please don't shout at me for having black, it was the right car/price and deal and for the 30 seconds after washing is does look nice.
Has anyone else with black noticed how it seems to scratch easily, mine has attracted numerous sctratches, some very fine. I am wondering if they forgot to put lacquer on, or its very thin or soft paint.
Of all of the cars I have owned this one scratches more that any other, is this a common problem with black? or is mine special.

It is on black cars I have had in the past

Are the White scratches that can be felt with your finger nail? Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Yours must be special. The paintwork on mine is fine. I had the same problem with my old car, with scratches showing up all the time. Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

This is the reason I would not have a BLACK car. Looks fab for a very short while. I have had two blacks: Saab Turbo and an Audi Sport. I have not therefore tried their product but T-Cut ha product that is specially designed for this and they say it usually lasts a whole year. The product is named - 365.

Give it a try

FL2 looks good in black (not as good as Stornoway but then nothing does for the FL2 )

Anyway, I have never owned a black car and cos I have a bit of OCD with my car having scratches etc, black would do my head in.

Silver is best for not showing muck and scratches me thinks LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

There was a chap on RRSport raving about a black turtle wax product for sorting his sport out might be worth a look

Or there's chemical guys (?) Black hole Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I can recommend black hole for 'filling' the scratches and the results are good. I can also recommend megs scratch x for removing deeper scratches and blemishes...

I think as a rule of thumb the paint on your black car will be the same as others, its just that you will see slight imperfections in the clearcoat more than you would a lighter colour.. the trick is in how you wash it. Dont go to a car wash, dont use squegy's or brushes and try and use the two bucket method with 2 micro fibre or lambs wool mits and the a micro ibre blanket for drying it

Even if you follow the above you'll still get scrtches if you tke it off road, but most should be removable with a bit of effort

Put some hard work in a just enjoy by far the better looking Freelander  Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Captain Worm wrote:

enjoy by far the better looking Freelander

Yeah, everytime you look at a Stornoway one  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

How do you wash it? Jet wash first? Two buckets, one with a grit guard? One panel at a time? Dry it with a microfibre towel? If not, you'll be solely responsible for the scratches......

Get a detailer to machine polish it, then treat it with great care....

I use Zaino polish

Just finished mine for summer, will postcsome pics when home...... 2010MY Freelander 2 HSE Auto
Santorini Black with Ebony Napoli Leather

That's how i wash my Santorini Black FL2 and i still get a few swirls but not deep ones and they are easy to polish out.
Lord knows what my paint would look like if i used just one bucket and a sponge!! Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

I always hosed the car first then wash it with a sponge and hot soapy water, then rinse and dry with a micro fibre cloth. The scratches are very small but down to the undercoat, so will not polish out. some are in circle so are likley to have been done when cleaning or polishing. Other just look like something has rubbed on the car.
When I first got the car I polished it with Autoglym resin polish and have done so every six months or so.
At the moment I am using the coloured polish to try and cover up the small scratches.
As others have said it may just be that because it's black they show up more but I have previously owned a very dark blue Mercedes which was fine. As I have said I think mine has soft, thin paint.

I haven't noticed a problem with mine at all. The only visible faint scratches I have see are horizontal ones from hedgerows where I have had to pull in too close. Certainly not right through the laquer. I keep it clean and when it's washed it looks fabulous.

Colin 1982 RR Classic-converted to 200TDi-gone
1992 RR VogueSE- converted to autogas-gone
2000 FL1 3dr (wife's)
1996 Disco 1 300 Tdi(gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS auto (gone)
MY 2011 SD4 HSE Automatic

1STFREELANDER wrote:

I always hosed the car first then wash it with a sponge and hot soapy water, then rinse and dry with a micro fibre cloth. The scratches are very small but down to the undercoat, so will not polish out. some are in circle so are likley to have been done when cleaning or polishing. Other just look like something has rubbed on the car.

I always use a good quality car wash, at present turtle wax, I will try the fingernail test and if it passes try and polish them out. I will update in the next few day when I can muster the enthusiasm to wash it again.

1STFREELANDER wrote:

please don't shout at me for having black, it was the right car/price and deal and for the 30 seconds after washing is does look nice.
Has anyone else with black noticed how it seems to scratch easily, mine has attracted numerous sctratches, some very fine. I am wondering if they forgot to put lacquer on, or its very thin or soft paint.
Of all of the cars I have owned this one scratches more that any other, is this a common problem with black? or is mine special.