Grrrrr, swirl marks!

[robert.jamieson]

Hi All,

I recently noticed that there are faint swirl marks all over the bodywork. Nick at Ausitns told me that it may have been caused by a dirty mop during a valet. However, i'm a bit concerned that I may have caused these myself during a normal polish. Is this possible? The car was washed and dried, then I used Autoglym to polish her up. Wasn't mega impressed with the finish to be honest and was thinking about trying something else. I used fresh clean polishing material from Halfords. Could normal polishing in this way cause such swirl marks? Or is it more likely to be from a dirty mop as Nick said? How is this best sorted? Autoglym again or something else. Any other tips?

Cheers guys.

Rob

[colintf]

I use Autoglym and I'm always impressed with the result of the annual polishing.

I use their normal polish, then their one for modern paints, then the paint protectant. Normally takes me the best part of a day to do.

Looks good on trophy Blue, Starlight Silver or Goodwood Green. Cannot comment on Black though, and I have no experience using it on black cars.

Could some grit have landed on the car when you were polishing?

[robert.jamieson]

I use Autoglym and I'm always impressed with the result of the annual polishing.

I use their normal polish, then their one for modern paints, then the paint protectant. Normally takes me the best part of a day to do.

Looks good on trophy Blue, Starlight Silver or Goodwood Green. Cannot comment on Black though, and I have no experience using it on black cars.

Could some grit have landed on the car when you were polishing?

Yeah, maybe. Hope not. Gutted if it was me! Not having much luck recently. The wheels are at Rimstock at the moment thanks to Autoglym alloy wheel cleaner stipping off the paint in places! Perhaps I should leave it to the professionals! Nah, maybe not.

Oh, by the way. I believe I am down for a new handbrake cable. Could you make that two please.

Cheers

Rob

[colintf]

Oh, by the way. I believe I am down for a new handbrake cable. Could you make that two please.

Cheers

Rob

Wrong Colin Rob, it's Ragman (another Colin) that runs the shop for us all - drop him a PM just in case he misses your post above

[Coasting]

Probably best to get a very good detailer to take care of it, gonna cost you £200 + though for a pro detail and then only wash it yourself using their recommended procedure with new sponges cloths every time

[pessling]

half the problem when people wash there cars is that they use a sponge which causes these, should use a wash mitt

Another is that the car hasn't been clayed which can cause unseen grit etc on the paint to be pushed into it.

AG super resin polish is good as it covers some of the swirl marks up, black and dark colours are a right bitch to keep clean and swirl free.

[GeoffW]

Yeah, maybe. Hope not. Gutted if it was me! Not having much luck recently. The wheels are at Rimstock at the moment thanks to Autoglym alloy wheel cleaner stipping off the paint in places! Perhaps I should leave it to the professionals! Nah, maybe not.

Oh, by the way. I believe I am down for a new handbrake cable. Could you make that two please.

Cheers

Rob

That auto glym wheel cleaner is like a mild acid makes alloy froth up

[Coasting]

I wash my wheels with the normal sponge shampoo method like the rest of the car and then polish them gently with AG super resin as this removes tar spots etc and if I have time use AG wheel seal to finish off.

If you clean the wheels once a week and do the above every now and again you wont need to use the acid products.

[Stefano]

i use autoglym in both v8 and tt. No swirl marks. however i invested in an autoglym aolicator. £4.99 see autoglym website. it has finger moulds and because ur fingers slide in the moulds the sponge applicator surface glides over the car. it takes quarter of the time compared to polishing clothes. Great idea, great pressie for car nut.
steve

[robert.jamieson]

Sounds like I am not the only one battling with swirl marks. I don't get it really. Had a hole host of classics in the past and never had this problem before. Then I get the spanking nearly new ZT and manage to knacker the wheels and possibly swirl up the paint in a matter of a few washes! Gutted

I think I'll look into this clay bar business. Not ready to admit defeat yet! I always used to replace sponges regularly but will give the mit ago instead. Can you get these from Halfords?

She comes back from Austins soon, complete with new powerfold mirrors, new electric sun blind, new bonnet badge, new wheel centres, refurbed wheels, stainless bolts set fitted, front bumper aligned, MG7 mud flaps fitted, passenger seat forwards backwards adjuster repaired, Inspection C carried out, plus diff oil change, coolant change (which had been missed) and new plugs. To think it only went in for the wheel refurb and a couple of small jobs! Can't wait!

I've got a hankering for the Zero quads next! Maybe next year

Cheers

Rob