Mediocre Polishing

So, after spending many hours polishing my wife's car using a PC (Meg 105 with Uber yellow pad, Menzerna IP with Uber green and PO85RD with Uber Blue), I had mediocre results. My wife's car is black and although it is 2006 it already has 140K miles on it and the paint if full of scratches and chips. Now I know the paint chips can't be repaired, but I was hoping for the scratches to go. Unfortunately, they didn't.

Now 3 weeks later (I have applied BFWD and BF Midnight carnuba wax after polishing), I look at it and I find it full of swirl marks.

How can I get better results from polishing? Since I am using a PC, should I get the Surbuf MicroFingers R Series Buffing Pads that Phil started selling and try again or should I just buy a Makita and risk burning the paint as I have never used a rotary polisher before?

I am at a loss, all the hard work and I got crappy results.

All feedback is appreciated.

 

It's usually best to start with a test area to see if the products you are using are going to correct the paint. Also, how many passes you need to make for correction.

Did you do this?

 

Which PC? The 7424XP? What diameter pads are you using?

 

No, I didn't. I only have these polishes, so I just did the 3 step polish which worked before on 3 other cars. I know PC isn't powerful enough, but I was hoping for better results. I mean don't get me wrong, it did some correction but now what I had hoped for. It is just so frustrating spending 30 hours on detailing a car and then getting average results. Also, the swirl marks that are all over the place now: I only used Adam's Waterless Wash and wiped with a plush microfiber towel like once a week. No grime or heavy dust was there, so I thought waterless should work, but now I am worried that the swirl marks are the results of the waterless wash.

 

7424XP and 5.5" pads. I also tried the 4" CCS yellow pad along with Meg105 on the hood to see if it provides better correction, but I got the same results.

 

Waterless Wash is a FANTASTIC product. But, if your using it on a daily driver once a week you are probably creating swirls doing so. I only use Waterless Wash for doorjams/garage kept cars

 

Thanks, so that explains the swirl marks that appeared again. What about the average results I got in the beginning? How can I improve on that?

 

What kind of car? I have used the Uber yellow and 105 and got great results with my PC. Got any pics?

 

2006 BMW 3 series. Black. I will try to take some pics.

 

are you applying pressure to the pc? how slow are you moving?

 

Did u do an IPA wipedown after each polishing step? BMWs are tough to get perfect. I have had to fix so many holograms from other detailers on bimmers. You may have had some filling with the IP if you didn't wipe it sown fully. The paint is hard and takes a long time with a pc. I usually use my rotaries. Audi owner also complain they can't correct well enough with a pc. Welcome to the world of hard paint.

 

GM paint is just as bad. Scratches easy but a bitch to polish out. That stuff is made in hell!

 

hmmm take some pictures and post.

m105 and a pc should yield good results.

 

Pics would be helpful.

 

You would benefit from doing a test spot before polishing the entire car. A test spot will allow you to dial in the process to achieve the results you are looking for. A PC can yield excellent results with the right combination of products and technique. It sounds like you already own what you'll need, now all you have to do is dial in your technique.

If you don't already own a pair, I would suggest getting some grit guards and tweaking your wash technique a bit. The grit guards will help you avoid instilling swirls in you finish after you've polished them out. If you're using a waterless wash and are still getting swirls, I would suggest you move to the traditional method of washing using the two bucket method instead. It sounds like you're instilling swirls into the finish when you use this method of cleaning your vehicle's exterior. If you don't want to take out the hose, then try ONR via the two bucket method with grit guards inserts (works wonders.)

Black is not a forgiving color. Black BMW's are even worse. You're going to really have to take precautions and care when washing this vehicle to prevent swirls.

Here is an excellent video on how to wash a vehicle to prevent instilling scratches (this technique can also be used with ONR.)
How to Wash Your Car (ShowCar style!)

Here is a link to a couple of educational videos that will hopefully better explain the "test spot" and proper use of the DA.
Show Car Garage Video: How To Remove Swirls, Scratches and Water Spots using a PC 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2 or Griot's Garage Random Orbital Polisher - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum

 

Well it's my understanding that Black BMW paint is really SOFT.

So what that means is it requires a very finite technique to get great results.

Your 105 maybe causing more damage then good. Being that the clear is softer, the combo is inflicting more damage that what was initially there.

Try using the IP with the green pad. Tape off square on the hood 2x2 area.

Work the polish in on speed 2. Once its covered the area turn to speed 6, put a black line on the backing plate so that you can see that it's spinning. If it stops spinning you're using too much pressure and you need to back off a little.

Do 3 passes. Up down, left right, up down

Once done wipe off with a mf, then use an IPA mix, spray the area... let it set for 30 secs or so then buff again and check your work

 

Hey, find a way of your own polishing, yes, u have to add pressure some times. and a lot. Most jet black BMW are soft clear, maybe this one has hard? Try using wool pads like purple foam wool pad. watch some videos about polishing but practice your own style of polishing.

 

I have 2 jet black BMWs, one is '04 E46 325Ci, and another is '09 E70 X5 4.8i, and both clears are hard as a rock...And it does takes a LOT of effort correcting paintwork on those cars, that's why very often you see that detailers that specialize doing paint corrections on german cars often charge much more...

 

i thought its the same. Ooh well. how much do they charge to polish a 7 series? or 3 series? black or blue.

 

It really depends on how many hours it will take. Doing a test spot might help. In my experience, I've done only 1 other BMW besides my cars, '08 M3, and paint was just as hard as it is on my other 2 bimmers...I'm sure there are cars with even harder paints (MBZ new super hard clears, or Corvettes), but one thing I know for sure - BMWs paint is much harder then paint on my daily driver '99 Infiniti I30t, or my '05 Acura RL.
Back to the prices, I'd start one step paint correction from $250-300 on a 3 series, again, depending on paint condition, and work your way up for 2 and 3 step paint correction, charging $500, and $750 as starting pricing. I know, price my scare away many customers to begin with, but it is a lot of work...just a one step paint correction will take pretty much all day...