Clay bar problem- contamination or orange peel?

[jbmeyer13]

I've been using a brand new Adam's gray clay bar that I picked up one month ago on my 03' M5 and it apparently won't fully remove the paint contaminants.


First, I washed the car and used the clay bar while washing. I then polished with my PC using a combo of Meguiars 105 (orange pad) and 205 (both white and black pads) and then went to use the plastic bag test. I can still feel and hear the roughness. Consequently, I grabbed some Meguiar's Quick Detailer and made several additional attempts with the clay bar but no luck. Furthermore, there's nothing visible being picked up on the clay.


I figured that perhaps something was wrong with the clay so then I tested it on my daily driver (03' 325xi). The surface was still a little rough but much better than the untreated area and I could see that the bar was picking up surface contaminants.

So my two questions are:

1) How does orange peel feel compared to contamination? The surface feels like there's small amounts of grit and that leads me to believe it's contamination.

2) Should I try something more aggressive like the nanoskin autoscrub medium pad?

Thanks

[Setec Astronomy]

You're not going to feel orange peel with a baggie test. Is it possible you have overspray on the car that's not coming off with the clay? Although the M105/orange should have knocked that down some.

Has the car ever had any body work? Have you used a ferrous contamination remover? How much experience do you have with claying and polishing?

[jbmeyer13]

You're not going to feel orange peel with a baggie test. Is it possible you have overspray on the car that's not coming off with the clay? Although the M105/orange should have knocked that down some.

Has the car ever had any body work? Have you used a ferrous contamination remover? How much experience do you have with claying and polishing?

The car has had work performed. In 2008 the gas tank hatch/compartment was repainted (due to rust endemic to E39's), the front bumper repainted in 2009 (to cure minor road rash prior to full clear bra installation) and then in the Summer of 2010 the rear bumper was repainted after a small scratch from being rear ended. After every instance I had the car professionally detailed to remove overspray.

I'm an amateur; been using clay bars for over 10-years and have been polishing for the past 3-years (although this particular car was off the road and garaged for the past 18-months). I've never had to use a ferrous contamination remover as this car was professionally maintained from 2006 and onward.

I've never encountered something like this before and was skeptical that it would be orange peel because the car has been corrected previously. I've also dealt with minor overspray as well and I'd be surprised if that were the case. With that said, I'm not a professional so my frame of reference is limited.

[Matt@Revive]

where are you feeling the rough patches?

it is possible to have particle in the paint from the respray. can you see any imperfections were the roughness is?

[jbmeyer13]

where are you feeling the rough patches?

it is possible to have particle in the paint from the respray. can you see any imperfections were the roughness is?

I can't see any imperfections with the naked eye. Thus far I have worked on the roof, c-pillars and the trunk lid. If I were to use something like a microscope I wouldn't know what to look for.

[Setec Astronomy]

jbmeyer, where are you located?

[jbmeyer13]

jbmeyer, where are you located?

Northern NJ; near Morristown

[jbmeyer13]

If this is in fact overspray not being removed by the clay bar, what is the next step? Is it possible that the combo of PC 7424XP and M105 is not strong enough to remove this?

[Setec Astronomy]

Northern NJ; near Morristown

Oh, I didn't think you were going to be close to me, I thought maybe you would be close to a pro member who could give you an opinion. There's always Phil up in Norwood. Greg Gellas in Hillsbourough.

Oh, and if you have clearcoat overspray that isn't coming off from claying and polishing, then I guess wetsand would be the next step. Which is why you need someone like Phil.

[lawrenceSA]

If this is in fact overspray not being removed by the clay bar, what is the next step? Is it possible that the combo of PC 7424XP and M105 is not strong enough to remove this?

Perhaps you need to step up the aggressiveness of the clay as a starting point, but do expect more 'marring'.... though nothing that 205 shouldn't be able to remove.