[kaanyildiz01]

Hello everyone, I had my car cleaned with resin-focused exterior washing 2 days ago. After washing my 2-week-old car, I saw some scratches on the piano black around the front grille and the piano black parts on the B column that were visible when the flash was held. I can't confirm, but the guy who washed it probably dried it with a dusty cloth and since piano black is a very sensitive material, it got scratched easily. The ones on the columns are not very deep, but the ones on the front grille look like a nail is getting stuck. It doesn't look very obvious, if you look carefully, it's not a very deep scratch either. I will have the entire car coated with PPF next week. Do you think polishing paste will remove this scratch or will PPF coating eliminate this problem or prevent it from being visible? I don't want to sand it. Can I get your opinions?

[AlteBMW]

For external piano black I fear you are fighting a losing battle if what you are seekiing is perfection. Sand, dirt, rocks on road will eventually get you.

[nf0rc3r]

The only thing is probably to ppf the piano black or ceramic coat it.

[ToddRGuy]

Agree with the others. Piano black is difficult to detail and maintain both on the interior and exterior of any vehicle.

It’s surprising how much I noticed “micro scratches” on the trim in the myriad of videos I watched with the G60 on showroom floors or at press releases.

My first mission shortly after pickup is PPF, Ceramic, and likely PPF on the interior patio black trim.

[Scrapula]

I had ceramic on mine right away but should have done PPF because of rock chips.

[kaanyildiz01]

What I learned from the messages and my experience is this: If you are someone who just bought a car, read my message: take the car to have a PPF done as soon as you buy it from the dealership because Piano Black is the most delicate material you will ever see. I even heard that it can be scratched with a napkin. If you have the opportunity, I recommend that you even have the piano black details inside covered.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I had ceramic on mine right away but should have done PPF because of rock chips.

Exactly the same with me. I did the ceramic coating, but not the PPF and during the first month, I got a visible rock chip from the freeway. Haven't had another since though - frustrating.

Regarding the black on the B pillars - My car has never been through an automatic car wash and it still has micro swirls on the B pillars. It must come from the factory or dealership that way, because I am very careful with the exterior of the car and have only hand washed it. When closing the door after getting out of the car, I don't even touch the outside of the car door. There is a nice section to grab it on the inside top corner - that's what I use.

I'm of the same mind as others - trying to keep piano black swirl and scratch-free is probably a losing battle. Probably the best thing to do is to put PPF on it before it gets too bad.

[dubb13]

I got the ppf on the front facial but it didn't cover that portion of the grill in question I have one small chip so far but nothing more I've had the car for a almost a year but I could imaginewhat my bumper or hood would look like had I not applied the PPF cause it doesn't take much time to get chips especially here in New England

[paprmkr]

Originally Posted by kaanyildiz01

Hello everyone, I had my car cleaned with resin-focused exterior washing 2 days ago. After washing my 2-week-old car, I saw some scratches on the piano black around the front grille and the piano black parts on the B column that were visible when the flash was held. I can't confirm, but the guy who washed it probably dried it with a dusty cloth and since piano black is a very sensitive material, it got scratched easily. The ones on the columns are not very deep, but the ones on the front grille look like a nail is getting stuck. It doesn't look very obvious, if you look carefully, it's not a very deep scratch either. I will have the entire car coated with PPF next week. Do you think polishing paste will remove this scratch or will PPF coating eliminate this problem or prevent it from being visible? I don't want to sand it. Can I get your opinions?

I had it PPF with glossy black. One year no scratches. Self healing type too.
All front grill and CPillar external
But before that I used polish and 1/2 in pads with my micro polisher from AdamsPolishes

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I had ceramic on mine right away but should have done PPF because of rock chips.

Are you noticing that in the grill area as well? Or just the bumper/hood?

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by paprmkr

I had it PPF with glossy black. One year no scratches. Self healing type too.
All front grill and CPillar external
But before that I used polish and 1/2 in pads with my micro polisher from AdamsPolishes

What brand of PPF did you go with?

I’m never doing Ceramic Pro Kavaca again due to the company’s stance on their “life time warranty” that really means they point the figure at the dealer.

So in my mind that leaves XPEL or Stek. XPEL is well known of course, but from my reading Stek has more gloss and less orange peel effect. I’m torn.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by ToddRGuy

Are you noticing that in the grill area as well? Or just the bumper/hood?

Bumper area. The hood has been fine as the rocks seem to flow past right onto my windshield, lol.

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by ToddRGuy

What brand of PPF did you go with?

I’m never doing Ceramic Pro Kavaca again due to the company’s stance on their “life time warranty” that really means they point the figure at the dealer.

So in my mind that leaves XPEL or Stek. XPEL is well known of course, but from my reading Stek has more gloss and less orange peel effect. I’m torn.

The real quality differentiator may be the installer and their prep process. Short cuts may be cheaper but in this case cheaper is actually more expensive.

[Blue Sky]

Maybe this new piano black is softer than before. Both my F10’s have have “shadowline” trim around the doors and windows and these cars are 10 years old and look ok. I did always do use paint sealants and then switched to ceramic coating ~2020 on these parts when I do the painted surfaces. Of course, they don’t have any piano black directly in the line of fire in the front bumper.

[LegGodt2024]

Maybe this will be considered cursing in the church but I am planning on bringing my car to the car wash. Simply no time to hand wash. Given the ‘losing battle’ consensus here I am hoping in the long run it is all the same.

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by LegGodt2024

Maybe this will be considered cursing in the church but I am planning on bringing my car to the car wash. Simply no time to hand wash. Given the ‘losing battle’ consensus here I am hoping in the long run it is all the same.

If you have to do a carwash, then that's what reality is like. I would recommend you find one that doesn't have the brushes. At least a "touchless" carwash won't destroy your paint.

[aaexpert]

As an installer of PPF and Ceramic coatings, if any swirls or defects in the paint are not too deep they can be professionally polished out. Then you can protect the paint surface with a thin hard coating(ceramic) or a thick cover(ppf).
XPEL is a very popular brand here in the US.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by LegGodt2024

Maybe this will be considered cursing in the church but I am planning on bringing my car to the car wash. Simply no time to hand wash. Given the ‘losing battle’ consensus here I am hoping in the long run it is all the same.

I did hand wash only and the occasional touch less for several months. The touch less always left soap, so I had to rinse and dry when I got home.

I finally got lazy and bought a monthly subscription to Wet Rabbit by my house. I totally forgot to do the haunted tunnel on Halloween though. Anyway, I just get the basic wash and use the free vacuums. They do not have brushes with bristles, but soft foam. So far, so good.

[aaexpert]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I did hand wash only and the occasional touch less for several months. The touch less always left soap, so I had to rinse and dry when I got home.

I finally got lazy and bought a monthly subscription to Wet Rabbit by my house. I totally forgot to do the haunted tunnel on Halloween though. Anyway, I just get the basic wash and use the free vacuums. They do not have brushes with bristles, but soft foam. So far, so good.

Just a reminder... touchless washers use VERY strong chemicals to 'clean' and they often leave a small amount of residual on the paint which breaks them down quicker, including ceramic coatings and ppf. Compare it to taking a shower, using a Spray soap and not use a sponge...then only rinse for a short time and 'hopefully' most of the soap gets off.
Bottom line, hand washing is the only way to get the scum that builds up on the paints surface off properly and protecting the oem paint surface with either ppf or ceramic keeps the original layers safer.
The current specs of oem paint is : primer, paint, clearcoat, all 3 together equals the thickness of a dollar bill !

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by aaexpert

Just a reminder... touchless washers use VERY strong chemicals to 'clean' and they often leave a small amount of residual on the paint which breaks them down quicker, including ceramic coatings and ppf. Compare it to taking a shower, using a Spray soap and not use a sponge...then only rinse for a short time and 'hopefully' most of the soap gets off.
Bottom line, hand washing is the only way to get the scum that builds up on the paints surface off properly and protecting the oem paint surface with either ppf or ceramic keeps the original layers safer.
The current specs of oem paint is : primer, paint, clearcoat, all 3 together equals the thickness of a dollar bill !

If you live where I live, for part of the year we have to shut the outdoor faucets and drain or the pipes will freeze. That rules out handwashing for 3 to 4 months and those are the same months that ice and snow come down and salt often gets put down. Commercial car washes are the only way to get caked up road grime and salt off the car's finish. I happen to enjoy washing my cars but sometimes you just have to give in and roll through the tunnel.

[paprmkr]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Exactly the same with me. I did the ceramic coating, but not the PPF and during the first month, I got a visible rock chip from the freeway. Haven't had another since though - frustrating.

Regarding the black on the B pillars - My car has never been through an automatic car wash and it still has micro swirls on the B pillars. It must come from the factory or dealership that way, because I am very careful with the exterior of the car and have only hand washed it. When closing the door after getting out of the car, I don't even touch the outside of the car door. There is a nice section to grab it on the inside top corner - that's what I use.

I'm of the same mind as others - trying to keep piano black swirl and scratch-free is probably a losing battle. Probably the best thing to do is to put PPF on it before it gets too bad.

Just got back from SEMA and to my surprise mother’s have this watch list detail spray it’s more to me a detail spray than waterless car wash. It works very well at least a very good. Coding comes off easy when you after the first wash is nothing that lasts, but protects in between washes very well. I took a bunch of sample bottles and I like it a lot so far.

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by aaexpert

Just a reminder... touchless washers use VERY strong chemicals to 'clean' and they often leave a small amount of residual on the paint which breaks them down quicker, including ceramic coatings and ppf. Compare it to taking a shower, using a Spray soap and not use a sponge...then only rinse for a short time and 'hopefully' most of the soap gets off.
Bottom line, hand washing is the only way to get the scum that builds up on the paints surface off properly and protecting the oem paint surface with either ppf or ceramic keeps the original layers safer.
The current specs of oem paint is : primer, paint, clearcoat, all 3 together equals the thickness of a dollar bill !

I don't mind doing my own washing, but I really struggle with this in the Winter, when it's 25-35 degrees out. Would you say a 'self-serve' car wash is better than a touchless automated ones in this regard?