bad holograms

[PY80]

Hi guys,

Recently collected a new car in metallic black ( I believe some people refer to it as a part time job...).

At the dealership it looked great with indoor lighting. Newly valeted apparently. When I got home with it and looked at it under direct sunlight a few days later I was horrified by the extensive holograms all over as well as fine swirls. Closer inspection also revealed remnants of polish/wax in the gaps between body panels.

This is not from a dodgy used car dealer either. It's a brand new , near top of the line BMW 5 series. They even had the nerve to give me a certificate to say its been valeted by BMW car care team pre delivery...

Anyway, what's done is done. My question is will ultimate polish be sufficient to remove holograms and fine swirls ? Someone told me I need to use UC on holograms. swirl X may work apparently, but that would mean - UC/swirlx> UP -> wax. I was hoping to get away just 2 steps , UP -> wax.

I did a search on the forums, but most of the results made references to pro line products or alternative products like menzerna etc. I'm really just a novice enthusiast and would like to deal with megs consumer line products as they are easier to get here... So what'll it be guys?

[Bjkearns]

Re: bad holograms

Ultimate Compound would be a good choice

Do you have a buffer?

[PY80]

In the process of borrowing one from a friend this weekend. It's not a DA, just a random orbital from borsch.

UC seems a little aggressive. Is there no way something milder would work ?

[steve's detailing]

Re: bad holograms

uc is actually mild and is safe to use. with my experiences with the orbital buffer was they took a long time and the results were mild. when using a DA you use certain pads to help the process . you can always achieve results by hand with a polishing pad,,the yellow ones.

also u can try cleaner wax but that will take some working in,,, depends how bad it is

[PY80]

Quite bad holograms. I'll upload some pics tonight and see what you guys think. Can't a polish like ultimate polish do the job? Saves me 1 step. Else ill need to polish after UC.

[greg0303]

Re: bad holograms

Quite bad holograms. I'll upload some pics tonight and see what you guys think. Can't a polish like ultimate polish do the job? Saves me 1 step. Else ill need to polish after UC.

Pics would definitely help.

The right approach to remove those holograms will depend on: how deep they are and how hard is your car paint (unfortunately BMW is rather on harder side of the chart).

Most likely Ultimate Polish won't be able to correct it but rather products like SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0 or Ultimate Compound. As mentioned above, dual action polisher would be a better tool to attack this problem than just random orbital.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: bad holograms

Quite bad holograms. I'll upload some pics tonight and see what you guys think. Can't a polish like ultimate polish do the job? Saves me 1 step. Else ill need to polish after UC.

Ultimate Polish is a very mild polish, so you will almost certainly need something more aggressive. As for the random orbital buffer, you will probably get better results with less product and time by hand than with that machine.

If you can get a true dual action that would be best, but otherwise you may want to tackle this by hand. It might finish ready for wax after just the UC, but it may require the second pass as well. Do a test spot and see what works.

[PY80]

Really? I thought any machine would be better than doing it by hand...

Been real busy few days, it's Chinese new year this week. But will ry and upload pics and do a test spot and update you guys.

-Stupid question alert:- where's the best place for a test spot ?

[greg0303]

Re: bad holograms

Really? I thought any machine would be better than doing it by hand...
Been real busy few days, it's Chinese new year this week. But will ry and upload pics and do a test spot and update you guys.
-Stupid question alert:- where's the best place for a test spot ?

Vehicle's hood is the best test area. It's a large horizontal panel so you could even run several tests.

Orbital buffers are often called wax spreaders and just mainly used for applying polishes and waxes but not for defect removal.

[Selectchoice]

Re: bad holograms

In the process of borrowing one from a friend this weekend. It's not a DA, just a random orbital from borsch.

UC seems a little aggressive. Is there no way something milder would work ?

Do you mean 'Bosch' brand? If so, then you will more than likely have a DA not just an orbital "wax spreader".

I use an Hitachi branded DA and it is more than powerful enough to remove swirls and some scratches (even removed sanding scratches a week ago with it!), coupled with the right product and pad combination.

There are other DA's in the market other than Meguiars, Griots and PC branded versions.

I'd be very surprised if a quality brand like Bosch would market a "wax spreader".

[PY80]

Re: bad holograms

Do you mean 'Bosch' brand? If so, then you will more than likely have a DA not just an orbital "wax spreader".
.

yeah, its a Bosch. but don't actually know the specific model.. hopefully you are right.

i've attached the pictures below.



i can't seem to attach the pictures. so I've attached the link instead. sorry bout that.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/imag0162jt.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/imag0161b.jpg/

[jezz12]

Re: bad holograms

PY80, first of all, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Must be hard for you to be troubled by matters like this before CNY. Anyhow, I think you should try UC as it is better at removing holograms.

[PY80]

Re: bad holograms

Another questions, although not related to holograms, is Tar spots.. Many little spots on my white car.

I tried claying it with megs clay bar but its only smudging the tar and absolutely thrashing the clay bar. They aren't huge splatters just numerous spots. I've read posts where people apparently just sweep them off with clay bars and it sounds really easy. Is it just that megs clay is softer and less aggresive ?

[PY80]

Re: bad holograms

PY80, first of all, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Must be hard for you to be troubled by matters like this before CNY. Anyhow, I think you should try UC as it is better at removing holograms.

Thanks , Gong Hei Fatt Choy to you too! Meh, tried to get it sorted before the new year but ain't looking like its going happen.. Got a black and a white car.. both with problems.. they didn't use to bother me as I didn't know better ! There is a negative side to this hobby you know.!!

[SVT Lightning]

Re: bad holograms

This is not from a dodgy used car dealer either. It's a brand new , near top of the line BMW 5 series. They even had the nerve to give me a certificate to say its been valeted by BMW car care team pre delivery...

I realize that you have your correction process all dialed in but have you showed the car to the dealer before you do it? The management there may have no idea that their "valet" team does not know how to properly prep a car. They would probably appreciate knowing this. Just my opinion anyway...I would have to say something if I was spending my hard earned money on such a fine automobile!