Question on Swirls

[bmw06330i]

I know countless posts like this do exist...but I had some specific questions so I wanted to create my own.



I'm no car guru and this is the first "nice" car I have ever owned/cared about



Just bought a used black bmw and Id say the swirl marks are not too severe..about moderate in the direct sunlight. I have some meguiars swirl remover and wax but was thinking about purchasing Zaino Z5. Which would you recommend? Is there any kinda damage that can be done by applying these swirl removers over and over to try and hide the swirls?



I was thinking maybe I should just have them buffed out? Not sure about the costs.





As for swirl prevention...Ive never hand washed my cars...and frankly in the cold I wont. I was wondering what kinda car washes are best. Spotless car washes do any damage?

 

[mporreca01]

You must polish out the swirls.....z5 will not fill them in even though it does say they will. And there are NO safe car washes!!!!!!!!!!

 

[metal]

What kind of "swirl remover" do you have? Possibly #9? Typically a swirl remover shouldn't hide the swirls, because if they do, they contain a lot of fillers, which will wash out once you wash your car a couple times, and you'll be back to square one. A proper method would be to polish those swirls out, and protect the surface, then use good wash techniques to minimize any marring you may induce back into the paint. Theres are products you can get called glazes that will fill in some of the swirling and lessen the appearance of them without actually removing them, as well as give the paint a bit of a glow.

 

[the other pc]

.... I have some meguiars swirl remover ..... Is there any kinda damage that can be done by applying these swirl removers over and over to try and hide the swirls? ...

Meg’s #9 Swirl Remover 2.0 is a commonly misunderstood product. I think that’s mostly because they often sell it at consumer oriented car parts places.



People get the impression that because it’s sitting on consumer shelves and says “Swirl Remover� on the bottle that they can just take it home, wipe it on with a rag and have their swirls disappear. And sometimes that does sort of happen, temporarily, because it has glazing properties.



The fact is that just like any other cutting product it must be worked against the finish. It has very, very mild cut. And while you can use it by hand, if you do it gives almost no cut on modern clear coats. It’s designed to be used by machine.

....I was thinking maybe I should just have them buffed out? ...

Buffing is the way to actually remove them.





PC.

 

[bmw06330i]

What kind of "swirl remover" do you have? Possibly #9? Typically a swirl remover shouldn't hide the swirls, because if they do, they contain a lot of fillers, which will wash out once you wash your car a couple times, and you'll be back to square one. A proper method would be to polish those swirls out, and protect the surface, then use good wash techniques to minimize any marring you may induce back into the paint. Theres are products you can get called glazes that will fill in some of the swirling and lessen the appearance of them without actually removing them, as well as give the paint a bit of a glow.

I do not have #9. Its the "scratchX" Meguiars that I bought at walmart. Its an abrasive. I thought the Z5 was a polish? IM a pretty big noobie as you can tell.



Basically heres where Im at...since Im starting to think this cheap walmart Meguiars is going to be worthless...(ScratchX and "gold class paste wax" is what I have")



I have had the car for only 3 days and the only washing it has had is a crappy dealer wash where I bought it from. It has moderate swirls.



1)What products should I buy and what procedure should I use?

 

[the other pc]

I do not have #9. Its the "scratchX" Meguiars that I bought at walmart. Its an abrasive. I thought the Z5 was a polish? IM a pretty big noobie as you can tell. ...

Don’t feel bad, it’s confusing. No two companies use the word “polish� the same way. Zaino says Z-5 has no cutting ability and only fills swirls. 3M would call that a “glaze� but Zaino also says it leaves protection so other companies would call it a sealant, except for NuFinish, who also calls synthetic protectants “polishes.�

...Basically heres where Im at...since Im starting to think this cheap walmart Meguiars is going to be worthless...(ScratchX and "gold class paste wax" is what I have")...

ScratchX is a good product but you have to understand what it does. It’s a mild cutting product. Meg’s calls it a “cleaner� because it will remove defects and below-surface contamination. It’s effective but does require significant elbow grease (or a machine) to remove defects.



Gold Class wax looks good and lasts ok. The key to any wax it to have the surface pristine to begin with.

...I have had the car for only 3 days and the only washing it has had is a crappy dealer wash where I bought it from. It has moderate swirls. ...

Sadly, most dealers like to include the DISO (dealer installed swirl option) with every car purchased.

...1)What products should I buy and what procedure should I use?

There’s no single “right� answer to that question. Everybody has their personal preferences. Spend some time reading the articles and threads here. They’ll give you some ideas on where to begin your car care adventure.





PC.