that fixing it can simetimes be worse than just leaving it alone, especially with the clearcoat paint.


Brilliant Silver/Graphite/Chrome Wheels '04 Sedan/5AT