[Jimmyohdez]

My 2021 X3 has some paint damage on the hood. All of the raised edges look like someone passed over it with a super fine sand paper. The scratches look dirty but no amount of water or scrubbing does anything. I bought the car was used with 16k miles last October, and when I bought it I swear it didn’t have any damage on the hood and it seems to have gotten worse over the last couple months.

I honestly thought the damage was from a mechanical car wash. My thoughts were they maybe lightly painted over it which is why the scratches are showing more now as I wash the car?? Just a guess at this point .

I do no contact washes ever weekend and use meguiar products. We have another vehicle which gets washed the same and that one has no paint damage. No other spot on the car has this sort of damage either.

Could this be a factory defect I missed? Anyone have a similar experience or know what may have caused this? Any fixes outside of just buying a new hood?

[chhappy7]

First, pics.

Second, yeah it could have had some cheap paint job to hide it during sale.

Third, it is possible that it was a manufacturing defect, but if you didn’t notice it when buying the car, I wouldn’t count that chance to be particularly high.
Even if it were, there is no chance you can get BMW to fix something that looks like scratches.

Repaint or wrap, or depending on what it actually is, maybe some higher degree of paint correction?

Without photos or seeing it in person, there is a slim chance anyone can really tell you for sure though. Take it in to a detailer or a body shop and see what they say.

[gphin]

I assume it's still under warranty being a '21? Take it to your dealer or a good paint shop to determine cause and a potential repair or repaint under warranty. Either way, you shouldn't have to buy a new hood as opposed to a professional repaint.

[Jimmyohdez]

Pics of the damage

[Mushy007]

Looks to me like someone has dragged a rubber hose with muck / dirt on it across the bonnet, I had similar marks on my rear spoiler. Took some
Time but with a machine polisher and turtle wax hybrid pro 1 and done compound got them all out.

[bouchy]

1. Try detailers (guys), maybe PDR
2. Repaint.

[rob175]

OP said they only go to "touchless" car washes. However IF they go to those "self-serve: washes with the high pressure sprayer....it could be the long black hose dragging across the car. Those hose get dirty, pick up lots of debris from the wash stall floor and will easily leave marks and possibly damage the car's finish.

That's my guess......

[bbb83]

Paint transfer. Grab some lacquer thinner and try it on a microfiber rug on a small area. Should come right off and won’t damage your paint

[Jimmyohdez]

Originally Posted by rob175

OP said they only go to "touchless" car washes. However IF they go to those "self-serve: washes with the high pressure sprayer....it could be the long black hose dragging across the car. Those hose get dirty, pick up lots of debris from the wash stall floor and will easily leave marks and possibly damage the car's finish.

That's my guess......

Good guess but I make sure not let the hose touch any part of the car

[bouchy]

Unfortunately, from what I see, many people let the hoses touch (*grin*), not only at carwash, but mainly at compressors.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by bouchy

Unfortunately, from what I see, many people let the hoses touch (*grin*), not only at carwash, but mainly at compressors.

It doesn’t help that here most commercial pressure wash/air line system have a constant tension hose from the machine, which you need to fight against.

Inevitably, under tension the hose rubs against the car as you move around, unless someone holds the hose to prevent the machine constantly trying to pull it back.

[bouchy]

I always try to park under the "central terminal" in the car wash and I lead the air hose under the bumpers.

[mcdanielvzw]

Is it something that can polish out with some rubbing compound and buffing machine?

At the risk of being flogged for incorrect procedure, I've carefully used a cordless drill, rubbing compound, and the final polishing "sponge" from a headlight polishing kit to remove some surface marks in my clearcoat.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by mcdanielvzw

Is it something that can polish out with some rubbing compound and buffing machine?

At the risk of being flogged for incorrect procedure, I've carefully used a cordless drill, rubbing compound, and the final polishing "sponge" from a headlight polishing kit to remove some surface marks in my clearcoat.

If the op tries this and hasn’t machined polished before, just take lots of care, particularly around edges and raised panel work, if using a rotary polisher. It’s easy to burn through the paint or cause other paint defects worse that what already present.

[SpencerPJ]

Take it to a detail shop. It will cost a few hundred, and look like new, and last.

[Jimmyohdez]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I’m taking it to a pro detailer and they’re charging me a couple hundred.
I could do it myself but I rather pay and have it done right.

[bbb83]

Originally Posted by Jimmyohdez

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I’m taking it to a pro detailer and they’re charging me a couple hundred.
I could do it myself but I rather pay and have it done right.

just try lacquer thinner on a small part before you do that. I bet you it all comes off and it wont harm your paint.