My RR sport is in java black and has a few swirl marks and scratches that need ironing out. The scratches cannot be felt by the fingernail so my understanding is that they can be taken out.

Please correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that as in the factory panels are painted and then baked in a heated paint bay. This ensures the glossy finish that withstands the onslaught of the elements for longer. Now my question is that by detailing am I stripping the car of this so called oven baked coating that will lead to the paint dulling over time?

Cheers  Never argue with an idiot as he will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.

The scratches and swirls will be in the top coat lacquer, machine polishing them out will take off a few microns off this leaving a swirl free beauty

npinks wrote:

The scratches and swirls will be in the top coat lacquer, machine polishing them out will take off a few microns off this leaving a swirl free beauty

+1  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

npinks wrote:

The scratches and swirls will be in the top coat lacquer, machine polishing them out will take off a few microns off this leaving a swirl free beauty

+1  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

Thanks guys, that helps me make up my mind. Now I need to decide whether I am man enough to do it myself or get some one who is a professional to do it. Never argue with an idiot as he will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.

4 basic steps......wash the car, clay the car, polish the car (with a paint cleanser) and then wax it - simples

There should be a extra wash after you have clayed it

If your going to do it yourself, take into account the cost of a dual action machine polisher, polishing pads, your choice of polishes depending on what correction your wanting, a decent microfibre or two and then your wax

if your wanting rid of the swirls a polish with a bit of cut to it, if your looking at masking them then one with fillers, topped off with wax

I use Gloss It stuff and DoDo Juice myself with a Meguires G220 DA polisher

on my old car I used Gloss It One Step polish

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Okay I have recently bought Autoglym wax and shampoo, Mer polish, Carnauba Wax detailing polish and a PTFE car wax sealent. Any of these any good? What else do I need to buy? Which clay and lubricant is the biz?

Also I have seen many car polishing machines but which one is the most effective? There is a choice between a dual handle one, one with the extended handle and finally one cordless one.

Thanks for the tips. As the weather is improving I feel a Sunday job coming up.

BTW npinks...top pics  Never argue with an idiot as he will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.

Lubricants are a bit of a rip off - just any rapid detailer will work - although some people say soap and water will do the same thing - I bought the auto glym clay kit - which came with clay, detailer and resin polish and a cloth - all for £25.

Nick, didn't realise to wash after claying - will do that this weekend - got a paint cleanser to go over it with and then do do afterwards......

RRS has never looked so good....

2 weeks ago, wasn't in to detailing one bit - and now can't get enough of it...

The only problem I have is that I live on a main road and washing it myself is never really an option - and the jet wash albanians are always my first thought - a detailer told me this week if I keep getting it jet washed it just undoes all my hard work - any thoughts???? If they could just use a hose to rinse it off that would be better....

Flybouy Megs do a clay kit with a lube with it, there is a dual action polisher called a DAS6 which is cheap for a hobbyist, I got my stuff from polishedbliss, they'll give you loads of advice over phone, on what your car needs based on colour etc

Nick the problem with the jetwash bay us the fact they use very strong chemicals and when they sponge wash it they wash the door, lower sills where the muck collects then onto rear door without rinsing the sponge so all the dirt is scraped over your door and induces scratches and swirls.

Not to worry nick, ive got something lined up in the next few weeks which should make your life much easier if all goes well  WINNER - 2008 Best All New Photograph
WINNER - 2009 Best All New Photograph

Ordered the stuff today so hopefully should have it next week and if a decent day turns up may try detailing myself. Will keep you posted with pictures. Never argue with an idiot as he will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.