[silver28]

Hey guys - just got this last month and only in the sun did I realize the paint looked like this. I can't wipe or wash it off...wondering how do I get this off? Assume this is from a crappy wax job?

The car was pre-owned so don't think I can ask them to take it off.

[CS328Ci]

Your car is not greasy and does not have film of fluid. The clearcoat is marred up causing micro-scratches and swirl marks. These scratches give your car that kind of halo appearance.

Your car requires a cut-polish to remove the damage. You can look up in the detailing subforum how to remove it yourself or look up a reputable car detailer in your area to help you remove it.

[madmonkey]

Wow - previous owner did not know what they were doing - or maybe it was the dealer's "detailing" crew...

That being said, yes, only a paint correction will get rid of this. Good luck.

[50shadesofhockenheim]

Solution:

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by CS328Ci

Your car is not greasy and does not have film of fluid. The clearcoat is marred up causing micro-scratches and swirl marks. These scratches give your car that kind of halo appearance.

Your car requires a cut-polish to remove the damage. You can look up in the detailing subforum how to remove it yourself or look up a reputable car detailer in your area to help you remove it.

Originally Posted by madmonkey

Wow - previous owner did not know what they were doing - or maybe it was the dealer's "detailing" crew...

That being said, yes, only a paint correction will get rid of this. Good luck.

What these guys said--it is not as bad as it looks--you could used a DA polisher and some Meguiar's M205 or M105 and take it out. In taking out my swirls on my BSM I have at times been left with micro-marring and had to go back over and take it out.

[silver28]

Thanks - I figure I should be able to "buff it out" but as I haven't waxed a car in 20 years, not sure what's out there. I'll research more but thanks for the initial advice here.

[John in VA]

Research detailing & holograms - plenty of info about this common issue:
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...QF0xhipujfs.97
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...polishing.html

[madmonkey]

Originally Posted by John in VA

Research detailing & holograms - plenty of info about this common issue:
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...QF0xhipujfs.97
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...polishing.html

Both links posted by John are excellent sources of info.

[silver28]

So an update to my greasy car. I finally had a chance to fix it for the spring. Thanks for all the advice here and also found a lot of info on Reddit.

Here's what I did in a nut shell - bought almost everything from Amazon except for the waxes.
- Two bucket wash with new microfiber wash mitts
- Clay bar
- Clean up using alcohol wash
- Meguires Ultimate Compound with Chemical Guy Orange hex pad using the Porter Cable DA Polisher
- Meguires Ultimate Polish using white hex pad
- Meguires Spray on Detailing wax (got lazy)

I got out all the swirls, and lots of scratches, but some still remain but fairly minor. Took 4-5 hours over two days. The DA polisher is amazing, so easy to use. Overall, not 100% perfect but good enough to my liking. I was parked one day near a pizza joint during lunch where a bunch of high schoolers were coming towards...saw a few people staring, a few others saying "clean", etc, etc.

Anyway though I would share my success story!

[John in VA]

Excellent - good work!

[vanbmw]

I have BSM 335 and I give my car a good polish twice a year. Usually my spring polish it 3 step and my fall is just a light polish seal. My paint looks great.

M105\lake country cyan cutting pad
M205\lake country tangerine light polish pad
jescar/menzerna power lock sealant.
All steps using my porter cable RA polisher.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by vanbmw

I have BSM 335 and I give my car a good polish twice a year. Usually my spring polish it 3 step and my fall is just a light polish seal. My paint looks great.

M105\lake country cyan cutting pad
M205\lake country tangerine light polish pad
jescar/menzerna power lock sealant.
All steps using my porter cable RA polisher.

you'll have no clear coat in a few years if you keep doing that twice a year.

[Tribalpinoy911]

Good job many people don't know the difference between a swirl x scratchx or compound

[jmg]

Originally Posted by vanbmw

I have BSM 335 and I give my car a good polish twice a year. Usually my spring polish it 3 step and my fall is just a light polish seal. My paint looks great.

M105\lake country cyan cutting pad
M205\lake country tangerine light polish pad
jescar/menzerna power lock sealant.
All steps using my porter cable RA polisher.

You should only be polishing when absolutely necessary. Remember, polishing is basically removing a very very thin amount of clear coat to even out the microscratches and swirl marks. Preventative measure is better than polishing. That means 2 bucket system, using a foam cannon, etc. Wax will help fill in those swirls too, it's a more temporary, but less abrasive method than polishing. If you don't have to polish for years, you are doing it right.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by jmg

You should only be polishing when absolutely necessary.

+1. I just did a full recon of my three year old F34, as there were enough scratches in the paint to justify it. I rubbed it out with Menzerna 400, then Menzerna 2500, finished it off with Power Lock. I normally do Power Lock each spring and fall. Last year I also used Menzerna 2500 in the spring. I only did the 400 because I had to go that strong to get rid of the sanding marks where the paint was repaired, and then 2500 to get rid of the swirl marks left by the 400, which look like the pictures at the top of the thread, but not nearly that bad.They obviously did a quick rub out to try to make the paint look fresh but probably did it in less than an hour, then didn't follow it up with a machine polish to get rid of the swirls.

[Sea-Tac]

This is clearly the result of some idiot improperly using a buffer that was either dirty or using a buffer on an improperly cleaned car. Take it to the best auto detailer you can find. Preferably one who works on high end cars. They will be able to make it look streak free. Good luck.

[Sea-Tac]

Originally Posted by silver28

So an update to my greasy car. I finally had a chance to fix it for the spring. Thanks for all the advice here and also found a lot of info on Reddit.

Here's what I did in a nut shell - bought almost everything from Amazon except for the waxes.
- Two bucket wash with new microfiber wash mitts
- Clay bar
- Clean up using alcohol wash
- Meguires Ultimate Compound with Chemical Guy Orange hex pad using the Porter Cable DA Polisher
- Meguires Ultimate Polish using white hex pad
- Meguires Spray on Detailing wax (got lazy)

I got out all the swirls, and lots of scratches, but some still remain but fairly minor.

Took 4-5 hours over two days. The DA polisher is amazing, so easy to use. Overall, not 100% perfect but good enough to my liking. I was parked one day near a pizza joint during lunch where a bunch of high schoolers were coming towards...saw a few people staring, a few others saying "clean", etc, etc.

Anyway though I would share my success story!

Looks much better.

[silver28]

Originally Posted by Sea-Tac

This is clearly the result of some idiot improperly using a buffer that was either dirty or using a buffer on an improperly cleaned car. Take it to the best auto detailer you can find. Preferably one who works on high end cars. They will be able to make it look streak free. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Sea-Tac

This is clearly the result of some idiot improperly using a buffer that was either dirty or using a buffer on an improperly cleaned car. Take it to the best auto detailer you can find. Preferably one who works on high end cars. They will be able to make it look streak free. Good luck.

Ya it's called the BMW dealership where I bought the car. I only noticed it after I took the car home and on a sunny day a week later. They told me they would fix it and I refused...they did enough damage already!

[f32king]

Originally Posted by silver28

So an update to my greasy car. I finally had a chance to fix it for the spring. Thanks for all the advice here and also found a lot of info on Reddit.

Here's what I did in a nut shell - bought almost everything from Amazon except for the waxes.
- Two bucket wash with new microfiber wash mitts
- Clay bar
- Clean up using alcohol wash
- Meguires Ultimate Compound with Chemical Guy Orange hex pad using the Porter Cable DA Polisher
- Meguires Ultimate Polish using white hex pad
- Meguires Spray on Detailing wax (got lazy)

I got out all the swirls, and lots of scratches, but some still remain but fairly minor. Took 4-5 hours over two days. The DA polisher is amazing, so easy to use. Overall, not 100% perfect but good enough to my liking. I was parked one day near a pizza joint during lunch where a bunch of high schoolers were coming towards...saw a few people staring, a few others saying "clean", etc, etc.

Anyway though I would share my success story!

A great work. That is very beautiful black car, so well I own a black BMW F32 too, but your car is blacker than my car. Because well during this time many pollen came, so thats why I am very lazy to wash my car always...

[M2Rush]

Originally Posted by silver28

So an update to my greasy car. I finally had a chance to fix it for the spring. Thanks for all the advice here and also found a lot of info on Reddit.

Here's what I did in a nut shell - bought almost everything from Amazon except for the waxes.
- Two bucket wash with new microfiber wash mitts
- Clay bar
- Clean up using alcohol wash
- Meguires Ultimate Compound with Chemical Guy Orange hex pad using the Porter Cable DA Polisher
- Meguires Ultimate Polish using white hex pad
- Meguires Spray on Detailing wax (got lazy)

I got out all the swirls, and lots of scratches, but some still remain but fairly minor. Took 4-5 hours over two days. The DA polisher is amazing, so easy to use. Overall, not 100% perfect but good enough to my liking. I was parked one day near a pizza joint during lunch where a bunch of high schoolers were coming towards...saw a few people staring, a few others saying "clean", etc, etc.

Anyway though I would share my success story!

You're one brave soul brotha! Looks great!