joetarin

Whats up guys. So I have a black SLK350 and after taking it to the carwash a few times it appears as though it was swirls in the paint. It's mostly on the hood and trunk. They can only be seen when the sun is out. I've only had the car for about a month and taken it through the wash maybe 3 times. I think the swirls happened after the first time I took it though. Can these be buffed out? When the car is clean and it's sunny, it looks horrible. Any help is appreciated.

PS. I had a jet black M3 and took it through the wash all the time and never had any issues with the paint.

thx

Duo-Art

You took an SLK to an automatic carwash? BLASPHEMY!!!

joetarin

The one I go to is pretty good, as I said my M3 went through there many times with no issues. I was shocked when I saw what happened to the MB paint.

dsb

Did you buy new? Did you (or the previous owner) ever had it detailed?

Maverick

I have had it happen when I let the dealer wash the car after servicing it (well, I did not let them. They did it in spite of my instructions not to.).

I had several coats of Zaino on it, but what I ended up doing was taking back down to the paint by using Dawn dishwashing detergent, then two coats of Zaino Z5 and a couple of coats of Zaino Z2. Worked great. As long as they are really superficial. Otherwise, you are going to need something a little stronger. (But then again, mine is Mars Red.)

Ynot

Yes, it can be buffed out, MB uses nano-paint technology (supposed to be scratch resistence), so scratches from car washes should buff out with a little bit of effort. You should polish and wax your car every six months especially if the car is black.

JRAMGV8

That is one of my peeves... seeing swirls around the hood of the car when sun it out.

hekeke

u can do nothing with black car...so just be patient... and wax it sometimes..

White Rabbit

That is the main reason I stopped buying black cars, they look great when clean and polished (especially Mercedes). Not so good when even slightly dirty. Just too much work to keep up.

quaidorsay

Also keep your car out of sunlight under the garage if it is black. My obsidian black is one year old on my slk and it still looks great only because i wash it by hand, not even polished or waxed it since taking delivery. using microfibre and changing cloths occasionally. I always like to use special meguiars car wash that doesnt strip the wax coating.

but always make sure you use a good brand new sponge occasionally. And a microfibre chamois after. Avoid contact with the tyres because the wheel area contain metallic particles that might get on your cloth and as you dry or rub it against the paint you can get a swirling effect.

but zaino is pretty good and ive used it on my sisters lexus. But it doesnt beat keeping the car out of too much weather and under the garage closed.

Cheers

Q