Paint finsh

[billberry12]

I just bought a 2008 used car. Red. Washed it yesterday for the first time and I noticed that there are swirls on the driver side that look like someone pressed too hard on an electric buffer. It seems to have gotten into the clearcoat. Looks bad if the suns hits it just right. Seems like they were trying to cover up some hairline scratches. Only shows when car is clean and sitting in the sun a certain way.

What is the best way for me to try to correct this? Should I take it to a body shop for them to look at, or a professional auto detailer. I really don't have the equipment or knowhow to do anything much. The last thing I want to do is make things worse than they are.

Thanks for your input.

[Grimm]

Post a picture. What do the swirls look like? I'm sure it's just standard swirls from washing with a dirty mitt. Your car was probably the last one washed with the same wash water that day. Then they covered it up with a heavy filler wax. If you don't have the time/knowhow to do it yourself, just find a good detailer. A couple hundred bucks for a good full detail and it will look better than new. Otherwise you can spend that money on your own products and a machine and be able to keep it looking good indefinitely.

[billberry12]

Thanks. I took it to a detail guy today. He waxed it and buffed it. Looks good as new. All I saw yesterday is gone. Cost me $60.00.

Strange thing this morning. I could not see the swirls and scratches this morning at all. No matter how hard I tried. I assume it must have been the "perfect storm" of direct sunlight yesterday when I saw it. Just to be sure, I drove to the exact spot at the same time today, and parked the car in the same direction, and the problem is definantly gone after the new wax job today.

[Grimm]

Beware for $60, that is pretty cheap. He may have used a wax with fillers so you don't see the swirls right away. But if you don't see them in time, good for you. Maybe they were really light swirls that didn't take much effort, but quality detailers are usually at least double that price.

[billberry12]

Thanks. He seemed to think it was a bad wax job done by someone who didn't know what he was doing, and/or someone washed it with a sandy gritty mitt or cloth, and that caused the swirls. Either way, they are gone, and I think I got a good deal. I guess that's what matters huh?

[billberry12]

By the way, doesn't all wax contain fillers?

[Grimm]

Actually I meant polish. I'm assuming he polished it? If it was only waxed, you'll see those swirls again shortly. As for his comment, really the only way you could add swirls waxing is with a dirty cloth.

[billberry12]

I feel sure it was only waxed. We'll keep an eye out for those swirls.