My dad cleaned my new car, now I’ve got swirl marks

My dad cleaned my new car, now I’ve got swirl marks

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Carowner4

Original Poster:

35 posts

20 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 06 September 2023 at 21:42

NDA

22,304 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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I would probably get a 'detailer' in to do it - not cheap, but if you want the paintwork restored, it's probably the easiest option.

The DIY methods which often involve polishing compounds and orbital car polishers are highly risky in the wrong hands - others, will, of course, disagree!

Filibuster

3,281 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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What is that special protective layer? Ceramic coating or a paint protection film or something else?

KarlMac

4,480 posts

148 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Filibuster said:
What is that special protective layer? Ceramic coating or a paint protection film or something else?
A coat of wax dealers charge £300 for normally.

Carowner4

Original Poster:

35 posts

20 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Filibuster said:
What is that special protective layer? Ceramic coating or a paint protection film or something else?
Superguard I believe

Carowner4

Original Poster:

35 posts

20 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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NDA said:
I would probably get a 'detailer' in to do it - not cheap, but if you want the paintwork restored, it's probably the easiest option.

The DIY methods which often involve polishing compounds and orbital car polishers are highly risky in the wrong hands - others, will, of course, disagree!
Hi, how much would this cost as an estimate do you think?

Chris32345

2,116 posts

69 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Your dad probably washed the wax off the dealer put on to cover the swirls marks rather then having caused them

Edited by Chris32345 on Tuesday 5th September 11:53

sam.rog

905 posts

85 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Your dad didn’t cause the swirl marks.
Whatever the dealer used disguised them. He just washed this off. Probably loads of silicon in it to hide any defects.

New cars mostly have terrible paint. It was probably prepped by the valet guy who uses a dirty sponge and dirty water.

If you want a truly swirl free finish its going to cost you. A full correction detail can be anywhere from £600-£1000 depending on severity.
You then need to buy costly consumables to clean it properly or you will just cause more swirls.

Unless you are prepared to spend time and money. Swirls are a fact of life. Buy a cheap polish/filler AG super resin polish is good. Use if every time you wash and it will hide most of it.

Filibuster

3,281 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Chris32345 said:
Your probably washed the wax off the dealer put on to cover the swirls marks rather then having caused them
This.

Superguard, I had to google it, seems to be nothing more than a wax. So if it bothers you, get it detailed.
What car are we talking btw?

Best corse of action is to wash it properly, polish by hand and apply a good wax yourself.
Profesional details can get very expensive very quickly!

Haltamer

2,550 posts

87 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Most dealer valets are no better than side street hand car washes - One bucket of brick acid for the day, and towels that get a pressure wash after every 500th car - They did the swirling (If anything, the application of the Ceramic (Assuming it happened) was probably the cause)

If you are just looking to improve, do as others have mentioned - Run round and hand polish with some Autoglym super resin polish, Then apply a nice wax with a fresh applicator - AutoGlym, Meguiars and even Turtlewax are all reasonable quality "mass market" options you can get at a fair price in halfords and easily get results.

If you want detailing to become a bonus hobby, get a DA Polishers, Pads from heavy to light cut, some wet sand, and every grade of Menzerna polish from super heavy cut to lightest possible cut, then spend the next year figuring out how to use it all biggrin

NDA

22,304 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Carowner4 said:
Hi, how much would this cost as an estimate do you think?
That will partly depend on where you are!

I found a good detailer in Hampshire that was £250 - I'm not sure how he makes any money as he takes several hours to do it.

Then there is 'full correction' (which I doubt you need) which is easily double, if not more.

C5_Steve

4,809 posts

110 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Filibuster said:
This.

Superguard, I had to google it, seems to be nothing more than a wax. So if it bothers you, get it detailed.
What car are we talking btw?

Best corse of action is to wash it properly, polish by hand and apply a good wax yourself.
Profesional details can get very expensive very quickly!
Yeah I agree with this, it'll probably look miles better if you wash it properly yourself. Maybe post a pic or the worst of it so we can get an idea of what we're dealing with?

By "properly" wash it I'd be going non-contact foam or spray to lift the dirt, rinse, clay bar/mitt, contact wash with a decent item (lambswool mitt etc), rinse off then assess the damage. Anything light will come out with a decent wax you can hand apply and see where you are there.

Fingers crossed.

steveo3002

10,658 posts

181 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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unless you plan to keep up a fastidious cleaning regime then think carefully about paying out ££££ for detailing work , next time it gets a less than perfect wash the marks will come back

Dannbodge

2,207 posts

128 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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I think you'd be suprised at the number of cars that come out of the factory with swirl marks and paint defects.

There's loads of detailers that do pre delivery paint corrections, so unless it had one of those, they were probably in from new.

AstonZagato

13,023 posts

217 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Carowner4 said:
Hi, how much would this cost as an estimate do you think?
It is a little bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question, I'm afraid. It depends on what you want done from paint correction through pc + ceramic coating to pc + cc + paint protection film. Some charge hundreds, others thousands.

It would be worth asking for local recommendations. Personally, the ceramic is a good idea as it makes washing it a lot easier and therefore the swirls are slower to return.

I actually bought a bunch of detailing supplies and a dual action polisher over lock down and did it myself. I watched some of the Meguiars YouTube tutorials and went slowly/carefully. It takes a loooong time (wash, clay, cut, polish, wax, windows, tyres, trim, interior - say three days of work per car) but is oddly satisfying.

Even if you get a detailer to do it, watch some car washing tutorials - snow foam, twin buckets, etc - just to slow their return.

Belle427

9,737 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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try something like meguiars ultimate polish which is available in halfords and can be hand applied.

Rusty Old-Banger

4,913 posts

220 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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My mum borrowed my 996. A bird shat on the back, so she cleaned it off, but just with a cloth, and obviously the bird had been eating seed grains or husks or something. There is now a 6 inch patch that is down to the base that looks like someone fell on the car with a grinding disc. She meant well, I'm sure, but the whole rear bumper needs a respray now.

Carowner4

Original Poster:

35 posts

20 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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My dad used a watering can and a single bucket to clean the car and the car was very dusty so that’s the reason I believe he caused these swirl marks, although I’m now looking into getting a pressure washer. Any suggestions?

Sticks.

9,016 posts

258 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Carowner4 said:
My dad used a watering can and a single bucket to clean the car and the car was very dusty so that’s the reason I believe he caused these swirl marks, although I’m now looking into getting a pressure washer. Any suggestions?
Yes. Wash it yourself.

Carowner4

Original Poster:

35 posts

20 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
Carowner4 said:
My dad used a watering can and a single bucket to clean the car and the car was very dusty so that’s the reason I believe he caused these swirl marks, although I’m now looking into getting a pressure washer. Any suggestions?
Yes. Wash it yourself.
Is it likely he caused the swirls, or like others have said probably there before?