MLEE4984

Hi All

My 2006 Smokey Granite Mica IS250 got keyed the other day. What are my options? Can a professional detailer take out the mark? It is about 18-20" inches long on my driver side door. How much does it usually cost if I just want to repaint just the door? I am just sad every time I see the damn scratch.



Thanks for your input guys.
-Mike

Guitarman

Can't answer most of those questions w/o a picture.

If the mark is white, then you can usually make it look less noticeable if not remove it completely.

It all depends how much clear you have UNDER the scratch, and no one here can answer that.

If you can't post a pic, take it to a body shop or detailer skilled in wetsanding, with the understanding they won't be able to guarantee removal of the key mark. It's a gamble you have to decide to take or not at that point.

If OTOH you can see the basecolor in the key mark, nothing short of a repaint will remedy it, because that means it's cut through the clearcoat.

White means the clear is all still there, because clrearcoat turns white when sanded/scratched etc.

MLEE4984

Thanks for your expert input Guitarman. I will go post some pix when I try to get rid of the scratch today w/ my PC7424. I will see what I can do with my 6" orange pad and if I see a difference, I will take it from there. Pix coming soon.

-Mike

CyBorG

yeah, let's see the pictures and we'll let you know

JorgeGVB

Call your insurance agent. This happened to me last year too and they paid 100% with no deductible to repair my car.

MLEE4984

I can't really feel the scratch w/ my nail so I would assume that it isn't too deep. So far I clayed it and I will see if I have time this week to compound it with my 6" pad.

PC7424
I have Optimum Compound with 6" LC Orange/White/Black. I think that is the most aggressive I have. What would you guys recommend?








Any advice?
-Mike

Guitarman

Thanks, good pics.

If you indeed can't feel the scratch with your fingernail, then chances are good you can remove it.

However, unless it's REALLY superficial, you'll need more then the Porter Cable.

Worth the try though, that should give you some feedback on just what will/will not work, and what the next step (if there is one) will be.

Let us know what happens after you use the PC. Good luck, beautiful car.

yESman

It looks like a rotary buffer might be able to either take it out altogether or greatly minimize the effect. I would use a Lake Country cutting pad and some heavy Menzerna polish followed by Z-PC.

MLEE4984

Thanks Guitarman

I will have to put on some serious elbow grease the next couple of days to see if I can get rid of this scratch. If not, I think I will have to find someone with a rotary.

-Mike

MLEE4984

yESman, are those what you recommend with my PC? Guess I will have to splurge at AUTOGEEK again. Do you recommend a 3 or 4" cutting pad?

-Mike

yESman

Usually you want the wider 6.5 ? inch pads from Lake Country and I am partial to the variable contour ones since they work well over curves. They have a new CCS pad out now but I have not tried mine yet.

cino135

should MOST CERTAINLY buff out. it doesnt appear to have gone all the way down to the sheet metal (pray to the sky for that) and it APPEARS to have just blemished your clear coat, all of which will come out with a high rpm buffer, some serious compound and then finish with a pad glaze. honestly, you may be best taking it to a detail or IMO a body shop. it may run you 150 bucks, but a paint and rpr, then blend the adjacent panel would cost 500-600 easily!! count your blessings friend......most key marks are alot worse. good luck!!

MLEE4984

Update: This was what I did today.

1. Wash
2. Clay scratched area
3. 5 passes of Optimum Compound w/ 6" Orange pad
4. 2 passes of Klasse AIO w/ 6" White pad
5. 2 layers of PB's EX-P w/ 30 minute intervals
6. 2 layers of S100

PC 7424 on speed 6

Scratch is still visible but I did the best I could do. You can see it at certain angles and not others. I will take day time pix tomorrow since it is already dark.
Do you guys suggest Optimum Hyper Compound or some Menzerna like yESman suggested?

Thanks
-Mike