Sand N' Buff vs New Paint

[HBTMD]

Lots of little white spots and a number of small white scratches on my 03 Black MM from being outside in rain and sprinklers with high calcium level.

One body shop tells me I need an $8,000 paint job that will take 2 months. Another tells me I only need a Sand N' Buff for $250 that will take 4 days.

Both shops get 4 to 5 stars on YELP.

The Sand N' Buff sounds too good to be true. Is it? :beer:

[lji372]

$8000 paint....gulp. Are you going for best paint at the car shows??

If its a driver, sand and buff.

If its a garage queen, it wouldn't be in the condition it's in :D

Just my .02 cents

[guspech750]

Just go buy a clay bar kit. A high speed polisher along with polishing product and call it a day.


Or take it to a detailer and see how it looks.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Invest in a Clay bar kit, and then get some wax like turtle wax black box kit. That thing works wonders on my car which lives outside and sometimes looks like it is ruined.

[Shaijack]

I to use Turtle Wax. I like the shine and protection. Joe could you clay bar and polish one of my cars? If you show me how it is done I will do the second car. You could do the thrid one and I will help. lol

[boatmangc]

I wouldn't consider sand n polish without going over the car with a paint thickness gauge.
Most 03's had sketchy clear coat to begin with, then add 10 years?

My advice, find a high end detailer and get an estimate.

Before you drive to them, ask if they do "paint correction". If they sound confused, hang up and keep looking!

Once you find someone who does it, check their references.
Lotsa hacks out there.

[lji372]

I wouldn't consider sand n polish without going over the car with a paint thickness gauge.
Most 03's had sketchy clear coat to begin with, then add 10 years?

My advice, find a high end detailer and get an estimate.

Before you drive to them, ask if they do "paint correction". If they sound confused, hang up and keep looking!

Once you find someone who does it, check their references.
Lotsa hacks out there.

Thanks on the paint correction question. :beer:

I'm looking for a local detailer but don't know where to begin or what to ask.

[ctrlraven]

Wash, dry, clay bar, polish and then get a good paint sealant to apply.

Do everything in the shade with the paint surface cool.

Anytime you clay bar you must apply a wax or paint sealant afterwards. I prefer a paint sealant as it last a lot longer than a wax.

[1Marauder]

Agree... And go to Home Depot and find the 29 micro fiber towels for $9.99, and have an iced cooler of iced tea, sodas, and -----, and a camp/lawn chair, and phone, out where you are working.

It will take the better part of a day to do it right, but once it is done you are set for 6 months or so, if you are careful and park inside.

If your clay bar, polish, sealant don't get 95% of it...

[boatmangc]

I don't use microfiber towels on the MM at all, my clear coat is butter soft, I have had $30 microfibers leave micro marring.
100% cotton only. Check out Zaino border free towels. They are the best i have found.

[Dave2]

I wouldn't consider sand n polish without going over the car with a paint thickness gauge.
Most 03's had sketchy clear coat to begin with, then add 10 years?

My advice, find a high end detailer and get an estimate.

Before you drive to them, ask if they do "paint correction". If they sound confused, hang up and keep looking!

Once you find someone who does it, check their references.
Lotsa hacks out there.

Excellent advice......^

The clear coat on MM's is next to nothing and a paint thickness gauge is the first step....

Find a good detailer that has one and pay a few extra buck for him to map out your car. The hood the doors the trunk etc. and find out what you have to begin with.....

Painting is the last option.....

Good luck.....:beer:

[Dave2]

I'm looking for a local detailer but don't know where to begin or what to ask.



Find a good car club, Corvette, Mustang and ask them.....

They know who the good local guys are.....

[Accumulator]

HBTMD- IF the primary issue is the contamination from the sprinklers/etc. then the first thing I'd do is a decontamination using ValuGard's "ABC" system (developed with/approved by Ford, you can even buy it at Ford dealerships).

It's safe (zero paint removal), easy (it's basically like doing a series of three washes, just don't let the stuff dry on the car and you'll be fine), and effective.

I'd plan to redo the second/acidic/"B" step if necessary, and to let that product dwell for a while so it can more easily dissolve the mineral deposits.

That will give you a clean-slate starting point, from which you can use a polish/paint cleaner/whatever or at least be in a better position to assess the paint's condition.

Not hating on clay (use it a lot), but for this one I'd want to do the decon. chemically, to better get down into the pores/micro-fissures/scratches in the paint.

[lji372]

Find a good car club, Corvette, Mustang and ask them.....

They know who the good local guys are.....

what i thought i had the right group:confused:

actually a member pm'd me with 2 options, thanks jman:bows:

i talked to one and visited the other already:banana2:

[martyo]

Where are you located?