ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

I know this is a Meguiar's forum, but someone on the BMW forums recommended a product/system called Finish Kare. What about Hawaiin Island Shine Water Spot Remover? Can a chemical products like these REALLY do anything? I mean my clearcoat is obviously etched. Unless these products somehow MELT the clearcoat together, I don't see how these can work. Comments?

You answered it yourself

Those topics might work on a Type 1 water spot, but clearly you (and we) have identified that you have Type 2 water spotting. There is no magical product on the world that will "melt" your clearcoat back into a smooth state of being.

You will need to polish out and remove the clearcoat to bring the surrounding area down to the lowest point in the spot to make it look level and defect free.

[acribb]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Have any of you worked on BMW paint before? This car has not ever been comnpounded, so how much is too much paint leveling? Does 2004 BMW paint usually have enough clearcoat on it to use M105? I am just worried about taking too much clearcoat off with the M105 followed by M80 upcoming treatment.

By the way, I wanted to say 'thanks' for all the quick replies so far. This forum is a GREAT source of information.

[Ryan L.]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Before you go to M105, have you tried Scratch-X by hand with a terry cloth towel? My friends G35 was parked next to a sprinkler for a while and it had water spots all over the side. I used Scratch-X on a W-8006 and a DA and it didn't do much. Tried Scratch-X by hand with a terry cloth and they went away with moderate pressure.

Try it by hand real quick and let us know.

Ryan

[Markus Kleis]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

I have worked on BMWs before. The tricky part is some are REALLY soft, and some are REALLY hard. It's impossible to know exactly what your car is without working on it. (Hence the suggestion to try the weakest product first and go from there).

You do not need to worry about working through your clear coat with M105(As long as you exercise logic and good judgment. If you sit there and go over it 20 times with tons of pressure you could cause some serious damage, but going over it a couple times will be fine), ESPECIALLY by hand or PC. If you had a rotary, and sat on it on your paint you might eat through your clear...but you should be totally safe to work with the M105 by hand and DA polisher in the mean time.

[Ryan L.]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

You do not need to worry about working through your clear coat with M105, ESPECIALLY by hand or PC. If you had a rotary, and sat on it on your paint you might eat through your clear...but you should be totally safe to work with the M105 by hand and DA polisher in the mean time.

Ultra Cut Compound (#105) is NOT recommended for use with the DA. Not saying people haven't use it with a DA and had favorable results, but it is in your own hands if you want to try it with the DA, Meguiar's does not recommend it.

M105 and DA

[Markus Kleis]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Ultra Cut Compound (#105) is NOT recommended for use with the DA. Not saying people haven't use it with a DA and had favorable results, but it is in your own hands if you want to try it with the DA, Meguiar's does not recommend it.

M105 and DA

Mike Phillips already pointed that out earlier in this thread, "M105 would for sure remove them by hand. Meguiar's doesn't recommend using M105 with a DA Polisher but a lot of people have good luck with this combo."

Since the other options didn't work out, I was just pointing out that he could give it a try now.

[acribb]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Well, applying ScratchX with the terry cloth as suggested earlier in this thread did not work either. That was with about 5 minutes of brisk rubbing with a fair amount of product. My arm is sore now. I just need a heavier compound so I guess I will have to spend the money and buy 80, 83, and 105. So I definitely need the 80 to follow up with if I use 83 or 105?

As for not being recommended to use M105 with a DA, am I missing something here, because this Meguiar's guy is clearly using M105 with a rotory buffer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6sT7fyKASA

[Dan Harrison]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Since it has been raining here the last three days and the White Sox got rained out yesterday, I decided yesterday afternoon to run over and grab some Scratch X form the Auto Zone a few miles away.
I bought a 94 Honda Del sol awhile back and had alot of body work and a paint job done to it. The body looks great and the paint also (black).
The body shop said to bring her back in and they would buff out the swirls and rough spots. I got on this site a couple of weeks back and decided I would give it a go on my own. I am not even close to a car man. I wax my other vehicles maybe twice a year with cheap wax.
Anyway I put in about three hours yesterday and three more this morning.
It looks absolutly beutifull. All the swirls are completly gone and also the rough spots .
I knew I should not have started with this car stuff!!
My question is I have applied a coat of NXT and it looks fantastic. Should I put another coat on, or a coat of GC, or wait for a day or two?

Thanks in advance, Dan

[acribb]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

In response to the earlier suggestion in this thread, working in the ScratchX on a terry cloth pad (vs the foam pad) did nothing. I worked it in rigorously for about 10 minutes using two applications. I rubbed quickly to heat it up for about 4 or 5 minutes each application. It didn't even remove the fine hairline scratches. I just don't get it - so many other people have had great results!

In response to those saying that Meguiars doesn't recommend using M105 with a DA, isn't this a Meguiars rep using M105 with a rotory buffer?

youtube.com/watch?v=H6sT7fyKASA

[Ryan L.]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

In response to those saying that Meguiars doesn't recommend using M105 with a DA, isn't this a Meguiars rep using M105 with a rotory buffer?

Yes, he is using it with a rotary buffer, not a Dual Action Polisher.

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

Ryan

[acribb]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

What am I missing here? Surely if M105 is safe and/or recommended for use with a rotory then it should surely be safer to use with a DA?

[VoicesInMyHead]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

What am I missing here? Surely if M105 is safe and/or recommended for use with a rotory then it should surely be safer to use with a DA?

This post has a LOT of great info on M105!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

What am I missing here? Surely if M105 is safe and/or recommended for use with a rotory then it should surely be safer to use with a DA?

Well, there is an inherent difference in how a DA polisher physically works when compared to the rotary polisher. A DA polisher lacks the ability to really heat up, move around, and break down certain polishes when compared to a rotary.

What is interesting here, though, is the fact that M105 actually has NON-diminishing abrasives. So, that tells me that you don't run the risk of not breaking the abrasives down with a DA, meaning there is another reason (and IMO, any other reason is less important as long as the polish/compound can function properly).


There is obviously a valid reason though, or Meguiar's wouldn't limit itself to a much smaller market by advising that the official use is for hand or rotary only; but people have experimented with it and found great results.

One possibility is the fact that DA polishers are known for potentially introducing marring because of their movement patterns, which *might* be the reason Meguiar's found M105 not to be optimally used with a DA.

Play at your own risk, many have and it worked out great.

[Ryan L.]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Just to add in there, I think M105 has "super micro abrasives" in it, which is why I would suspect that it cannot be used by DA. I think M86 and D151 also have super micro abrasives, but they each have a different form of it.

Ryan

[Markus Kleis]

Re: ScratchX does not work on water spots. Next steps?

Just to add in there, I think M105 has "super micro abrasives" in it, which is why I would suspect that it cannot be used by DA. I think M86 and D151 also have super micro abrasives, but they each have a different form of it.

Ryan

True, hence the fact that M105 cuts like a compound but finishes like many middle polishes. It's a true breakthrough in detailing technology...