JetBlack BMW -- polishes

[JetBlackBMW]

Hi - Need some help from a detailer who has actual experience detailing the soft paint on jet black BMW's.

I did search extensively on this forum for answers to my questions but sometimes I see conflicting information as some people that have not actually used certain products will post info based on 2nd hand information that may or may not be true.

I wanted to ask if someone can help me in selecting some polishes for a detail on my jet black 2001 BMW. I am new to detailing. I think the paint is on the soft side and I do not want to tear into the clear coat and dull the paint. The paint is in pretty good shape. I just want to remove some light swirls and really give the paint a deep wet look.


Thinking about getting either a Porter Cable XP, a Griots, or maybe even the Flex DA. I use OTC meguiars polishes by hand now and I need something more. I am trying to decide between a few products and wanted your input on what would give me the wettest deep look. Not sure if I should go with Menzerna/Wolf Gang polishes or Meguiars polishes.

I am thinking about going with:

(1) Menzerna PowerFinish 203s with white or Hydro Tech tangerine pad followed up with Menzerna Final Polish II PO87MC with a black pad and then again with a gold pad for Jeweling.

If it looked like I needed something a little stronger than the 203s, I was thinking about using the Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 with a white or Hydro Tech tangerine pad and then following up the 203s and then finishing with PO87MC.

Is the PO87MC the best finishing polish for soft BMW paint or should I use the PO85RD? I have read that PO87MC is better than PO85RD for softer BWM paint and I want to make sure this is true.

I know that Menzerna is made primarily for and works best on the hard paint on Mercedes - will these polishes be okay on the soft BMW paint or should I go with Meguiars 205, 80 and 81? What will give me a deeper wetter look?

I am going to wash, clay and then top the polishes with sealant and/or wax, but I need your help with the polish selections.

thanks,

[Mike Phillips]

Hi David,

First since this is your first post to our forum,


Welcome to Autogeek Online! :welcome:


Second... thank you for taking this to the forum as I get a lot of e-mails everday and it's so much better to keep questions like your on the forum because this way others can chime in with their input and it's easier for me to include pictures, links and videos...

Thank you!

:dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

Now to your questions...



Hi

Thinking about getting either a Porter Cable XP, a Griot's, or maybe even the Flex DA.


The PC style polishers are the easiest to learn and master, if you're new to machine polishing I would recommend going with one of these types. Other's started on the Flex 3401 and can and will make the case for going with it for a beginner, I have an thread in my article list (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html) here on this topic with some vidoes...


New to Machine Polishing?

How to choose the right polisher for your detailing project (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/22263-how-choose-right-polisher-your-detailing-project.html)

New - Video: How to pick the right polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/25695-show-car-garage-video-how-pick-right-polisher.html)


Here are some success stories from forum members that like you, were new to machine polishing,

Success Stories

Two Part Success Story

Getting my Griot's DA Polisher today and need some direction? (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/35518-getting-my-griot-s-da-polisher-today-need-some-direction.html)
Getting a feel for the Griots (pics) (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/35563-getting-feel-griots-pics.html)


New - Wolfgang Twins (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wolfgang-car-care/34641-wolfgang-twins.html)

Lessons I learned from a Black 2009 BMW 550i (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/33599-lessons-i-learned-black-2009-bmw-550i.html)

How To Remove Horrible Rotary Buffer Swirl Marks out of a 350Z using the Wolfgang Twins (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/21413-horrible-swirl-marks.html)

Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/25226-proof-you-can-do-joe-detailer-black-porsche-turned-into-black-pearl.html)





I use OTC meguiars polishes by hand now and I need something more.


I've been using Meguiar's products since 1978 and worked for them as their Primary Instructor at the Corporate Office from 2002 to 2009 as well as brought up their forum and started their Saturday Detailing 101 and 102 classes, their Extreme Makeover Classes, their Roadshow Classes and also their Thursday Night Open Garage Classes also called TNOG's.

They make great products but there's a lot of great product on the market right now and more being introduced all the time.



I am trying to decide between a few products and wanted your input on what would give me the wettest deep look. Not sure if I should go with Menzerna/Wolf Gang polishes or Meguiars polishes.


A true professional can get great results from any chemical line that truly works, that said some product lines are easier to work with for beginners.





I am thinking about going with:

(1) Menzerna PowerFinish 203s with white or Hydro Tech tangerine pad followed up with Menzerna Final Polish II PO87MC with a black pad and then again with a gold pad for Jeweling.

If it looked like I needed something a little stronger than the 203s, I was thinking about using the Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 with a white or Hydro Tech tangerine pad and then following up the 203s and then finishing with PO87MC.


The above would work but the Wolfgang Twins are a popular combination and should tackle your paint issues with not problems.

The Wolfgang Twins (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wolfgang-car-care/28324-wolfgang-twins-picture-links.html)




Is the PO87MC the best finishing polish for soft BMW paint or should I use the PO85RD? I have read that PO87MC is better than PO85RD for softer BWM paint and I want to make sure this is true.

I know that Menzerna is made primarily for and works best on the hard paint on Mercedes - will these polishes be okay on the soft BMW paint or should I go with Meguiars 205, 80 and 81? What will give me a deeper wetter look?



To make it easier for everyone to discuss the different products you're referencing, here's a jpg chart of the Menzerna Line

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/719/menzernachart.jpg


To be honest, all of the finishing polishes by Menzerna work GREAT! You can't help but get great results from them as long as they are used correctly.

I like to use the KISS approach, that is KISS = Keep it Simple Simon

I've found the the finishing polishes all work great on all paint systems when you finish out using soft finishing pads. If you think you have soft paint, the harder problem will be wiping polishing residues off without inflicting toweling marks, so be sure to get some very high quality microfiber towels and I would also recommend some microfiber gloves because once you polish the paint to perfection, you're going to have to be very careful anytime you're wiping polish residues off...

Check out these articles,


Increase Your Grip Strength with Microfiber Gloves (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/33009-increase-your-grip-strength-microfiber-gloves.html)

How to correctly fold and use a Microfiber Towel (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/29230-how-correctly-fold-use-microfiber-towel.html)


This Porsche has really soft paint, I'm going to have Sam the owner bring it in, we're going to polish it again and then put a coating on it...

1994 Porsche Detailed for "Operation Comfort" Modeled by Brittany from Stuart, Florida (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/26233-1994-porsche-detailed-operation-comfort-modeled-brittany.html)


New - 3-Categories: Waxes, Paint Sealants and Coatings (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/34185-3-categories-waxes-paint-sealants-coatings.html)








I am going to wash, clay and then top the polishes with sealant and/or wax, but I need your help with the polish selections.

thanks,

We have a GREAT forum community, I'm positive our other forum members will chime in with their tips, techniques and preferneces...

I hope you agree, the forum works better for long, detailed replies versus an e-mail.


:dblthumb2:

[mbkite]

Looks like he has done some soft paint before

[james_death]

Mike has certainly covered this extensively.
Again welcome to the forum.
I know the lacquer varies as to what is soft and hard and certainly pays to test a section with the lightest cut combination to see what gets the results you want.
Here in the uk we tend to find BMW paint lacquer hard but still check to see what level we need, to remove the least amount of clear over here we tend to go for the menz as it's german compound on german car...:laughing:
I know some over here in the uk have even had bmw cars with paint so hard they were pulling there hair out.
Just goes to show take nothing for granted and always test.

[JetBlackBMW]

I tried a few products today on BMW with soft jet black paint and need to order either a stronger polish or a pad with more cutting ability. I just wanted to start with least aggressive first. I used the flex 3401 with a LC green coarse pad (light cutting) and the LC green polishing/finishing pad. I used the Wolf Gang twins (Total Swirl Remover and Finishing Glaze) and Menzerna FP II. I am returning all of the other 6.5" pads and going with the smaller backing plate and 5.5" pads. I used the above 2 green pads and polishes on a test spot and did not see much improvement in the swirls and fine scratches. I made about 12 passes with each Wolf Gang polish on both pads and even went up to speed 6 on the flex. What did I do wrong, or what can I do to improve the paint?

[mbkite]

Did you get any orange pads i think they have more cut than the green.
Don't send any pads back you will be kicking your self in the but later.
I would use the orange pad and do a test spot..
But first go to the bathroom scale with the flex and see how much pressure you need to push down to get about 15 lbs It should work..

[JetBlackBMW]

okay thanks - I just ordered an orange pad and Meguiars Ultimate Compound and Meguiars 105. I though that was going to be too strong on soft paint but looks like I need it as the green coarse pad and Wolf Gang Total Swirl Remover was not enough. I could be wrong though as I have not used the Flex before and maybe I need to either do more coats or work it in longer....did about 12 passes per coat. I just wanted to switch to the 5.5" pads so that I can fit them in smaller places. Any other suggestions??