[stefan]

Good PSA to use a cloth like the "Absorber" to dry your car. Simply lay on, pull off. Never swirl, never scrape, none of that. Ultimately you may want to get educated on washing your car. The two bucket method works great if you keep things strict. If you like the wand wash you can do that too, you just need to be very thorough and again, pat your car down, don't wipe.

Definitely go to a bodyshop here. Might cost you but you'll be happy in the end.

[Chuck W.]

On December 31, 2017, if you look back and this is the biggest mistake you made all year.... it was a great year.

I agree with the ones that said to hand it off to a professional detailer. They can work wonders. Keep us posted and let us know how it comes out.

[rouxeny]

Originally Posted by stefan

Good PSA to use a cloth like the "Absorber" to dry your car. Simply lay on, pull off. Never swirl, never scrape, none of that. Ultimately you may want to get educated on washing your car. The two bucket method works great if you keep things strict. If you like the wand wash you can do that too, you just need to be very thorough and again, pat your car down, don't wipe.

Definitely go to a bodyshop here. Might cost you but you'll be happy in the end.

Pretty sure the Absorber is a sure fire way to get swirls in your clear coat. I’d stay far away from that.

Definitely bring it to a pro and don’t try to do anything yourself. Two wrongs do not make a right,

[Ian ///M]

Those OP pictures! I can only imagine the horror.

There is nothing wrong with drying the car with a microfiber towel, just use a clean one? Feel like there is nothing else to be gained from this thread except some beautiful “after” pictures when this episode is over, and I’m confident that will be the case

[TT1351]

A competent wet sanding guru will work wonders! Amazing what can be done. Sorry for your misfortune.

[GHarris]

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

On December 31, 2017, if you look back and this is the biggest mistake you made all year.... it was a great year.

I agree with the ones that said to hand it off to a professional detailer. They can work wonders. Keep us posted and let us know how it comes out.

Very true!

Best of luck with the repairs

[Hasan Shaikh]

I would also advise against trying anything on your own. Take it to a professional detailer.

Hopefully, it will be sorted and you will be left with some clear coat.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by lx93

I picked up this gorgeous, flawless LBB at Performance Center last Wednesday. It rained last night, and after I pulled into my garage, I stupidly decided to dry the car with a squeegee and totally forgot it was covered in dirt and dust from all the highway driving back home. This morning I woke up and found my car like this.



Many of the scratched can be felt with just my bare finger (not even fingernail).

No one to blame but myself. Cant believe I did this to myself, and now have to live with the consequences, a brand new car with major scratches on front fenders, rear fenders, rear bumper, trunk lid and front hood.

We have all made mistakes like this in life, cars, etc. This is an easy fix by a pro detailer.
I bet all of this comes out.

Deep breath my friend!

[Deutsches Blut]

Originally Posted by lx93

I picked up this gorgeous, flawless LBB at Performance Center last Wednesday. It rained last night, and after I pulled into my garage, I stupidly decided to dry the car with a squeegee and totally forgot it was covered in dirt and dust from all the highway driving back home. This morning I woke up and found my car like this.



Many of the scratched can be felt with just my bare finger (not even fingernail).

No one to blame but myself. Cant believe I did this to myself, and now have to live with the consequences, a brand new car with major scratches on front fenders, rear fenders, rear bumper, trunk lid and front hood.

I feel sick to my stomach for you. Not a feeling you are supposed to have. As others have stated, should be able to be fixed.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by kevlee23

Yeah never use a squeegeee gotta use air dryer like a master blaster

Need to be very careful w/forced air too, especially one as strong as a master blaster b/c you can push water into where it normally cannot get into

[omasou]

Not sure what type of squeegee he used but the problem may not have been the squeegee as much as the dirt on the car. I have used this in the past w/o one problem on a very wet car... https://originalwaterblade.com/us/

"Absorber" towel wouldn't have help in this case.

The problem is the dirt was not floating above the surface, e.g. soap or water.

[longbeachbluem2]

Sorry to hear about that lx93! Notice you're in MA. Any idea where you are going to take it? I'm looking to have mine detailed before hibernation, so hit me up if you know where you're going/need some suggestions.

On another more positive note, congrats on the car and doing both Euro delivery and PCD! And your color choice is perfect #LBBalldayeveryday

[PhilL]

Look on the bright side - if you take it to a pro detailer and machine polished it will get rid of the orange peel and look better than new!

[petay135]

Unfortunately not as BMW cleverly make sure the orange peel is under the lacquer

A good pro detailer will have all that out in an hour or so with a Rupes, get it glossed over with something that has plenty of fillers and you will be good to go.

Before you do anything else though, pick up that squeegee, walk over to the bin and toss it in, do it now in fact!

[OBXBMW]

I did something similar on a black Porsche 25 years ago. Made me absolutely sick but body shop made it new again with wet sanding.

Lesson learned.

Have had multiple black and dark colored cars since then- master blaster or the like is the only way I have found to avoid even tiny swirl marks. I dont touch my cars with microfiber towels until the car is dry, inside the garage and with a spray detailer in hand- and then only very light pressure with a new microfiber towel.

I now xpel and ceramic coat new cars and use foam canon, masterblaster, spray detailer and light pressure with new microfiber towels and have not had a swirl mark in years.

Don't beat yourself up.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Ian ///M

Those OP pictures! I can only imagine the horror.

There is nothing wrong with drying the car with a microfiber towel, just use a clean one? Feel like there is nothing else to be gained from this thread except some beautiful “after” pictures when this episode is over, and I’m confident that will be the case

I use a slightly damp microfiber towel. A dry one seems to risk some minor scratching of the clear coat.

[EstorilM]

That is painful to look at!

Like everyone else said, that should all come out, and will probably look better than it did before.
Trust me you won?t want to do it yourself. Will take a ton of time and a good amount of skill to fix.

[mrmjk]

Damn it. I feel so so bad for you man. But nothing is lost just yet. Take it a professional and they'll take care of it. Mine came with a huge scratch on one of the panels (from the dealership, yep they suck that much). Went to a detailer and he fixed it. Now it is in PPF and all is good.

I couldn't sleep when I scratched my rim but its just like when you get a new iPhone and it drops on the floor for the first time. If the car is being driven its okay to have battle scars. Don't stress too much, I did stress at first as well but in the end everything can be fixed

[stefan]

Originally Posted by rouxeny

Pretty sure the Absorber is a sure fire way to get swirls in your clear coat. I’d stay far away from that.

Definitely bring it to a pro and don’t try to do anything yourself. Two wrongs do not make a right,

Weird, a decade of use, and I still don't have a single swirl. Funny thing about swirls is you actually have to "swirl" or move the cloth or whatever you are using to clean your car to actually get said swirls.

If your car is free of grit aka properly washed, and you keep your towels separated and clean, there is NOTHING wrong with using the absorber in a lay down, lift off manner. Whereas that california water blade that seems so popular around here will absolutely punish you if there is grit attached to the blade surface. To use the blade you will need to use a two bucket method wash and be meticulous. Most people don't do this.

So no I totally disagree. From experience.

Originally Posted by omasou

Not sure what type of squeegee he used but the problem may not have been the squeegee as much as the dirt on the car. I have used this in the past w/o one problem on a very wet car... https://originalwaterblade.com/us/

"Absorber" towel wouldn't have help in this case.

The problem is the dirt was not floating above the surface, e.g. soap or water.

Yeah.. nothing would have helped here. The car wasn't clean or the towel had grit in it. Had he used anything else the result would be the same. Again, my recommendation is lay the cloth down, then pick the cloth up. No swirls or scratches.

I actually challenge anyone who's religiously used the water blade immediately after a conventional wand wash to put an LED light up to their car and see what all that scraping has done to the outermost layer of clearcoat.

[F87_LCI]

Agree with most of the respondents here. Take it to a qualified shop and have them "do what they do"...might cost a bit more than trying to DIY, but likely results will be worth it.

Good luck.

[kevlee23]

Originally Posted by omasou

Need to be very careful w/forced air too, especially one as strong as a master blaster b/c you can push water into where it normally cannot get into

Yeah I don't stand close with it it's actually mini master blaster I use not as strong

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by LagunaSecaBlue

Agree with most of the respondents here. Take it to a qualified shop and have them "do what they do"...might cost a bit more than trying to DIY, but likely results will be worth it.
Good luck.

That's what I would do too.

Those things can happen. We all make mistakes. It sucks and makes us feel frustrated about it, but do know that in skilled hands it can be remedied. And afterwards all will be A-Okay again.

Good luck !