How to minimize appearance of deep scratches on valance? (Audi A4)

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piblondin

New member
Okay, so somehow I got some really deep + wide + visible scratches on my front valance down in front of the left front tire. (They're probably like .2 inches by 2.5 inches.) The valance is gray--unpainted, I believe, as the car is a 2002 A4. If you're familiar with these cars, you know what I'm talking about. Anyhow, the scratches are showing up almost white + I was wondering how I could minimize their appearance and make them gray like the rest of the valance. All the other scratches I have on it appear gray.... (Yes, it's pretty much impossible to avoid scratches on the front valance if you do much highway driving.) Thanks for any help you guys can provide!
 
According to Jeff Stalker, bodyshop manager at Stoddard Imports (they're good, dealership or not), the valence on your A4 is colored all the way through. You should be able to *carefully* wetsand the scratches out. But note that the sanded areas won't have the same texture as the unsanded/original parts.



Disclaimer: that was what *he* said, I'm just repeating it. I'd trust him, but you'll have to make up your own mind.
 
piblondin said:
I've never wetsanded before, but I think I'll give it a try tonight.
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Just be very careful and take it really slow and easy. Sorta like using a drill, where you can't go back and "drill a smaller hole" ;)
 
I totally f'd it up by wet sanding. I think I should have tried to fill in the scratches with paint. Oh well. Looks like I'll be dropping some $$ for a new valance. Here's how it looks now:

valance.jpg
 
piblondin said:
I totally f'd it up by wet sanding. I think I should have tried to fill in the scratches with paint. Oh well. Looks like I'll be dropping some $$ for a new valance.
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Sorry to see that....that's the sort of thing I was worried about (hence my "disclaimer" that the sanding was Jeff's idea). I like the sound of TurboCat/JimmyBuffit's solution better but that doesn't help *you* out any now, huh?



Those look too deep to really fix anyhow....but I wonder if you could make it better (for now) by using a dressing that'll darken the sanded areas and help blend them into the rest of it. I'd consider something silicon-heavy like Griot's Undercarriage Spray or else the Trim Renewer, just as a temporary/make up fix. Apply to sanded area, let sit, buff off, then apply to the whole valence.



But then I'd sure understand if you'd rather not take *my* advice on this one any more :o
 
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