[armanm]

Nearly three months of ownership the black paint is really starting to piss me off. It has been raining on and off recently and each time I hand wash my car I seem to see more swirl marks on my jet black paint. They really bother me and tick me off, ive tried buying swirl and scratch removers but none do the job.

Any suggestions on what to do, or should I just trade it in and get an alpine white?

[bnekic]

Yeah black cars are a lot of upkeep, I would personally never get one. If it's going to bother you that much and you don't want to be OCD with it I'd get a different color.

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by armanm

Nearly three months of ownership the black paint is really starting to piss me off. It has been raining on and off recently and each time I hand wash my car I seem to see more swirl marks on my jet black paint. They really bother me and tick me off, ive tried buying swirl and scratch removers but none do the job.

Any suggestions on what to do, or should I just trade it in and get an alpine white?

Find a good detailer to restore the paint to the original conidtion and then have the car Opti Coated. Black paint is a PITA to keep perfect.

[newbmwuser]

Originally Posted by azzurro

Find a good detailer to restore the paint to the original conidtion and then have the car Opti Coated. Black paint is a PITA to keep perfect.

Even opticoat swirls show on black. its really a terrible colour to maintain (my last car was black, now its alpine white)

As azzurro says, first, get it machine polished by a qualified detailer. Opticoat will help, but its not a force field. you still have to wash your car properly (preferably using the 2 bucket method).

Its a hassle, but its worth it, especially on black

[ironysatire]

Re: swirls, aren't other dark colors - Imperial Blue, Mojave, Mineral Gray - nearly as bad?

Do any 2013 colors actively HIDE swirls? OCD here as well..........

[SamS]

Originally Posted by ironysatire

Do any 2013 colors actively HIDE swirls? OCD here as well..........

White.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by SamS

White.

Nothing hides swirls as good as grey or silver. Darker grays not so much. White you can still see them.. Usually when the sun hits it dead on white looks pretty nasty if it's swirled?

Also regarding polish, u don't want them grinding down your clear coat on such a new car. Polishes are Usually abraisve. It's already thin as it is and you have how many years left under the element? Just something to consider...

[ny325]

I also have JB, and it really is a PITA to upkeep.However, washing, and waxing my car is my way of relaxing. When JB is clean, and waxed, there is no other color that looks that good to me.

[J1n]

I have always had BSM/MGs.. Initially protection right after delivery is essential for black cars.

It has been raining every other week in Melbourne as well, One a week wash is always good to remove dust/fallout/sea salt etc..

I've been washing my car at least once a week.. i think your washing method is incorrect causing swirls.. There are many good detailing forums where you can pick up some good practices (autopia/meguiarsonline forums)

You can find a good detailer to solve your current issue but the problem will reoccur unless you find the root cause of it.

Hope this helps.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by J1n

I have always had BSM/MGs.. Initially protection right after delivery is essential for black cars.

It has been raining every other week in Melbourne as well, One a week wash is always good to remove dust/fallout/sea salt etc..

I've been washing my car at least once a week.. i think your washing method is incorrect causing swirls.. There are many good detailing forums where you can pick up some good practices (autopia/meguiarsonline forums)

You can find a good detailer to solve your current issue but the problem will reoccur unless you find the root cause of it.

Hope this helps.

I agree. OP, I think you're method and equipment may be the cause. I had two old black cars that were swirled to shit and I was the only one who washed them.Used single bucket with Egyptian cotton terry cloth and leather chamois. Oh and regular sponge sponges for the wash. Big mistake.

Then I changed to the two bucket method, foam gun, top down approach, vertical hand motions only (in lieu of mr miyagi method), high quality microfiber sponges and towels, and a leaf blower for drying. My JB 535i after 2 years is 100% swirl free.

Also try not to clay too much, some clays are really abrasive and can cause swirls.

[armanm]

Wonderful information everyone and thanks for the tips.

[F30AM]

There is nothing you can do. It will happen anyway. The underlying problem is that 'soft' water-based paints are now used for environmental safety.

Flat colours are a marriage made in heaven for swirls and Flat Black, is flatly the best for this. Metallic paints fare much better. Best Silver and Grey Metallics.

And please don't bother with paint protection. It's money wasted. I've done the rounds with these products and they are all pretty hopeless.

I also have a Red Mk6 Golf GTI and it has been a PITA to maintain. I am scared to wash it now! Never, ever again.

[J1n]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

(in lieu of mr miyagi method)

Love it lol

[BavarianFanatic]

Don't take this the wrong way, but learn to properly wash the car. You're the one creating the swirls as your wash/dry the car. I'm sure Google will take you far, but in a nutshelf, NEVER wash or dry in a circular motion. Always wash and dry in a linear fashion longitudinally (front to back) along the car. Use shampoo that produces lots of thick suds. If you can, avoid drying with towels/chamois. Either use a warm air drier or a high quality non-spotting water filter.

[Joshhleee]

theres black clay material out there that hides all the swirls but once you wash your car it comes off, but just reapply.

[godfather87]

Originally Posted by Joshhleee

theres black clay material out there that hides all the swirls but once you wash your car it comes off, but just reapply.

the fillers r pretty useless once washed the swirls will come back..but not bad if ur going to show the car to someone

[psnt1ol]

Originally Posted by F30AM

There is nothing you can do. It will happen anyway. The underlying problem is that 'soft' water-based paints are now used for environmental safety.

Flat colours are a marriage made in heaven for swirls and Flat Black, is flatly the best for this. Metallic paints fare much better. Best Silver and Grey Metallics.

And please don't bother with paint protection. It's money wasted. I've done the rounds with these products and they are all pretty hopeless.

I also have a Red Mk6 Golf GTI and it has been a PITA to maintain. I am scared to wash it now! Never, ever again.

I don't normally come to the F30 forum. I am thinking about a new car this Spring so I dropped in to take a look.


With all due respect, I strongly disagree. Since over 90% of the swirls are induce by poor washing method.... resolving this issue will go a long way in keeping car swirl-free. Detailing is both a hobby and a side job for me. At the end of every detail, I make a point of showing my clients how to wash their cars. After spending 8-10 hrs working on their cars, I sure hate to have them wreck it in a few weeks since the clear coat can only be flattened so many times before failure occurs.

[utenigma]

I just had Scott from scottwax opti-coat my jet-black F30. He spent about 4 hours polishing the dealer-installed scratches out of the car. The clear on the car is so soft that he had a hard time cleaning the car after polishing so he could apply the opti-coat without marring the paint again.

He suggested after the opti-coat only use ONR to clean it, apply with a microfiber applicator then dry with a super fluffy microfiber towel

btw it looks AMAZING now

[armanm]

any links to the product and service you mentioned?

[utenigma]

Originally Posted by armanm

any links to the product and service you mentioned?

Opti-coat
http://optimumcarcare.com/ocoat1.php?li=4

Optimum No-Rinse
http://optimumcarcare.com/onrwns.php?li=2

Scott said he liked the no-rinse with wax as well

I just took some pics of my Jet black F30 335 today - posted pics to my garage

F30 Jet Black SportLine after Opti-Coat Garage pics



that's just opti-coat, no other wax or anything in heavy sun

[utenigma]

Scott from scottwax posted a write-up on what he did to my car on autotopia

http://www.autopia.org/forum/click-b...ti-coated.html

[armanm]

thank you