Steps to a glossy, smooth paint????

[Liddo]

I've just bought my new car, sorry for swaering, its a BM 525 on a 51 plate in Silver.
Ive had it a week and ive washed it for the first time today, and the paint feels like sandpaper, the poor car hasnt had a good polish in years. Now, i used a little t-cut colour restorer on one quarter and it looks dead shiney and feels smooth, but it was bloody hard work.

So, whats the best process, and what is the best stuff to use to get her gleaming again?

[LiamT4]

Not a fan of t-cut myself, i'v always found maguires to be good compromise between quality and cost.

I'v always thought it was better to use wax than car polish as it protects the paint work far better.

[SKIDMARKS]

Need to clay it first

[Liddo]

Cheers chaps, i had a feeling Claying would be first, i think im gonna need a whole mine pit of it!

Which maguairs do i get? (wrong spelling?)

Ebay is my friend lately

[Wobbly Dave]

sonus green or grey clay will be just the job. Use plenty of water/quick detailing solution (use 1 in 7). 2ft by 2 ft at a time. You can use TARDIS as a preclay to make the job easier on the arms.

[Jimmie]

These guys should be your friend not ebay,http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/
Happy reading.

[Wobbly Dave]

Claying is only to remove the bonded contaminents that don't come off with washing. You should polish after the wash - dry - clay step - then seal it & add LSP. Loada work!!

[LiamT4]

Cheers chaps, i had a feeling Claying would be first, i think im gonna need a whole mine pit of it!

Which maguairs do i get? (wrong spelling?)

Ebay is my friend lately

Not sure how you spell it, it may be "meguiars"?
I'm sure there will be people who say that this or that is better (and i'm not saying its definatly the best out there), but for price, quality and ease of use i find them very good.

I'v got meguiars paint restorer, scratch remover and tech wax 2.0 (which is very easy to put on and take off).
They must be pretty decent as anyone who has seen my car, will say that it looks pretty good for its age (although it was dirty at the dyno day).

[Wobbly Dave]

I have used Megs DC#1 & DC #2. Cleansing with these products is not as effective as a good clay bar but can take less time.

[LiamT4]

I have used Megs DC#1 & DC #2. Cleansing with these products is not as effective as a good clay bar but can take less time.

Totally agree with you there, i rate them because you get a good result with (relatively) little effort.

[volvokid]

Also get some ironcut use it after tardis and you'll be amazed!! Because your car is silver you will actually see it lifting the contaminants off the paint. I used tardis and ironcut when i did my sisters astra and there was almost no need to clay.

[Liddo]

Well, i think ive got enough to go on now! lol

Thanks a lot guys, I'll try and do some before and after shots (if the m.o.d's will allow pictures of a BMW on here )

Thanks again, have a good weekend

[Tomcat]

Well, i think ive got enough to go on now! lol

Thanks a lot guys, I'll try and do some before and after shots (if the m.o.d's will allow pictures of a BMW on here )

Thanks again, have a good weekend

Oooooo I'm not sure that's in the rules.....could be a bannable offence,lol. Good luck with it, look forward to the photo's.

[Liddo]

I'll sneak the before piccys in now then, but they're not close up, so you probably wont be able to tell when its done

[LiamT4]

I like it, but i am a bmw fan. I have a soft spot for e39's and i'm constantly having to fight the urge to get a 540. lol

[Liddo]

I like it, but i am a bmw fan. I have a soft spot for e39's and i'm constantly having to fight the urge to get a 540. lol

Im sure you've read up on them. Mine has a lovely smooth ride, but has moore squeaks than a box of mice! Well built my arse, but all the same, they are good, very good.

Prone to poor stereos, rust, squeaks, rattles, and in general, BLOODY HEAVY!

[LiamT4]

Im sure you've read up on them. Mine has a lovely smooth ride, but has moore squeaks than a box of mice! Well built my arse, but all the same, they are good, very good.

Prone to poor stereos, rust, squeaks, rattles, and in general, BLOODY HEAVY!

I find that most standard car stereos seem poor comapred to the ones fitted to volvos. They do handle well, but you can definatly feel the weight.

[SKIDMARKS]

Had owned three 5 series and was going to buy a 540 touring until the local specialist I used warned me that to do the rear plug/s the engine had to be shifted somewhat, so that was that !

Nice car btw

[Liddo]

Slight update: i went and bought Megs DC1 last night and gave it a go. I must say that the t-cut makes the paint feel smooth, the Megs doesnt. Ive only used it on one quarter though.
Ive got a feeling this car has been parked near a spray booth or something, and the rough feeling is a fine mist of spray. The car deffo hasnt been resprayed though. There is the odd splash mark / dots of a primer in places. Maybe thats why the t-cut is doing a better job.

Oh well, its dry today, so back out for a few hours polishing

[volvokid]

I dont know why i really bother with detailing advice but heres another bit of info, by using ANY sort of polish on a car that hasnt had the contaminants removed will only be putting defects into the paint that you will see under the sun. So all the hard effort and sore arms gets put to waste, with your car being silver though defects aren't so noticeable.