[webwysard]

Hi All,

I've been contemplating about using a polishing machine to get rid of the swirl marks left by the dealerships complimentry car wash.

The thing is I haven't polished my car ever let alone using a machine but I do wash car myself using decent stuff so thats why I want to go ahead and polish and wax it.

But looking on the tinternet there seems to be quite a few options with regards to the machine and then there are different sort of backing plates to go with the machine and pads hence my confusion.

So basically I'm after a decent polish machine but not too dear in case I realise afterwards that it was not a job for me.

Apart from the machine I'll need backing plate and polishing/waxing pads but again I've got no clue what size and type I'll need to be able to sort out the swirl marks.

Please advice.

[Ryan87]

Best to start with a Dual action polisher (DA) as it's harder to do any damage due to the oscillation of the head.

Before touching the car make sure you give it a thorough clean and clay, the better it's prepped the easier it is.

As for what to get, any of the kits nearer the bottom of this page are fairly good deals:

http://www.juicydetailing.co.uk/poli...id=2&TreeId=16

I've personally got the 3m kit and find it to work quite well. Unfortunately BMW paint can be fairly tough so removing every last swirl may not be possible but you can make it look 10 times better.

If you dont want to attack your car straight away find a relatives car (i practiced on my sisters fiesta and fiance's astra) or pick up a body panel from a scrappy until you feel comfortable with it.

Aslong as you dont go mad (leaving it in the same place for extended periods of time) you'll be ok.

Just make sure you put a lot of time aside as to do it properly takes a good few hours. Oh and dont expect to be that mobile the morning after either!

[BIFCAIDS]

Good advice above TBF. You can get good beginner bundles on sites like www.cleanyourcar.co.uk and i4detailing.

[webwysard]

Thanks Ryan for the info.

Really liked the idea of trying this on someone else car first.

Well I have already choosen the stuff I'll be using ie polish and wax just not sure about the machine, backing plates and pads. Which backing plate does a new machine come with and why people choose to have a different ones ? is it about the size of the plate or something else.

What do you think about this ?

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...her-cat10.html

Thanks

[Kerr]

I bought that exact polisher a few weeks ago from ebay.

It was £90 with two Meguiars pads that normally cost about £12 each.

After reading through detailers world it put a little panic in me.

I used Meguiars ultimate compound and their yellow buffing pad.

I took it easy and was happy with the results. I think you'd need to do something daft to cause damage with what I used.

I think I might try a more abrasive pad next time. Meguiars do a red one which is more.abrasive than the yellow.

[fulcrum]

This is what you need for BMW hard paint

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polish.../prod_963.html

£15 off and free postage if you go through detailing world.

[davyk31]

The DAS Pro machine is a bit more powerful which is good for hard paint so I would go for it.

[webwysard]

Sorry guys, should have mentioned in my first post that its for my Seat Cupra R (crono yellow)as I dont have bimmer anymore so not sure if it has a hard or soft paint.

[Reggie-g75]

Seat being VAG should be hard as BMW.

Detailing world is a great place for very detailed advice. There is a guy called Dave KG who writes long and detailed reviews and guides on everything, especially DA polishing.

I bought mine last year from shinearama in Manchester. Haven't used it much as the results from normal pads and menz polish wasn't great. Now have the MF system, but haven't been arsed to use it.

By the time you've snow foamed, washed the car, dried, tardissed, iron x'd, clayed, then re washed and dried I'm too knackered to get the DA out then to only think about glazing, sealing and waxing.

Doing it properly is a very long process!

Enjoyable though!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by webwysard

What do you think about this ?

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...her-cat10.html

Thanks

Excellent choice,ideal for a first timer with a polisher.

I've got the same one,and it's pretty bulletproof in terms of not damaging your paintwork.
Polished Bliss are also great to do business with,I get everything from there

[webwysard]

Ok I've choosen the Kestrel DAS-6 Dual Action but it comes with a 5" backing plate so would that be enough for this purpose or shall I get a bit larger size as well ?

An other important question is which pads do I need to take the swirl marks out ? and how many shall I get ?

A link would be really helpful.

Thanks

[fulcrum]

see post above?

[leetennis]

Am I the only nutter that does this by hand?
Don't get me wrong I'm tempted to go down this avenue, which does the better job not the quickest?

[davyk31]

Machine will be considerably better but probably take more time.

[dobbo99]

Originally Posted by leetennis

Am I the only nutter that does this by hand?
Don't get me wrong I'm tempted to go down this avenue, which does the better job not the quickest?

nope, me too!

you cant beat the finish from a machine and you'll never get the swirls out by hand, and to provide a pgreat base from which to work from moving forward it is the only option.
I will machine mine once a year, and then its easy to keep on top of. its needs doing now really, but I havent had the time.

but if you havent got the money to spend, and wash/clay/clean/prep the paint prior to adding a glaze/wax/sealant by hand then you can still achieve impressive results.
by hand means you'll coat and buff an entire car 3 or 4 times - thats alot of work.

i think too many people just wash a car, then put wax on top and expect brilliance - its not quite that simple, its hard work by machine or hand!

[webwysard]

Ok guys just bought this and I believe its the cheapest out there with the discount.

http://www.perfectlycleaned.co.uk/ke...fer-1051-p.asp

Thanks again for the suggestions and advices.

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by webwysard

Ok guys just bought this and I believe its the cheapest out there with the discount.

http://www.perfectlycleaned.co.uk/ke...fer-1051-p.asp

Thanks again for the suggestions and advices.

It will be as it is not the PRO version - you may well find it is under powered. The PRO is normally £30 more but £55 more from there.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by fulcrum

It will be as it is not the PRO version - you may well find it is under powered. The PRO is normally £30 more but £55 more from there.

I've not long bought the same one.

How much pressure are you applying to the polisher to feel it doesn't have enough power?

When using it I feel I'm being as firm as I'm willing to be and it doesn't seem to be struggling at all.