Dull paintwork

[dobber]

Hi, I have recently purchased a 2001 Mk4 Golf in Black. The paintwork is a bit dull all over to be honest and im a bit dissapointed with it asthetically. What should i be using to restore the glossiness and shineyness back to the paintwork?

[rongti]

Clay the body work.  I used Maguire's clay (about £25 for a kit) and my 17 year old paint came up amazingly well!  You obviously get a lump of clay and some lubricant in the kit and a micro fibre cloth.  You spray the lube on, and rub the clay over the bodywork until it becomes silky smooth them wipe away the excess!  Make sure you keep the clay nice and lubed up otherwise you'll be ripping holes in your paintwork.  Do this all over and then apply a few coats of high quality wax to protect the paint.

Have a look at this:
edit: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=93439.0

[joesgti]

^^^ above is good for prepping the car! first wash the car with some decent wash, i use megs NXT. Use 2 buckets, 1 fesh water (to rinse) on one sopy (to apply), then dry it, i use megs water magnet (drying towel) they use the clay as above, then if your a noob to detailing i suggest the megs stage 1 paint cleaner and stage 2 polisher, this should then restore your paint and should shine!!

theres alot more qualified detailers on here that know what they are doing and will give better advise if you want to take it furth, but the above will make your car look like new 

[dobber]

Cheers for the advise. Looks like i'll be buying some clay and a few more megs bits The i'll have to brake the news to the missus that i'll be doing a lot of cleaning on the car when i'm off next week 

[Dan J]

i would suggest getting it fully detailed by a pro first, then get yourself some good sealant and wax to keep on top off it.

[Conker]

Jesus, don't spend £25 on the megs kit. Heres two quality items that get rave reviews:


http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=48&products_id=363

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/poorboys-spray-and-gloss.php?manufacturers_id=16


Total cost £15 plus P&P.


I'm no expert but I've tested LOADS of car products, and the most cost effective solution I've found is the clay above, autoglym Super Resin Polish (seriously), and Collinite 476. MUCH better protection than the megs 3 step.

[kells]

as above, megs is well over rated and over priced

[JonnyG]

i would suggest getting it fully detailed by a pro first, then get yourself some good sealant and wax to keep on top off it.

I'd second that ... it really needs a good machine polish before wax and sealants ...you won't believe how good it will look after a proper polish   

Example here :

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/show-n-shine-nissan-200sx/info_15.html

[PERFECT PAINT]

I would get it mopped at a body shop . I been puttin paint on panels for near on ten years and there aint notin a mop cant sort out unless it needs repainting .

You`ll be surprised at how many scratches can be compounded out 

[Ben Lessani]

10 hrs for me ...

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