[hag6]

Hi
Any advice on how to remove paint and scuff marks from my black wing mirror capping. I clipped a width restriction bollard with my wing mirror. A a consequence it has transferred some paint onto the mirror capping. Can anyone recommend a product & procedure to safely remove the paint. Are the black mirror caps painted or they black all the way through.

Many thanks

 

[Angib]

T-Cut rubbing compound may be able to do this, as long as the scratches don't go througfh the paint. I believe all Minis are lacquered, so use the metallic version of T-Cut as that is a bit gentler and shouldn't cut through the lacquer. My previous Mini had black mirror caps and from the level of gloss, I reckon they're painted.

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes a good t cut type paint restorer I use farecla g3 . Gently does it , just a bit like playing Russian roulette since if it's gone right through the lacquer you won't get it all out. Apparently if it's fingernail catching deep you are at the limit. Someone maliciously scratched the lacquer on my wife's roadster (black). I rubbed for about an hour but I got it out! Got to stop when you're happy it looks ok not till it's totally smooth as if you go through the lacquer it's a repaint job. Mind for a mirror cap that's easy, diy job as Many places will mix you a rattle can matched perfectly.eg warlords have a mixing service. Take the cap off to paint.sand spray and then lacquer.

 

[TX1911fan]

I've used light rubbing compound to remove paint, followed by a nice glaze and then wax. Work very well.

 

[hag6]

Thanks for the advice. I managed to remove most of the transferred paint using Auto Glyn Ultra Deep Shine. However there is still a light scuff which seems to be filled with paint which the Ultra Deep Shine cant remove. What gentle rubbing compound can you recommend.

 

[uke]

Thanks for the advice. I managed to remove most of the transferred paint using Auto Glyn Ultra Deep Shine. However there is still a light scuff which seems to be filled with paint which the Ultra Deep Shine cant remove. What gentle rubbing compound can you recommend.

Toothpaste can be used as a rubbing compound. It works, and you can't get much gentler than something you use in your mouth.

Try the non-gel type. I've used it over the years as a rubbing compound with good results. Plus it smells nice.

 

[jeremybingham]

Farecla g3 always wins auto express best buy but I've had good results with standard t cut paint restorer and anything autglym is always good too just remember gently does it.

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes watched someone use cif cream too but I wouldn't dare!

 

[Angib]

And when you're in the bathroom 'liberating' the toothpaste, take an old toothbrush as well - they can be used to get cutting compound into sctratches to remove other paint. It's amazing how much less offensive scratches are if they aren't marked out with other-colour paint or dirt.

 

[smithyithy]

As far as I know, Autoglym UDS isn't a compound or polish, it's a glaze - so what's more likely happened is you've removed a small amount of the defect and 'masked' the rest with the glaze, which won't be a lasting solution.

A machine polisher would be your best best, but if you don't have access to one, T-Cut should work to a degree, though it's a pretty outdated product now..

From what I remember, the original T-Cut was designed for old paint (think early 90's) that didn't have a layer of lacquer, so more 'cut' was needed. The newer 'metallic' T-Cut has less 'cut'. You can use either product on either paint type to be honest, though I'd sway towards metallic in most cases. The problem with the older T-Cut, and to a lesser extent the metallic stuff, is that the abrasives within the polish don't actually break down, so especially if you use normal T-Cut on new, lacquered paint, you'd effectively be replacing a couple of larger scratches with lots of smaller ones.

 

[Christian6984]

Meguiars Scratch X or Ultimate Compound