Help - What do I need to do mint up my Golf.

[DamoGTI]

Hi there,

Basically im getting told my paint needs some tlc (I thought it was quite tidy my self). Any way im told i have swirl marks on my paint. Can anyone tell me whats the best way to remove them and make it look new again. What products / technique is best to use etc...
Sorry im new to detailing..

See below, is it really that bad???

Thanks in advance!!

[T_J_G]

Probably worth getting it machine polished depending on how bad the swirls are.

I'll wait for Guy to come along he knows more than me..

[DamoGTI]

My mate does machine polishing for a living, he said he will be able to do it..You recon thats worth it?

[T_J_G]

My mate does machine polishing for a living, he said he will be able to do it..You recon thats worth it?

If he's using the right stuff probably worth getting him to do it at mates rates.

[NewGolf]

It does need doing. The GTI looks good though DamoGTI. I'll post some advice later on, cooking tea at the moment. 

[Top Cat]

It does need doing. The GTI looks good though DamoGTI. I'll post some advice later on, cooking tea at the moment. 

what you havin for tea 

[NewGolf]

It does need doing. The GTI looks good though DamoGTI. I'll post some advice later on, cooking tea at the moment. 

what you havin for tea 

Chinese my old mate TC! 
Sweet and Sour Chicken Hong Kong Style
Beef Curry With Boiled Rice
Crispy Aromatic Duck with Hoisin Sauce/Pancakes ETC
Special Fried Rice
Satay Chicken
Washed down with a glass or two of chilled Sancerre   


Ok back to the OT.
I'd get myself either a Porter Cable 7424 or a Meguiars G220 and Meguiars #80 and #83. Should cost you around £160-180 ish. Ok its a lot to pay out initially, but once you get the hang of it, not only can you do your own car, and future cars, you can chargde to do friends/family/neighbours/workmates.
I did this, bought a PC and using it on my old daily driver to learn the ropes, then my GTI, and have a ready stream of people wanting me to do theirs. My GTI gleams, even though TC reckons I have a Vauxhall 

After claying the car, using the PC with some 6" pads, #83 first then the #80, I'd either splash the cash and go for Zym0l Carbon at about £40-50 a tub, from here
http://www.monzacarcare.com/products/?category_id=6110&search_mode=view_item&product_id=1461&start=0&search_term=Enter%20search%20term
or a Zaino finishing  kit, from here
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/zaino/zaino-39-finishing-39-kit-with-z-2-pro/prod_498.html

Hope this helps mate.

[SteveP]

I have only just started getting into the detailing lark, but agree with everything NewGolf has said (apart from his choice of Chinese for his tea  ).

I spent quite a bit on a Megs G220 and Menzerna Polish + Pads Kit and Zaino Z2 kit (as listed above) from cleanyourcar.co.uk plus a set of Sonus small spot pads.

My car wasn't covered in swirl marks so only needed to a light polish to clean things up and then with the Zaino applied it looked great. 

However I have already had a go with the kit on a 12 year Rover 200 coupe which was covered in marks (including some bit's where the owner had used a bilo pad on the paint  ) and the results with Sonus fine clay followed by Menz Polishes (Power Gloss, Intensive Polish then Final Finish) and then a coat of Megs NXT2 Tech Wax where night and day (forgot my camera typically).

Otherwise I would just get a pro detailer to sort things out. 

[08micsta]

I have to agree with NEwgolf (Why is he not a mod in this section??).

Also have a look on detailing world if you need help with the technical stuff. OR ask here.

Your sig is under construction. I will remove the swirls through Photoshop 

Mike

[NewGolf]

I spent all yesterday, (10 hours+) detailing my 8 year old daily driver, Mk4 1.4 Golf, it has swirls a lot worse than yours DamoGTI. I used to get free car washes as I worked for a big retail company who owned garages. As it was a company car I used to wash it weekly as I assumed I'd have to give it back! They let me have it last year when the company got bought out 

I started out with the PC7424, (not invested in a G220, waiting until the garage is built), buffing pad and Megs #83. Moved up to Megs#80 once I could no longer see any scratches, then wiped the car down and gave Megs #7 Polish a go by hand. Honestly the car looks almost as good as new. Didn't take any pics, (sorry) as it was hard work and I thought it was going to rain  Battery was flat ans memory card is full of my GTI detail!

Finished off with Zaino Z2 with their accerator cure thingy, ZXF. WOW is all I can say!

Topped it off after an hour with Z8, it really does look fantastic.

08Micsta is spot on, DW is great for tips/guides and product info, as well as group buys. (Here is getting just as good, mind you!)

Are we going to open a new area for product recommendations? (I have far too many, I think I'm obsessed!)?

HTH