When I bought my car is was really scratched up. What can I do to help remove this or tone them down? I was thinking clay?

Clay will not remove scratches. Clay is used in order to remove embedded materials in the paint. You will need a paint polish or cleaner to remove scratches. I would try Meguiars ScratchX. I dunno of any other products.

Anyone?

Thanks. Should I polish then clay bar?

Thanks. Should I polish then clay bar?

You should use the search feature and study up! :)

(your question is a bad question...yes, there are dumb questions, no offense).

Clay first, then polish.

AFAIK, scratch removing polishes fill the scratches with oils and other fillers.

You'll have a hard time removing scratches without some sort of mechanical polisher. If you do not have a machine, you might find it cost effective to take the car to a detailer or body shop and ask them to polish out the scratches.

Or buy a PC, pads and polishes. Then follow the guidelines posted here and other sites.

The best way to remove thes is to start out with 3000 grit sand paper then buff it really good.

I have a PC. I bought Scratch X today along with the Mothers clay bar kit. Should I also buy some sandpaper before I clay bar and polish?

For heaven's sake, no, a detailing newb shouldn't even think about using sandpaper and it's reckless to even recommend it.

I'd think everyone should know that it's a best practice to start with a less aggressive approach and work your way up from there.

Try the PC and a polish first. If that doesn't work, then try the PC and a more aggressive polish or compound.

Only then, if that still doesn't work and you're aware that you could very well sand through your clear (assuming you have a clear coat), then you could try sanding after reading up on the process.

And I'd practice on a scrap panel or someone else's car before trying it on my BMW.

But I certainly wouldn't start by sanding.

Good advice. Thanks. I'll post before and after pictures.

Good deal. Hope it turns out well.

By the way, is it single stage paint or clear coat?

It's the stock paint so Id say clear coat :confused?

If you work a polish on the finish and end up with body color on the cloth you're using, then it's single stage. If you work a polish in and no body color on the cloth, you're working on clear.

I think I've heard that yellow e36 M3s had single stage paint, so original paint doesn't necessarily mean it's clear coated.

Yikes definitely dont use sandpaper. First clay the car to remove all the crap, then a meguairs #6, I believe, will remove most clear coat scratches, and then the new P21s concours, which is an awesome wax.. That should do it. If your car is really scratched take it to a body shop and ask their opinion, but dont sand it yourself.

Return the Meguires Scratch X?

Return the Meguires Scratch X?

No, dont return it. A detailers 'toolkit' should have lots of different products for different purposes. If you work with hardware, you have more than a simple slotted screwdriver in your toobox dont you? Well its the same thing for detailing. I have maybe 6 different polishes covering all the different grades of 'cut' or abrasiveness. I also have two rubbing compounds, a couple of prewax 'cleaners', plus clay, and several different waxes. And thats just for starters!! Think of the products you use to maintain your paint as tools in a toolbox. The only way to really understand this is start searching the net... a couple of good place to start include:

http://autopia.org/forum/
http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/default.aspx

no good fam