Avice needed on polishing ect.

The place to pick up tips on bringing that showroom shine back to your E30.

Moderator: martauto

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Grantley
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 486
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:02 pm

This weekend I got up at 5.30 and went over the whole of my car with G3 compound and to be honest the results were more than I had hoped for but now when the sun catches it rite I can see thousands of little swirl marks in the paint work. I didnt think this would be a problem as I did the car by hand and all the panels were cold and I was very carefull not to use too much pressure when applying the G3. My question is can I go over the car with somthing less harsh than the G3 and reduce the apperance of all the little swirls or is it just my fault for using such a harsh product, I'm glad I did it as the car is red and was starting to fade in some places but I would like as good a finish as possible and I know this is asking a lot but I dont want to spend a fortune if I can help it.
Jos
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1104
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Belfast

Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:25 pm

Just done this to remove a lot of the huuge scratches in my paint, was also very impressed with the G3 but is pretty harsh. c76jon says to just use the G3 with plenty of water but I used a finisher polish which is a very fine abrasive as the final go over. Went over the car twice and still didn't manage to remove all the swirls, but it did improve things a fair amount. Perhaps a finishing polish or G10 maybe? I got 5l of finishing polish for £16 but its the brand of the trade outlet that sells it, I don't know who actually makes it but it seems to be pretty good stuff. Don't worry about the swirls in my pics as a benchmark, it was a whole lot worse than that (visble in normal light) and it isn't finished yet. When the life returns to my arms I will go over it again and get the rest of them out.

It's damn hard work isn't it? :)
'89 Touring - slightly rippled with a rusty underside
'94 e36 tree climber
Grantley
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 486
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:41 pm

Your not wrong there mate, I'm amazed I've still got me fingerprints ! As said it was well worth it but when it catches the light in a particular way it does show up the swirls, I've got some Meguiars body scrub which is like a good but mild T-cut and I'm gonna try the Meguiars quick clay that I bought and then finish it off with Meguiars NXT Tech wax. When I'm gonna get round to doing all this is another question but as someone on a quiz show said "I've started so I'll dam b*stard finish" :snigger:
e36boy
E30 Zone Addict
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Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: The Chatsworth

Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:01 am

This wont help solve your problem with the marks but for future reference you should never polish in circular motion. I always go in straight lines. Same applies when sponging a car aswell.
Grantley
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 486
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:11 pm

I realized that when I read Johns post on the other thread, oh well you live and you learn !
stonesie
E30 Zone Addict
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Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Doncaster

Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:15 pm

straight lines you say?

always been told to do a tight circular motion 8O

now i know :oops:
e36boy
E30 Zone Addict
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Posts: 2353
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: The Chatsworth

Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:31 pm

Yeah im a car valeter for a jag dealership and i got taught to polish and sponge in straight lines, Never circular motion. I always polish my own car this way and I dont have the swirl problems.
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