Audi w/ bad water spots

G

gone postal

New member
I bought an 02 Audi A6 about two months ago and have washed it, clayed it and even tried hand applying Scratch-X 2.0, but all w/ no success. I know it needs a more thorough reconditioning. I'm a DIY'er almost to a fault, so I just can't justify paying someone to detail my car. I've researched on here for hours (including entire newbie thread up top) and watched many youtube videos and think I'm ready to tackle the job.



My new Makita polisher will be here tomorrow and I ordered Meguiars M105, M205 and their burgandy, yellow & black 2.0 foam pads. I was thinking M105 w/ the burgandy, but don't know if I should use the yellow or black w/ the M205? It's a dark green car, so the water spots stand out really bad, but I don't want to get rid of them and create more issues that will stand out. A lot of people make polishing seem hard, scary, etc. Is it really that bad? Also, I've seen some people do a back and forth motion while working their way across the area and others that do a pass of back and forth and then follow it up w/ a pass of up and down. Is one better than the other? Does one help eliminate the chances of marring?
 
For someone that is new to polishing, it seems to me that you still have too many questions to answer befor trying to tackel one of the hardest items in detailing (Water spots/etching). I do not know anything about your skill set, but going by the questions that you are asking, I would first get some test panels and practice first before attempting to polish your own car. Many pros on here have had times where they burned paint, went throught the clear, ect. It is better to go "opps" on a test panel, than it is on your own car.
 
read, read, read try some test panels read more, adjust technique, try more test panels read more repeat till your happy with your technique. when doing test test panels before to set them up in both horizontally and vertically. when doing your car you should tape up all edges and trim to help avoid burning them. pay attention to your buffer while working on the car and it is running, use some common sense and practice and patience and you should be fine.
 
Makita? So your first machine is going to be a rotary? YIKES. Make sure you keep it moving, if you stay on one spot too long, you aren't going to like the results. Your polish and pad combo is fine, you can use the 205 and 105 on the polishing pad depending on what effect you want. Save the 205 for the finishing pad. As it has been mentioned, waterspots are very hard to get out, some of them you won't be able to get out and will just have to leave. I really wouldn't do more than 2-3 "passes" with the 105.



Try to find an autopian in your area for some help.
 
gone postal- Welcome to Autopia! Fellow Audi owner here.



Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



How easy/hard rotary polishing will be for a beginner will be in large part a matter of mindset. But without experience, you're pretty much flying blind. I'd sure be certain that you have a full understanding before you actually get started. Most people would probably consider this approach to be imprudent as you don't evidence a very firm understanding of what you'll be doing (sorry if that sounds harsh).



BTW/FWIW, polishing with other types of polishers *is* very simple to get the hang of.



I would not thin the clear too much in an effort to reduce the water spotting.



Absolutely tape off the aluminum trim, its finish is very fragile and you don't want your polishes abrading it.



Give some thought to how you're gonna remove the rotary-induced holograms that you will almost undoubtedly leave. Getting those out of Audi clear can be a real challenge, better have a plan. Holograms will be the "worse problem than the spots you have now" thing that you're (sensibly) concerned with.



Might oughta plan on doing some work with the M205 and a polishing pad before stepping down to the M205 with a finishing pad.



Sure hope you don't mess up your car. Going from Scratch-X by hand to a rotary with M105 is like going from a butter knife to a chainsaw.
 
post up some pics so we can see and maybe can help you further that way.



I would say you are on the right track but jumping into a rotary is a huge step and can be very disastrous if not done properly.
 
Well, I appreciate all the input. I will take pics, but it'll have to wait till Sun or Mon.

As for the actual job, everyones' concern is well noted - I'm not going to back down from the job though. I do have a random orbital and have used it quite a bit for ease in waxing, but I understand that isn't much of a step up from doing the work by hand (aka - butterknife). I'm not an idiot though (won't put it on '6' and leave it on one area trying to work out all the spots) and am mechanically inclined (just did the timing belt last weekend - saved myself $1400!!). Although that doesn't translate directly to this job, I pick things up quickly and can follow direction very well. There were plenty of people that said it was a tough job, they'd never tackle it, etc, but I didn't find it hard at all - I find that lots of research, taking my time & common sense tend to go a long way. I don't mean to discount the task of polishing, but I assure you I won't burn a hole through the car.



PS - I also have no intention on trying to get all of the spots out - unless they prove to be easy - I'm just trying to improve the look of the car.
 
gone postal said:
.. I also have no intention on trying to get all of the spots out - unless they prove to be easy - I'm just trying to improve the look of the car.
Click to expand...



OK, that sounds good, and the rest of your response indicates that you have a good mindset :xyxthumbs so I'm a bit less worried.



You just never know with water spots...the *horrible* etching on the roof of my Yukon (previous owner left it outside 24/7 and *never* waxed the roof) came out OK, nothing left but some pitting. But the seemingly milder etching on the roof of the A8 (always kept in nice shape) simply wouldn't come out even with scary-aggressive rotary work. Ya just won't know until you try.
 
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