bob2011

Hey eveybody. I got into a minor accident and i dropped my car off to get the bumper repainted. the guy offered to detail my car for 100 bucks and i said why not. Man it was a f****** disaster. there are so many damn swirls on my car now its not even funny. i hate to take it out in the day time since its a black car and all you see is swirls. Anyway my question you guys is, is there anyway i can get rid of these swirls? seriously, my car looks like a hologram on wheels.

MagCL

If you have a rotary polisher, and you know how to use it properly, 3M 06068 Ultrafine Machine Polish with the 3M, 05708 blue pad should get rid of them. This stuff works amazing on black cars. Good luck!!

K-A

That sucks. I feel your pain now having a black car myself.

The amount of carefulness you have to be with a black car, namely when you let OTHER PEOPLE handle it, can drive one crazy. I gave my car to a Valet guy the other night, completely paranoid about doing so from the get-go, yet telling myself that I'm just being overly **** and paranoid. Turns out my initial apprehension was right, as when I looked at my car afterwards, the fingerprints they put all over the doors resulted in light marring. Also, I think they placed my keys on the trunk or something, because there were some areas where I could see the dust on the car was swiped, and similar marring. Also some marring on my B Pillar frames again where I could see they used their greasy hands to close the door.

I used Scratch X 2.0 very lightly to get those little bits out pretty successfully.

For you, with a whole car of swirls and not being experienced in doing the work yourself. Find a good Paint Correction SPECIALIST, someone who is vouched for on Message Boards, and pay them $300-$400 to correct your paint. DO NOT go back to another "cheap detailer" as they will further damage your paint and remove even more clearcoat.

I made the mistake of taking my car to a Car Wash after I got it, they swirled up the paint. THEN they offered to "fix it", which resulted in MASSIVE holograms. Finally, I took it to a true specialist who did a great job. I can PM you his info.

After you get it corrected, just be careful with it. I figure if you're careful enough, one correction a year or 8 months apart from each other with a black car should keep it looking great even in sunlight (where every black car will show swirls unfortunately).

alanme123

I used to be really uptight about it like you KA, but then after a while its really inevitable that our black cars will eventually get the occasional swirl/tiny scratches. I tried to prevent it as much as I could but it pissed me of to the point where I decided I'm going to go to a really good detailer to get all of it out every half a year or so. But that shine when its all clean and smooth.. Love it

scka24e

any recommendations for any good paint correction detailer in San Diego?

K-A

Very sound advice and agreed!

I've already started learning that swirls in sunlight will be inevitable. Like you, my goal is to just make sure I do my best to maintain from it, and of course accept the reality. The most important thing with black is to be happy as long as it looks stunning in low light, shade and night, which is easy (since you can't see swirls in black under dimmer lighting).

Yeah, a good detail once to twice a year makes things much easier with black. It allows you to sleep better about inevitable swirls that will occur.

Still learning the tricks of the trade with this color. Loving it though, the merits are worth it.... so far, lol.

BenzV12

Sorry to what happened to your car and hopefully last time you have such hamstrings
Since you are in CA , I have a very excellent source for you , www.innovativedetailing.com , contact Dave he is a great guy

ImInPA

Another good choice is the Meguires 105/205 combo. Start withe the finer 205. If that works polish the vehicle and you are done. If that is not strong enough use the 105, followed by the 205 and you will have a mirror finish. I also use the Menzerna polishes that are used by MB on the manufacturing line. Swirls can be fixed pretty easily with a rotary DA buffer and the right polish.

Cyber GS

Try the link below and scroll down the regional forum section. I’m sure you will be able to find someone that will be able to help you out.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/forum.php

mbuster25

Sorry about your car, but know that it's current state is temporary, and it can be fixed and improved dramatically. Working on black will show one's skill or stupidity (in case of the $100 guy)

If you are DIY and a newbie, take the time to learn. The more powerful the tool, the more damage you can inflict, but poor technique/methods is bad too. All of these products require initial $, and it is going to take time as well. Polisher, pads, polishing compounds, lighting, etc...

If you are not a DIY, then a professional is best. Someone who can at least show you examples of their work and offer to do a test area on your car, would be plus?

Lastly, if you recently got your bumper painted and usually, the paint shop will blend in to the body, I would avoid polishing any fresh painted area for 30 days.

bob2011

Please Pm me. i cant stand looking at my car the way it is. it makes me want to cry.

bob2011

I'm definitely going to turn to a specialist, i hate the way my car looks.

bob2011

i will certanly be giving these guys a call, they look damn legit. hopefully they can fix the swirls that the stupid shop caused.

bob2011

me with the buffer is a disaster waiting to happen. :/

ImInPA

Bob, A dual action buffer (DA) will not harm your paint. You would have to use it as a hammer to do any damage. Flex makes a really good one, but, I also have a Griot's Garage model that is also superb. At least read about it so you familiarize yourself with the technology.

fcienfuegos

I was able to remove the swirls that the dealership put on my black E350 as follows:

- Poter cable 7424XP Variable Speed Polisher
- Menzerna Super Finish Nano SF4000 (specially designed for ceramic clear coats on newer MBZ)
- Lake Country CCS Grey Finishing Foam Pad (Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes)

Good luck

no_mulligan

Here's my swirl killer recipe for my black E550:
- FLEX XC3401 polisher
- Menzerna FG400 with Lake Country Hydrotech Cyan pad (twice).
- Menzerna SF4000 with LC Hydrotech tangerine pad (twice).
- use IPA mix or Menzerna Top Inspection as polish remover.
- Apply Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant with yellow applicator pad and buff with microfiber bonnet.
- Cure above 55 degrees in garage for 12 hours.
- Apply second coat of sealant.
- For extra bling, try SF4500 with a crimson pad before Black Fire.

Improper washing & drying techniques can be scratch & swirl contributors in the absence of a sealant.

Anybody else with their recipe for black MB cars??

K-A

Unfortunately even with a strong sealant, even slightly improper buffing/drying can show slight swirls on a black car. You can't really prevent it unless you're literally insane about it.

What I'm doing is I got some super plush MF towels which I'll use to dry my car, a MF Wash Mitt, and use ONR Wash/Wax which hopefully with the wax content will help to constantly "mask" any potential swirls. I've come to realize that black is so sensitive that even BUFFING off wax with even a super plush MF towel can streak the paint. I was using a wax that was so damn hard to buff (perhaps my MF was too plush for buffing in retrospect) that I noticed it in itself left some light "swirls" on the paint. Just gotta live with those dynamics of black.

no_mulligan

For me, sealants assist with the removal of contaminents by reducing the mechanical force to dislodge it from the surface. Never heard of a strong sealant. As a option to drying, I've used a blower. IF the surface has sufficient sealant, the beads of water will run like marbles. Try it. If it does roll, then, there's work to be done. I do believe that the less you touch it, the better. The only thing I know that can help mask a scratch is a filler that contains oils. Never seen it first hand in a wash product. I believe that if I wanted to maintain a decent looking finish, I needed the tools and knowledge to keep it that way on a black car because I'm too cheap to find a "specialist" and enjoy detailing too much.

ImInPA

+1 on using a blower. I use a cheap ($20) Black and Decker electric leaf blower. Gets the water out of all the little crevices.

mbuster25

For drying, I like to use large blue drying towels and a Metrovac.
I've used both a Toro super leaf blower and a Metrovac, and while the Toro is faster, do prefer the Metrovac because I felt I had better control of the nozzle. The Metrovac serves as vacuum too, which is it's real primary purpose.
One tip if you are using Metrovac as a blower is make sure you have the hose and attachments on tight, as something loose could mean damage to your car!

ImInPA is right in that blowing helps cleans out the crevices. My experience is that W212 tends to have water build/drain at the mirrors/front doors, fuel door, chrome trim accents for those who have it, wheels/tires/lug nuts and headlight assemblies.

mbuster25

If you are referring to relatively new product Optimum No Rinse with Wax, I don't think it has any filling or scratch hiding cabilities. I've used Optimum Car Wax (OCW) before and it is decent spray wax. It's marketed having UV protection, not that a car paint would need that with clearcoat maintained.

ONR is also great product, but if given a choice, a traditional wash is far more thorough, should be safer, and is quicker than ONR wash.

The time to fill would be with the application of a glaze, which is before applying a sealant or wax.

K-A

Yeah I just got a bottle of that stuff. I was just assuming that the Carnuba in it would naturally "hide" some of the swirls. Though it seems opinions vary as to whether Carnuba "hides" swirls or not. I think like you said it doesn't technically hide them like a glaze does, but perhaps what others refer to is the reflective/shine capabilities kind of disguising marring in a certain sense.

Unfortunately I don't have access to a hose where I live. I've been trying to find the best way to to a waterless or rinseless wash and it seems that ONR is the highest regarded. I used a waterless before this but buffing out the Kaolin Clay was such a pain I think the buffing aspect did more marring than anything else. I'm hoping buffing/drying ONR is easier.

What I love about ONR W/W is that the wax content in it will keep my car thoroughly protected at all times, especially since I already have a coat of Menzerna's Polymer Sealant on the car.

Another tip for those especially with black cars. Get in the habit of washing each panel in one direction only. If streaking at least only occurs in a straight lines then you won't be able to see the swirls at every angle of light.

ImInPA

K-A: Waterless car wash products, regardless of the claims, will scratch your paint and increase swirls. If your vehicle is anything more than dusty, the chances of marring your finish increase dramatically with these products. Each to his own of course.

K-A

I guess that's why I shouldn't have gotten black, lol.

I guess I'll see how this ONR rinse less stuff works out. Got the dual bucket method in effect, grit guard, plush MFs and mitt, etc.