Tackling scratches to paintwork

danmessy · Aug 21, 2023

Car parked next to mine in a apartment block got their window smashed and broken in to. I thought I got away with no damage, but once it was able to get in close for a look found some pretty nasty scratching

photos below.. what's my best approach to fix / touch this up? Also, can confirm occured during break in as day before I had just done a full wash and went over every inch of the car, I would have seen. Photo of newly washer and shiny car included below for positive end to this post!!

BarryH · Aug 21, 2023

danmessy said:
Car parked next to mine in a apartment block got their window smashed and broken in to. I thought I got away with no damage, but once it was able to get in close for a look found some pretty nasty scratching photos below.. what's my best approach to fix / touch this up? Also, can confirm occured during break in as day before I had just done a full wash and went over every inch of the car, I would have seen. Photo of newly washer and shiny car included below for positive end to this post!!View attachment 30583 View attachment 30584 View attachment 30585 View attachment 30586

Very sorry to hear about the car!
Frankly it is one of the worries I have getting one of these in Oz. The number of D*heads we have who feel justified in damaging other people's "pride and joy" because it is better than what they have :-(
Also smashing a window proves they are complete amateurs!!

I'm going through the PPF or no-PPF quandary and I believe your miss-fortune has made that decision for me.

DJManc · Aug 21, 2023

danmessy said:
Car parked next to mine in a apartment block got their window smashed and broken in to. I thought I got away with no damage, but once it was able to get in close for a look found some pretty nasty scratching photos below.. what's my best approach to fix / touch this up? Also, can confirm occured during break in as day before I had just done a full wash and went over every inch of the car, I would have seen. Photo of newly washer and shiny car included below for positive end to this post!!View attachment 30583 View attachment 30584 View attachment 30585 View attachment 30586

You must be absolutely gutted, I really feel your pain! I would recommend a good machine polish first. It may just get the majority of the marks out. However, if you can feel a definite ridge in the lacquer/top coat with you finger nail, it will likely need professional Smart Repairer or bodyshop attention unfortunately.

danmessy · Aug 21, 2023

BarryH said:
Very sorry to hear about the car!
Frankly it is one of the worries I have getting one of these in Oz. The number of D*heads we have who feel justified in damaging other people's "pride and joy" because it is better than what they have :-(
Also smashing a window proves they are complete amateurs!!

I'm going through the PPF or no-PPF quandary and I believe your miss-fortune has made that decision for me.

I opted for "front end" .. whole PPF would be nice now

danmessy · Aug 21, 2023

DJManc said:
You must be absolutely gutted, I really feel your pain! I would recommend a good machine polish first. It may just get the majority of the marks out. However, if you can feel a definite ridge in the lacquer/top coat with you finger nail, it will likely need professional Smart Repairer or bodyshop attention unfortunately.

I gave it a slight rub with QD and microfibre, some of it is deep (can feel), some cleaned up, but I think it will need professional to touch it up. It's not the end of the world, just feels like dropping your baby on its head for the first time... Not that I have kids, but I imagine that's what it feels like hahah

MaybeNeedEmira · Aug 21, 2023

Yeah .. second time you drop/scratch them much less traumatic.

That's a bugger though, and likewise re evaluating doors for PPF.
I know I can be careful.

Nova · Aug 21, 2023

I would let a detailer take a look at that. Some of it may be cleaned/polished out.

Blue Dude · Aug 21, 2023

Sorry this happened to you.

This is a good video showing some excellent touch-up work:

chirowolf · Feb 9, 2025

are the scratches in the PPF?
I had someone throw rocks at my Tesla with PPF and was able to use a polishing kit to remove the scratches. Also, a butane torch will help PPF self-repair

Tackling scratches to paintwork

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