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Dont know what the clear coat is made of, but have tried the denim pad with Sonax profiline ex 04-06 dozens of slow passes with DA polisher and has made virtually no diference, any other ideas for a harsher compund??

Hmmm, makes you wonder if all the hype was genuine? I think you probably need a more aggressive compound as EX 04-06 is pretty light duty. You could try the Sonax Profiline Cutmax or the Menzerna Heavy cut...https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/menzerna ... mpound-400.

I find using this with a yellow hex logic pad can get even fairly deep scratches out within 2-3 passes. Never tried on orange peel though.

I know the wool pads cut like a bitch, as do the Black Diamond Green pads... https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/shinemat ... -green-pad

...need to be pretty careful with those. Recommend a paint depth gauge to keep a track on things.

Just thought how can you tell whether the orange peel is in the clear coat rather than the base coat? If mine is in the base coat no amount of polishing will remove it. Also has anyone got a paint depth gauge in or around West London I could borrow for a fee??

Have ordered some Menzerna Extra Heavy duty 300 compound so will be careful!!

It would certainly be unusual for it to be in the base coat. What's the background to all this?

Orange peel in basecoat wont be factory paint...

You will need a harsher compound,and remember you will have to lean on the DA a bit... If your basically skimming across the surface then hardly any cut will occur.BMW clearcoat is very hard,thats why they chip and rash very easily.

The bonnet looks to have been blown over at some point, there are not that many stone chips, and the orange peel is pretty much all over the bonnet. Having said that bmw paint quality is not good, my neighbours 2017 x3 has similar orange peel, so it possibly could be the original but doubtful. I thought if you leaned hard on a DA it slowed down so surely it must polish it less? Dont want to go through the clearcoat but attempts so far have not yielded much change.

It depends

You can certainly stall a DA or rotary for that matter if you lean on it too much , it depends on the motor in the machine.

It’s a fine line, skimming across the surface with no pressure will yeald next to no results if your trying to correct heavy defects like orange peel..

Like you say, modern BMW paint is awful for orange peel straight from factory, I’m not sure how they get it so bad and the effect amplifies if the colour is darker

I have to hand it to you guys who are brave enough to declare war on your your paInt work , I'm afraid a cloth and Autoglym resin polish is my limit , good luck , may the force be with you .

Detailing becomes a bit of an obsession, and if it works the results are amazing. I now have a cupboard full of products dozens of pads and 2 DA polishers, where will it end??

Wet sand the paint first, careful near the edges. 1500/2000/2500 and even 3000 if finishing with an orbital.
Orbital polishers take a lifetime.
Set aside £250 to have the bonnet repainted

Bluecat wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:55 pm The bonnet looks to have been blown over at some point, there are not that many stone chips, and the orange peel is pretty much all over the bonnet. Having said that bmw paint quality is not good, my neighbours 2017 x3 has similar orange peel, so it possibly could be the original but doubtful. I thought if you leaned hard on a DA it slowed down so surely it must polish it less? Dont want to go through the clearcoat but attempts so far have not yielded much change.

Whereabouts are you pal. I will help out if not too far.

Ealing ! Its about 100 miles away, waiting on the menzerna heavy duty 300 polish but if that does not do it, any help would be much appreciated I could get to you easily enough

Bluecat wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:22 am Ealing ! Its about 100 miles away, waiting on the menzerna heavy duty 300 polish but if that does not do it, any help would be much appreciated I could get to you easily enough

No worries. Drop me a PM if it doesn't work out for you

Cheers

Russell

Thanks Russell, will do

Bruce

Bluecat, I'm about 5 miles the other side of Dartford Tunnel into Kent . I have been a S.M.A.R.T repairer for many years. If you want to come to me I'll take a look at your paintwork and offer you very good advice