Swirl Marks in the PAINT

ODM33 · Nov 13, 2003

Have been keepen my 330 performance package very clean however, i notice that i have slight surface swirl marks in the paint from either washing it or drying it. I use a soft terry cloth towl to wash and to dry. Should i use a shammy? Will wax take away the swirls. My 323i was silver so u could never see anything in the paint, it was great. My new car has Imola on it and the swirls are driving me crazy? What should i DO????????????? thanks [driving]

MrElussive · Nov 13, 2003

Your best bet is to get a 2-step wax, such as what Liquid Glass offers. There is the Pre-Cleaner and then there is the Liquid Glass Polish. First, you apply the Pre-Cleaner just like a wax, and then you let it haze, and then wipe it off. This will get rid of previous wax and will get rid of the swirl marks and really clean up the paint. Then, use the Liquid Glass polish (wax)...you do the same thing with this product and it will give your car a really beautiful shine and you are done. [:D]

bahnstormer · Nov 13, 2003

swirls from hand washing?!?!
or did u take it to a car wash?

Beemerworld · Nov 14, 2003

Washing

Once you get swirl mark than there is no way to get rid of them. Not even a wax for $1000 can get them away. You have to be careful and to remember that hand washing your car is not good at least not all the time. You can also use terry cloth or Micro Fiber which are actually much better but YOU HAVE TO WASH CAR IN A CLOSED PLACE!!! where there is no wind, dust, or any particles which may enter between the cloth and the surface of your car. Of course not everybody has this option. You have to remember one thing that cloth will never scratch your paint. It's the particles! What I recomend to you is to wash your car in a self car wash and only and only with the water pressure. Use sponge only for windows. But it also depends where do you live. If you live in east coast than I feel your pain. But self car wash is the best. First you have to wash the car as much as you can and than try to use sheep skin hand wrap which I will attach as a picture. But you have to do that fast so the wind will not blow dust on your car's surface again. and than wash throughly and the final process drying. Try not to dry your car with anything. Use spot free rinse. Drying is where you scratch the paint the most. And NO YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY SPOTS! believe me after this washes you wont have any swirl marks. I have over 10 years of BMW and Detailing experiences so I will not tell you this if it wouldn't work. Good luck and hope your paint will be saved [thumb]

bahnstormer · Nov 14, 2003

u can get rid of swirls with some rubbing compound cant u?

Beemerworld · Nov 14, 2003

Swirl Marks!

You can cover them but not remove them. the rubing compound is a special wax which fills all small imperfections in the paint. Including swirl marks. Let's look at this way. Take a polished metal and make a little scratch. How would you remove it? the only way is a special High RPM buffer which actually removes a layer of your clearcoat so the scratch will disaper. So better solution is to fill the scratch with a waxing compound or sand it and clearcoated again. But who is going to clearcoat a new car? I don' think many people would do.

Hope I did answer your question. [cheers]

bmwrocks · Nov 14, 2003

I thought rubbing compound had some mild abrasives in it. That it didn't act as a filler but as a remover. As long as the scratches were not very deep in the clear coat you could use rubbing compound to remove the layer of clear coat that contained the scratches and buff it back to its original gloss.

I do not have 10 years of commercial detailing experience so I will now go back to sleep......

membim · Nov 14, 2003

ODM33, Mr. Elussive is the only one on the right track. Do not use rubbing compound on your Bimmer's finish. Use a nice mild polish first. Like P21S Cleansing lotion or Menzerna Final Polish. The P21S will fill in the swirls, Menzerna will burnish away the edges of the swirls. Both techniques make the swirls dissapear. After polishing then apply wax/sealant.

Go to http://www.properautocare.com/removingswirls.html to lean what products to use and how to use them. I don't work for this company, but I use them to supply products for my detailing business.

Hope this helps!

flashinthepan · Nov 14, 2003

Based on tons of posts regarding swirls and " Full Removal"

Consider a Porter Cable Random Orbital buffer and

either

3m swirlmark remover

griots machine polish #2 & #3

BavarianWheels · Nov 14, 2003

I have always used a mitt, such as the pic a few posts up, and have never had a problem with scratching my paint. I machine wash and dry the mitt after each use to remove whatever dirt and dust and whatever else there is. I go through probably 4-5 mitts a year. I wash my cars (in summer time) at least twice a week, and in winter, once a week.

Secondly...and most importantly IMO...I NEVER use a towel to dry off the car(s)!! I use the garden leaf blower to blow it dry. It actually does a better job and removes 90% of water from all the nooks and crannies. I don't drive off and have water dripping from secret places to show that ever popular, "He just washed his car." look...

It is especially good on the front grilles of the 325 and the 528 as it removes all the water from all the little slats. I love it.

Get yourself a good 200mph garden blower. It is great fun too...your neighbors will love you when you wash your car early in the morning!!

bmwrocks · Nov 14, 2003

BavarianWheels,

Ever wonder what a grain of sand propelled at 200 mph could do to your car's finish? Have you ever seen the hurricane shows on the weather channel where they show a little stick turned missile that pierces a tree as it was thrust by a hurricane force wind?

Personally I wouldn't risk picking up something in the intake and sending it at my car at 200 mph. No flame intended but your method is BAD BAD BAD IMO.
I like your "clean mitt" approach but then you go swiftly downhill. You would be much better off starting with a Water Blade, touching up with a clean chamois or microfiber towel. Call me crazy, but I think you are nuts.

I can't believe you have never damaged your car blowing dirt at it.

MrElussive · Nov 14, 2003

If you truly want those swirl marks removed, then I believe you have to have them buffed out by a professional detailer.
My car is black and I have the swirl marks issue as well. This Sunday (assuming it's not raining), I am going to hand-wash my car and use the Pre-Cleaner and Liquid Glass polish/wax. I will let you guys know how my car turns out...I really wanna see if this method will truly fill in the hairline scratches and get rid of the swirl marks.

Bryan330i · Nov 14, 2003

It is strange that you are getting swirl marks already. I have the same car and color and I have no marks at all on mine. I remember reading somewhere on the board to never do anything in circles, only forward to rear, back and forth following the length of the car.

I have been using Zymol wash and Cal water blade and towel and have had no problems. Is it something the dealer may have done? I did have that problem myself but it was corrected at a detail shop at the dealer’s expense.

BavarianWheels · Nov 14, 2003

Believe it. No dirt being blown into my car...come now...you can attempt to give me SOME credit, no? [hihi]

I can respect your opinion, but to answer you about dirt getting sucked into the intake of the garden blower...First off...it has a filter on the intake side which is removable...I don't usually use it. The next thing is that the intake is no where near the ground where it might possibly pick up some dust or dirt. It is held up especially high when I'm airring off the top of the car. (I almost wrote, "blowing off..." haha) Anyhow...lastly, when I'm washing my car, there usually is no wind (as it is not too intelligent to be washing your car in the wind...) and there is no dust flying around. I've used this method for years and have never...ever come across sending some airbourne schrapnel into my car.

I'll have to admit...if you wash your car on a dirt driveway...the stakes go up quite high...rest assured that my driveway is free from loose debris.

Thanks for your concern and input...constructive criticism is always useful.

330i and like it · Nov 15, 2003

That is the problem with dark colored cars. First you need to get the swirls out. Different grades of polish will work on different problems. Then you need to wax it. Yes, polish and wax are two different products. Next time stick with a light colored car!!!

Good Luck

ra328i · Nov 15, 2003

i have a dark colored car and it's a 96 with virtually no swirl marks!!!! after helping and hanging out at a couple paint and detail shops i've discovered that it is not best to apply wax or dry your car using circular motions. the best thing to do is use back and forth motion type strokes (basically straight line), going from front to back and so on and so forth. you know, like the way wind travels over your car. as a matter of fact, if you read the directions on the back of a zymol bottle it tells you this. anyway, just an opinion on how to prevent future swirl marks...

BavarianWheels · Nov 16, 2003

ra328i wrote:
the best thing to do is use back and forth motion type strokes (basically straight line), going from front to back and so on and so forth. you know, like the way wind travels over your car. as a matter of fact, if you read the directions on the back of a zymol bottle it tells you this.

Did he say wind...as in air? [:o)]

MrElussive · Nov 16, 2003

I don't know about you guys, but my car came with swirl marks as if it was an option I chose when ordering my car. [:p]

I mean, I do have some swirl marks, but I don't notice them at all...or maybe I don't have the swirl marks anymore. I shouldn't be posting at 2:21AM.... [xx(]

bmwrocks · Nov 16, 2003

MrElussive said:

That is part of the black paint package.[fake] A new car car should be blemish free, especially if you are paying sticker or ordered it from the factory. Anything less than perfect off the lot is unacceptable when you are paying the prices we are for our cars.

I hope you are kidding about it coming with swirl marks.

I have a friend with a black g35SC like yours and the paint is perfect on it.

hakjai · Nov 18, 2003

use 3M finesse it applied w/ and orbital buffer, then used klasse aio and SG
i noticed swirls on my 330 when i first got it but they came out

Swirl Marks in the PAINT

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