[Kinster]

How do you get rid of light scratches on a MINI?

[J.N.]

Rub it in on a damp cloth in a circular motion, Then buff to a shine with a clean duster.

[J.N.]

Tell your ladyfriend to trim her fingernails.

Perhaps there should be a warning in the handbook:

ATTENTION. This car can cause uncontrollable orgasms.

[Kinster]

what causes the light scratches?

[J.N.]

If you look at the paintwork of any car closely enough, light scratches will be visible.

When you apply any sort of cloth to the bodywork; it is inevitable that tiny particles of grit will be picked up in the cloth and rubbed into the surface elsewhere.

I always rinse the car first, before washing to try to eliminate this as much as possible.

[Kinster]

I haven't even washed my car yet, so I'm wondering how light scratches get on there in the first place?#

What about this?

http://www.halfords.com/shop/item.as...&cat=5&sub=103

[AidenL]

I followed the Circuit of Ireland Rally a few weeks ago, had to go up some really harrow roads in the country, with cars double parked, briars sticking out, picked up some light scratches too.....will T-Cut work on them ??

[J.N.]

T-Cut has its limitations of course.

I'd ask the guys in the paintshop of your dealer.

Get them to look at the scratches and tell you.

If it's too much for T-Cut, try www.chipsaway.co.uk

They operate through most Halfords branches and can do a professional repair cheaper that a 'pukka' paintshop.

[Dogger]

Believe it or not but Brasso does the job as well as T-Cut, and at a fraction of the cost (works well on deeper scratches too).

Just put a small amount on a duster and work over the scratch in a circular motion, then buff with the dry part of the duster..

This might not be advisable on metallic paint though as it works by breaking down the paint surrounding the scratch to 'fill in' the gap (or so I'm told). It worked a treat on a stone chip on my Liquid Yellow bonnet though..

Another thread mentioned that these paint scratch were actually scratches in the layer above the paint (like a scratch in clear perspex that appears to be white). So when you're buffing the scratch away, you're technically just reworking the portective layer over the paintwork..

[Kinster]

Do I need the Original T-Cut or T-Cut Colour Fast? How does T-Cut actually work?

[mickkassem]

Don't have my Mini yet but have used a product GS27 that you can buy at WalMart in the US. Not sure how it works but does not appear to take off the paint. They describe small scratch as ones you cannot feel if you rub your fingernail over them. Have a few on an RX-7 (red car) and it worked beautifully.

Mick

[dietcokeplease]

Kinster,

The light scratches might have been caused by your ever so friendly BMW/MINI dealer. Part of the PDI is to remove the protective transit wax, wash the car and sometimes to wax it.

Unfortunately some MINI dealers employ people who don't give a toss and cleaning sponges and polishing cloths often fall onto the ground and pick up microscopic pieces of dirt and grit. Those who are diligent often have 20-50 cars to wash daily and I suppose it's not a fun job in freezing temperatures.

Other dealers "valet" your car by using an automatic car wash and then hand finish the bits that the machine has missed.

The best solution is to use a thick high quality wax to "fill" the microscratches and build up layers to protect the paintwork. I use Autpylm wax and seal it with Extra Gloss Protection. GS27 is available in Halfords and I think that T-Cut is a bit extreme. Remember that on metallics when you T-Cut you also remove the top clearcoat.

DC

[Pglenning]

I have tried all type of products to removed haze marks, the best is autoglym super resin polish, but it only reduces the marks!.