MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
531
Touching up paint damage
Stone chips or other minor paint damage can be
repaired by the vehicle's owner.
Repairing stone chips
1. Place a strip of masking tape over the dam-
aged surface. Pull the tape off so that any
loose flakes of paint adhere to it.
2. Thoroughly mix the primer and apply it with a
small brush.
3. When the primer surface is dry, the paint can
be applied using a brush. Mix the paint thor-
oughly; apply several thin paint coats and let
dry after each application.
4. If there is a longer scratch, you may want to
protect surrounding paint by masking it off
5. After a few days, polish the touched-up
areas. Use a soft rag and a small amount of
polish.
Related information
•
Paint damage (p. 530)
•
Cleaning the exterior (p. 525)
Polishing and waxing
Normally, polishing is not required during the
first year after delivery, however, waxing may be
beneficial.
•
Before applying polish or wax the vehicle
must be washed and dried. Tar spots can be
removed with kerosene or tar remover. Diffi-
cult spots may require a fine rubbing com-
pound.
•
After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
•
Several commercially available products con-
tain both polish and wax.
•
Waxing alone does not substitute for polish-
ing a dull surface.
•
A wide range of polymer-based waxes can
be purchased today. These waxes are easy to
use and produce a long-lasting, high-gloss
finish that protects the bodywork against oxi-
dation, road dirt and fading.
•
Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct
sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should
not be warmer than 113 °F (45 °C).
