[technik111]

I washed my car for the very first time last night and noticed some small scartches on my hood. When I got home I grabbed some rubbing compound given to me a few years ago by Mercedes Benz. The scratches came out fine and I thought all was well until I took the car out in the sun today. I noticed that the areas I used the rubbing compound look dull. The question is, what do I do now? I tried putting a little wax on the areas and that didn't help at all. Did I just f**k up my new car???

[bartman32]

You probably did take a few layers of clear coat off but not to fear. Find someone with a PC and wax her up. Should be good as new...

[technik111]

Sorry, but what's a PC?

[pigbat]

Porter Cable

[Mr_T]

Originally Posted by technik111

Sorry, but what's a PC?

One of these: Porter Cable 7424 car polisher

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-pc7424.html

[pander5]

From your description it sounds like you hazed up your clearcoat with the compound. Hopefully you weren't too aggressive with the stuff. Do you know what the MB stuff is specifically? I doubt you messed up your car.

If it is simply cloudy or hazy looking paint it can probably be buffed out but only by a machine. If you don't have a machine you might want to check with a local detailer (who knows what they are doing) and see if they can buff those out for you.

[technik111]

Originally Posted by pander5

From your description it sounds like you hazed up your clearcoat with the compound. Hopefully you weren't too aggressive with the stuff. Do you know what the MB stuff is specifically? I doubt you messed up your car.

If it is simply cloudy or hazy looking paint it can probably be buffed out but only by a machine. If you don't have a machine you might want to check with a local detailer (who knows what they are doing) and see if they can buff those out for you.

I have no idea what the stuff is exactly from MB. It works great when trying to remove scratches, but it's messed up my Monaco Blue paint. In the past I've owned a lot of silver cars (or close to that color) so I never noticed the haze, but on this car it looks terrible.

[ejazbmw]

you need a good wax....

[Mr_T]

I would say a mild polish and then a good wax. It may be tough to remove by hand.

MT

[ejazbmw]

try something like z-aio

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by technik111

I washed my car for the very first time last night and noticed some small scartches on my hood. When I got home I grabbed some rubbing compound given to me a few years ago by Mercedes Benz. The scratches came out fine and I thought all was well until I took the car out in the sun today. I noticed that the areas I used the rubbing compound look dull. The question is, what do I do now? I tried putting a little wax on the areas and that didn't help at all. Did I just f**k up my new car???

Oh boy. Not cool. I'd go with most of the recommendations - polish, followed by wax. Also, check out autopia.org/forum/

[Brunotheboxer]

at this point, if i were you i'd take it to a pro. go to http://autopia.org and see if you can find a good local detailer.

[TiAg335i]

I am curious....why are you guys suggesting wax? In order to get the shine back it would need to be polished first, then wax, wax alone would do nothing. Maybe its just an old-school train of thought.

[Mr_T]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

I am curious....why are you guys suggesting wax? In order to get the shine back it would need to be polished first, then wax, wax alone would do nothing. Maybe its just an old-school train of thought.

Hmmmm...

Originally Posted by Mr_T

I would say a mild polish and then a good wax. It may be tough to remove by hand.

MT

[D-Rock]

You might have washed in circles. Also you might need to buff the car.

[2007_E93]

Originally Posted by technik111

I have no idea what the stuff is exactly from MB. It works great when trying to remove scratches, but it's messed up my Monaco Blue paint. In the past I've owned a lot of silver cars (or close to that color) so I never noticed the haze, but on this car it looks terrible.

NO DON'T WAX! YOu should definitely not wax it until you POLISH the haze out. YOu probably have used the equivalent of a compound/polish with somewhat more aggressive polishing capabilities than a "pure polish". You should get a PC 7424 and use a Menzerna Intensive Polish then follow that with Menzerna Final Polish II or Menzerna PO106FF. You car will be shiny and smooth. The theory is that you go form an aggressive polish (like yours) that left a haze and polish to a fine gloss with these finer polishes until like glass. If you still have any fine imperfections your glaze it with Menzerna Glaze and THEN YOU WAX or use SEALANT to preserve and protect that shine. Wax is NOT meant to cover or remove scratches in most cases (except some all-in-ones and products like Meguiars "Cleaner Wax"). Go to the following websites for further information.

BTW your "compound" that was given to you form the MB dealer may be equivalent to Menzerna's Power Gloss or Intensive Polish as that is what they use on their cars in the factory. See the following site as well for info on these products. Basically, in order of harshness aggressive compounds (most to least aggressive) they are Power Gloss, Intensive Polish, Final Polish II, PO106FF. Hard to find Final Polish II as its mostly been replaced by PO106FF.

http://www.properautocare.com/menzer...FRwNgQodg0KDNQ

http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-of-...FRvNgAodETtlMA

Good luck! BTW I have the same color and like the way my car came out with my detailing.

[pander5]

Good advice 07 E93 and that's what I was thinking. The MB compound may have been just a bit too agressive and has caused the marring. If that is the case it is very easily fixed as long as techno didn't go too nuts with the stuff.

Again, techno, I seriously doubt you messed up your paint so don't get too excited. As E93 mentioned it most likely just needs to be massaged out with a finer polish and maybe 2 stages worth of buffing to get it to look original. again. If you have a PC or know someone who is skilled with a rotary those approaches would be your best bet. These things are best corrected with a machine.