First paint scratch

[VPR]

Hi everyone, I have a question. My car’s paint got scratched a few weeks ago. As you can see in the first and second photos, that’s how the door looked after the scratch (I had PPF installed on it). A few days later, I decided to take the car to the dealer, and they did some sanding and polishing. The result is shown in the third and fourth photos (I also installed PPF afterward).

The dealer told me I don’t need to repaint it, and that they can only polish it to this level because they don’t want to burn through the clear coat. Could you please take a look and let me know whether this looks like a clear-coat scratch only? Also, should I ask them to polish it further to try to make it disappear completely?

Thank you very much.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I'd take it to a true detail shop and ask for a paint correction, and if you can afford it, a ceramic coat. That'll really make a difference in the look of the truck, but have the added benefit of reducing the visibility of the scratch if it's truly left behind after the correction, and protecting the paint. Plus, there's the added benefit of much, much easier car washes. The dealer is a good general resource, but you want a dedicated pro.

 

[Curious Hound]

I wouldn't do any more to it. If you really want a good evaluation, take it to a reoutable body shop. Let them see it in person. Photos aren't going to give us the best chance to see it. If you really want it perfect, they will need to polish until it's gone and possibly apply new clearcoat.

If it bothers you, get it fixed. In my opinion, if that bothers you, have the whole vehicle hermetically sealed in a glass case and never drive it. Life is going to drive you nuts.

 

[Uncle Gump]

It's hard... on a daily driver... to keep the paint perfect.

I only wish that was "the bad spot" on anything I've ever owned.

 

[pjtoledo]

welcome, how is the weather in Cambodia this week?

is the scratch deep enough to feel with a fingernail?
if yes I would obtain some touch-up paint and fill the scratch with a very small brush.
then carefully blend it in. that's the hard part, blending it in without damaging the surrounding paint.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You only have so much clear coat to play with and OE paint jobs have the bare minimum.

For a dd... it happens.

I had a big scuff on the side of bed on my F-150 that mildly bugged me when I got it. I hit a deer and, insurance replaced the bedside (deer spun into it and pushed in the front lower part of it) and poof, scuff is gone!

 

[Curious Hound]

You only have so much clear coat to play with and OE paint jobs have the bare minimum.

We measure the thickness in microns and there aren't many of them