[335I talian Stallion NJ]

Sometimes it seems I see holograms on the door panels of my E92..... what causes this???

[darkcloud]

Numerous ways you treat your car can cause halograms in the paint.

Do you still use a spounge? If so get rid of it and buy a good sheepskin or MF mit.

Do you wash the car in circular manner? If so only wipe the car in straight lines, up and down or side to side. Try to wipe the same way on every panel every wash.

Do you push down hard on the paint? The wieght of your arm is all the pressure you need to use to wash the car.

When applying waxes/polishes are you rubbing them in a circular motion? You should also try to follow the straight line method just like washing the car. You will be doing the same damage by hand as a cheap orbital buffer, you'll just be doing it at a slower speed.

Are you using cheap MF towls? There really is a difference between the Autozone MF towls and good ones like pakshak, cobra or detailed images MF towls.

Do you use/have a orbital buffer? If so is it a cheap one for some auto store? If so, STOP IMMEDIATELY! This can and will be the biggest cause. Orbital buffers are very hard to use even for the most trained professionals. If you want to buff the car then spend the money and buy a proper buffer like a random orbit porter cable. A PC and the right polishes will help remove the halograms.

Outside of those 6 questions you really shouldn't be doing anything else to add halograms to your paint. If you are figuring out another way to harm your paint that I don't know of I suggest you seek professional help/advice, or see if anyone in your area would be willing to allow you to drop by and learn some detailing tricks.

[335I talian Stallion NJ]

Hmmm might be from the circular wax thing.... so i just rub it on in a straight line?? That seems difficult..... isn't the PC adding swirls by going in a circular motion?

Originally Posted by darkcloud

Numerous ways you treat your car can cause halograms in the paint.

Do you still use a spounge? If so get rid of it and buy a good sheepskin or MF mit.

Do you wash the car in circular manner? If so only wipe the car in straight lines, up and down or side to side. Try to wipe the same way on every panel every wash.

Do you push down hard on the paint? The wieght of your arm is all the pressure you need to use to wash the car.

When applying waxes/polishes are you rubbing them in a circular motion? You should also try to follow the straight line method just like washing the car. You will be doing the same damage by hand as a cheap orbital buffer, you'll just be doing it at a slower speed.

Are you using cheap MF towls? There really is a difference between the Autozone MF towls and good ones like pakshak, cobra or detailed images MF towls.

Do you use/have a orbital buffer? If so is it a cheap one for some auto store? If so, STOP IMMEDIATELY! This can and will be the biggest cause. Orbital buffers are very hard to use even for the most trained professionals. If you want to buff the car then spend the money and buy a proper buffer like a random orbit porter cable. A PC and the right polishes will help remove the halograms.

Outside of those 6 questions you really shouldn't be doing anything else to add halograms to your paint. If you are figuring out another way to harm your paint that I don't know of I suggest you seek professional help/advice, or see if anyone in your area would be willing to allow you to drop by and learn some detailing tricks.

[Cookiemonster]

I dealt with this for 5 years with my Black S2000. It is tough. Hence my last two cars have been light silver and white. Its like a Giant Gorilla is off my back!

I walked into the BMW dealer and said any color except Black, Monaco or Montego. I love all three but its one less thing for me to worry about.

I suggest finding a great detail shop and maybe every Three months...once a season get it detailed for a 150 to 200. Then just be very gentle when washing. Worth the piece of mind. You'll end up spending 50% of that at least on your own supplies and tools and the time involved is killer.

[antidentite]

One major way to get swirls (holograms) is to take it through the car wash.

Almost all car washes have the potential to swirl your paint by either being too aggressive in cleaning your paint, or by using washing and/or drying equipment that contain rocks or particles from the really dirty cars that were washed before you.

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by 335I talian Stallion NJ

Hmmm might be from the circular wax thing.... so i just rub it on in a straight line?? That seems difficult..... isn't the PC adding swirls by going in a circular motion?

Well yes and no for the PC. The polishes you are using with the PC are to slightly break down and buff your clear coat as to remove the swirls. The PC as spin in a Random Orbit circle, so it never spins in the same path twice. Essentially you can put the PC down on your paint and let spin in one spot for a while pick it up and no harm will be done to you car, unlike if you did the same with a orbital buffer which will eat through your clear coat after it created enough friction from spinning on the same spot for too long.

Yes you always want to try and wipe things on your paint in straight lines. side to side or up and down. Think of standing in front of your hood, wipe straight across the width(side to side) or the length(up and down), try to avoid wiping on angles.

[Majick]

Originally Posted by 335I talian Stallion NJ

Sometimes it seems I see holograms on the door panels of my E92..... what causes this???

Go buy all new micro-fiber mits and cloths, wash them first!, and then use them. Otherwish you get nice little balls of fuzz on your car.

[pigbat]

Putting wax on in a circular motion does seem very natural but as mentioned it is not advised. I look at the airflow across each panel and wax/seal in that direction. Quality towels for drying are also a must have item.

[OC Guy]

Originally Posted by Majick

Go buy all new micro-fiber mits and cloths, wash them first!, and then use them. Otherwish you get nice little balls of fuzz on your car.

Not all MF is made equal...