Discussion
I have had my BMW 5 series for 6 months now. Its almost black with a hint of blue in it (metallic). I have been very careful with it and wash it with lambs wool mit and use the best cloth (can't remember type) not a shamy leather. I clean it 50% of the time and a valeter the others. Its got those dreaded swirl marks on it. I want a deep gloss finish without the swirls. I don't have time to spend hours on it and don't really want to pay a fortune to get it done. Can anyone recommend a half way house that will get good results. I hate those resins that are white as the residue looks awful. A clear one would be good. Cheers Jon
could you list down the steps you take when you wash / dry your car and also how the valeter does it.
ideally you'd have 2 buckets with grit guards for the wash process with a good shampoo - poorboys super slick n suds, megs hyper wash, dodo juice born to be mild etc.
usual 2 bucket wash working in straight lines and washing the mit out after each pass on the car. use a seperate mitt for the door bottoms and bumpers, rinse and then pat dry with microfibre drying towel or to ultimately avoid swirls a leaf blower.
if you don't want to fork out to have the car corrected, try claying the car and then go over with a glaze. something like poorboys black hole (for dar colours) these glaze products will help to hide the swirls by filling them. but they are no substitute for correction. after the glaze step follow up with a good wax.
where are you based?
ideally you'd have 2 buckets with grit guards for the wash process with a good shampoo - poorboys super slick n suds, megs hyper wash, dodo juice born to be mild etc.
usual 2 bucket wash working in straight lines and washing the mit out after each pass on the car. use a seperate mitt for the door bottoms and bumpers, rinse and then pat dry with microfibre drying towel or to ultimately avoid swirls a leaf blower.
if you don't want to fork out to have the car corrected, try claying the car and then go over with a glaze. something like poorboys black hole (for dar colours) these glaze products will help to hide the swirls by filling them. but they are no substitute for correction. after the glaze step follow up with a good wax.
where are you based?
Most glazes are poor fillers - they're designed with oils to enhance the depth/wetness of the paint once a wax is applied afterwards.
For what you have, you need Bilt Hamber Autobalm - it's very long lasting (in both durability and jar contents) and has superior filling than Autoglym SRP.
If you did want to knock back the swirls, then you could use SRP first, by hand - but it'd be an arduous task, and then apply AB.
Other than that, you're looking at spending money on having it done for you by machine, or time and a bit less money if you buy a machine and the pads/polishes, and do it yourself.
As above, something in your regime is causing grit to get worked into the paint surface, hence why you have the problem - and I suspect it's your valeting service where the problem lies, but perhaps not entirely.
For what you have, you need Bilt Hamber Autobalm - it's very long lasting (in both durability and jar contents) and has superior filling than Autoglym SRP.
If you did want to knock back the swirls, then you could use SRP first, by hand - but it'd be an arduous task, and then apply AB.
Other than that, you're looking at spending money on having it done for you by machine, or time and a bit less money if you buy a machine and the pads/polishes, and do it yourself.
As above, something in your regime is causing grit to get worked into the paint surface, hence why you have the problem - and I suspect it's your valeting service where the problem lies, but perhaps not entirely.
Jonny TVR said:
I have had my BMW 5 series for 6 months now. Its almost black with a hint of blue in it (metallic). I have been very careful with it and wash it with lambs wool mit and use the best cloth (can't remember type) not a shamy leather. I clean it 50% of the time and a valeter the others. Its got those dreaded swirl marks on it. I want a deep gloss finish without the swirls. I don't have time to spend hours on it and don't really want to pay a fortune to get it done. Can anyone recommend a half way house that will get good results. I hate those resins that are white as the residue looks awful. A clear one would be good. Cheers Jon
Do you pre-wash at all to remove grit?Do you know the process the valeters use to clean the car?
Your best bet is to get the car professional detailed to remove the swirls properly then have a chat with the detailer about maintaining the look of it using pre-wash, two bucket methods, pat drying, etc
Thank you all.
I use one mit for the wheels and one for the bodywork. I use a rubbish shampoo so there is something to improve. I also tend to not rinse the mit often enough. I will also dry dabbing dry.
I think on reflection I will get a professional detailer to correct it first. I'm in Knutsford in Cheshire .. anyone know of any good ones?
Jon
I use one mit for the wheels and one for the bodywork. I use a rubbish shampoo so there is something to improve. I also tend to not rinse the mit often enough. I will also dry dabbing dry.
I think on reflection I will get a professional detailer to correct it first. I'm in Knutsford in Cheshire .. anyone know of any good ones?
Jon
Jonny TVR said:
I'm in Knutsford in Cheshire .. anyone know of any good ones?
Jon
Matt at off your marks detailing does some superb work and covers the areaJon
www.offyourmarks.com
Look in www.detailingworld.com - I believe someone on their called FinerDetails is in the NW. Or the one local to me, Carnoisseur, will probably travel. He did my A4 recently for £250 including the machine polish - now swirl free despite 166K miles. Would probably charge a bit extra if he had to travel.
Jonny TVR said:
Thank you all.
I use one mit for the wheels and one for the bodywork. I use a rubbish shampoo so there is something to improve. I also tend to not rinse the mit often enough. I will also dry dabbing dry.
I think on reflection I will get a professional detailer to correct it first. I'm in Knutsford in Cheshire .. anyone know of any good ones?
Jon
Hi Jon - I also cover Cheshire I use one mit for the wheels and one for the bodywork. I use a rubbish shampoo so there is something to improve. I also tend to not rinse the mit often enough. I will also dry dabbing dry.
I think on reflection I will get a professional detailer to correct it first. I'm in Knutsford in Cheshire .. anyone know of any good ones?
Jon
Scott @ www.obsessivecardetailing.co.uk
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