Hi All!
I've recently had every window on my car scratched (bar the windscreen) by some kind person while left overnight...
Does anyone know of any treatment that can make the scratches less noticeable - they're downward strokes (3 or 4 scratches down each window)
Also someone's decided to run a house key along the length of the car - I've seen a scratch removal system at www.seethedifference.co.uk/ and wondered if it's any good. If it's not, can anyone suggest any others? I'm not in a position to get it professionally done, I just can't afford it. It's got metallic paint, by the way.
Before anyone asks, I've decided not to take it through my insurance since my previous car was vandalised on the street! I don't have much luck with my cars, I took my old Matiz through the insurer (it was in a row of cars which got done - doors kicked in etc. so it was in a bad state) and it doubled my insurance premium - Direct Line wanted £1300 to insure me (27 at the time, clean licence) on a Daewoo Matiz - none of it my fault! I don't want my premium pushed up further again!
Any advice appreciated!
Si
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Try Autoglass etc.., they should be able to polish it out for a small fee. If you fancy it yourself, you'd probably need a machine and some glass cutter, which would be about £30. You may as well get a windscreen shop to do it, might even fo it for a £10 cash if you don't need a receipt. Are you sure its a scratch and not a deposit such as aluminium?
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Thanks Colonel!
It looks scratched rather than deposits, I didn't think of taking it to Auto Windscreens - I thought they'd sting me for getting completely new glass...
I'll give Auto Windscreens a try.
Anyone any ideas on getting a good finish on a big key-ing down the side of a car? I can't see how using the touch up brush will give good results, it's just going to look really amateurish!
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You could try using one of the colour coded polishes that are now available. However, it won't last and you'll have to re-apply it every time you wash the car.
Your best bet might be to contact one of the "Chips Away" type operators and see if they can help you.
You're quite right, it certainly can't be done with a touch-up brush!
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Hi Pootle
Toughened glass doesn't really polish very well, realisticly you are looking at replacement glass.
Attempting to polish out the scratches will stress the glass at that piont, the next very hot/very cold day will shatter the glass.
(Glass-Tech)
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While you find a way to sort the scratch, I would smear a thick layer of vasaline over the scratch to stop it rusting. I had my car keyed and did this - worked a treat at stopping the rust setting in.
If you really cant afford professional job you could try touch up paint - Halfords do a 3-pack of pens. Laquer, undercoat and top coat. The pens have a fine metal nib on them so you can get a better result than with a normal brush type. Try it, leave each coat to dry fully and then polish over the scratch. If you try it on a small patch you'll be able to see the type of result you're getting before trying to do the whole scratch.
Good luck - I think you deserve some.
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Would you be able to change side glass yourself? It's very fiddly, but with a workshop manual and loads of patience it could be done. I was just thinking that a set of glass from a scrap yard might not be all that expensive - provided it was in good nick of course!
The scratched paintwork is something else! You might improve things a bit with some touch up paint thinned down a bit and a very fine artist's brush - might take a few applications to 'build up' the scratch. Then a good hard rub with Brasso!
On the other hand, this might make it look considerably worse......all too easy to achieve the 'toffee apple' effect - but thinning down the paint does help a lot.
I've even used a permanent ink marker to good effect - mind you, my car's black so all I really need is a gallon of tar and and a 4" brush!
Graeme
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Sorry to hear about your bad luck!
I know you said not to mention Insurance, but its worth checking your policy wording very carefully. Some Insurers do not consider body glass to be a no claims bonus qualifying claim.. and then it will 'only' be a £50 excess. Also, I'd still take it to Autoglass to see if they can help with a repair.
Only likely reasonable paint repair will be a chips away type operator.
Keep us posted.
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I found t that you can quickly fill the scratch with touch-up paint and as soon as possible before it starts to dry, squeegie it with an old credit or other plastic card (free mpbile topup card from supermarket etc...) and wipe the excess off the card and carry on until the scratch is filled and smoothed off, with just a thin film of paint either side.
then you leave for a few days and polish with Mer or other cutting polish. This gets rid of the smeared overspill. I just left mine unlaquered, but you could dewax with fairy liquid and do the same with laquer. Good luck!
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