New boxster-dealer installed swirls. Argh!

I

imported_Aaron in Denver

New member
My wife and I picked up our new Boxster late last week. Initially all was great. It appeared that they had done a good job cleaning it up once out of the wrapper, etc.



Work kept me from getting up close and personal with the paint until yesterday after I washed it for the first time. Once it was back out in the sun I found swirls, swirls, and more swirls. Argh!



They do not appear to be deep, but the car is black so every one shows. Dealer offered to re-do the car, but I don't want them to touch it now (I know, I should have told them this in the first place).



My plan is to Dawn the car to remove whatever they waxed with, then start over. I have some 3m SMR, P21S GEPC, the Klasse twins, and Megs Cleaner wax available (plus Souveran to top).



Should I start with the SMR, or maybe DACP would be better? I tried some SMR on a small section of a fender, and it seemed to help only a little. I'm doing this by hand at this point.



Any advice would be appreciated. Should I use a buffer instead? I only have access to a Wen orbital buffer that I picked up a few years ago. It's not speed adjustable and only has terry cloth bonnets.



I did a search and hit some good threads, but am hoping someone has the magic bullet for this problem. Anyone?



Sure love the car, though. Thanks for any help.



Aaron in Denver
 
I feel you on both counts, black car and dealer installed swirls.



SMR by hand isn't going to cut it. If you're lucky, you'll see 10% improvement, imo. I'm not sure about DACP by hand. I know by PC will make big improvements. I'm not familiar with the Wen Orbital. Can you change pads? I'd splurge and get a PC. It's only a hundred and change, and if you can afford a Boxter, well....



Hit it with DACP and yellow pad or SMR and yellow pad if you don't think the swirls are that bad. I tried several applications of different stuff by hand and it did not work, so save yourself the energy. PC is idiot proof. I used couple weekends ago for first time and it worked great. SMR w/ yellow pad took care of 80% of the swirls. I'll probably go back in a few months and redo with DACP to take care of the rest.



The GEPC brings out a great shine on black cars but won't help in the swirl department. But use it after SMR or DACP anyway. Top with your P21s wax or if you go to Klasse, be sure to wash out the oils from the GEPC before applying SG.
 
Aaron in Denver- Yeah, you'll probably need something stronger than the SMR. DACP works well BUT you have to REALLY work it to make the "diminishing abrasives" break down. Might be a pain working by hand. If you DON'T buy a PC, maybe another product would be worth considering.



I can get decent results by hand with PI-III MG (pn 05937), but it's work. It's still pretty mild, but it should do SOMETHING significant. *I* dunno about the Wen buffer, if only because terry bonnets vary a LOT; some can CAUSE marring and your goal is to remove it.



*I* would try either the 1Z line of polishes or the PI-III MG (IF you want something more aggressive you can precede it with 3M's PI-III RC pn 05933, it's pretty mild too). No need to use Dawn unless you want to (the polishes will cut through whatever's on there now). Follow with the GEPC (optional, MIGHT improve the finish even more). Then go over it with AIO and start layering the SG. I'd skip the cleaner wax.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I've been debating getting a PC for a while, so this is probably the thing that pushes me over the top.

Can good pads be gotten at retail, or are the only one's worth using only available online? I've heard much about CMA's pads, but never heard anyone mention if they had found good pads at any stores.

Just wondering. If I can get the PC at Lowe's I'd like to get started ASAP.

Thanks again. More opinions are more than welcome. What a great 'net community this is!



Aaron
 
Order the PC from coastal tool and the pads from Top Of The Line. They should arrive within...less than a week, surprisingly. Very quick.
 
Yes you could remove them by hand. Use DACP and some 100% USA cotton towels. Fold and rub to break down the DACP. It's work but it can be done!



As for a PC, you now have a very fine car, you spend good money on it so why try to go cheap when it comes to finish maintenance?



By a PC from Coastal, the one with the 6" weight, get some advanced pads and keep the needed polishes and waxes/sealants on-hand.



Black is tough enough, help yourself by getting the correct equipment. Terry bonnets have a bad tendancy to add more swilrs and add buffer burn, kind of a wavy look. The terry bonnets get caked up fast and with heat get very stiff which leads to swirls or scratches.



Too bad the car went to the dealers "Swirl mark and scratch application department". My SC430 did too.



Enjoy a fine ride, and keep her clean and without swirls or someone here will get the keys from you :p



Regards,

Deanski
 
Accumulator gives out some very good advice and the tip to use the Lake Country Pads is also solid. Top of the Line does have some very good prices on these pads.



While ordering the pads from TOL you might also want to try out Hi-Temps "Light Cut" swirl mark remover. I am guessing that a white polishing pad with the Light Cut and the PC set at #5 should take care of most if not all of your swirls, if they are as light as you claim.



Buy 1 yellow cutting pad, 2 white polishing pads and 1 or 2 black finishing pads. If the white pads and the LC don't work then move up to the yellow pad and then back down to the white.



I have went straight from a polishing pad and LC to a finishing coat of wax or a polymer. You may want to give it a hand applied AIO after the LC, DACP or whatever you use as the SMR because the AIO will really deepen the color, then wax.



Post some pics when done.



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
the PC set at #5 should take care of most if not all of your swirls
Click to expand...



I used my PC for the first time yesterday and settings 5 to 6 were vibrating the heck out of my hand...it was almost painful?!?!? I used the 6inch backing plate with the correct counter weight, etc. Is this normal?:nixweiss
 
Aaron in Denver- You'll be glad you got the PC. You can try autobody/paint supply places for locally-available pads (Meg's, 3M). Anthony's right about the Hi-Temp LC, I'd forgotten about it but sometimes it CAN work as a one-step polish, even on black. If you're ordering from TOL anyway (great people to do business with), it's worth considering. *I'D* get more pads that you think you need; things happen.



Oh, and get lots of good MF's too!



BCS996TT- I hear you on the vibration (I usually use my PC at 6). It's just the nature of the beast. Heh heh, that's one reason why I like my Cyclo.
 
I had the same problem with my black 03 corvette. It must have been sitting outside, got dusty so they decided to wipe it down before washing. Dopes. Swirls are swirls depending on the depth. Talk to the guys with Properautocare.com. Explain your problem.



If you decide to use a Porter Cable, they will probably suggest Menzerna intensive polish or Menzerna power polish. Either product should be applied with an orange pad. If done right topped with Souveran... Nothing beats it!! You may just want to put on your swiming suite as you may feel you want to take a dip in your paint



Ask for Phil. :xyxthumbs
 
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