Paint swirls and scratches

Swirls and scratches seem to happen over the years. They are just a part of life. I got my 328 repainted last year, and by April there were tiny scratches, even though I hadn't really even driven it. Just a little dust can move enough with air circulation to dull a surface. Polishing it returns a mirror-like gloss.

Removing imperfections can be an all-day affair and certainly $300 is very reasonable for a professional-quality detail. It depends on how bad the paint is. Essentially, you're looking at a clay-bay to remove all dirt, then at least three stages -- a medium polish, a fine polish, then a wax.

I usually can accomplish all three steps in a few hours, but I have it down to a science (and I'm not going for any concours wins!) Some cars have taken me much longer. Small cars, like my TR3 take less time.

To prevent scratches and swirl marks in the future:
- Keep your car CLEAN. Always follow steps for good washing. (Use a soap bucket and a rinse bucket to keep the wash mitt clean.) Never be too aggressive or use stiff brushes.

- Use a CLEAN cover over a CLEAN car. Never put the cover on a dirty or dusty car, because the fabric moves the dust around the paint and essentially acts like sandpaper.

- Keep a good protective layer of wax on the car. Always make sure the surface of the paint is extremely clean before applying wax. Clay bars (like the one from Griot's Garage) are essential to removing that stubborn stuff on paint.

- Don't let too much time go by before polishing. Using a fine/ultra fine polish once a year will keep the paint from getting too many swirls and scratches.
The worse the paint is, the longer it takes to return it to shiny.

 

I just had my car in for minor chips and scratches, and they buff the car and it came out like brand new. It will be the best $300 you will spend.
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All excellent advise. I do not cover the car while it is in the garage. when I used to do that I noticed more swirls showing up faster.
BT

 

I don't like covers either, provided the car is kept in a garage. Unless you wash the cover every time you remove it, you're dragging dirt over your paint.