light "wash" induced scratches, do I really need compound?

Brock · 11-25-06, 05:01

Howdy all,

New car brings me back to this awesome forum and I have a couple of questions.

Car is an '07 BMW 328i, Jet Black. Love black cars but lots of work....haha
After it's first bath at home and Klasse AIO I notice it has a bunch of scratches which look like they're from a poor washing pattern(dealer wax must have filler to cover those). I think the dealer uses some crappy brushes to wash the cars(sad on a nice, new car).
I really hate to polish my brand new car already but I want to get it looking new before I seal and wax again. I ordered new wash/dry/buffing towels to keep further scratches to a minimum.

Anyway, my question is if I need to order a compound or not. I just picked up a PC 7335 and this will be my first use of an orbital. Previously, by hand, I noticed how ineffective polish/swirl removal is. Usually left more of a haze even if the scratches were lessened.
So, I'm odering Optimum polish and some pads. I'm wondering if that will be sufficient to get the scratches out? Like using an orange pad if a blue doesn't get all the scratches out. Or if I'll really need to get a compound like OC or OHC to get 'em all out.

You can't feel the scratches and they don't appear to be very deep. You can only see them in sunlight or under my garage florescents and viewing the paint close up from an angle. You have to be within a foot or so and look at the paint at a steep angle to see the scratches(I'd take pictures but my cam sucks).

Most people wouldn't notice the scratches and wouldn't do anything about them but it bugs me on a nice new black car. I know I have a rough road ahead of me keeping it looking great and I want to get off to the right start.

Also, another question is about polishing the fenders. I've read a lot about orbital technique and have a decent grasp but I'm wondering what's the safest bet on round surfaces like fenders? I know you're supposed to keep the pad as flat as possible, which is hard to do on a fender. Any tips?

Sorry for the long post. Any advice is much appreciated.

Bigpoppa3346 · 11-25-06, 05:09

I doubt OP will really move defects on miserable black BMW paint. About polishing the fenders, it's only really with a rotary do you have to keep the pad flat, with a PC you can tilt or angle it and it won't do any damage. And I have found that OP on a polishing pad leaves noticable micromarring on this paint, so you should pick up some FPII(Menzerna) as well.

BMW335i · 11-25-06, 05:20

If the swirls are really minimal I would try hand polish. An 07 car would not need orbital, IMO. I could be wrong.

Brock · 11-25-06, 05:41

i would really hope it didn't need buffing since the car is so new but the scratches really bother me. The problem I've had with hand polishing before is it leaves the paint hazy. From what I've read this is usually due to the compound not breaking down into finer particles.

OP really leaves micromarring? what about if you finish up with OP on a green pad? they make it sound like OP is a great final polish before your LSP....
I don't mind using two products, one to get scratches out and a second to remove marks from that. I just don't want to buy a ton of different products or abuse my car more than I need to.

Thanks

BMW335i · 11-25-06, 06:45

Dont feel like your the only one with swirls on a new car...lots of people get it (mostly from the dealer washing it). I wouldn't get so worried about it but then again I'm not sure how bad it is. If the swirls are spaced within a third of an inch of each other, not a big deal, but if they are within a few milimeters of each other than that needs some work. If I were you, I wouldn't touch anything on the car until you feel you have enough knowledge to do it right. This board is a GREAT place, everyone like to help. I dont have much to offer you on the right method to remove the swirls, as I'm new too, but keep browsing (I know its tedious), but you feel really good when you know what you're doing.

BTW, I would strongly advise against buffing a brand new car (with a machine)...It's really unneccessary.

TeutonicCarFan · 11-25-06, 08:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW335i

Dont feel like your the only one with swirls on a new car...lots of people get it (mostly from the dealer washing it). I wouldn't get so worried about it but then again I'm not sure how bad it is. If the swirls are spaced within a third of an inch of each other, not a big deal, but if they are within a few milimeters of each other than that needs some work. If I were you, I wouldn't touch anything on the car until you feel you have enough knowledge to do it right. This board is a GREAT place, everyone like to help. I dont have much to offer you on the right method to remove the swirls, as I'm new too, but keep browsing (I know its tedious), but you feel really good when you know what you're doing.

BTW, I would strongly advise against buffing a brand new car (with a machine)...It's really unneccessary.

I feel like this is an understatment, every black car I see and dark cars also have swirls. Unless you are a detailer of course

Brock · 11-25-06, 11:11

They aren't really light swirl marks either. I was back out in the garage again and I can actually see some of the scratches straight on.
I need to get a good halogen spot for detailing, that's for sure. It's been really dark and rainy here for the last couple weeks.
It's not just like regular swirls from washing, I'd expect that. The scratches aren't super close together like accumulated swirls but some are very heavy. I think the stupid car washers at the dealer use those washing brushes with bristles.

I don't know, maybe I'm being anal and I should just leave them alone...naw, that won't happen.

I appreciate the advice so far. Anyone have experience with this on a new car?

Brock · 11-25-06, 11:19

I have some Meguiars #9 I suppose I could try also. I still think I'd use that with the orbital rather than by hand.
If I ordered OC or OHC as a backup and tried #9 first, would #9 be a good replacement for OP?

Thanks

firegate · 11-26-06, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW335i

BTW, I would strongly advise against buffing a brand new car (with a machine)...It's really unneccessary.

I completely disagree. The age of the car has nothing to do with the condition of its paint, and if you have swirls, the only way to get rid of them would be to buff them out. Particularly on the harder BMW clear, trying to polish swirls out without a machine would be an exercise in futility.

Buffing with a PC is completely safe. With the 6.5" and bigger pads, it's practically impossible to cause finish damage. Start with your lightest polish and a polishing pad and go at it, move up in agressiveness if you need to. You'll be happy you did.

Bigpoppa3346 · 11-26-06, 05:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW335i

BTW, I would strongly advise against buffing a brand new car (with a machine)...It's really unneccessary.

Why not? Seriously, give me one good reason why we shouldn't buff out a new car if it has defects. Even if the defects were very mild, a mild finishing polish will burnish the paint to a higher gloss than it was before, with out removing hardly any clear. I buffed out(pretty agressively, I may add) a 2 month old BMW that had nasty defects, and is there anything wrong with that?

Anyways, in my experience, BMW black is really finiky in that it is hard to correct defects, yet hard to finish out without micromarring. Also, this paint marrs very easily, even the softest MFs will marr it. I hate working BMW black with a passion, just terrible paint.

Yes, OP *will* leave micromarring, noticable in direct sun and under halogens. I would say get the entire Optimum polish range, and some Menzerna for finishing out. I would first try OP on a cutting pad, and step it up from there.

Mr. Magic · 11-26-06, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW335i

If the swirls are really minimal I would try hand polish. An 07 car would not need orbital, IMO. I could be wrong.

HAND POLISH ARE YOU NUTS...... I just used my dewalt high speed on a 06 Roles Royce And the guy just paid $225k for it a week before. I have never done anything by hand. One) it takes to long. and two) its to much effort for little results. Learn how to use the tools and creat hot looking rides. Just my 2 cents worth.........LOL

Mr. Magic · 11-26-06, 08:28

Bigpoppa may I suggest that you go to http://www.1car-detailing-training.com
He put together the training program used by BMW of North America. he also help formulate the Optimum polish and compound. thats all he uses I fly over 3000 miles for his two day class and it was the best $$$ i have ever spent. I made up the cost in the trip in new accounts and dealerships pay me Full retail because the cars look that good. just check him out!!