[Alan l.]

I have a 09 AW 335 and just did a full detail job on the car. Looks and feels amazing but i can't get rid of the light swirl marks on the car.

I've tried using the Menzerna SIP with the green pad on my rotary and it helps but I can not get rid of all of them. My porter cable doesn't even dent those swirl marks.

I read on another detailing forum that bmw changed their clear coat making them very hard to correct. Should i keep trying it with the Menzerna SIP but go down to the uber yellow pad or should i just go straight to a compound instead?

Alan

[autoaesthetica]

Alpine White IME is pretty darn hard Alan. SIP on a polishing pad(for reference Uber are printed B&S pads) may take a couple of hits, but you actually may need to step up to something like a yellow pad with SIP, or it may even take something a bit stronger.

What do you have for strict compounds(and other polishes for that matter)? I have had great success compounding actually with a DA, then refining with a rotary. Meguiars 105 works great with a full face prime on something like your B&S yellow pad via DA, a lot of pressure and possibly a couple hits, then you could refine with your rotary - both taking less time than traditional methods.

Are you sure you are dealing with light swirls and not deep(ish) scratches that are just fine in width?

Ill tell you though, if that's your car in your sig, you are doing a great job on it so far- very tasteful.

Mike

[Envious Eric]

skip the yellow pad as it is pretty crappy IMO, but rather jump up to the surbuf pad on the PC with 105. It will leave the finish pretty hazy, but rest assured, it cleans up even easier than an orange pad! Menzerna 203 is my favorite 2nd step after surbuf/105

AW is really hard, similar to audi and mercedes paints. a polishing pad is not going to cut it here...literally

[Rampage9]

I've had similar results as you with the SIP and a Lake Country Orange pad with the Porter Cable - it removes most but not all swirls.

I'd love to know how to get it perfect too!

[Alan l.]

Thanks guys.

I'll try stepping down to a light compound next time around. Luckily on a white car swirls really only show on the hood and trunk areas when the right lighting is on it. Still bugs me but i can live with it for now.

Yep the car in my sig is my baby

Alan

[TOGWT]

An often asked question "Is X paint or colour hard or soft?"

There are far too many variables to state this accurately. Regardless of the density of the paint you'll still need to polish it to remove scratches. The best method to establish what polish / pad combination you'll need is; diagnosis is the key; not guesswork; the differing density (hardness) of paints react differently to correction, so before beginning to polish measure the paint thickness (PTG) panel by pane to ensure that you do not select an aggressive polish that will reduce too much clear coat.

Then select a ‘typical’ panel; one that represents the type of defects that you want to remove and the finish level required. Select an area of 18 x 18-inches and tape it off with painter’s tape, as this is an optimal working section to perform a product test spot; this will help establish a polish – pad combination that will produce the best possible finish that corresponds to your detailing goals for the vehicle, once this is established; repeat the process over the entire paint surface, adjusting abrasiveness for any low paint thickness

[jlspeed29]

^^ thanks

[tscdennab]

I have the same problem with my AW car. I have a dual action polisher and using a Lake Country green pad with Menzerna PO203S or Zaino Z-PC, it does not have any effect on the swirl marks. I will try an orange pad next but I don't expect much...