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I would recommend the 3M products (3M hand glaze for new cars, light scratches, and 3M perfect-it swirl remover for older cars, deeper scratches) to remove/fill in scratches and swirl marks. Of course that only helps you address the scratches you already have, not prevent new ones.
My husband and I also purchased a new Linear 2002 9-5 and are looking into protecting the paint as much as possible. From the research that I've done, it sounds like the only thing we can do preventively, short of keeping it in a climate controlled individual chamber, is apply a polymer sealant that apparently creates a very fine 'shell' around the paint of the car. If you have kids, it's the dental sealant concept - pediatric dentists routinely recommend, after thorough cleaning of the substrate, an application of sealant around the tooth to protect against cavities.
In terms of protection, a sealant (also known as polymer-based wax) is much better and longer lasting than conventional/natural wax such as carnauba, offering excellent finish protection from the elements and some protection from tiny rocks and grit flying up from the road during driving. The sealant actually creates a physical bond with the paint of the car (not permanent, but still quite strong). The one thing about a polymer sealant vs. carnauba wax, is that sealant does not give the same depth or richness that a carnauba wax does on the finish. For us we didn't care, since our car is silver. For your midnight blue, I would still personally go with the sealant for protection over subtle difference in 'color richness' - which frankly I don't think the average driver even notices. Some systems allow you to put a carnauba on top of polymer, adding some 'depth' back.
If you do choose to use such a sealant, there is a whole exacting, time-consuming, multi-step process that you must go through to adequately prepare your paint to receive the sealant (i.e. wash car with Dawn, use clay bar to remove surface contaminants, remove swirls and scratches, then apply gloss polish, then apply sealant). Others have written in more detail about this on this board - search under Zaino (the brand name for one polish and wax system). The other system that I have researched but not yet used (its on order) is Blackfire, which also seems to have a very good rep among autobuffs, and for which total time and cost of application is less intimidating.
This is not going to prevent inconsiderate idiots from using your car as a resting grounds for their crap, but it does offer some protection. If you are also concered about removing swirl marks and other scratches that build up over time, esp on a dark color car, I would highly recommend reading the auto care detailing guide at http://autopia-carcare.com. The first 9 chapters, which has most of the nuts and bolts are free, the remaining chapters you have to pay for (~$15). You don't really need the latter half, unless you really want to go nuts!
Good luck!
posted by 156.111.207...
, Wed, 4 Sep 2002 20:01:34
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