From the pics, it seems that the chips are pretty deep, so what we are seeing is:
If you buff the clear coat to the point where the chips are almost invisible, then you have thinned out the clear coat around each chip to a major extent, diminishing your protection.
Buy some clear auto lacquer instead (rattle can will do), put a little in a small container (rattle can lid) and apply it with a tiny artists camel hair brush to each chip - after cleaning out each chip by careful wiping with thinners or brake cleaner. Wait a couple of days for this to dry off, then with a small block (preferably a rubber block like bodyshops use), and some Farecla G3 or similar gentle compound, work across each chip till the lacquer is level with the surrounding surface.
Doing this, you will not thin out the clearcoat unnecessarily.
If you buff the clear coat to the point where the chips are almost invisible, then you have thinned out the clear coat around each chip to a major extent, diminishing your protection.
Buy some clear auto lacquer instead (rattle can will do), put a little in a small container (rattle can lid) and apply it with a tiny artists camel hair brush to each chip - after cleaning out each chip by careful wiping with thinners or brake cleaner. Wait a couple of days for this to dry off, then with a small block (preferably a rubber block like bodyshops use), and some Farecla G3 or similar gentle compound, work across each chip till the lacquer is level with the surrounding surface.
Doing this, you will not thin out the clearcoat unnecessarily.
If you buff the clear coat to the point where the chips are almost invisible, then you have thinned out the clear coat around each chip to a major extent, diminishing your protection.
Buy some clear auto lacquer instead (rattle can will do), put a little in a small container (rattle can lid) and apply it with a tiny artists camel hair brush to each chip - after cleaning out each chip by careful wiping with thinners or brake cleaner. Wait a couple of days for this to dry off, then with a small block (preferably a rubber block like bodyshops use), and some Farecla G3 or similar gentle compound, work across each chip till the lacquer is level with the surrounding surface.
Doing this, you will not thin out the clearcoat unnecessarily.
That young man is one extremely impressive shine . Even Mrs Wighty was impressedThanks for all the advice all. Like others, I find the chips very odd, it must be the body work design. The dark colour does not help as I have not seen chips like this on other MB's I have had, but they have all been light colours.
For some reason I did not receive notifications on this thread, so I went off and did the following:
Tar remover and Iron X removed 80% of what you see in the picture. Its was lots of semi-transparent particles stuck onto the paint.
The remainder was very light chips and marks in the clear coat. I polished with a random DA and hexlogics pads and Chemical guys V32/34/36/38 and got the following:
Much better. The longevity of the paint is yet to be seen, but I was not agreesive with the polish or the pad pressure/choice so I think it will be fine.
Thanks for all the advice all. Like others, I find the chips very odd, it must be the body work design. The dark colour does not help as I have not seen chips like this on other MB's I have had, but they have all been light colours.
For some reason I did not receive notifications on this thread, so I went off and did the following:
Tar remover and Iron X removed 80% of what you see in the picture. Its was lots of semi-transparent particles stuck onto the paint.
The remainder was very light chips and marks in the clear coat. I polished with a random DA and hexlogics pads and Chemical guys V32/34/36/38 and got the following:
Much better. The longevity of the paint is yet to be seen, but I was not agreesive with the polish or the pad pressure/choice so I think it will be fine.
Yes indeed! It could very well have been dried on salt deposits as that's what they felt like when removing with my fingernail to test.That's a very good result.........would need to know from before hand that it was damaged. So in the main, the blemishes / marks were not the result of stone chipping,but some kind of "Spatter"?
Well all's well that ends well. Good job.
Jim2