Swirls & Waterspots on BMW

[BeemerMike]

I just spent 15 hours over the past two days trying to remove the swirl and water marks off my 2002 BMW 330ci (black paint). Although some of the swirls and water marks were removed, a lot still remain. I used a Porter Cable 7424 and Pinnacle #3 (with orange pad) and then #1 (with white pad).

I spent hours reading through this forum on technique and how to use the PC7424 and the Pinnacle products, but I'm still not sure why I can't get better results? I read one post that said BMW has a harder clear coat, but is that true?

As a test, I left the Porter Cable on speed 5 (using XMT #3 and orange pad) on one spot on the car for about 5 minutes, and there still were swirl marks and water spots left over.

Can anyone please provide advice on what I can do to get better results? Thanks.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

water spots are commonly acid rain, and etchings that have scared the clearcoat. Without significant polishing or wetsanding you will likely not remove if allowed to have sat on the surface for a long period of time. Thus protection is the key from start on a new car.

Swirls can be removed with the PC, but take time and effort. The PC transfers very little heat to finish. So speed, polish, and pad choice are critical. NEVER LET BUFF SIT IN ONE SECTION FOR 5 MINUTES. Movement is a key to success and not damaging paint.

You may want to move to Pinnacle XMT 4 with same pad, or Intensive Polish from Menzerna for better bite on swirls. These should also reduce the notice of the water etchings.

[Truls]

Sometimes you have to work the area 2-3 times before pleased, go slow

If that dont work, compound or pad switch.

[JBs]

if you think that's bad, try working on a white bimmer w/ 10 years of swirls and no rotary my car looks nice but it is still full of swirls

[Harv]

I'd have to second the response to not leave the thing on one spot for any great length of time, it's just bad practice because you don't want to create uneven or problem areas.

The PC is pretty low intensity as a device. If you aren't getting any results from the pad and compound you are using identify a more aggressive pad and compound and use those. It's tough to cause a problem using a PC that can't be fixed by just buffing again with a less aggressive pad. Usually the worst that will happen is that you'll haze the paint a little and need to go over it again with something less aggressive. That said, don't go crazy. Take it one step at a time when going more aggressive.