New Black Car

[onnfire]

I recently got a new black 09 audi a4 and it needed to be washed. I live in an apartment now so i had to go to one of those do it yourself car washes. I filled a bucket with soap(Gold Class) and water using the hose and then washed the car. After i washed it i used the hose to spray off the car. I think that is where the trouble begins. After i dry it off, there are swirls all over the car. I know i need to use the 2 bucket method, but i only had 1 bucket.

Questions:
1. Any advice for preventing further swirl marks.
2. For those who live in apartments, where do you wash your car?
3. What do yall do about water spots that wont come of with quick detailer?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions.

[RaskyR1]

Re: New Black Car

How long have you had the car? Is it possible that the swirls were already there before you washed? What were you using for a wash mitt, and what were you drying with?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: New Black Car

Just to double check...

Thee were no visible swirls before you started and then after you washed and dried the car the paint now has visible swirls and scratches?

What kind of wash mitt did you use and what condition is the mitt in? Doe it look tatty to the eye?

Besides the above, does the paint scratch easy just to wipe it with a clean microfiber?

As for products, maybe pick up some SwirlX and use this by hand or machine with a foam polishing pad or foam hand applicator pad and then follow this with a coat of wax or paint sealant.

[onnfire]

Re: New Black Car

How long have you had the car? Is it possible that the swirls were already there before you washed? What were you using for a wash mitt, and what were you drying with?

--I have had the car for about a month. There were some swirls there but the number dramatically increased. I think the main problem was the high pressure water blasting the paint. I used a good microfiber sponge and then the towels i used werent that good, they were from oreillys or something.


Mike Phillips:
What kind of wash mitt did you use and what condition is the mitt in? Doe it look tatty to the eye?

-- The wash mitt was brand new.


Besides the above, does the paint scratch easy just to wipe it with a clean microfiber?
--When i washed it back home at my parents house, i had no problem with an increase in swirl marks. I did use a different wash mitt and better towels.
So i dont think the paint is very soft

As for products, maybe pick up some SwirlX and use this by hand or machine with a foam polishing pad or foam hand applicator pad and then follow this with a coat of wax or paint sealant.

--I need to grab my pc from home. In the mean time, i just dont want to add more marks. I am pretty confident i can remove most of them with either 80 or 83 but i just want to find the source of them and prevent it from happening again.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: New Black Car

i just want to find the source of them and prevent it from happening again.

Anything that touches the paint has the potential to instill swirls and scratches, so your job is to reduce the potential.

Maybe switch to a different type of wash mitt and better quality drying towels?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: New Black Car

Chances are that if the swirls dramatically increased with a single wash using a fresh, new wash mitt and quality drying towels, the dealer had applied a glaze/pure polish of some sort that was completely washed off with the pressure spray.

I wouldn't be at all surprised that the vast majority of those swirls existed prior to you pressure washing the car.

[onnfire]

Re: New Black Car

Chances are that if the swirls dramatically increased with a single wash using a fresh, new wash mitt and quality drying towels, the dealer had applied a glaze/pure polish of some sort that was completely washed off with the pressure spray.

I wouldn't be at all surprised that the vast majority of those swirls existed prior to you pressure washing the car.

That is a very good point. I think i might place an order from ads for a new wash mitt and some good plush microfibers. But i am hoping that you are right.

[sfbenz]

Re: New Black Car

What about the water quality that you are working with? Does the apartment complex use a water softener?

[bmwM5power]

Re: New Black Car

when you were buying the car did the dealer offer to prep your car?

[3Fitty]

Re: New Black Car

Sounds to me like pre-existing swirls that were probably concealed by some type of polish, as Mike Stoops said.

If your finances allow, get a second bucket (usually about 3 bucks from Home Depot) and get yourself 2 Grit Guards (from ADS about 10 bucks each).

Add these items to a lambs wool wash mit, Meg's water magnet for drying and some good MF towels if using to wipe the car with QD or after applying wax.