Can this be fixed?

That looks like a pretty expensive vehicle and I'd hate for you to ruin the paint by continuing on the path you are on. You need to understand some basics about the process. One way is to read this e-book: Mike Phillips’ The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine E-book - Download

Here's some basics also: Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

You could also get a professional to get your car in tip-top shape. I really don't know what your goal is--if this was just something you decided to do on a holiday weekend, or if you want to get to a "nice finish" and then maintain it. Maintaining a black vehicle is a little bit of a religion, as someone says "black isn't a color, it's a part time job".
 
Yea im a DIY but at this point I just want it to look "decent" without spending alot of money and not causing any more damage to the car so should I with DA buffer then with Meguiar's M205 or Menzerna FG400 followed by PF2500 in a test area to be safe? Can it be done by hand?
 
V924 said:
So how should I go about making this car look "decent". What exactly is causing the fogginess how do I get rid of it?
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The fogginess is caused by using improper technique trying to make your car look decent. My guess is the car looked better before you started than it does now. Follow the suggestion by another post in this thread to educate yourself, especially by reading and following advice in Mike Phillips book. How do you get rid of the fogginess? Use proper technique, products and tools to bring your car back to "decent" looking . One of you photos shows your vehicle to be a BMW, one of the X series. The photos also show additional issues besides the foggy paint: compound and/or wax stains on the black trim. Your car will never look decent until that is dealt with too. To do a proper job, you need proper tools, plus products. Perhaps at this point you might want to consider contacting a local detailer to bring our BMWs paint back to it best possible finish. Perhaps this detailer will be willing to let you help in the process so you can learn to properly maintain our BMW. Since you live in the Chicago area, there are surely many excellent detailers there who are also members of this forum.
 
V924 said:
Yea im a DIY but at this point I just want it to look "decent" without spending alot of money and not causing any more damage to the car so should I with DA buffer then with Meguiar's M205 or Menzerna FG400 followed by PF2500 in a test area to be safe? Can it be done by hand?
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Do you have any of those products? That "DA" you have (Harbor Freight Palm Polisher) likely doesn't have the power to do what is required. If you would like to work by hand, then you can go to a local store and buy some microfiber applicators and Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish. You can get results by hand with those but it will take a long time and will be a lot of work (honestly, even by machine to fix what you have will take a long time and a lot of work).

As jsgntulok stated, it might be best to find a member who details on the side who would be willing to fix your vehicle and give you some training at the same time.
 
I returned the 9 inch drill master and got a 7 inch drill master variable speed. Should i use a orange foam pad. What kind of compound?
 
V924 said:
I returned the 9 inch drill master and got a 7 inch drill master variable speed. Should i use a orange foam pad. What kind of compound?
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yes ..start with an orange pad with a good compound ( not turtle wax compound ) if all you have to work with is 3M then do it
do small areas 2 x 2 ft. sections and wipe away anything thats left over after your done and in between ( very key step ) it lets you see what you are doing and not
 
If you had gotten the 6" variable speed dual action polisher then we could talk.

It would appear your enthusiasm has exceeded your common sense. You have gotten many good suggestions in this thread, but you have gone ahead and gotten a tool that will probably lead to just as many problems as you started with.
 
V924 said:
I returned the 9 inch drill master and got a 7 inch drill master variable speed. Should i use a orange foam pad. What kind of compound?
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Before you do anything....you should read up on polishers and polishing techniques. If this 7 inch drill master is what I think it is then the path you are about to take is one that might end in tears. Your CC is only so thick.

HF do sell a DA at a pretty good price and I would recommend you start with that. The Griot Garage machine is a far superior machine for a bit more money. AG has several GG kits on sale right now and you should take a look at them.

To be perfectly honest....
by the time you acquire all the right tools (polisher, pads, compound, polishes, MF towels, etc), you will spend close to the cost of having a pro (not the automatic car wash varieties) to fix this for you. I am all-in for learning and DIY but I don't think this is the right time or the right situation IMO.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
If you had gotten the 6" variable speed dual action polisher then we could talk.

It would appear your enthusiasm has exceeded your common sense. You have gotten many good suggestions in this thread, but you have gone ahead and gotten a tool that will probably lead to just as many problems as you started with.
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agreed ...
 
psnt1ol said:
Before you do anything....you should read up on polishers and polishing techniques. If this 7 inch drill master is what I think it is then the path you are about to take is one that might end in tears. Your CC is only so thick.

HF do sell a DA at a pretty good price and I would recommend you start with that. The Griot Garage machine is a far superior machine for a bit more money. AG has several GG kits on sale right now and you should take a look at them.

To be perfectly honest....
by the time you acquire all the right tools (polisher, pads, compound, polishes, MF towels, etc), you will spend close to the cost of having a pro (not the automatic car wash varieties) to fix this for you. I am all-in for learning and DIY but I don't think this is the right time or the right situation IMO.
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good advice ...:xyxthumbs:
 
I spent $40 on the buffer it was on sale the pads would be $10 the rubbing compound maybe $30 on the conpound? How much would it cost to have a profetional buff out my car 250+? Id feel safer if i had a paint depth finder so know how much clearcoat i have to work with.
 
V924 said:
I spent $40 on the buffer it was on sale the pads would be $10 the rubbing compound maybe $30 on the conpound? How much would it cost to have a profetional buff out my car 250+?
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Cost is dependent to the area where you live. I would say a pro might charge anywhere between $30-$50 an hour. $240 - $400 might be a good range for what I am looking at (based on the posted pics).
 
Yes thats why imchoping to be able to get it to look decent without taking it into a pro. Either by hand or with the buffer by hand seems safer but its harder and will take longer considering the situation this car is in.
 
V924 said:
Yes thats why imchoping to be able to get it to look decent without taking it into a pro. Either by hand or with the buffer by hand seems safer but its harder and will take longer considering the situation this car is in.
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Bill1234 is that you? You have already gotten the answer, but I guess it's not the answer you want.

Try this, go to Wal-Mart and get a bottle of Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, and some microfiber applicators. That should cost about $12. Apply it per the instructions on the bottle (remember, less is more), on a SMALL area (about a foot square). See if that is getting you the results you want. If so, repeat on small (about 1 foot x 1 foot) areas until the car is done or until you are too tired.

You will probably want some decent microfiber towels to wipe off the UC, get the ones at Wal-Mart that cost about $3 for two. And don't put the applicator or the towels on the ground while you aren't using them.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Bill1234 is that you? You have already gotten the answer, but I guess it's not the answer you want.

Try this, go to Wal-Mart and get a bottle of Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, and some microfiber applicators. That should cost about $12. Apply it per the instructions on the bottle (remember, less is more), on a SMALL area (about a foot square). See if that is getting you the results you want. If so, repeat on small (about 1 foot x 1 foot) areas until the car is done or until you are too tired.

You will probably want some decent microfiber towels to wipe off the UC, get the ones at Wal-Mart that cost about $3 for two. And don't put the applicator or the towels on the ground while you aren't using them.
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youre a better man than i :cheers: ..lol i didnt even see it coming
 
GenesisCoupe said:
I'm in Addison. If you want advice/assistance PM me.
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There's the best post of the thread--jump on that V924!

Marius@F40 said:
youre a better man than i :cheers: ..lol i didnt even see it coming
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This is beginning to sound like Weekend At Bernie's or something...I'm half expecting it was Dad's car and someone was trying to surprise him while he's away for the holiday weekend...
 
Setec Astronomy said:
There's the best post of the thread--jump on that V924!



This is beginning to sound like Weekend At Bernie's or something...I'm half expecting it was Dad's car and someone was trying to surprise him while he's away for the holiday weekend...
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Wow!!! I am actually old enough to understand the "Weekend at Bernie's" reference. :laughing::laughing:
 
Watch these: Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

Purchase and read this ebook: Mike Phillips’ The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine E-book - Download

I wouldn't purchase anything or touch the car until you watch the videos and read the book. Your clear coat has to be very thin and a new paint job is expensive. Even if you happen to get everything perfect right now or have a professional detailer fix it you're going to find yourself in the same position in the future if you don't know what caused the problem to begin with. The videos will help explain how to prevent future problems or at least minimize them. You're not going to be able to polish it over and over without running out of clear coat.

We're glad you're here and hope that learning how to correctly wash and clay a car will allow you to keep it polished to a high gloss for a long time. You can't play in the major leagues without a little practice first. You may want to practice on a not so nice car or an old trunk lid from a salvage yard prior to working on your car again. Best wishes!

Mike
 
psnt1ol said:
Wow!!! I am actually old enough to understand the "Weekend at Bernie's" reference. :laughing::laughing:
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Eh, it was all I could come up with on short notice. How about "this is starting to sound like who left the sunroof open on Bill's car?"
 
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