Author Topic: Will a Polish fix this?  (Read 1176 times)

Offline nubedriver

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Will a Polish fix this?
« on: 05 March 2025, 18:34 »
Hi, I've had my MK8.5 GTI for 7 months now. The color is black granadilla. The one issue with this color is that it picks up everything, every mark, every scratch etc.

Now some kid have kicked a ball at the bonnet and left this mark. What's the best way I can fix this? is it a polish etc?


Offline Adam T7

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #1 on: 05 March 2025, 18:57 »
Can you feel it when you rub a fingernail across it?
MY2019 GTI Mk 7.5 Performance. DSG, 5 Door, Rear Camera, Climate Windscreen and Rear Window Factory Tints, Indium Grey.

Offline nubedriver

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #2 on: 05 March 2025, 18:58 »
Nope, not at all. Have a few like this one but smaller around the car as well. Can't really feel much
Can you feel it when you rub a fingernail across it?

Offline JoeGTI

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #3 on: 05 March 2025, 19:11 »
If you cannot feel the scratches if you gently rub your fingernail over them, then a polish will work, or will certainly make them much less visible. A couple of minutes with a DA polisher in competent hands will make light work of that. Might be best to try a reputable local detailer if you don’t have the equipment/confidence to do it yourself.
MK8.5 GTI Clubsport. Moonstone grey. Queenstown 19’s. DCC. Harmon Kardon sound. Pano roof.

Offline Adam T7

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #4 on: 05 March 2025, 19:37 »
Difficult to tell from the photo but I’d give it a go to remove with a decent polish before seeking professional assistance. I had a bad scuff on my bumper a couple weeks ago, way too deep for home treatment, cost me £180 at a local Chipsaway. I hope the kid that did it has been suitably chastised.
MY2019 GTI Mk 7.5 Performance. DSG, 5 Door, Rear Camera, Climate Windscreen and Rear Window Factory Tints, Indium Grey.

Offline Paul70

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #5 on: 06 March 2025, 07:37 »
If you can’t feel it with your finger nail then it will polish out without trace using the correct cutting compound - normal finishing polish may not be sufficient but worth a try.

Even fine scratches that can be felt can be removed with a medium to hard cutting compound and then finished off with a super fine polish.

The only downside is each time you use a cutting compound you take away a little clear coat, so you need to be careful, but if you can’t feel it then it won’t take much to polish out.

I removed multiple fine scratches from my Lapiz Blue MK8 R before I sold it and I was a complete novice with a DA Polisher. They are a great investment.

2016 MK7 Clubsport ED40
2013 MK7 GTI Black 5 Door (Non PP)
Long gone -1984 Helios Blue Campaign MK1 GTI

Offline SRGTD

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Re: Will a Polish fix this?
« Reply #6 on: 06 March 2025, 09:58 »
If you can’t feel it with your finger nail then it will polish out without trace using the correct cutting compound - normal finishing polish may not be sufficient but worth a try.

Even fine scratches that can be felt can be removed with a medium to hard cutting compound and then finished off with a super fine polish.

The only downside is each time you use a cutting compound you take away a little clear coat, so you need to be careful, but if you can’t feel it then it won’t take much to polish out.

I removed multiple fine scratches from my Lapiz Blue MK8 R before I sold it and I was a complete novice with a DA Polisher. They are a great investment.

Agree that a DA polisher is a good investment - mine has paid for itself many times over. I used it to polish both of my previous two cars; I was also a novice but I thought the results I achieved were excellent - probably not quite up to the standard of a professional detailer but then I saved myself the cost of paying professional detailer prices.

I’ve not tackled a full machine polish of my car for a few years now - not due to lack of care or enthusiasm for my car - more a case of my ageing bones and back problems, which means I suffer for quite a few days after doing a full polish. I have used it for spot polishing though to remove bird poo etching, the inevitable swirl marks on piano black trim and some scratches on my brother’s car. He was impressed as he thought he’d need to get the scratched areas repainted.

For anyone who’s into car detailing and likes gleaming paintwork, IMHO getting a DA polisher is certainly worth considering.
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl