Are swirl marks visible on all cars?

[Carowner4]

I wanted to start a discussion about swirl marks, as I’ve recently become a car owner for the first time and I’m noticing that every car has them, especially black cars. Does your car have these?

[Defcon5]

Unless it’s just rolled out of the detailers unit, it’s got swirl marks

Some are filled better than others with product

Edited by Defcon5 on Wednesday 6th September 23:00

[Sebring440]

Carowner4 said:

I wanted to start a discussion about swirl marks, as I’ve recently become a car owner for the first time and I’m noticing that every car has them, especially black cars. Does your car have these?

Another very similar thread here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

But for some reason the OP deleted the initial post!

[SkodaIan]

If swirl marks worry you, on a car used day to day, there are two options:

1: Have a dark coloured car and never wash it - that way you won't add any new swirl marks and any existing ones will be hard to spot because they will be covered with a layer of dirt.

2: Buy a white or silver car, wash it normally and don't worry too much as any swirl marks will be almost impossible to see except in very specific light conditions.

[GeniusOfLove]

I took my brand new car to a detailer in 2019 for a ceramic coat, but the first thing they do is a correction to remove all swirls of any sort.

It looked incredible, the depth and gloss to the paint made it look lilke it was glowing. Obviously over time and with my ham fisted washing attempts it re-swirled, so it was arguably a waste of money, but it was incredible.

What was also quite surprising was how much swirling it had from the dealer, presumably from it's PDI wash.

[Chubbyross]

If you never want swirl marks never buy a black car. There’s a reason that YouTube detailers often machine polish black cars as the before and after shots are much more pronounced. Once polished it won’t stay that good for long.

[AlexRS2782]

Sebring440 said:

Carowner4 said:

I wanted to start a discussion about swirl marks, as I’ve recently become a car owner for the first time and I’m noticing that every car has them, especially black cars. Does your car have these?

Another very similar thread here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

But for some reason the OP deleted the initial post!

It's also the same OP that brought us these recent, fairly pointless, threads:

Is a Toyota Yaris "cool" in 2023? - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
A thread about pretending they left their phone in an old car yonks ago - what might happen? - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

This has all the looks of a wind-up account, especially as the previous thread about "swirl marks" quoted above was all about how "daddy" washed his car using just a watering can, an old bucket & cloth to remove all the "dust" that was over it

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Thursday 7th September 01:58

[ChocolateFrog]

Yeah definitely one to ignore.

[ChrisH79]

OP. If you’re real you need to follow the example set by this guy.

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/threads/vxrmarcs-...

[SteBrown91]

I thought everyone was back at school now?

[Sheepshanks]

SteBrown91 said:

I thought everyone was back at school now?

Side effect of RAAC?

[Filibuster]

Carowner4 said:

I wanted to start a discussion about swirl marks, as I’ve recently become a car owner for the first time and I’m noticing that every car has them, especially black cars. Does your car have these?

Filibuster said:

Carowner4 said:

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?

What difference does it make? Do you want your dad to cough up for a detail??

What car is it and can you post a picture of it?

Would you kindly answer my question on your other post?
You got a lot of good advice from numerous people on you other thread, you know, the one you deleted your initial post.

[Alex_225]

On a daily used car that will be washed, even in the most gentle way swirl marks aren't avoidable. On most cars, where the user just stops in at a car wash and lets a punch of guys scrub away, it'll have them. Even brand new cars end up with them from how dealers often wash them. It is inevitable.

That's not to say you can't correct the paint, whether that's by machine or using filling polishes/glazes and have it looking perfect. It's just not permanent.

Only way you'll keep a car swirl free is to drive it once in a blue moon, wash it almost immediately and keep it in a dust free environment.

[Hammy98]

I hate seeing nice cars covered in swirl marks, but it really is inevitable.

My last couple of cars have been M cars, and I've had each of them paint corrected and ceramic coated when I've first bought them. I usually keep my cars 2 years and by the end of the term they usually have a fair few swirls. My current M5 was largely swirl free til recently when it was in at BMW for some warranty work and they decided to wash it with a brick. The ceramic protected it a bit, but I spent yesterday afternoon polishing a few areas which had visible swirling after they'd washed it - probably removing the ceramic that I'd just had applied months ago!

Even washing with pre-wash > snow foam with 2 buckets, grit guard - it still ends up with swirls. The guys at car shows with mirror finish paint must spend their life with a DA polisher in their hand.

[Silverage]

I had my car in for a service earlier in the week and had a loaner for the day. The loaner was virtually new with just 300 miles on it, but the metallic red paint was already swirl central. This was from a Hyundai main dealer.

[anonymous-user]

Chubbyross said:

If you never want swirl marks never buy a black car. There’s a reason that YouTube detailers often machine polish black cars as the before and after shots are much more pronounced. Once polished it won’t stay that good for long.

It's one of the main reasons I always buy silver cars, it is the best colour for hiding swirl marks, dings and scratches. I couldn't cope with a black car, looking at them in direct sunlight makes me feel sick with the swirl marks and imperfections it shows up.

My parents are the least likely people ever to look after a car and years ago they went off to buy their first ever new car. As they left I said to them "don't buy a black one, buy a silver one", they came back and said they had bought a black one. Their reason? "The old car was silver and people wouldn't know we had bought a new car" .

So after a few years of their ownership every panel is scratched or dented, and as the undercoat is white every corner of the bumper looks like it has been a dodgem car.

Don't get me wrong, silver still shows up swirl marks in direct light, but it is far less visible than any other colour.

Don't get me started on gloss black trim on cars, I have seen videos on youtube of brand new cars where they remove the protective film and it is already scratched to hell.

[CKY]

AlexRS2782 said:

It's also the same OP that brought us these recent, fairly pointless, threads:

Is a Toyota Yaris "cool" in 2023? - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
A thread about pretending they left their phone in an old car yonks ago - what might happen? - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

This has all the looks of a wind-up account, especially as the previous thread about "swirl marks" quoted above was all about how "daddy" washed his car using just a watering can, an old bucket & cloth to remove all the "dust" that was over it

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Thursday 7th September 01:58

Ffs thought Summer holidays had ended

[Aunty Pasty]

Joey Deacon said:

Don't get me started on gloss black trim on cars, I have seen videos on youtube of brand new cars where they remove the protective film and it is already scratched to hell.

I think that's one of the dumbest current trends we have with new cars. By putting it on the outside it'll scratch as soon as a fly lands on it or anything happens at all. A textured finish would be much better.

[GeniusOfLove]

Aunty Pasty said:

Joey Deacon said:

Don't get me started on gloss black trim on cars, I have seen videos on youtube of brand new cars where they remove the protective film and it is already scratched to hell.

I think that's one of the dumbest current trends we have with new cars. By putting it on the outside it'll scratch as soon as a fly lands on it or anything happens at all. A textured finish would be much better.

It was naff enough on the inside when it started appearing in the early 00s, shiny plastic "piano black" trim that looked awful within a year or two, but putting it on the outside is really awful. I was quite surprised to find out it wasn't aftermarket when I first saw it on a Range Rover, shiny plastic is about as far from a "premium looking" material as it's possible to get.

[CrippsCorner]

This thread makes me feel not too bad about my other half's poor car! First time we've had a black car in the family... and to be frank, the paintwork is fecked. I have thought about sorting it with a DA but it sounds like it wouldn't last anyway!