Looking for advice/experiences with VW Deep Black Metallic paint

[Desertnate]

Last night I drove home a Deep Black Metallic GTI. I have been working with my wife's dark crimson Toyota, so I knew what I was getting into from a care/upkeep standpoint, but my questions are now related to products and techniques for this particular paint.

Since I'm running out of good weather this fall, I'm going to simply wash, clay, hit it with Black Hole and 845, and call it good until Spring.

Once Spring hits, I'm going to need to do a correction to remove the FISO (factory installed swirl option). The dealer didn't detail it per my request (there was still glue from the shipping protection on the car) but the factory did create some light swirls all over the car.

How easy is this VW paint to work with?

In my aresenal I currently have Meguiars UC, UP, and a sample of Poor Boys Pro Polish. Will any/all of those do the trick to remove the swirls and leave a nice glossy finish? I've used them with success on Toyota and Subaru soft paints, but VW is uncharted territory for me.

If none of those products will work well, I'm open to suggestions. I know the Mernzerna products are the "golden child" right now, but their prices are a bit steep for me.

Thanks!

[jankerson]

I think you will be fine with UC and UP...

VW paint is usually HARD so I would use an aggressive pad for the compounding step then follow up with a polishing pad and UP.

Then follow up with Ultimate Wax.

[lawrenceSA]

I have worked on a fair share of VW's and the paint is generally hard, but not as hard as say Audi or BMW paint - it is such a generalization and so difficult to quantify as I do not know what you have worked it on and what we are comparing it to....

Anyway, here is a link to a recent quick detail I did, which shows what UC will in terms of correction - it does however require a follow up polish to restore gloss (as with any dark paint). http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/71996-another-black-magic-pearl-9n-polo-detailed-lawrence.html.

I tend to use a lot of Menzerna Polishes as they tend to work quite well on German paints but having said that, I am sure UP will finish down fairly well too and so you may be able to get away with what is already in your arsenal?

Here are a few more that you can look through to check what pads/products I used (can't recall off hand - sorry)



http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/69606-black-magic-pearl-6r-vw-polo-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/56362-black-vw-sportline-polo-detailed-lawrence.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/63485-black-magic-jetta-4-v5-detailed-lawrence.html

[lawrenceSA]

So I missed the bit where you mentioned having worked on Subarus and Toyotas:doh:

I have only done 3 or 4 Toyotas (in my books these were kind of medium hardness) and 2 Subaru's (in my books this is SOFT paint)

Hope that helps a bit.

On VW black paint, I really enjoy finishing off with Chemical Guys Blacklight:xyxthumbs: prior to final LSP

[Desertnate]

Thanks, Lawrence!

I've followed your work on VW's since I recently joined. I missed a couple of those jobs you linked.

What you suggested makes sense regarding the hardness. I was able to correct some pretty decent swirls on the Toyota with nothing but UP and a polishing pad. The Subi had years of neglect, so I went down to UC, worked up to UP and got great results with very little effort.

Thanks again for the advice.