I had my new '03 A4-QM less than one month before a stinkin rock shot up off the highway and nicked my paint (light silver). :-( The nick isn't all the way down to the metal, but it got down to the primer in one spot, and scratched a few others. You can certainly feel it if you rub your finger over the nicked areas. No area is much more than 1/8" long, but there are several.
The paint is clearcoated. So my question is: how do you repair something like this? (I've done it many times on non-clearcoated paint, but never on a true clearcoat.) I'm wondering if carefully using a very small amount of rubbing compound (or polishing compound) would help smooth things over. I'm a little scared to rub it because: (1) the paint is still relatively new, and (2) I don't know what the effect on the clearcoat would be. Do I paint it first and then sand it lightly with 600 or 1000 grit? Or do I sand it first, then paint it? Should I wait till everything is smoothed and painted before applying the clearcoat? (The touch-up paint kit from the dealer also came with a canister of clearcoat touch-up). Any advice?
TIA, Bob