The previous owner of my car installed rain guards on the windows, the type that stick on the outside of the window frame with 3M tape. Well, obviously those had to go right away. Unfortunately, when I removed them, it exposed some clear coat damage that was done by the 3M tape. At first I thought it was glue or something else on the surface, but after looking further, it's clear coat damage.

What is the best way to get this repaired? I thought about trying to wetsand with some 2000 grit but I'm leary about that. If nothing DIY, is this something a body shop can handle without repainting the entire door?

 

A body shop could surely address. Even if they needed to do a blended clear sot on that area, I wouldn't expect it to cost over $100 or so. Probably something they can sand and buff out.

I leave that stuff to guys that do it often cuz it takes the right touch. I experiment on my friends cars, but leave mine to the pros.

 

you "might" be able to get that out with a good polish (depending on how deep into the clear it is) if you can't get it out with polishing, it would must likely need to be sanded

does your fingernail get caught in the damage?

 

Depending on how deep the clear coat damage is it can be repaired by buffing or wet sanding and buffing. If nothing else, just buffing will make it 100x better and shouldn't cost much since its not that big of an area. I had a very deep scratch on my hood of unknown origin and after wet sanding and polishing i was able to get it to only show up when i turn on my halogen lights for buffing. Go to local body shops and ask some opinions from them.

 

hey OP, if your fingernail won't get caught in the markings then i would suggest you try it yourself...

http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-430-a...g-pad-kit.aspx

that is the perfect thing to use...you can attach that to your drill and it would be like using a mini rotary buffer...you would also need to buy the corresponding color polishes (starting with green, then orange, then white)...you may need to make multiple passes, but it can severely reduce the damage or possibly remove it (if it's not too deep)

good luck...if you want to try my suggestion, PM me for more info

 

I agree, it might look like clear coat damage, but it could very well be on the surface and not into the clear! Have you tried an adhesive remover, maybe like Goo Gone first? It's worth a shot. But like Shad said, use your fingernail and try to determine if it's actually through the clear or not. It looks like surface. If so, you can get it out by buffing. Possibly even by hand.

 

It is way beyond buffing, its like the clear is bubbled. The finish needs to be leveled out first.

 

I have a similar scratch, let me know what you come up with

 

take the easy way out.... get some new window guards even though I'm trying to figure out why you would need or want these stupid things.

 

Ha, no way. Those things looked awful.