M205 - 1 Step, What Pad?

[uhohitsstevo]

So I am looking to get some very light swirling out of my Black Sapphire Metallic BMW. I am looking to use M205 as it has good cut and finishes down well. I am wondering what Lake Country pad color I should use. I have multiple of each.

Thanks,

Stephen

 

[KirkH]

White if light marring, green if there is more.

 

[Bruno Soares]

I'd try white first, if that doesn't cut enough then use orange.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Another vote for the White flat foam pad.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

I recently finished working on a Range Rover with very light swirls. I used a Gold Pad (not white) and used 3M Perfect - It Ultra Fine which is a jeweling polish which is even finer than Menzerna SF4500 IMO. It's says its for rotaries only, however, it works great with my Flex 3401.

MY POINT being, based on what you are stating and you have very light swirls on your BMW; M205 should be fine with a softer pad than a white pad. I believe M205 is on par with Menzerna SF4000. IMO it has more cut than the 3M Ultra. I would go with a softer pad like a Black, Red or Gold Lake Country pad. The Range Rover was Saphari Black Metallic. Here are some before and after photos. Again, this Range Rover had very light swirls too.

 

[uhohitsstevo]

Wow the range rover looks amazing. I have Menzerna 4500 as well. I am just looking to get the most out of what I can. I will do a test spot.

 

[willowcat11]

Megs Yellow Pad

 

[Dredogol]

For LC pads, Compounds are supposed to be used with Yellow/Orange.
For Polishes, supposed to use White/Green.

Black is more for sealants/waxes that offer a little give... possibly a Blue pad for those.

 

[dcjredline]

Least aggressive pad that gets the results you want...via a TEST SPOT.

 

[DogRescuer]

Where would a typical "test spot be"?

Least aggressive pad that gets the results you want...via a TEST SPOT.

 

[motion732]

i have two BMWs - both have rock hard paint. i won't be surprised if you need an orange pad with m205 to get rid of light scratches.

 

[GSKR]

Usually a polishing micropad will suffice.

 

[JCDetails]

We're missing a very important question...with what machine and pad size?

If it's a gg6, pc, mt300 start with a 5" or 5.5" white LC pad, thinnest you have (thinpro or flat pad). Would guess you're gonna need orange though.

G15/21 or rupes15/21? Same deal, flat pad, or even hdo. White would probably suffice with the larger orbit. 6" pad could work, 5.5" better. Maybe even a mf polishing/finishing disc if the paint is super hard like motion732 said.

Flex or Makita in forced mode? Again probably good with a white HDO or Force pad. 6" if you want to cover more ground.

Wouldn't use any size ccs pad on it, I'm relegating the ones that came in my kit to wax/sealant spreading and going all thinpros for polishing/cutting.

I like to do at least 2 test spots, one on metal panel and another on plastic. I'll usually use the fuel door (sometimes metal sometimes not) and something like a bumper lip or trunk flat for the other. My wife's Lincoln MKCs plastic parts act wayyyyy differently than the metal parts to polishing.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline

 

[GSKR]

BMW has hard paint depending on its current condition.What ever machine you use any pad will work.Rule of thumb for a one step is one pad per panel.To soft of a foam will or may gum up.I would buy 3 micropad and the rest thin pro orange.

 

[dcjredline]

Where would a typical "test spot be"?

I usually try to pick the worst part of the car. Whatever panel has the most swirls scratches.

 

[dcjredline]

Where would a typical "test spot be"?

Double post...sorry

 

[dlc95]

With M205 on a PC, I start with a blue Buff and Shine pad, which is my usually final polishing combination. If that's not enough I use the green, which has more bite to it.

In the Lake Country range, you would want to look at green and pink pads respectively. For what it's worth, the green b&s, and pink LC always out cut the orange and yellow pads for me. They also ride easier due to their compression characteristics.

The Lake Country Tangerine Hydrotech is also does a great job. They list it as having cut just below an orange cutting pad. The Cyan probably cuts closer to the Pink foam, but probably finishes better.

I've also has great luck with the original black Buff and Shine microfiber finishing pads, and yellow Rupes microfiber polishing pads. For being a fiber pad, they finish beautifully, and offer more correction ability.

 

[uhohitsstevo]

i have two BMWs - both have rock hard paint. i won't be surprised if you need an orange pad with m205 to get rid of light scratches.

This is very surprisig to me. I have sapphire black metallic 3 series and I just really marred the paint while washing even though I washed it properly. Not sure what I did but I am going to put a coating on it to help.