AMA Prestige specialises in OEM-certified repairs and factory-aligned refinishing for luxury, performance and EV vehicles. Using advanced diagnostics, genuine parts and manufacturer procedures, our technicians restore BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and Tesla models to the standard they were engineered for — including cosmetic restoration, aluminium panel repair, and precise ADAS calibration when required.
You can see it the moment the light hits the panel: a web of swirl marks, a patch of haze, or fine scratches that flatten the depth of the colour. Sometimes it’s the result of years of wear; other times it appears after poor-quality paintwork or an incomplete finishing stage. Either way, the temptation is to “shine it up” with a wax and move on. The problem is that most quick fixes hide defects instead of repairing them. Paint correction is different: it’s a controlled refinement process designed to restore clarity in the clear coat, so the finish looks right in every light — not just from one angle.
Understanding Paint Correction: Beyond the Quick Cover-Up
Modern European paintwork is a layered system. The colour sits underneath a transparent, clear coat that protects the finish and provides gloss. Swirl marks and light scratching typically live in this clear layer as microscopic abrasions that scatter light. That scattering is what makes a panel look dull, greyed-out, or “washed” even when the car looks clean.
Paint correction works by carefully levelling the clear coat so those micro-defects are reduced or removed. In a repair-grade environment, that process is approached with discipline: measured, tested and tailored to the specific paint system. By comparison, waxes, glazes and fillers can temporarily mask defects by filling the scratches, but they don’t restore the surface itself — so the marks return once that product wears away. If you’ve ever wondered why the shine fades so quickly, this distinction is usually the reason. In repaired paintwork, it can also remove buffer trails, holograms and light texture mismatch, helping the repair blend into adjacent factory panels.
In prestige repairs, paint correction often plays a finishing role after cosmetic restoration work. It can remove light sanding haze, refine blend areas, and help ensure a repaired panel visually matches adjacent factory paint. Done correctly, it’s how a repair becomes seamless, not just “good enough”.
The “Hard Paint” Factor: Why European Finishes Need a Specialist Approach
European manufacturers are known for durable, high-clarity clear coats and complex paint systems (including metallics and pearls). Many of these clear coats are harder than average, which helps them resist light marring — but that same hardness can make defects more stubborn to remove. Achieving a crisp, even reflection on a hard, clear coat requires the right strategy, not just more effort.
It’s also common for paint behaviour to vary across different panels. A steel bonnet, an aluminium guard and a plastic bumper can respond differently due to heat characteristics, paint thickness variation and panel shape. Add sharp creases, edges and tight contours, and you’ve got an environment where experience matters. The aim isn’t to aggressively chase perfection; it’s to restore the finish while preserving the integrity of the paint system.
Compounding vs Polishing: The Two-Stage Method That Restores Depth
Paint correction isn’t a single step. In factory-aligned refinishing, it’s typically completed in stages — comparable to restoring a premium surface: correct first, then refine.
- Compounding is the corrective stage. It targets deeper swirl patterns, light scratches, etching, and other defects within the clear coat, including refinement after prior paintwork.
- Polishing is the refinement stage. It removes the micro-marring left by compounding and restores optical clarity, gloss and depth so the finish looks consistent across the entire panel.
When both steps are completed, it’s commonly described as a two-stage paint correction. On European vehicles with hard clear coats, this approach is often what separates an “improved” finish from a finish that looks factory-sharp under inspection lighting.
When Paint Correction Works — and When Refinishing Is the Correct Repair
A crucial part of specialist paint correction is knowing what it cannot do. Correction can only address defects that sit within the clear coat. If a scratch has cut through into the colour layer, or you’re dealing with stone chips, peeling, cracking, failing clear coat, or previous poor-quality repairs, refinishing may be the correct solution — not polishing.
This is why OEM-aligned repairers rely on inspection and measurement rather than guesswork. A paint thickness gauge can help confirm how much clear coat is available and whether correction can be performed safely. It also highlights areas that require extra caution, such as edges and high points where the clear coat is naturally thinner. The goal is a restored finish that lasts, achieved within safe tolerance.
What an OEM-Aligned Paint Correction Process Looks Like at AMA Prestige
At AMA Prestige, paint correction is treated as cosmetic restoration carried out to repair standards — with repeatable processes and controlled risk, not “one-size-fits-all” shortcuts.
- Assessment and defect mapping: The paint is inspected under specialised lighting to identify swirl patterns, etching, sanding marks and panel differences.
- Clear coat verification: Where appropriate, thickness readings are taken to understand available material and plan a safe approach.
- Test section and method selection: A small test area is corrected first to confirm the most effective correction and refinement method for that paint system.
- Controlled correction: Correction is completed in stages to restore uniform gloss without overheating panels or overworking edges, creases and contours.
- Final inspection: The finish is reviewed under multiple light sources to confirm clarity and consistency across panels, not just surface shine.
This level of process is especially important on prestige vehicles because the finish is unforgiving. Under direct lighting, even minor haze can stand out. The benchmark is an even reflection and colour depth that looks right from every angle.
EV and ADAS Considerations: Prestige Repair Goes Beyond the Paint
European vehicles increasingly integrate cameras and sensors into bumpers, mirrors and windscreens — and EVs introduce high-voltage safety requirements. When a vehicle has had collision repair, panel replacement, or bumper work, ADAS calibration may be required so driver assistance systems operate as intended.
Paint correction may be a cosmetic restoration process, but it often sits within a broader repair scope. Choosing a prestige repair specialist means the vehicle is assessed holistically — paint finish, panel integrity, and technology systems — rather than treating the exterior as a standalone detailing job.
Protection After Correction: Preserving a Restored Finish
Once the clear coat has been refined, the surface is at its best — and that makes optional protection more valuable. Ceramic coatings and protective films can be applied after correction to help preserve the restored finish and reduce the likelihood of new micro-marring. It’s not about routine upkeep; it’s about protecting the result of a repair-grade restoration.
Restore Your European Vehicle’s Finish with AMA Prestige
If your BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche or European EV has visible swirls, paint haze, light scratches, or post-repair dullness, AMA Prestige can assess whether paint correction is the right restoration approach — or whether refinishing is required for a true factory-aligned result.
Ready for a finish that looks right in every light?
Experience the AMA Prestige difference — where repair-grade standards meet prestige-level finish quality.
