One-Two-Three punch! Missing the "Three"

[adagosto]

Hello all,

I have been busy working on my 4Runner. I started with M105 and that went great, just took a long time. Then I completed the car using M205. The M205 process is a pleasure. So I'd consider the M105/M205 a one-two punch.

What would you suggest the third knockout punch to be? Here are the factors I'm considering:

I have two cars I'm juggling (the 4Runner and a VW Jetta). The 4Runner looks great now it would be nice to give it another once-over with a finer polish prior to waxing. At the same time, I would also like to work on my 2013 Jetta. That car has very slight swirl marks and they are very, very slight. My plan for the Jetta was to use the M205 with either a white or blue pad (based on tests) and also follow it up with a finer polish prior to waxing.

Would Machine Glaze #3 be the best option here for both cars?

4Runner: M105/M205/#3...Ultimate wax
Jetta: M205/#3...Ultimate wax

It this a good plan or is there a better option out there for the third step/second step?

My concern for the Jetta is that because its sorta new and the clear coat is still in good shape, most of the #3 might just get whipped away. Maybe that's true, maybe not, maybe it doesn't really matter.

Thoughts???

Thanks!!

[The Guz]

Re: One-Two-Three punch! Missing the "Three"

I have never used M3 but I believe it is a glaze. Meaning it has no correction ability. It will simply fill in any remaining defects. If you are looking for a polish that has less cut you can use ultimate polish.

M205 finishes out very nice from personal experience. You can follow up with a finishing pad with M205 as well.

If it were me I would just seal the paint unless you are still seeing DA haze from M205.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: One-Two-Three punch! Missing the "Three"

As you suspect, M205 will likely be more than sufficient for those fine swirls that have just begun to show up. But doing an additional step with something like M03 (or the rough equivalent M05 and/or M07) will be an exercise in hair splitting. M205 will likely do more to refine the finish, enhance clarity and boost gloss than those other products would. You may find that M205 on a polishing pad removes the defects in question, and a second pass with M205 on a finishing pad (as per The Guz's recommendation) gets you to the level you seek prior to waxing or sealing the paint.

[adagosto]

Re: One-Two-Three punch! Missing the "Three"

Well this is a huge help. I think I understand the products better. I'll stick with the M105/M205.

UPDATE: I'm such a total rookie idiot!!

Do during the polishing process on the back gate I must have had a piece of dirt on the buffing rag or maybe it was the tag on the rag, but something introduced a new big long ugly scratch to my pretty paint!! So what did I do? Went back to M105 and worked it out. Well I'm happy to say I got the scratches out, BUT in doing so I actually burnt a hole in that damn paint!!! Freak'en rookie!!! The burn mark was right in the bend of the metal and I was running it fast and hard. Oh well, live and learn....At least I got the scratch out. The burn mark is about 3/8" long and a 1/4" wide. It's very noticeable, but what can you do?

Thank you so much for the help!!

[Selectchoice]

Re: One-Two-Three punch! Missing the "Three"

Sorry to hear that!

Were you using a Rotary Polisher or a DA Polisher?

A Rotary Polisher is a lot more aggressive than a DA and these things tend to happen more often.