question for all you detailing buffs

[markus]

his spring i plan on purchasing a buffer to help make detailing my car a little bit less time consuming and yeild better results. I was thinking about purchasing this:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=10925

I like how ti comes with DVD so I dont **** anything up. I also plan on ordering the orange polishing pad. I want to use the polishing pad with my P21S gloss enhancing paintwork cleanser. And apply my P21S carnuba wax by hand.

Now does anyone know for sure if P21S paintwork cleanser will remove oxidation and swirl marks? It says it will on the bottle. But has anyone used it with a buffer? My typical detail routine is wash, clay, wash, polish then wax. What do you guys use? I have noticed most detailing claybars are the same. I need to get a new one so ill try the meguiars this time.

[CharlesAFerg]

his spring i plan on purchasing a buffer to help make detailing my car a little bit less time consuming and yeild better results. I was thinking about purchasing this:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=10925

I like how ti comes with DVD so I dont **** anything up. I also plan on ordering the orange polishing pad. I want to use the polishing pad with my P21S gloss enhancing paintwork cleanser. And apply my P21S carnuba wax by hand.

Now does anyone know for sure if P21S paintwork cleanser will remove oxidation and swirl marks? It says it will on the bottle. But has anyone used it with a buffer? My typical detail routine is wash, clay, wash, polish then wax. What do you guys use? I have noticed most detailing claybars are the same. I need to get a new one so ill try the meguiars this time.

I'd use a swirl remover after the paint cleaner, depending on the cleaner, some are abrasive, but some are not. I'd rather do it all seperate and combine as few steps as possible when it comes to polishing.

The porter cable 7424 will be easiest to find pads for anywhere, thats what I bought after many weeks of research and trying different ones. Theres just a massive amount of support for the PC7424 as apposed to other models. Pads, adapters, everything...

With wax, I always use the buffer on large areas with a wax pad, then do the specific sections that i purposely missed by hand. Use more than one wax as well, I usually use a sealant under all of my waxes. Just make sure to let the sealant set properly and remove excess before you start waxing away. The outer coat if it's a daily driver will usually be Teflon wax, with pure carnauba wax under it.

[Paul in NZ]

i wouldnt clay bar too often....but thats me

[GoldenOne]

i wouldnt clay bar too often....but thats me

there's nothing wrong with claybarring often IMO its just you have to becareful with the clay and not over re-use it.....personally, though maybe expensive, I detail with a new piece of claybar everytime

[Gayle]

I like how ti comes with DVD so I dont **** anything up. I also plan on ordering the orange polishing pad. I want to use the polishing pad with my P21S gloss enhancing paintwork cleanser. And apply my P21S carnuba wax by hand.

Now does anyone know for sure if P21S paintwork cleanser will remove oxidation and swirl marks?

I was scared when I got my porter cable that I would damage the paint. It is actually very easy to use and seems totally non dangerous.

I got the P21S paintwork cleaner when I went on the detailing supply binge. I remember being unimpressed with the results. I really liked the p21s wheel cleaner though.

Liquidtiger is expert at detailing. He has the most beautiful car and he also made SC David's car gorgeous. No saying others here are not as good or better but I can vouch for Josh's work having seen it. He uses the 3M swirl and oxidation remover. I plan to try that next time.

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=20587&highlight=porter+cable

[RallyD]

definitely go with the porter cable 7424.
its compact and powerful enough to do some decent cutting.

I use Meguiars M80 to take down light swirls and surface oxidation, then follow up with a polymer sealant and if I've got any energy left i might just throw a coat of wax on for shits+giggles.

http://www.premiumautocare.com/das-polisher-kit.html

if you need instruction for all types of detailing Gary Kouba from Perfect Auto Finish (Chicago) has free classes at local librarys and also has a comprehensive dvd on his website.

[Jimbo360]

Be careful u don't burn the paint, also use the meguiars paste, let it sit at least for 3 hours on the shadow.

[Jimbo360]

whys is that?

[califblue]

that is the best buffer on the market...it has a clutch in it and you CAN NOT BURN the PAINT

[Fred/Houston]

I use Meguiars with a Vector polisher but I'm about to change out. My friend Dave Crawford visited me a few years ago and created his own system using the Porter Cable polisher and other accesories.
He refinished my 1985 Euro 735i/Schwartz Black as the finish was gone entirely.
I was totally amazed when he finished and I never used soap to clean the car for 2 years afterwards.
He sells different kits and you can find them at: http://www.glosshaus.com/start.php
Here's a photo of my E23 2 years after he refinished it. Previously I could not even see my own reflection in the paint:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Baguaman/MVC-08S.jpg
Hth's
Fred/Houston

[jrobbo]

You would have to be pretty careless to do any damage with a Dual Action polisher 7424, they are pretty much fool proof.

I use either Meguiars #80 or Menzerna Final Finish to remove swirls, both on a meguiars 8006 pad, it's very effective.

John

[MTechnik540i]

his spring i plan on purchasing a buffer to help make detailing my car a little bit less time consuming and yeild better results. I was thinking about purchasing this:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=10925

I like how ti comes with DVD so I dont **** anything up. I also plan on ordering the orange polishing pad. I want to use the polishing pad with my P21S gloss enhancing paintwork cleanser. And apply my P21S carnuba wax by hand.

Now does anyone know for sure if P21S paintwork cleanser will remove oxidation and swirl marks? It says it will on the bottle. But has anyone used it with a buffer? My typical detail routine is wash, clay, wash, polish then wax. What do you guys use? I have noticed most detailing claybars are the same. I need to get a new one so ill try the meguiars this time.

The Griot's Machine Polish system has proved flawless during my use.

Have used it on numerous cars, with excellent effects. It's mild stuff, don't expect it to take deepish scratches out, but it's very easy to use and safe. Like John (jrobbo) mentioned, you really have to be careless to screw up with one of these machines.

I'm also fond of the Zaino ZFX system, BTW.

I'm sure I've overposted these pictures...But, for example:

On Cosmoschwarz...
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/7/7/6/5/Sharkfest068.JPG

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/bmwm3n528/Charlotte%20Autofair/Fall%202006/autofairfall0617.jpg

[markus]

wow thjat car looks amazing! so you would recomend the griots machine polish? after polish would i be able to apply my P21S carnuba wax? or would you recomend some sort of sealer? Im not looking to remove many scratches since my car doesnt have many. Just trying to remove swirls and remove oxidation.

[MTechnik540i]

wow thjat car looks amazing! so you would recomend the griots machine polish? after polish would i be able to apply my P21S carnuba wax? or would you recomend some sort of sealer? Im not looking to remove many scratches since my car doesnt have many. Just trying to remove swirls and remove oxidation.

The P21S would be fine, the paste waxes tend to last longer...While, I find I can achieve a slightly deeper finish from different sealants (Griot's 'Best in Show' or Zaino Z2, etc.)

I'd purchase Griot's Machine Polish 1, 2 and 3...I've got 4, and find it to be a waste of money.

Thanks for the compliment, but you should see John's (jrobbo) car!

[CharlesAFerg]

I should refine my whole detailing procedure and put it here. I have it all typed up, it's just sorta in my own format with notes and crap all over it. As in i note when I need a certain product on there when I'm low, so it's kind of a messy .doc file lol

[markus]

well form the meguiars website. they recomend claybar, cleaning, polishing then waxing. i plan on just using the meguiars products for now since theyre easy to find and affordable. however i plan on orderingthe random oribital and pads grom griots. im just gonna use the meguiars paint cleaner/polish then use te glaze and wax.

[jrobbo]

Thanks for the compliment, but you should see John's (jrobbo) car!

Wow Trevor, thank YOU for the compliment. I've got to admit, I always get a bit of a chubby when I see pics of your car, it is immaculate, and I just love the black car/black wheels combination, it is just awesome, and I am in awe!

markus, here's a link to a few of the latest shots of my car:
http://www.jrobbo.com/M5/20061217_Concorso/index.htm

For those photos, I clayed the car, then used Menzerna Final Finish polish on my PC7424 to remove swirl marks, and then topped it off with Swissol Concorso wax (of which I am a complete convert).

In April, the BMW Car Clubs in Australia are holding there national event, including a Show and Shine. I have entered my car in it, and my detailing Mentor (Damian from Final Inspection (http://www.finalinspection.com.au), without doubt the finest detailing craftsman in Australia) has offered to spend a whole day with me getting the car looking the very best that it can. We intend to give it a coat of Swissol Mystery wax (one of the finest waxes you can buy, very expensive), I can't wait! I'll take plenty of pictures!

John

[Tiger]

Meguiar is good for wax... However, don't bother with cleaner/polish... I find them waste of time by hand... I have been detailing my car for a long time. It really depends on the condition of the car's paint.

Feel the paint... washed of course. Does it feels like a super fine sandpaper? If yes, then you will need fine cut polish with machine. If not, then just go with claybar... do claybar by hand... no need for machine on this clay bar part.

Once you got the clay bar done, then you can go ahead and glaze the car... and then Meguiar's wax... I like the gold class... they last super long time and cheap at Costco when they have it.

1,2 and 3 polisher is whoa... probably will yield great result.. I just don't want to do it with my hand! With a machine... it would be easy.

[califblue]

Griots...clayed & then Best Of Show Wax...this job was done by hand;)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/califblue/P1010258.jpg

[CharlesAFerg]

Heres a question for you guys, how do you make our stock exhaust pipes shiny again ? :-D

[MTechnik540i]

Griots...clayed & then Best Of Show Wax...this job was done by hand;)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/califblue/P1010258.jpg

Looking sharp. Matches your Duc decal perfectly.

Brilliantrot?

[jrobbo]

The M5 has stainless steel tips, so I just use a metal polish and a plastic kitchen scourer to clean mine. Don't know how well this would work on non-stainless tips though, I haven't tried it

[jrobbo]

Griots...clayed & then Best Of Show Wax...this job was done by hand;)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/califblue/P1010258.jpg

Beautiful color, and well looked after, congratulations!

John