my L322 black paintwork is a little dull, even after its been washed, whats best to bring its shine back? Been years since i worried about a cars shine back then i used T-cut, but im assuming theres much better stuff on the market now?

mrblonde said:

my L322 black paintwork is a little dull, even after its been washed, whats best to bring its shine back? Been years since i worried about a cars shine back then i used T-cut, but im assuming theres much better stuff on the market now?

Click to expand...

G3 but better done with a machine. Then three coats of wax.

A world for detailers...

Will sort you out.

I used 3M fast cut plus and a RO polisher. Then seal with jetfire and in winter I used Collonite 746 wax as it lasts about 3 months,

clay bar. if its just faded and not badly scratched as well.

wammers said:

G3 but better done with a machine. Then three coats of wax.

Click to expand...

Cheers wammers, would a hand held polisher be ok when you say a machine? and any particular wax?

Thanks again

rasheed said:

clay bar. if its just faded and not badly scratched as well.

Click to expand...

Rasheed

Would i use the clay bar instead of the G3? or as well as? im guessing clay bar (do i use any lube with it) after washing and drying?

Thanks again everyone

Clay bars will only strip surface containments off the paint (sap and tar etc). It won't correct fade.

You need a random orbital polisher (such as a kestral etc look on i4detailing.com), a cutting pad, a finishing pad, some 3M fast cut plus, some dodo juice lime prime, jet seal and in winter a few coats of colonite 746 wax.

Waitey said:

Clay bars will only strip surface containments off the paint (sap and tar etc). It won't correct fade.

You need a random orbital polisher (such as a kestral etc look on i4detailing.com), a cutting pad, a finishing pad, some 3M fast cut plus, some dodo juice lime prime, jet seal and in winter a few coats of colonite 746 wax.

Click to expand...

What do each of those products do?

Clay bar takes the paint back to being smooth like a baby's bum. That's req for the best shine. The orbital polisher is like a grinder but uses soft pads. Cutting pad and finishing pads are just how course/hard the pads are. They are use with the polishs to remove the fine swirls in the paint and to restore the shine. The jet seal seals the paint to lock in the shine then the wax enhances the shine and gives the paint the wet look.

OXO said:

What do each of those products do?

Click to expand...

I'll break it down.

Clay bar and lube;
Takes the surface contaminants off the paint, such as tree sap, tar, industrial fall out.

A Random Orbital Polisher/Sander;
Machine that rotates in a variable way, meaning you won't add most scratches 'swirls' as you polish.

Cutting pad;
A pad for the polisher made from hard foam.

Finishing pad;
A pad for the polisher made of soft foam.

3M Fast cut plus;
A fairly hardcore polish, with a high cutting rating, to be applied with a cutting pad. It will get deep marks out but it'll make its own marring as you go along. It also makes a lot of dust.

Dodo Juice Lime Prime;
This is sold as a paint cleanser, but it works very well as a polish, it will remove the marring from the paint made by the 3M polish, and it'll give you a great deep shine.

JetSeal,
A 'sealant' that's applied to the paint after polishing to create a good base for a wax.

Collontie 746s wax;
Sold as a permanent wax but it'll only last about 2-3 months in winter, it doesn't give a very good shine but it does protects the paint well.
In summer I'd use a different wax.

Here is a car I basically gave the above treatment too.













Any some work on a black C2.

From this



To this (thats not me haha)

Very impressive

Waitey said:

I'll break it down.

Clay bar and lube;
Takes the surface contaminants off the paint, such as tree sap, tar, industrial fall out.

A Random Orbital Polisher/Sander;
Machine that rotates in a variable way, meaning you won't add most scratches 'swirls' as you polish.

Cutting pad;
A pad for the polisher made from hard foam.

Finishing pad;
A pad for the polisher made of soft foam.

3M Fast cut plus;
A fairly hardcore polish, with a high cutting rating, to be applied with a cutting pad. It will get deep marks out but it'll make its own marring as you go along. It also makes a lot of dust.

Dodo Juice Lime Prime;
This is sold as a paint cleanser, but it works very well as a polish, it will remove the marring from the paint made by the 3M polish, and it'll give you a great deep shine.

JetSeal,
A 'sealant' that's applied to the paint after polishing to create a good base for a wax.

Collontie 746s wax;
Sold as a permanent wax but it'll only last about 2-3 months in winter, it doesn't give a very good shine but it does protects the paint well.
In summer I'd use a different wax.

Here is a car I basically gave the above treatment too.

Any some work on a black C2.

From this

To this (thats not me haha)

Click to expand...