Polishing/Waxing Tips & Tricks

[Special K]

I've recently bought myself a 182 in black gold metallic/pearlescent and it has had a "bad polish" at some point and has very fine circular scratches on it. It's nothing major just when in direct sunlight it gets on my tits.

I'm a complete noob when it comes to doing this stuff and was wondering if anyone has any prefered polishes, waxes, techniques or tips. The last thing I want to do is make it worse!

Thanks

 

[Mesa]

You get swirl marks primarily from the washing stage.

Ditch the sponge, get two buckets (preferably with a grit guard) and a lamb/sheeps wool mitt.

Then read some on here/detailing world etc

 

[littleC18]

Poorboys super swirl remover is very good. probably get medium then finish with fine cut. then a good polish... ultra deep shine?
then good wax, megs/poorboys?

 

[Alan]

Invest in a porter cable 7424 machine polisher to rid major swirls and marring as hand polishing is really a thing of the past in terms of correction, T-Cut and the likes AVOID!

For slightly better finish, wash the car, clay use megs quick clay then scratch X panel at a time then a coat or two of Auto Glym super resin to bring the colour back (all available from halfords but can be had cheaper online from the likes of serious performance), then to enhance finish with a quality wax like Swissvax ONYX which works particularly well on black.

My old 182...

Massive amount of time and care taken to get it to this standard..

 

[Special K]

Wow! Thanks peeps. Really helpful.

I have to say Alan that finish is sublime! Though i dont know weather i'm gonna shell out for the machine, i'll try by hand first see how i get on...

I'll post a pic when i'm done...

 

[Tigger]

Welcome to ClioSport

Alan had that Black/Gold car wrapped in cotton wool it was mint

 

[Kris86]

mate i have a blackgold 182 and after my n00b'ishness of using polish carwash, sponges and synthetic leathers i decided to treat the car and keep it spotless. So do yourself a favour and do/get these:

1. Get somebody to machine polish it first.

2. Then get the following products:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/eurow-sheepskin-wash-mitt/prod_452.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/meguiars-gold-class-shampoo-64oz/prod_423.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/miracle-dryer-ultra-plush-25-x-36-/prod_362.html

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...ick&langId=-1&catalogId=10151&ddkey=ClickInfo

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_161384_langId_-1_categoryId_165527

and use 2 buckets. One with your shampoo in one with clean water in, both with grit guards. After every dip and wash, rinse your mitt in the clean water and repeat.

Mine looks mint after a machine polish months ago. Only the basics that lot but £100 for machine polish and £50 for cleaning things, your car will stay mint. I have 2 mitts, one for below trimline so i dont get grit on rest of car.

 

[Aluco]

These are my results achieved by hand.

Wash with meguiars gold class shampoo,
clay with sonus green clay,
polish with auto glym super resin polish,
second polish with poorboys polish with sealent,
Wax with meguiars Nxt Teck wax x2.

 

[Special K]

Ok guys, sorry for the late response.

Had a go by hand on the rear bumper and has come out nicely, not perfect though. I think i will at some point treat it to a machine polish. I would post a pic but my Nikon has just packed up with a 'Lens Error'.

Aluco - thats real talent getting that finish by hand, fancy doing mine too?

 

[jack_davey]

I think while good results can be achieved by hand, it will take a lot longer and wont quite deliver the same results as machine polishing.

I'm in surrey too and also have a black gold 182, I'd be happy to have a look over it for you and recommend some products that have worked for me.