Stone chip -- gutted

[oldnell]

Well, after using my car for a little under two weeks and having done 600 miles (how did that happen?), I decided to give it its first wash.

I've discovered that, with a black car, there's no such thing as "going out to give the car a quick wash". I washed it down first with a hose and a jet attachment and then used Autoglym shampoo with warm water and a sponge.

I wasn't sure on using other products on new paint finishes having never owned a new car before, so I thought I'd do some thorough research before doing anything that might affect the logievity of the paint finish.

Anyway, while washing the car I discovered a stone-chip on the r.h.s. of the bonnet. It's quite deep and has gone right through the paint.

Does anyone have any advice for how to conceal this? I know touch-up paint is bad news, as you'll never get it to look good. I know there are other products on the market.

The car is solid black (i.e. non-metallic).

[tip]

Well Oldnell I have had the same problem with a stone chip on the bonnet. I used the Mini touch up paint kit. The kit is not as good as the one I had from Ford. The brush on the Mini kit is way to big causing you to put to much paint on. With patience and pactice on a sheet of paper I was ready to tackel the bonnet. In the end it came out okay. Unless you are looking for the repair you most likley will not find it. In certain light it looks like a very small dried water spot. I have never done a black car yet so I am not sure of the results. I have a chili red mini the paint kit is an exact match to the colour of the car.


Good luck mate, take your time if you do it yourself.

P.S the clear coat was a little tricky. had a clean soft rag ready should you have to wipe off quickly.

Charles.

[sdmidget]

I have "collected" 3 or 4 since last May!!

[retroom]

Stone chips are going to happen just deal with them the best you can. I'm sure your past car(s) had some, it's just that the MINI brings out the passion of ownership not found with other cars.

Lucky for the MINI touch-up paint.

retroom

[BillK]

I have not tried it yet, but someone in another thread on this subject recommended this:

http://www.langka.com/

You use touch-up paint as normal, then you apply the Langka. It seems to be a solvent/polish as near as I can tell from the web site.

[KenL]

I haven't tried it either but Langka is available in the UK. Check out http://www.frost.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Painting_18.html

I'll probably buy it if I get a chip that needs fixing but I don't want to tempt fate by getting it now I've got a few tiny ones but nothing that's right through to the metal.

On your solid black you should be able to get a good match, certainly easier than on a metallic.

Cheers, KenL

[hurrens]

I had the same problem with my Cosmos Black Cooper. I went to www.chipsaway.co.uk I gave ChipsAway at Halfords a call locally. One visit, they had the car for an hour while I had a coffee. £27.75 later, not a sign of a chip and a perfect polished finish and a guarantee.

[Wul]

If you read enough of the blurb on the langka website it sounds like chipsaway use the same sort of stuff. I got the cosmos black t/u kit from the dealer and applied it with a tootpick and it looks ok - i know wher it is so i can see it easily, however i'm thinking of invseting in langka.

I was also wondering how well a product such a meguiars clear coat body scrub would work say a day after the paint had dried? then followed by a couple of coats of wax? Anyone?

[Wul]

My bottle of langka has arrived (ordered from the frost restoration website) so will post back the results when i get round to attacking the chips/ scratches!