Seriously?! My rant about "soft" black paint

BlackCarBlues

BlackCarBlues

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Well, as my username implies... I've got a black car and man do I have a love/hate relationship with that thing. I was just messin' around in the garage a few minutes ago and did my first rinseless ONR wash. Turned out great, no complaints there! After I was done I wanted to feel the slickness, so I dragged the back of my fingers across the hood (I know, not a good idea in the first place, but whatever). One of my fingernails touched the paint as I did this and I couldn't believe it... IT LEFT A SCRATCH! Albeit, it is a light scratch and I can only see it under the LED lighting of my garage, but it's definitely there. I sprayed it with Speed Shine thinking it might rub off, but nope... still there. I just really can't believe that the back of my fingernail, with virtually no pressure applied, can leave scratches in my paint. Out of curiosity I tried doing it again in an inconspicuous area and it definitely leaves scratches, not just a mark.

Surely BMW has the softest paint around.

Anyone care to commiserate and share their "soft" paint stories? Is it really soft paint or is just because it's black... who knows?
 
For the most part-- not exclusively, most of the imports have softer clears. The american cars are a bit harder- with the GM's being pretty hard

To me-- black paint when its right is about the best 'cause of its depth- but it is work to keep it like that.

Might want to try a bit of polish by hand & see if that takes it off
 
Yeah I’m sure some polish would work on it. I’m trying to save myself from going crazy during the winter, so I’ve already decided I won’t be polishing again until my spring detail.


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I don’t have any black car ownership stories because just as I would never point a loaded gun at my head I’ll never own another black vehicle
 
BlackCarBlues said:
Yeah I’m sure some polish would work on it. I’m trying to save myself from going crazy during the winter, so I’ve already decided I won’t be polishing again until my spring detail.


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I understand
But applying a finishing polish by hand on two small areas doesnt seem like much to me-- certainly not in the "going crazy" category
 
Sounds like you definitely should wash with an extreme wash method whenever you can
 
I am in a similar boat with Vobro. Sorry you have to tolerate this with your ride but it’s one of the things that keeps me busy detailing. I do a lot of import black details and always try to educate my customers on what I feel is the best approach to keeping marring at bay or put them on a maintenance plan if they choose. Only way to give your finish some toughness is to look into PPF.
 
fly07sti said:
I am in a similar boat with Vobro. Sorry you have to tolerate this with your ride but it’s one of the things that keeps me busy detailing. I do a lot of import black details and always try to educate my customers on what I feel is the best approach to keeping marring at bay or put them on a maintenance plan if they choose. Only way to give your finish some toughness is to look into PPF.
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I did get a quote for PPF on the front bumper but at $700 I could just get it repainted when it gets chipped up enough. Don’t wanna know how much it would be to do the whole car


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BlackCarBlues said:
I did get a quote for PPF on the front bumper but at $700 I could just get it repainted when it gets chipped up enough. Don’t wanna know how much it would be to do the whole car


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To add more drama the hood on a BMW is a rock chip magnet
 
BMW non-metallic black paint (jet black) is the softest paint I have ever encountered. Literally looking at it the wrong way will scratch it. I've seen cars that are a year or two old that look like they've been washed with a straw broom for the past 10 years. It's bad. I feel for you because I know that it would drive me absolutely crazy.

BMW metallic black (sapphire black) is harder in comparison.
 
I had a jet black BMW as well.... I feel your pain. It would scratch if I sneeze on it too hard. Sprinkler water spots and bird bombs were the worst.
 
My Camaro is black, and I've tried to school myself over the years that it is a 9 y/o daily driver with over 150,000 miles and that no matter how "bad" it looks (to me), it is still lightyears better than 99% of other cars with similar usage/miles. Did it work? Sort of. But it still triggers my OCD when I see an "imperfect" spot.
 
Don M said:
My Camaro is black, and I've tried to school myself over the years that it is a 9 y/o daily driver with over 150,000 miles and that no matter how "bad" it looks (to me), it is still lightyears better than 99% of other cars with similar usage/miles. Did it work? Sort of. But it still triggers my OCD when I see an "imperfect" spot.
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LOL....I hear ya


Imagine how I feel when my '21 trail boss with 8000 miles ends up like this....I have a full time job working on my truck.
Good thing I'm retired...


1Tkf2LE.jpg
 
Might be confirmation bias, but sounds like I’m at least not alone in believing my car has extremely easy to scratch paint. Since that’s the case, I feel like my gut instinct not to waste $$$ on ceramic coatings is validated… I’d much rather use a one-step or all-in-one every 6 months than ceramic coat it every couple years with the intention of not polishing it in between ceramic coatings.

With the paint being as soft as it is, it should be easier to take care of swirls and love marks with a product such as a one-step, rather than resorting to a more traditional compound, then polish… at least in theory, and as long as the one-step finishes down well.


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BlackCarBlues said:
Might be confirmation bias, but sounds like I’m at least not alone in believing my car has extremely easy to scratch paint. Since that’s the case, I feel like my gut instinct not to waste $$$ on ceramic coatings is validated… I’d much rather use a one-step or all-in-one every 6 months than ceramic coat it every couple years with the intention of not polishing it in between ceramic coatings.

With the paint being as soft as it is, it should be easier to take care of swirls and love marks with a product such as a one-step, rather than resorting to a more traditional compound, then polish… at least in theory, and as long as the one-step finishes down well.


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Your vehicle would clean up a hell of a lot easier when washed if it were coated in turn leaving less maring and light scratches.

You would be far better off in the winter with touchless car washes if it were coated
 
98CayenneTA said:
Your vehicle would clean up a hell of a lot easier when washed if it were coated in turn leaving less maring and light scratches.

You would be far better off in the winter with touchless car washes if it were coated
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While I know they are very different products, I do have a fresh coat of Meg’s HCW on the car (with Meg’s ULW as a base) in preparation for winter. It definitely beads water like crazy (99% dry with a leaf blower, compared to maybe 70% dry with just ULW), and I have noticed much less dust/road-film accumulation since applying. I don’t have any firsthand experience with a true ceramic coating though.


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I have a black ride as well, and have had Dynoshield with ceramic coating on top. Let me tell you, my black car woes are pretty much gone. I have only had black cars for the past 35 years or so, and no matter what make (GM, Ford, and now Audi), I would likely have scratched/swirled the heck out of the clear with the softest of touch.

Knowing this would happen to a brand new ride, my whole car is PPF treated and ceramic coated. Definitely worth the investment as I was also tired of chasing the swirls/scratches. Maintenance is a breeze now.
 
Seriously?! My rant about "soft" black paint

Ace22 said:
I have a black ride as well, and have had Dynoshield with ceramic coating on top. Let me tell you, my black car woes are pretty much gone. I have only had black cars for the past 35 years or so, and no matter what make (GM, Ford, and now Audi), I would likely have scratched/swirled the heck out of the clear with the softest of touch.

Knowing this would happen to a brand new ride, my whole car is PPF treated and ceramic coated. Definitely worth the investment as I was also tired of chasing the swirls/scratches. Maintenance is a breeze now.
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To me the prices are just outrageous for PPF installation. I understand why they are high, but I can’t justify paying that myself. I think I’d rather one-step my car every 6 months or so.

Perhaps later in life when I have more disposable income I will go the PPF route.

Any photo albums of your new Audi?


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