help me fix my black 2004 porsche paint (With Pictures)

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paulbw

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Hi, thanks for viewing. I recently bought a black '04 Porsche Boxster from texas. The paint is real bad & needs help, I'll outline what its like & what I have done so far along with pictures & hopefully you guys can help me decide what steps/products to use next.

Car arrived filthy, I washed it at the local high pressure wash spot. I did not blast it though just used the wand like you might a hose & mostly used the foaming brush. I didn't want to get water into the engine intakes or blast the convertible top.

Initial condition of car
  • Nose of car has chips
  • Paint very dry, so much so that it is not a deep black & if you touch it you leave dark fingerprints where the car has absorbed oil from your hands.
  • Fine grit embedded into it all over that you can feel when you run a hand over it
  • Swirl marks & scratches in the clearcoat
  • Milky splotches or clouds that look like watermarks? I don't know what to call these

Steps taken so far
  1. I used a citrus based cleaner all over to remove any existing product on car.
  2. Clay barred it with Mothers clay bar kit
  3. polished with random orbital polisher with foam bonnet & 3m polishing compound. Both of these I've had in my garage for a very long time I dont know the grit of the 3m compound & the polisher is a "shinemaster 1000" 0.65amp.

Current condition of car
  • grit is gone
  • milky cloudiness is gone
  • not as dry (black color is deeper)
  • swirls & scratches are reduced

Next I was going to use Klasse all in one, then 2-3 coats of Klasse special glaze & finish with p21 carnuba wax. All of these products I have already & are all at least 10 years old (if that matters, not sure if these things expire). I have stopped before proceeding because I am not satisfied with the look of the car so far. I am not opposed to buying new products including a more aggressive polisher if needed.

Your challenge should you decide to accept it. Outline what products you would use & steps you would take to make this paint look as good as you could & how good can I expect to get it?

Now for the pictures

Before anything
7yWHHKJUU5KSXiWiNnCacAU_QWbshTB-HAZi8PHYN9UpX92IB

QuJH12WaEFYD9ms7jMZ4LLGUvU449jPT0nbyVDXtDF4pX92IB


After clay bar
OEPUJFIiX6c0jKqYDViaBENtHdDm11sQOru3hjn4cSIpX92IB

B8Dva6FadeqvXKuRMZpBmyISSt_l5yRQDZRUTdh5Gx0pX92IB


my polisher (I didnt use the ssr1, the 3m tested as more agressive)
OlXndzBS170q7_tth0iledilLm64Zjs0PLcV6WPRtIApX92IB
y5Hpjbb0D1LZHP_vzG-313bz7iWNb41e0MgvaFgAL5YpX92IB


After polishing

WXVFPE_3XQbAPZGBEGmfxEbSG5ZIWvrGGeDete7fF2kpX92IB

_rY_bSCIDqCA7os9M7fOqHslp_pQNyNBdk8IZU1l59cpX92IB

c7NWGB4GEgcLo8j0a0CSZI1pWoccm6XpjPgpwLRGYE0pX92IB


Please help me get this car looking great.

Thanks
Paul
 
Looks like a good project. You should be able get it in good shape with the right products.

First of all, get a decent polisher. I'd suggest a Griots 6" DA. Then get rid of your Klasse products. I used the same stuff on my black Audi 15 years ago, but now there are much better, and easier, products. I'd probably suggest staying with Griots and getting their Boss pads and correcting cream. But there are many other great products.

Most import, don't panic. A little patience and work, and you'll be looking at a beautiful car.
 
That car needs help.I would just hire a professional to do it.
 
Nice car! I also have an 04 Boxster S. I don't have black, but I have a dark metallic color which is probably pretty similar in terms of hardness. Mine was not in as bad of shape to begin with, but what worked for me was:

-claying
-meguiar's ultimate compound with meguiar's soft buff burgundy cutting pad
-meguiar's ultimate polish with lake country flat white pad

I used a PC 7424XP but you could probably get the same results a little faster/easier with a higher end polisher.


View attachment 55822

View attachment 55821
 
I suggest getting an adequate polisher. If money is an issue, get a Harbor Freight DA. About 60 dollars and does good job. If you can afford it, get a better one sold here.
 
Ok I've ordered the porter cable polisher with some chemical brothers pads & grouts complete compound. Anyone know how this compound compares to the 3M? The 3M says it levels 1200 grit marks. Any suggestions on the sequence of pads & compounds is very much appreciated.

People are saying Porsche paint is finicky. What is meant by that?

Thanks
P
 
Please bear in mind that 'generally' ( it differs of course ) this generation of Porsche have really soft paint.

I would seriously consider finishing / extending buffer cycle with water. Ie when you have finished compounding, spray a few squirts of water and complete some passes.

I found when I did a 2005 boxer that I ended up mixing water with polish to achieve the results I wanted
 
Thanks that chart is super helpful. The 3M I have is perfect it 2 but not the foaming one that's on the chart.
 
Maybe there is a member in your area that can help you out. Where are you located?
 
paulbw: Always remember that you want to start with the least aggressive method/products first. Do a test spot and take it from there. This can take some time to see what your car/paint 'likes' as well as if you are happy with the results you are getting.

Feel free to post up or PM me with any additional questions if you need to, I'm happy to help!

Regards,
Scott
 
paulbw said:
Ok I've ordered the porter cable polisher with some chemical brothers pads & grouts complete compound. Anyone know how this compound compares to the 3M? The 3M says it levels 1200 grit marks. Any suggestions on the sequence of pads & compounds is very much appreciated.

People are saying Porsche paint is finicky. What is meant by that?

Thanks
P
Click to expand...

'finicky' is used due to the paint being either extremely hard or soft. Porsche paint is also sometimes difficult to 'finish' due to these attributes.

Please post up what pads/chemicals you have purchased and I will attempt to give you a starting order for use.
 
Sizzle Chest said:
Please post up what pads/chemicals you have purchased and I will attempt to give you a starting order for use.
Click to expand...

Thanks I have (some of this I just ordered yesterday, so not actually here but will be by this weekend)

Porter Cable polisher

Chemical bros pads
Hex-Logic Heavy Cutting Pad (yellow)
Hex-Logic Swirl and Scratch Remover Pad (orange)
Hex-Logic Heavy Polishing Pad (green)
Hex-Logic Perfect Surface Polishing Pad (white)
Hex-Logic Glaze and Light Cleaner Foam Pad (blue)
Hex-Logic Finishing Foam Pad (black)
Hex-Logic Ultra-Fine Finishing Pad (red)

Coumpounds
Griot's Garage 10862 Complete Compound
3M perfect it II rubbing coumpound fine cut
poor boys SSR1

Finishing products
Klasse - all in one
Klasse - high gloss sealant glaze
P21 carnuba wax

I am perfectly fine ordering other products & supplies to get this job done right. The main point is is to correct the finish & then protect it rather than use what I already have. If what I have is fine, great. If not I'll buy what I need.

Another user posted this paint is soft & I have quite a bit of road rash in the nose, so I will want to do some chip repair either now or in the near future. Is ther a finishing product that adds extra hardness or durability to the paint?

Hey I see your in Naples. Cool, I'm spending memorial weekend there!
 
Get yourself a dual action polisher. You just are not going to get the results that you are looking for with the polisher that you have. The porter cable or griots garage da polishers will work great. You can spend more and get a Rupes or a flex but if time isn't a big factor the griots or the porter cable will get you similar results. Be careful. Detailing can be a very slippery slope! Your can already looks worlds better than it did. When it is done you won't believe it. All the best. Phil


Sent from my iPhone using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
paulbw said:
Thanks I have (some of this I just ordered yesterday, so not actually here but will be by this weekend)

Porter Cable polisher

Chemical bros pads
Hex-Logic Heavy Cutting Pad (yellow)
Hex-Logic Swirl and Scratch Remover Pad (orange)
Hex-Logic Heavy Polishing Pad (green)
Hex-Logic Perfect Surface Polishing Pad (white)
Hex-Logic Glaze and Light Cleaner Foam Pad (blue)
Hex-Logic Finishing Foam Pad (black)
Hex-Logic Ultra-Fine Finishing Pad (red)

Coumpounds
Griot's Garage 10862 Complete Compound
3M perfect it II rubbing coumpound fine cut
poor boys SSR1

Finishing products
Klasse - all in one
Klasse - high gloss sealant glaze
P21 carnuba wax

I am perfectly fine ordering other products & supplies to get this job done right. The main point is is to correct the finish & then protect it rather than use what I already have. If what I have is fine, great. If not I'll buy what I need.

Another user posted this paint is soft & I have quite a bit of road rash in the nose, so I will want to do some chip repair either now or in the near future. Is ther a finishing product that adds extra hardness or durability to the paint?

Hey I see your in Naples. Cool, I'm spending memorial weekend there!
Click to expand...


Very cool indeed! I hope you enjoy it down here! You should bring the car down to me and I can help you get it squared away!


With what you listed: I would start with the Griots and your white pad first. See where that gets you. If not satisfied-step up the pad aggressiveness and continue from there. Just be aware that you may come to a point where you are removing your heavy defects and putting/leaving minor defects behind that will need to be polished out with a light polish/pad combo. (FYI: I have not used either of the compounds you listed-I'm going off of the manufactures specs)

Finish with your SSR1 and a polishing/finishing pad.

Your Klasse or P21 wax will offer you some protection as well as good looks as long as you do your part with the initial paint correction. Your PC will do the job.

Hope I have answered some of your questions and helped you out some, as well as given you a starting point.

Just remember, as I've and many before me, have said: ALWAYS start with the least aggressive method first. (and then go from there)

Regards,
Scott
 
Thanks, The porter cable unit arrived today & I should have some time this weekend to get on it. I'll definitely follow up after that with my progress/results & some new pics.

Wish I could bring the car south for some nice weather but thats a looooong drive on a short weekend!
 
dennis hiip said:
I suggest getting an adequate polisher. If money is an issue, get a Harbor Freight DA. About 60 dollars and does good job. If you can afford it, get a better one sold here.
Click to expand...
The harbor freight machine is garbage
I bought one the other day.its really loud and the spinning rotation deosnt happen till about speed 5 and stalls alot. Save your money and buy right the first time.
 
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