Intro and Mazda scratches/scuffs

[zm1283]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this forum. I found AG and this forum through a Toyota Tundra forum where they have a detailing section. Anyway, I decided I wanted to get into real detailing this spring/summer and start doing things the right way. I have a 2010 Tundra and my wife has a 2008 Mazda CX7. I plan on detailing the CX7 first, but I wanted to get everyone's opinion about something. She backed out of the garage a couple months ago in the CX7 and scraped the right front bumper cover (Just under the right headlight) against the edge of the garage. It was mostly the rubber or plastic trim or seal that goes around the edge of the garage door. I'm posting pictures below. There is a dent in the quarter panel just before the bumper cover starts, and I'm planning on having a body shop fix that if they can. I'm wondering if these scratches/scuffs will come out with a DA and some polish with an aggressive cut.

None of the scratches seem like they are through the paint, as it still feels smooth. Some of it may just be residue from the rubber that it scraped against. Any help is appreciated...thanks!

[zmcgovern45]

First off... :welcome:

If, as you mentioned, the scuffs feel smooth to the touch and the paint does not appear to be scratched or gouged - it is pretty typical to assume that the marks you are seeing are simply paint/color transfer from the area she bumped in to. Typical paint correction will most likely help to remove or at least hide the defects.

My fiance did the same thing to her Mazda Protege before she sold it... here are the before and afters.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643961_10151328608207363_1093577591_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/198401_10151328608327363_721408235_n.jpg
^Corrected with M105 on 3" Orange LC pad with PC7424XP.

For reference... here is a thread in which I show a detailed step by step of when I detailed our CX-7

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/62232-new-daily-driver-restoration-paint-correction-22ple-application.html

It would be very beneficial to you to take several hours and read through a lot of Mike Phillips' articles that he has put together. You will gain years worth of knowledge in just a few short hours if you can spare the time.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html

[zm1283]

First off... :welcome:

If, as you mentioned, the scuffs feel smooth to the touch and the paint does not appear to be scratched or gouged - it is pretty typical to assume that the marks you are seeing are simply paint/color transfer from the area she bumped in to. Typical paint correction will most likely help to remove or at least hide the defects.

My fiance did the same thing to her Mazda Protege before she sold it... here are the before and afters.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643961_10151328608207363_1093577591_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/198401_10151328608327363_721408235_n.jpg
^Corrected with M105 on 3" Orange LC pad with PC7424XP.

For reference... here is a thread in which I show a detailed step by step of when I detailed our CX-7

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/62232-new-daily-driver-restoration-paint-correction-22ple-application.html

It would be very beneficial to you to take several hours and read through a lot of Mike Phillips' articles that he has put together. You will gain years worth of knowledge in just a few short hours if you can spare the time.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html

Thanks. I think I'll give it a shot on the Mazda.

I have been reading a lot of stuff on here and lurking, so I think I have a good idea on how to get started. I've already bought a DA, pads, polishes, grit guards, Menzerna Powerlock, Einszett Cockpit detailer, etc. I'm going to get a few more things on AG and start in the next week or so.

[zm1283]

I meant to ask this also. I did some searching but didn't find exactly what I was looking for.

Since the CX7 is white, it has some exhaust stains just above the exhaust tips in the back. When I wash it, some of the stain will come off but not all of it. What product will remove it?

[zmcgovern45]

If they are surface contaminates, a clay bar will remove them. If they are embedded contaminates, compound and/or polish will remove the stains.

You could also try a heavier cleaning product like an APC or Tar remover.