BMW Z4 Help Please

[cgreen1120]

First let me say Thank You all for the warm welcome. As I said in my introduction, I am currently working on a 2011 BMW Z4. The paint is a deep blue sea and the A pillars are gloss black. My question is, can I polish the black pillars? I’m not sure if they are painted metal or a gloss plastic. Either way they are extremely swirled and scratched. My next question is, can I or should I do the head light and tail light lens? I looks like what ever did so much damage to the paint was also used on the lights. Here is what I have available to use.
GR-10750-1 - 6 Inch Griot's Garage Polisher
GR-10794 - 3 Inch Griot's Garage Random Orbital Polish
W-67DA - Meguiars Mirror Glaze G110 DA Polisher Backing
WG-8600 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
WG-8400 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0
LC-55-COMBO - Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- 6 PACK
LC-55-COMBO - Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- 6 PACK
ULT-7012-120 - 12 oz. Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus &
WG-5500 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0
LC-43-073DA - 3 Inch Dual Action Flexible Backing Plat
LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing
LC-55-COMBO - 6 Qty Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads
LC-H20-930 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Cyan Pad
LC-H20-230 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Tangerine Pad
LC-H20-130 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Crimson Pad
GG-2PACK - 2 Qty The Grit Guard Insert
XMT-7000 - 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Heavy Duty Swirl Remove
WG-8600 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
WG-8400 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0
LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing
LC-WSH - 5 Qty Lake Country Compression Washers
LC-55-COMBO - 6 Qty Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- Your Ch

I also have Meg 105, 3M rubbing compound and assorted tools and products.

Any help would greatly be appreciated,

Craig

[BobbyG]

Hi Craig,

Metal or plastic

If it's swirled, I suspect it's painted metal.

The easiest way to determine this is to use an ordinary magnet. Try not to use a strong one because I suspect there's metal in there somewhere...

Use the Griot's 3" polisher and start with a White foam pad. Apply some Wolfgang swirl remover to it and do a test spot and gauge your progress...

Headlight and taillight lenses should be cleaned and polished not only to keep them looking new but to also ensure that they stay clear and bright...

Take your time and don't be too aggressive until you're used to how everything works together then step up your game....

[cgreen1120]

Thank You for the reply BobbyG. The magnet test tells me that it is a plastic coated something. It was a totally different amount of pull in comparison to the hood and door metal. I am still unsure if your instructions are for the pillars or lights but I am going to try the lights first.

Craig

[Evan.J]

I believe the A Pillars are metal. I just polish mine just like the rest of the car. How bad are the lights? You can polish them out with the M105 and the 3in DA that you have if they are bad.

[wheelman302]

GR-10750-1 - 6 Inch Griot's Garage Polisher
GR-10794 - 3 Inch Griot's Garage Random Orbital Polish
W-67DA - Meguiars Mirror Glaze G110 DA Polisher Backing
WG-8600 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
WG-8400 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0
LC-55-COMBO - Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- 6 PACK
LC-55-COMBO - Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- 6 PACK
ULT-7012-120 - 12 oz. Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus &
WG-5500 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0
LC-43-073DA - 3 Inch Dual Action Flexible Backing Plat
LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing
LC-55-COMBO - 6 Qty Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads
LC-H20-930 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Cyan Pad
LC-H20-230 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Tangerine Pad
LC-H20-130 - 3 Inch Hydro-Tech Crimson Pad
GG-2PACK - 2 Qty The Grit Guard Insert
XMT-7000 - 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Heavy Duty Swirl Remove
WG-8600 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
WG-8400 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0
LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing
LC-WSH - 5 Qty Lake Country Compression Washers
LC-55-COMBO - 6 Qty Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads- Your Ch

I also have Meg 105, 3M rubbing compound and assorted tools and products.

Any help would greatly be appreciated,


I don't think you have enough stuff!! lol

[cgreen1120]

I love STUFF. Just did the headlights with WG glaze, 3" orange and they came out great. I think I will try the same on the pillars and tail lights. The tail lights seem to be the worst so I may have to go to the WG swirl remover as BobbyG said.

[cgreen1120]

BobbyG was spot on about the WG swirl remover. I had to hit the tail lights and pillars twice with it followed by the WG glaze and they came out perfect. The G must stand for Genius.
While I was removing the WG sealant from the car, I think I saw some very light holograms on the right side door. Would this be caused from using Meg 105 then going straight to WG glaze? I think I will hit it with the swirl remover, glaze and then reseal. Any thoughts?
Craig

[BobbyG]

Originally Posted by cgreen1120

BobbyG was spot on about the WG swirl remover. I had to hit the tail lights and pillars twice with it followed by the WG glaze and they came out perfect. The G must stand for Genius.
While I was removing the WG sealant from the car, I think I saw some very light holograms on the right side door. Would this be caused from using Meg 105 then going straight to WG glaze? I think I will hit it with the swirl remover, glaze and then reseal. Any thoughts?
Craig

Hi Craig,

Thank you for the complements!

The Wolfgang twins do work well together and in fact, I used them yesterday on a 2013 Jeep Sahara!

You are correct. The holograms you're seeing are most likely caused from the Meguiar's M105. This is pretty common for a compound and can be easily cured using your Wolfgang twins then seal as you described above...

Good luck!