How do I restore / bring back the shine on my paint?

[RapidE30]

The paint on my Tourer looks like it's been polished with a brillo pad. The marks aren't that deep, I've used just Autoglym on it and they're still there.

I don't mind spending a few hours hard labour if I can bring it back to its former glory.

I've heard clay bars mentioned in the past? What are they and where can I get them from if they're of use?

Cheers as always.

[orangecurry]

There's lots of info here - do some searches.

I found to remove 'created-by-washing' swirls the best thing that I have used is 3M hand glaze

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[tylerma]

clay bar will remove stuborn marks
(bird plop road tar that sort of thing)
you can pick them up from halfords.

as for restoring the painthang about for C76jon
he may have some ideas

he is a legend wiith paintwork

[tim-ix]

Clay bars are for getting rid of bits of muck on the paintwork and you can get them in Halfords. It would be a good idea to use one in preparation for using a machine polisher (or get ready for an upper-body workout) and some abrasive cutting compound (t-cut like stuff) to cut back the paint to eliminate the swirl marks.

Follow this up with application of a ton of wax or the newly cut paint will oxidise rapidly and go cloudy and look rubbish again.

I'm sure others will give more in-depth advice but that's the basics.

[ShineOn]

Going over paintwork with a claybar before polishing is, in my eyes at least, essential. The finished job is only as good as the prep. But as said, it will only take bonded contaminants off the surface, it won't do anything with the paint itself. Use a dedicated tart remover or even white spirit rather than wrecking your clay bar on tar spots.

To give you an idea, this is what's achievable though (machine polishing, not hand polishing mind)

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=56309

[bimmerpimp]

to do it properly ya gonna have to use a machine by hand is to hard try g3 or g10 depending on how bad the scratches are g10 is a fine cut comp, use a medium sponge head soaked in hot water to soften squese out exess water put small dollop of comp on head and buff away but use lots fo water its messy and you get wet but iff you get it wright will give glass finish but only with lots off water it also helps to stop you burning the paint if your a novice and keep the head moving with light pressure

[ShineOn]

Farecla prodcuts are very effective in the right hands, but they are old fashioned. There is plenty out there to use that means you don't have shit sprayed in every direction these days. You'll spend more time cleaning up than polishing. Its just not necessary.

Menzerna products, or Visomax are just two such examples.