Ok, so here is the story.

I haven't really ever had a nice enough car to really detail...and my family really hasn't worried about it for their cars to much besides basic wash and cleaner wax.

So anyways, I purchased the Meguiars Deep Crystal 3 Step line which includes, Step 1 Paint Cleaner, Step 2- Polish, Step 3- Carnuba Wax.

So My mother's 2004 BMW Z4 (Red) has been pretty neglected when it comes to actual detailing. It gets washed a lot, and prolly 2 waxes per year..

So I figured I would try the Meguiars 3 step line out on at least the hood of the BMW.

I don't know if I hurried and caught edges/seems on my microfiber cloths, but there are just as many if not more swirl marks than before I started. It has a lot deeper look and high gloss from the polish and wax... but to say the least, the polish didn't do **** for the swirl marks.

Now FYI.. I have 3 Meguiars MicroFiber towels, all of which came out of the washing machine + dryer(No Fabric Softener) minutes before I started the entire process.

I am frustrated because I worked on it from about 6 to 9 PM ( Car Wash included).

I didn't clay the car at all, because I figured a good wash plus the step 1 paint cleaner would suffice?

As I am putting the polish on, and drying it off, I am noticing swirl marks showing up. Im thinking WTF!!!!

Was I applying to much pressure with the micro fiber when removing?

BTW- I used a Meguiars Soft Foam applicator for all three steps( 3 different applicators for each step)...

I used a round terry cloth applicator disc and microfiber disc to do quick removals of each step... then final wipe down (for each step) with one of the actual microfiber cloths ( not applicator).

At times, I had the microfiber cloths kinda wadded up in my hand. I am thinking maybe the sewed edges/seams were causing swirl marks?

Any help for an ACTUAL detailing newb?

Bad Product?

Be critical please, I can take it.. Wanna learn before I get to my cobalt and this happens.

nothing all night.. me a sad panda

 

i dont know if this will solve your problem or not but whenever i apply wax i wet the applicator and ring it out so it is moist and softens it up. i detailed cars for awhile and its what i was taught to do. try claying, that can help and find a wax/polish that is made specifically for removing swirls/scratches. zaino makes great products. a little more expensive but they work great.

 

well if swirls are really that bad then a machining is in order, it really is the best way, but on my black cougar with 115,000 miles i use mequiars #7 Show Car Glaze and #26 Yellow Carnuaba and i can make my car pristine, in fact every 2 weeks i do this, it is pristine, try it out

 

find a swirl remover....

i dont believe you made many more swirls but you just notice them more....and honestly for getting rid of swirls nothing beats a DA polisher....but i would try a dedicated swirl remover i would also do your process in these steps...

swirl remover->polish->paint cleaner->carnuaba wax

 

ask stu.

 

he will say what i just said

 

"I'll F the BMW before my cobalt" haha
Good luck man!

 

yep I agree

 

ok let me also add something....

take the "paint cleaner" put some on your fingers and rub...does it have any kind of grit to it at all???

take your polish.....does it???

now go get swirl remover and feel it...

you want to go from the most "gritty" to least....

i just wanted to add this to explain a reason for my suggestion

 

ok, right on.. I figured it was what the polish step was for. I mean, shouldn't it have gotten rid of at least some? Me thinks I did something wrong.. most likely , as I said, had a seem/sewn edge of microfiber cloth on paint.. not a lot of "microfibers" on the sewn edge of the cloth.

But yeah, the car hasn't had any polish or good detailing since it was bought in 2004. Its not in bad shape to say the least... still shines nice.. just.... up close, could use some loving ( obviously not mine lol)

 

My 0.02

The KEY to any great detail job is the "Prep Work" if the surface is not prepared well everything else after wont work the way is intended to do so, I suggest you start all over, just take the time and clay the car, that will remove all the wax and the surface will be ready.

When I do my detail jobs I always fold the microfiber and use 4 different sides, usually in a detail job I use 4-5 towels.

Hope that help and let us know how things turn out, post some pictures too ! I don't care what brand you use, I'm always eager to see nice detail jobs

 

pshh....i use 4 towel just about in every step....

and it is possible you used an edge and it would have ill results....just try to fold the seams in to avoid that

 

Make sure to remove the tags off the towels too. If a cars finish isnt smooth it should be clayed before any buffing otherwise as you buff the contaminents in the paint are getting into the pad or cloth and can cause scratches. And as stated above most agressive to least agressive polish but dont do a wax until you have the scratches reomove or your just wasting a step. Get out the scratches then protect it with a good wax or sealant.