Pretty deep scratches...would appreciate some help.

[sabresfan]

I have an opportunity to buy a 2006 BMW 3 series with pretty nasty key scratches in 3 spots (only a verrrrrrrry angry ex wife or GF could have done this!).

I have a couple of questions based on my limited experience with scratch removal. I do own a dewalt rotary buffer that I have had limited success with as well as a flex, that I have had good success removing swirls, etc. I have several novice compunds i.e. meguiars heavy cut, medium cut and ultra light cut as well as some 3M (not sure what stuff but its pretty gritty)

How can you tell if the scratch is into the base coat? On the hood I can just barely feel the "ridge" of the scratch with my fingernail. The door feels slightly deeper. Am I asking for trouble with any kind of wet sanding? I know I should always use the least aggressive method first so do you have any recommendations as to a product I can try?

I should probably walk away from the car but the price is so good, I wanna see if I can either pay a body shop or even make the scratches less obnoxious.....

Would a body shop sand and repaint the entire panel or do they have methods to fix the scratches, even if they are into the base coat?

thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

Typically if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail it's too deep to be buffed out.

Is the scratch a different color than the paint (look up close)?

If professional repainting the panel is not an option I'd recommend wet sanding the scratch and then buffing, or wet sand just in the scratch and layer touch up paint and clear (in the scratch) then buff to blend once dry.

I tried to tackle some similar scratches with my most aggressive pad and compound and got a very slight improvement. Scratches are still clearly visible despite doing 10-15 section passes with a denim pad and M101.

Post up some pictures to give a better idea of how bad is it.

 

[builthatch]

I have an opportunity to buy a 2006 BMW 3 series with pretty nasty key scratches in 3 spots (only a verrrrrrrry angry ex wife or GF could have done this!).

I have a couple of questions based on my limited experience with scratch removal. I do own a dewalt rotary buffer that I have had limited success with as well as a flex, that I have had good success removing swirls, etc. I have several novice compunds i.e. meguiars heavy cut, medium cut and ultra light cut as well as some 3M (not sure what stuff but its pretty gritty)

How can you tell if the scratch is into the base coat? On the hood I can just barely feel the "ridge" of the scratch with my fingernail. The door feels slightly deeper. Am I asking for trouble with any kind of wet sanding? I know I should always use the least aggressive method first so do you have any recommendations as to a product I can try?

I should probably walk away from the car but the price is so good, I wanna see if I can either pay a body shop or even make the scratches less obnoxious.....

Would a body shop sand and repaint the entire panel or do they have methods to fix the scratches, even if they are into the base coat?

thanks for any advice you can give!

what color is the car? (actual paint color name, if possible)

this will help determine if scratch repairs can be executed. but honestly, for a hood, since it's a separate panel AND it's horizontal, i'd probably just have that repainted and not fuss with repair. but it's hard to say without seeing the scratch and knowing the location of it on the panel. if it's the slightest of the scratches you are dealing with, but still barely catches your nail, then a lot of leveling would need to occur and you don't want to remove a ton of clear on the hood.

 

[sabresfan]

Thank you. Both responses thus far are very helpful. I can try to get some pics. The color is very dark grey. I don't have the code. I figured it was too deep for me to mess with without making it a million times worse. Touch up paint might be the way to go but dang this b*tch was p*ssed oooooooofffffff hahahahaha. Just to try to give you a mental picture......picture your 2 year old with a crayon. Not totally sure what you mean by the color of the scratches but they are white.....or typical of any clear coat scratch, I would think.