Buffing, Polishing & Sealing.

[Joe]

Thanks for the tips Brian,
As for the tar-removal stuff in the shops, I've found it frustratingly useless unless you are only dealing with a few spots here and there.

No need to use it on the aerial as its one of those non-retractable/flexible type aerials. I do find the stuff very good though for the door hinges/locks. Frees them up nicely.

The worst self-inflicted damage I've seen recently was carried out by my father on his car - lets just say Brillo pad, elbow grease and a nice, relatively new paintwork do not mix!! Any tips for removing "a lot" of swirl marks/scratches!

Toad, I agree with using the Mer polish on windows. Its great, the wipers work amazingly well afterwards!!

[BrianS]

Joe, on your fathers car, can you see down to the metal or is just superficial swirls.

If its surface, a professional hi-speed buffing will either remove the swirls (they have to use an abrasive polish). If the scratches are deep, they can.....its hard to describe.

A scratch will have a V shape in the paintwork. Polishing it down will either smooth it down by taking a top-layer of the paint off or else ease the angle of the V so it doesn't catch the light so badly and make it less visible to the eye.

You could try some paint spotting. Its a tedious job again. You dab the touch-up paint in with a toothpick (or paper match-stick) and keep layering it. ie - let it dry, do another layer until it's smooth. By just filling in the whole in one go, it can dry "upwards" and give a fish-eye finish.

I've always said it - Elbow Grease is not good and should be used minimally on whatever you do!! Or maybe I'm a lazy git!!

- Brian

[WhipLash]

That just reminds me...I saw a guy washing his 01 car yesterday - it was gleeming. Then I spotted a container on the wall with a green liquid - it was Fairy washing up liquid!!!

I have to admit though, I used to use it myself on an old banger quite a few years ago!

[Joe]

Brian, some of the scratches are pretty bad - very noticeable circular swirls. Not sure how deep. I tried washing and polishing (with T Cut) for him afterwards and it didn't look too bad, but that seemed to wear off again. Like all scratches, its most noticeable on a sunny day. (have you ever noticed it is a real pain in the ass to wash a car on a sunny day??! I find the duller/gloomier the day, the easier it is).

Then again, he's not that bothered himself. its a company car, but it looks brutal on a 6 month old car all the same!

[BrianS]

Washing on a sunny day - that's when the water will evaporate faster. Its a swine for leaving streaks on your windows as well. The simple solution is to try get it in the shade if you can.

Take care out there,
Brian

[BeCos]

Well I spent two years working as a car valet at a main dealer, then a urther 10 years doing various other jobs.

I agree that Autoglym is probably the best range out there, the Super resin Polish is one of the easiest to use, although it doesn't last as long as a typical "Wax". Also the "Autoglym Gold" is really good for a deep shine after you've use the other one.

As BrianS said always use a quality detergent that lathers very well and use plenty of water.

I only use an Autoglym synthetic chamois as anything else is rubbish and difficult to use. they cost about IR£9 but are quite big and can hold about a half litre of water. Towels are okay but you need to ensure it is mainly natural with no artificials in it like nylon, as this will scratch the paintwork.

I bought some "California Gold" carnuba wax when I was in Canada, it's made by "Mothers" and works really really well and the carnuba has a great smell, a bit like chewing gum!!! Looking forward to treating my new BLACK car to some later this summer.

As far as glass cleaner goes I think the Windolene type products are fine but you should use a duster type cloth as this will reduce smearing, as will using verticle or horizontal strokes only. Avoid swirling the cloth as this will lead to smearing,or at least the light will show it up more, that's a tip I got from someone who used to clean the windows on airplanes!!

I clean my car nearly every second day, a quick wash and chamois, then polish it lightly every second weekend or so. I use WD40 to de-tar is, soaking for about 15 minutes and then useing hot water to wipe away.

The car I've just sold was 4 years old an looked brand new!!

[BrianS]

You should use back and forth strokes on every surface. Especially bonnet & roof.I was in LA a few years ago. The range of products over there is far better than what we can get our hands on here. But there's enough to keep us going.
I like what you said about selling your 4 year old car. My car is a big investment for me and its well worth taking care of your investment. Its a plus if you don't see it as "chore". Appreciate how good your car can look. You feel better driving a well-kept car. It gives it a better resale value.
The worst thing that anyone did to my car was some kid spat on my passenger door. He must have been eating cheap sweets because there was a big candy-pink gob dribbling all down the door. The worst thing is I didn't notice it for a few days and it actually damaged the paint. It always had a "fade" or grey mark in the shape of the spit and it would never go, no matter what I did. I try walk around my car every day now, even just to check for bird-droppings.

Anyone else out there ever suffer vandalism?

[Phil]

Oh Yeah, Someone had a field day with my cars. They took the BMW badge off the bonnet of my car, or when someone in work drove into my Rover 620si and said nothing.

But the worst had to be when I came out to my car to find the wiper blade rapped arount the wing mirror.

If I got my hands on them God know what I'd do to them...

[Toad]

I've a lovely big dent in my rear panel from some sh it who put his foot or knee to it. Haven't decided what to do about it yet as the paint is not cracked & it may pop out to near perfect, I hope.

"Toad, I agree with using the Mer polish on windows. Its great, the wipers work amazingly well afterwards!!"

I've never used it on the windscreen before, cause I was warned it would cause smeering from the wipers, but I use a very very small amount to do all windows, but I got my screen replaced yesterday so it's gleeming now. Surprising how it makes hte car look almost new ....I wish...but it does improve the look to have clean shinny windows

[BrianS]

I got one of those Kleeneze catalogues in the letterbox. I don't know if you've seen them - it's like Argos except delivered straight to your door. They had a dent puller in it for £3. It was basically a suction cup but I was tempted to get it for that price. Thing is I didn't have a dent in my car to try it on and, well, I'm not thick enough to give my own car a boot. So I went to a car park and kicked another car but when I went to try the suction cup on it, the owner had driven it off. Do you think that might have been you, Toad???


umm, I'm joking of course......!

Take Care out there,
Brian

[Junior]

Jesus Phil If I knew you had the Rover I'd have taken a hammer to it instead of just reversing into it :D

[WhipLash]

I have a dent in my driver door about the size of a 20p coin, looks like a stone impacted while driving. The paint doesn't look split or anything. It there anything I can do myself to get this dent out?

[BrianS]

Removing dents is a tricky business. I wouldn't take it on myself as it needs special tools and technique. If you try it, do let us know how you get on!!

[Phil]

BrianS, I have one last question for you. Now that we know what to use on the body and windows, what should be used on alloys in your opinion? I have a BMW and the alloys seem to superglue any dirt and fuem from the road.

Any ideas???

[BrianS]

Ah yes....alloys. They give such a fine look to handsome car. Your Alloy, like the rest of the paintwork, is finished off with a clearcoat but the wheel is constantly bombarded by heated dust particles from the brake pad - aka brake dust, and it can literally bake into the surface of the wheel. Other attacks to the finish of your wheel include acid rain (sulphur exhaust particle on your car combined with rain), hydrocarbons and acidic cleaners.

Most alloys have the clearcoat, but some of them are anodized & polished - these suffer from the same attacks and more. If yours came with the BMW, I reckon they are coated. Keep an eye out for Non-Acidic Wheel cleaners. Most of them are acidic - if you read the ingredients on the back, they will have hydrochloric, oxalic and/or phosphoric acid. If you have any marks, scratches or pits in the finish of the wheel, the cleaner will get into the gap and make peeling or flaking happen faster. If you have dirty wheels, nothing is better than acidic cleaners for removal and cleaning of dirt, but you have just read the damage that can go along with it.

Non-Acidic cleaners need time to work. The chemical soaks in and seperates the contaminant from the wheel. Look for Ethylene Glycol in the ingredients. You will have to use a brush or a sponge to agitate the dirt off the surface though.

Check out the brands in the shop. I've used a few of whats there and they seem to be the same, but have a look at the ingredients and if they have a ph indicator it would say between 8.5 and 9.5 - get as close to 8.5 as you can. I think I have Simoniz at home, but I can't remember just now. I think its in a green bottle - I've a head like a sieve today.

What are the rest of you using? And don't tell me Brillo pads and Elbow grease again!!!

Take Care Out There,
Brian

[BrianS]

By the way, when you wash your car, always start with wheels. Try to get a dressing for your tyres as well. No point having a clean suit and dirty shoes!!!

[Phil]

What can I say BrianS "you're the man!!" Thanks for all the info..

[Toad]

" have a dent in my driver door about the size of a 20p coin, looks like a stone impacted while driving. The paint doesn't look split or anything. It there anything I can do myself to get this dent out?
__________________"

Whip ring dial a dent paintless dent removal, for about £30 he'll remove teh dent & it'll look like new, Tell him his mate with all the Alfa's gave you the number, 0868189398
Some of you may have seen him he drives a black & yellow smart car :D