removing swirls of bmw paint

[2shiny]

My D/A arrived today, and I was thinking about starting by using Menzerna FF3000 and a finishing pad. I've also bought a light cutting polishing pad.
Would this be enough for the hard BMW paint?

thx

 

[t5er]

My e28 with single stage paint would respond well to that. My titanium silver e39 showed no change after multiple section passes with the Megs MF DA system which is supposed to be pretty powerful.

Depending on what car it is, your combo may be effective or ineffective. I think you should get a more aggressive compound and pad though just in case the FF3000 won't work for you, you have a bigger hammer to pull out of the toolbox.

 

[rms64]

Do a test spot and see how it goes. That being said, FG400 is super-fantastic on my 335i paint - and others have had great results with it too. If you decide you need something a bit more aggressive (although it finishes down pretty much LSP - ready) that might be the ticket.

Good luck!:xyxthumbs:

 

[2shiny]

thx, I'll go get some FG4000 just to be sure. I'll give it a try on the light cutting pad first...

 

[rms64]

thx, I'll go get some FG4000 just to be sure. I'll give it a try on the light cutting pad first...

Just to clarify, it's the FG 400, not 4000. I have SF 4000 and 4500 too and they both work great, but for something a bit more aggressive, get the FG400. :xyxthumbs:

 

[2shiny]

Just to clarify, it's the FG 400, not 4000. I have SF 4000 and 4500 too and they both work great, but for something a bit more aggressive, get the FG400. :xyxthumbs:

got to enthousiastic pressing the 0's

 

[rms64]

got to enthousiastic pressing the 0's

LOL understand - just wanted to make sure. You mentioned your pads - I've found that the LC orange pads work great with FG400, or yellow would be more aggressive. Just make sure to clean them often!

 

[2shiny]

LOL understand - just wanted to make sure. You mentioned your pads - I've found that the LC orange pads work great with FG400, or yellow would be more aggressive. Just make sure to clean them often!

I have bought some new Monello pads, a dutch brand, so I hope they are quit effective. I'll have a look at LLC pads if not.

how do you clean your pads?

 

[rms64]

I clean them "on the fly" with a terry towel (several, actually)...after every section pass. I also have a pad brush that I use if they get a little clogged up. Just hold the towel against the pad and turn on your buffer (facing away from your car in case of splatter) and move the towel across the face of the pad. It definitely makes a difference.

Thought this might interest you too - just some general observations from a fellow new guy...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/60314-observations-newb-bmw-progress.html

 

[Speed-Dude]

What color paint do you have? Some of their paints are really hard and some are painfully soft.

For example, IIRC the jet black is soft while the metallic black is hard.

 

[Angus]

If you do have black - I hope it's Sapphire Black Metallic and not Jet Black. The later soft and can be very tricky to correct. Check out post from a fellow geek named "Smack" - he's a wizard with BMW paint.

 

[rms64]

Check out post from a fellow geek named "Smack" - he's a wizard with BMW paint.

:iagree: Smack has some great posts that are very informative for the BMW crowd.

 

[2shiny]

on my papers, it only says: black... so no idea

 

[2shiny]

so I checked the VIN number and I have the metallic sapphire black... so, bring on the cutting pads... :-D

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

If you do have black - I hope it's Sapphire Black Metallic and not Jet Black. The later soft and can be very tricky to correct. Check out post from a fellow geek named "Smack" - he's a wizard with BMW paint.

:iagree: Smack has some great posts that are very informative for the BMW crowd.

Thanks guys.

Here is some BMW work.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...kfire-blackice-wax-you-have-been-waiting.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/62793-bmw-mike-again.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/64702-mike-preps-shon-s-bmw-oc2-0-a.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/63924-white-645ci-vs-d151.html

on my papers, it only says: black... so no idea

so I checked the VIN number and I have the metallic sapphire black... so, bring on the cutting pads... :-D

Which is the paint code?

668=Jet Black
475=Black Sapphire Metallic

If you have 475 you can go a bit more aggressive but remember to test out a lighter pad and polish to see where this will get you.

 

[swanicyouth]

My BMW is BSM and its not too hard. It also depends on the model as well I believe. The model/year/VIN will tell if you if its ceramic paint or not. IIR the BMWs made in the USA (Spartanburg) are not ceramic clear coat (Z3, E85 Z4, X Series). My BMW is an E85 M Roadster (Z4) in BSM, so it was painted in the USA with non-ceramic clear coat. SO, the paint isn't too hard.

I believe all the 5 series up are ceramic clear coat. Where it gets murky is the 3 Series. I believe they didn't used to be ceramic, but may be now - however, this may depend on where they are manufactured - if, BMW is still making 3 Series other places besides Germany...Dunno.

Anyway, for me, I used Wolfgang TSR with an orange LC CCS pad to get rid of swirls. It worked very well.

 

[mavin]

I used FG400 with a Cyan 5.5 foam cutting pad with great results on my hard Audi paint.

I have FS4000 on order to try out.

 

[2shiny]

no paint code on any off the papers, so I have no idea... did the VIN check, and says MSB. put will have a go with the lghtest combo I have to be sure

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

no paint code on any off the papers, so I have no idea... did the VIN check, and says MSB. put will have a go with the lghtest combo I have to be sure

There is also a black sticker under the hood that has the paint code on it. Should be near the front middle of the hood under the Roundel...