How very very depressing! Newbee question!

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Anonymous

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Hi all
Got my new Z4 last week and have finally had a break in the weather to get out and clean it. Apart from a very badly touched up scrap to the drivers side bumper everything' in relatively good order. I've read up on detailing and how to get the best out of the car even though it's black. I've hopefully got the right tools to clean the car (mit for cleaning not sponge and all that) but I've found that no matter how I clean it, it never looks clean. I do the normal, rinse, shampoo, rinse, wipe dry but the paint still looks dirty and the black looks awesome right after a good polish but it's then i notice the problem. There's obviously a fair amount of scratches and swirls but it's like it needs an even better clean. Like there's some serious grease or mud or something that's just not coming off.

I m a newbie to all this, I've read so much on detailing and bodywork my minds a blur. I can't seem to get the paint work looking clean and even. I don't want to have to fork out a fortune getting a pro detailer as I'm still justifying the car to the wife ;o) so I'd appreciate any tips or points to getting the car properly clean.

Thanks
Adie
 
Have a look at www.detailingworld.co.uk

Great resource for all things detailing wise.
 
What shampoo are you using? and what are you using to dry it?

You may want to try claying the car, that should get any traces of dirt off. Then a good polish and wax should have it shining :thumbsup:

Black can look dirty pretty easily but a good clean usualy shows big improvements. My black Z has plenty of swirls and a fair few scratches but still shines up nicely and you can't see most of the blemishes from more than a meter away.

If you're noticing it after a good polish though, could there be a bad respray on some areas?
 
Personally speaking, if you have a black car with swirls etc and are unskilled with a rotary etc, the money spent on a pro detail would be well worth it. My last car was a Jasper blue Merc, even though it came up nice for me using quality products ie Dodo wax etc the difference a pro made was unreal. Sounds like you've got the kit to keep it swirl free once you have a decent base to start with. I'm contemplating having mine done in the summer just so i know it's spot on.
 
Difficult to say what the marks are but could be tree sap or something similar....where in the UK / World are you?
 
After washing the car with a good automotive car wash, product feel it with your hands. If you feel any grit or tiny lumps on the body then I would say clay is the way to get it clean. If it's really bad, you might need to use a bug and tar remover before you clay the car. Even tree sap can be felt with your hand. The paint finish should be very smooth to touch. My zed had a lot of tree sap on it when I picked it up. Clay easily took care of the problem. A word about swirl marks, never wash wipe or touch your car in a circular motion always swipe in straight lines usually from front to back. Once you polish the swirls out this will help keep it looking good. Good luck.

My old E36, spent half my life detailing it E36.jpg
 
Thanks, The black one next to mine (tail light bottom right) had horrible swirl marks all over it. Swirl marks are the curse of the black car and even my dark blue zed, although not quite as bad. It took a lot of time and work to get on top of that problem. I think I could write a book on how to do it.

My sap free zed 622a7aa5.jpg
 
Thanks chaps - appreciate the help

I did have a look at detailing world, specifically the Z4 thread but it assumed you already knew what you where doing. So be honest, I'm using Simonez car shampoo and a chamois. Not sure if i have to use the two bucket method or if i can use my pressure washer.

I think I'll get myself a clay bar and give it a go and see if that helps get it properly clean.

I live in sunny Newbury in Berkshire.
 
Jesterman said:
Hi Aidie - might see you lurking around Newbury - as Newbury also! :D Be looking out for you :driving:
Click to expand...

Hi Jesterman - Awesome you're local. I've only seen a few Z4s about. I saw a nice black Z4MC last night with a private plate. My Plate starts LV55 so please do toot if you see me.
 
Adie said:
Thanks chaps - appreciate the help

I did have a look at detailing world, specifically the Z4 thread but it assumed you already knew what you where doing. So be honest, I'm using Simonez car shampoo and a chamois. Not sure if i have to use the two bucket method or if i can use my pressure washer.

I think I'll get myself a clay bar and give it a go and see if that helps get it properly clean.

I live in sunny Newbury in Berkshire.
Click to expand...

If you have time use the pressure washer with snow foam or the like to remove most of the surface dirt then use the 2 bucket wash with your shampoo and a good quality mitt. (ditch the leather!)

Personally I don't have access to a pressure washer at the minute so it's straight into the shampoo for me.

:)
 
most bestest thing i ever bought with regard to cleaning the cars was a proper microfiber drying cloth, cant remember the make but it was one of the recomended ones of detailing world.
I was thinking how the hell can one cloth be better than another but seriously it is, lets you dry the car bone dry in no time at all and then get on with the important task of making it shiney.
I always had good results with the megs nxt wax when i had a black car but for some reason it dont seem to work as well on my silver Z?
 
Different wax for different colours. All three cars have different colours as they react differently to the paint type.
 
So with the weather nice today I gave the car it's first proper clean. I rinsed with the pressure washer, then cleaned it with AG shampoo using the two bucket method. Dried it off trying both a chamois and micro-fibre jobbi. The i used the clay bar for the first time. Lord is the bonnet of the car huge. So, became even more depressed at how much stuff cam off to reveal loads of stone chips and scratches. I then gave it a polish with AG Super Resign Polish and then used the turtle wax ti finish it all off. Did the wheels with the AG Clean Wheels and the windows with AG Fast Glass.

So after a good few hours, i was very pleased with the sparkly car that's now outside. Still got a fair amount of swirls and stuff in the paint work which i though the AG SRP would remove. I guess I'll have to spend some more time doing specific areas to try and get shot of the marks. It is looking considerably better than at the start of this post when I first washed it.

Thanks for the advice folks.

I've just read about AG Ultra Deep Shine - has anyone tried it? Seems like it would have more effect on the black swirls than the Super Resign Polish
 
For dark colors, use Megs Gold. Washed mine today and she's gorgeous. Need another good weekend to clay bar her and re-wax, though.
 
Smokin said:
For dark colors, use Megs Gold. Washed mine today and she's gorgeous. Need another good weekend to clay bar her and re-wax, though.
Click to expand...

I got the impression from a few folks that Megs to wash and wax, with AG polish in the middle was the way to go. Sadly, the local Halfrauds didn't have any otherwise i'd have got some Megs gold. That's the problem when the mood takes you, the internet is far too slow.

Anyone know any good places local to Newbury where i can get some supplies?
 
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