Gray metallic, can't see any difference!

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pb_foots

New member
I love a love/hate relationship with my wife's car, a 2003 Mazda 6. It's a dark silver/gray metallic, and I can bust my butt on this thing all day long and it looks exactly the same when I'm done!



I take pretty good care of it so there's no hideous scratches or swirls, but I know they're there, since the other cars, (emerald mica Miata and black Impala SS) always show every little defect. This color seems to just swallow up defects, even under the halogens.



Anyone else have this issue? I want to make sure it lasts another 5 years so I keep it waxed with collinite 476, but I'd like to be able to see the improvements I know I'm making. Or do I just count my blessings and not worry about it unless there's a major defect to address?
 
My previous car was black while my current one is a dark silver. I know what you mean about the results, with the black car I knew I was done when I could use it as a mirror, and the difference was very noticable. With a grey car its not nearly as noticable unless it starts out really dirty.
 
pb_foots- I would expect a good polishing to sharpen it up a little; my wife's A8 didn't have any significant marring (just some rids) but after a three-step polish with the Cyclo (finishing with 1Z High Gloss on finishing pads) it looks worlds better. We didn't really think it was lacking before I started, but the difference was shocking.



On the issue of your possible marring...I dunno if it makes sense to worry about something that you don't really see. *I* like to keep the silver Audis very close to marring-free, but it takes a lot of messing around with lighting to see the minor flaws. If I don't bother, I end up getting a nasty surprise under some weird lighting condition like gas stations at night, so for *me* it's worth struggling with. But I sincerely doubt that anybody else would ever notice. No, I don't really see flaws on paints like this under halogens either, I need incandescents for my final inspection.



I'd try some more/better polishing and see if you notice a difference. Also,maybe the 476S isn't the perfect LSP for that paint :think: I really liked it on my pewter Blazer, it popped the metallic just great; but it's not the best looking LSP I can imagine on my carbon metallic Yukon XL. Not *bad*, but not quite as nice as it was on the Blazer.
 
Might be a good quality sealant would be your best bet,rather than a wax, NXT would be my quick to get OTC choice.



Got to love 476s for longevity/protection though.
 
Cool, glad to hear it's not just me! Thanks for the replies.



I've had Z2 pro and Natty's blue on here as well and I like the Natty's the best, but I need the protection that I get from the 476. I don't get a chance to work on this car unless she swipes the Miata to go to the beach.



The only time I saw a real difference was when we first picked it up and I got rid of the dealer prep swirl option. I know it's not a big deal, but it is a lot different than the big black Chevy. I get a huge sesne of accomplishment when I'm done with that beast! Luckily it lives in the garage most of the time so it doesn't need correction very often.



I'm going to be picking up a rotary this summer to complement the PC, maybe that will give me a noticable pop on this paint. I'll pick up an incandescent stand, maybe that'll help see the defects. I don't mind doing the work, I just want to feel good about it!
 
pb_foots said:
..I'm going to be picking up a rotary this summer to complement the PC, maybe that will give me a noticable pop on this paint. I'll pick up an incandescent stand, maybe that'll help see the defects...
Click to expand...



The biggest :eek: I ever got was the first time I used the rotary on the silver Audis- they simply looked better than they ever had before. I still finished with the Cyclos, but for some reason doing the initial correction with the rotary did make all the difference.
 
pb_foots said:
I love a love/hate relationship with my wife's car, a 2003 Mazda 6. It's a dark silver/gray metallic, and I can bust my butt on this thing all day long and it looks exactly the same when I'm done!



I take pretty good care of it so there's no hideous scratches or swirls, but I know they're there, since the other cars, (emerald mica Miata and black Impala SS) always show every little defect. This color seems to just swallow up defects, even under the halogens.



Anyone else have this issue? I want to make sure it lasts another 5 years so I keep it waxed with collinite 476, but I'd like to be able to see the improvements I know I'm making. Or do I just count my blessings and not worry about it unless there's a major defect to address?
Click to expand...



Polished with 106, final buff with 85MC, 2XUPGP, 1X DWG, 1XUPGP

001.jpg
 
Legacy99 said:
Polished with 106, final buff with 85MC, 2XUPGP, 1X DWG, 1XUPGP

001.jpg
Click to expand...



Wow great job making that g35 shine, that might be one of the wettest looking silvers I've seen.
 
pb_foots said:
I take pretty good care of it so there's no hideous scratches or swirls, but I know they're there, since the other cars, (emerald mica Miata and black Impala SS) always show every little defect. This color seems to just swallow up defects, even under the halogens.
Click to expand...



I don't know, but it seems that you are looking for problems that don't really exist. Seriously, if you can't see any defects/swirls using the halogens, why would you expect a polishing job to make much of a difference?



:think:
 
Good question! I know they are there because every once in a while the sun catches the car at just the right angle and it looks like hell. Again nothing major, but if I wasn't trying to get it perfect I wouldn't be here!
 
what worked for me is installing some sylvania sunlight bulbs in the garage door opener lights and in the garage. they are the curly lights that last a long time. to me they give the best lighting (almost looks like a blue-white light) that does expose marring and scratches on silver metallic. works much better than the Brinkmann MaxFire hand held halogen for some reason. the brinkmann lights always makes the silver paint appear perfect even when i see marring under the Sylvania...
 
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