Pick my pads, PLEASE - White BMW - Sonax PF

**mvolps22** · 04-26-2020, 06:20 PM

I've officially put my mind in a blender looking at all the pad choices. I've put about a dozen different pads in my cart only to change my mind on which ones I need.

I have an alpine white BMW, Sonax PF, and a Harbor Freight DA. What pads should I use? I know the answer is "test spot" but I don't want to buy $200 worth of pads to find out what works and I also don't want to decon the car and get it ready to polish only to find out I have the wrong pads. The paint is in good shape and I'm only looking to do a 1 step polish that will achieve decent correction. It's my daily driver and I'd like to preserve the clear coat (is that something I even need to worry about with only 1-step polishing?). My goal is to get decent correction this time around and do light maintenance/cleaner polishes every year or so. I only maintain my own cars so I don't need/want a bunch of paint correction supplies. I think I'm leaning toward B&S flat white pads but maybe I should get orange? or green? or uro-tec yellow, or hydrotech tangerine, or...

Please help me stop overthinking this!

**vobro** · 04-26-2020, 06:38 PM

There’s absolutely no need to get $200 in pads but why not just get 3 each of white and orange? Alpine white tends to be on the hard side and there’s nothing worse than going thru all that work and not being satisfied. All the pads you listed are quality pads

**PaulMys** · 04-26-2020, 07:10 PM

Grab some white & orange LC flat pads and call it a day.

Take the savings and get yourself a GG9 machine. I know that you said "I only maintain my own cars" and "don't want a bunch of paint correction supplies".

But, you are driving a BMW so it would only make sense that you like to have higher-end things, and keep them in top shape. JMO

**The Guz** · 04-26-2020, 07:12 PM

A great video Read Mike’s article on the number of pads needed.

YouTube

**mvolps22** · 04-26-2020, 07:30 PM

Will an orange pad finish down nice enough?

Is there a difference in LC and B&S orange and white?

**PaulMys** · 04-26-2020, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by mvolps22

Will an orange pad finish down nice enough?

Is there a difference in LC and B&S orange and white?

I use orange LC flat pads on my truck and wife's Jeep.

These pads are mainly used with Griot's Correcting Cream, and HD (now 3D) Speed.

This combo finishes down just fine, and LSP ready for me.

In your original post, you said "I know, the answer is test spot", but...... It really IS the answer to your question about what pads work for your own needs.

**custmsprty** · 04-26-2020, 08:31 PM

I agree with everything above.

You need a minimum of 6 white pads and 6 orange pads to have on hand.

Get a 6 pack each of the LC white and orange flat pads, wait for a sale and you are in business.

Test spots are a must.

The more you abuse a pad the less life you get out of it. Heat is a pads enemy as is product buildup. By having more pads you will actually extend the life of your pads.

And most importantly, junk builds up in your pad as you polish so you are actually grinding that junk back into your paint by not changing out pads frequently. That's counter productive.

Bottom line, you can never have too many pads.

**mvolps22** · 04-26-2020, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by The Guz

A great video Read Mike’s article on the number of pads needed.

YouTube

Esoteric detailing and this youtube video are both pretty high on the Rupes yellow pads while everyone that has chimed in here is saying LC orange and white. Sounds like I either need a dozen LC pads or 5 or 6 rupes yellow pads.

**custmsprty** · 04-26-2020, 08:43 PM

You need to have different pads as they are different in aggressiveness.

Like on a test spot, you use "a" polish white white pad, don't get results you want, go to orange pad with same polish, you get results you want and vice versa.

I've done as many as 5-6 test spots on a vehicle before getting the combination I want.

**mvolps22** · 04-26-2020, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by custmsprty

You need to have different pads as they are different in aggressiveness.

Like on a test spot, you use "a" polish white white pad, don't get results you want, go to range pad with same polish, you get results you want and vice versa.

I've done as many as 5-6 test spots on a vehicle before getting the combination I want.

I don't want all that crap in my garage though, that's way too many options. Trying to keep it simple and not going for perfect correction, it's my daily driver and I just want it to look clean and glossy. Just by polishing it once and washing it a few times a month it it's going to look better than 95% of the cars on the road.