Rejuvenating a '90 Mk2 Golf... A few questions..

[gixerthrasher]

I've just spent a fortune rebuilding my Mk2 GTi & I'm now left with the cars paintwork to tend to..
It's only ever been washed with Turtle Wax shampoo & cheap bottle polishes in the time I've owned it..  :embarassed:
I've read through pages of info regarding detailing & what products are best on this forum, but would still like to know the following..
:-There's old bird crap marks on the roof I can't shift.. I've only tried Color Back to shift 'em which hasn't worked at all.. 
   Is there a product I can apply by hand to polish out these marks?
:-Will 1 clay bar do the whole car & do you have to re-kneed it once dirty or just use 1 side of it & then the other once its flattened out??
:-There are quite a few fine circular scratches on the bodywork.. Is there a polish or wax that will remove or hide these???
The paintwork is black pearl (?) so hopefully any products I may have recommended to me will be ok for this finish..
I really hope to do this all by hand & not have to use a buffing machine..
Any info you good fellers can give will be so appreciated, ta.. 

[Guy]

I've just spent a fortune rebuilding my Mk2 GTi & I'm now left with the cars paintwork to tend to..
It's only ever been washed with Turtle Wax shampoo & cheap bottle polishes in the time I've owned it..  :embarassed:
I've read through pages of info regarding detailing & what products are best on this forum, but would still like to know the following..
:-There's old bird crap marks on the roof I can't shift.. I've only tried Color Back to shift 'em which hasn't worked at all.. 
   Is there a product I can apply by hand to polish out these marks?
:-Will 1 clay bar do the whole car & do you have to re-kneed it once dirty or just use 1 side of it & then the other once its flattened out??
:-There are quite a few fine circular scratches on the bodywork.. Is there a polish or wax that will remove or hide these???
The paintwork is black pearl (?) so hopefully any products I may have recommended to me will be ok for this finish..
I really hope to do this all by hand & not have to use a buffing machine..
Any info you good fellers can give will be so appreciated, ta.. 

: you can try megs scratch-x on the bird crap - but it will probably shift if you clay
: clay - 1 bar will be good and you just re-kneed it
: fine circular scratches are swirls (caused by washing technique, car washes etc) swirl busting by hand is difficult... if you want really good results employ a pro-detailer, find a mate with a dual action rotary or buy one and DIY
: black pearl will come up super smashin great 

[Niro]

: you can try megs scratch-x on the bird crap - but it will probably shift if you clay
: clay - 1 bar will be good and you just re-kneed it
: fine circular scratches are swirls (caused by washing technique, car washes etc) swirl busting by hand is difficult... if you want really good results employ a pro-detailer, find a mate with a dual action rotary or buy one and DIY
: black pearl will come up super smashin great 

As above but you could try the scratch X on the swirl's will need a lot of elbow grease to work in.
Start in circular movement then up & down.

LSP and wax to finish off and it will looks the dogs doo daas

[gixerthrasher]

Top tips guys, thanks.. 
Finally, can you recommend somewhere I can get these products please?

[Guy]

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/

orders over £60 ship free

use the code 'edition38' when you check out for a 5% discount

[gixerthrasher]

Nice one Guy, thanx for that 
Right, I'm off shopping now with these guys.. So just to make things "clear" & what to get myself...
After a thorough washing down & drying do I clay bar 1st, then use Scratch-X, followed by a good polish & then finally a wax???
Am I right in thinking I can use the clay bar again, or do you bin it after use?
I'm going to use good ol' elbow grease to start as the paints not too bad & will probably get a machine polisher later.. 

[Guy]

Nice one Guy, thanx for that 
Right, I'm off shopping now with these guys.. So just to make things "clear" & what to get myself...
After a thorough washing down & drying do I clay bar 1st, then use Scratch-X, followed by a good polish & then finally a wax???
Am I right in thinking I can use the clay bar again, or do you bin it after use?
I'm going to use good ol' elbow grease to start as the paints not too bad & will probably get a machine polisher later.. 

had a think about this... maybe use dodo juice lime prime http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/dodo-juice-lime-prime-pre-wax-cleanser-250ml.php?cPath=27 instead of scratch-x, i personally wouldn't use scratch-x as a general purpose polish

your routine will be

wash and rinse using 2 bucket method, don't worry too much about drying
clay
wash and rinse using 2 bucket method
dry using waffle
polish
wax x 2

you can keep the clay after use, you can use it for bits you might have missed, but i would get a fresh one if you are going to do a whole car again

[gixerthrasher]

  Super stuff, thanks again Guy.. You're a credit to this forum mate!
So glad I looked into this detailing & can now say my days of using basic cleaners are over!!
Can't wait to get cracking.. Will post up some before & afters once postie arrives with me products..
Safe..