I had my XF in the shop to fix the whole first gear problem. While it was in there they scratched the hood when the car was on the lift. They had it re-painted of course. I notcied that there are a bunch of light scratches all over the hood. It almost looks like swirl marks but somehow different. They seem a little more prominant than the swirl marks from the factory paint. My car is black so swirl marks show up pretty easy anyway. What I want to know is if the light scratches on the hood now are the paint shops version of swirl marks. I assume that different shops have different techniques. I am just wondering what part of the paint process leaves these marks. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

This answer is kinda long in the tooth,however if they used a D.A.(dual action sander) to sand it down,these sanders run on air and actually turn and go sorta up and down the problem with these is that if it is not followed in sequence with the correct grit paper after words followed by a good block sanding you will see what looks like swirl marks in the paint.Try to remember that you are dealing with a two step process....base coat clear coat...the base has its job to provide color and the clear has its job to provide shine...your problem is in the base.That is why good paint jobs don't come cheap.I work for DC and was a painter for them for 12 years.there is no substitute for a factory finish.DC uses many processes to achieve that shine on our Xfires.The cars go through a phosphate wash and then Electrocoat then a full body Anti chip and then they head to powdercoat or your base and then on to a solvent bourne clear coat.it is quite a process to watch but the end result is what matters.Sparkling Shine.It is impossible to recreate that finish outside the factory however good paint shops will come very close.Mine is black also so you have my sincere sympathy,but I am pretty **** about paint and detaling and I am always up for the challenge.The short answer is it is deep in the base and short of repainting you might have to learn to accept it,not what you wanted to hear but now you know whats underneath

 

i sounds to me as if...the person who rubbed out your cars finish did not complete his job. i would have the area re-buffed and then polished (black foam pad) to remove the compound swirls. i would have them try this route before repainting. i have use a product call..."plum crazy by malco" which works very well to remove swirls by hand. i would use this after the body shop completes their job then follow up with a quality wax.. the key to a swirl-free finish (not compound scratches) is to wash the cars cool paint in the shade and dry in the shade...the sun and dark color cars do not mix.

i had owned a detailing business for over 10 years and this would be my advise...hope it helps.

cheers.