Advice getting the best result from my cars

[knightmeister]

Hi all

So I have to admit, for like since I got my first car I was completely naive about polishing and waxing and general caring for the paint of the car.

Long story short, two cars, one owned for 9 years (the 740) the other 2.5 (Mazda 6). Both parked outside, and under a tree. It really doesn't get any worse...

We are preparing to sell both cars.

The Mazda 6 was taken to a "professional" to repair a dent. We asked him to wax and polish the car - look at the results:

http://i.imgur.com/1Y6UqBs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4bxAYpA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/n7HQU27.jpg

I don't know what he's done; there are visible swirls all over the car and he has made the paint worse - you can actually see how the metallic paint almost looks different colours. The roof which I don't have a picture of (car isn't here unfortunately) has blotches from tree sap according to the guy who did the polish - but it was just flowers and leaves dropping.

The 740 has quite severe oxidation on the roof, bonnet and boot:
http://i.imgur.com/dSMefVy.jpg?1 - boot
http://i.imgur.com/M94ONmK.jpg - bonnet

The 740 was polished and waxed back in November by a local body work shop. They generally do good work but I feel this was rushed as there is a lot of swirling visible. They told me the bonnet, roof and boot won't come up any better.

So here I am, wanting to sell the cars. I know I won't get it perfect, but I'd like to get them as good as possible for the new owners. I don't like to do things in half measures.

To this end, I have bought a good dual action polisher and some Menzerna polishes based on good reviews - FG500, PF2500, SF4000. I also have some Ultimate Compound I never used. For wax, I bought Collinite 845 based on several good reviews.

I have no idea how thick the paint is on either car.

I'm after advice (and recommend additional products if necessary) to make these cars shine and look as good as they can given their age and condition. I have plenty of patience too, I will spend as much time as I need short of taking back to the metal and respraying ;)

Thanks in advance.

[DogRescuer]

Hi read read read and read some more

your basic order is:

wash

clay (ironx if you have)

polish

wax
youll be surprised how well it will look even after you clay

[parttimer]

I body shop isn't exactly a place I would go to for detail work. Wool and rotary are the order of the day for them. The first two or three pictures look like someone didn't give a rats butt. Splatter and hologram city. You should be able to just get the Wolfgang twins and fix most if not all of that. The above is a good start but with the dark cars you may end up with marring and need a polish. You for sure need to fix the holograms!

[ski2]

Here's some reading material that should help---- http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html

[Vegas Transplant]

Looks like a low-to-medium cut AIO/foam is in your future.
As will be a WOWA type topper.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/38689-what-condition-paint-your-vehicles.html