There's something that's really bugging me about the paint on my Z. I look at the rear up close in a certain angle of sunlight and I see LOTS of what appear to be micro-sized scratches in circular patterns. They're just not in one spot, they're all over the car! What are these? Are they really scratches? And how would I remove them? Thanks in advance.

 

Ah, yes. The dreaded swirl mark. To get rid of those, you need to find a product to either a) fill the scratches or b) remove enough of the clearcoat to make the rest of the paint even with the scratches.

Normally, swirl marks are created as a result of how the car is washed. Do you wash your own car, or take it to a car wash and have them do it? Machines or by hand? I'd like to help you avoid future scratches so maybe we can dialog on that.

In the meantime, try something like Meguiar's Scratch-X, Zymol HD-Cleanse, P21s Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser or the like. My personal approach is to start with the least abrasive and work our way up. You may need to go with a swirl remover product, but if your swirls are light enough, it may not be necessary.

Once you've polished the car, you can use a good wax - if you use the Zaino system, I'm sure Kevin will extole the virtues of the Z5 which is designed to fill swirls marks. If you prefer a carnauba-based approach, I've actually had great success on my '93 Pathfinder by using a combination of the P21s GEPC and the Zymol Cleaner Wax

I'm sure that 75% of the people out there will have other methods, so stay tuned to the thread for more ideas!

 

My swirl Remover of choice is 3M Swirl Remover part number 39009, its a mild abrasive and then you can wash the car off with Dawn and apply seveal coats of Zaino Z-5.

Washing is one of the biggest causes of swirls, it would be helpful if you tell us exactly, who and how and with what exact tools or mits are used. I can go ahead and tell you that a flat sponge is one of the biggest causes of scratches on clear coat.

 

Thanks for your reply guys, I appreciate the help. As for the method of washing my car I usually take it to a nearby self-wash station that's about a block down.

I use the pressurized water gun they got there and begin rinsing the car off with slight pressure, then I spray it again with full pressure. After that I switch the machine to the foam brushand cover the car in soap. I rinse it off after I'm done applying the soap. Until very recently I used to dry the car off with a damp leather chamois (still dry enough to absorb the water). I made the switch to microfiber towels though, which I feel have done a better job. I also use Crystal Guard about every 10 car washes. Thanks once more.

 

FOAM BRUSH!!!!! AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sound of Chip fleeing in terror.....)

 

Wait, "use" Crystal Guard? What are you "using?" Crystal Guard is a system, not just a product that you use once-in-a-while. If you didn't get the full-blown 3-step application process, you're pouring money down the drain.

 

In reading, it appears that most of the "swirls" were caused by your washing and drying methods. If you must use the "Self Serve" don't ever use that brush. Your don't know where it has been. Also, get rid of that leather chamois and get the "BigBlue" for drying. Get yourself some Zaino. If you want to get it back to where it was when you got it, get the "Kit". Follow the directions and visit Zaino.com. Look at "tips & tricks". Apply the Z5 (3-5) applications until you are satisfied. Then Z2. Take note of how they tell you to use the Z6. Also, get some buffing towels from: dftowel.com

 

Yeah, I was kinda leaning on the foam brush being the culprit

 

I'm using the CG Quick. I bought the kit with the large bottle and the applicator cloth. Seems to have helped the shine a little.

 

Thanks! I'll look into the whole kit. Are microfiber towels safe to dry with? I got a 5-pack from Wally-World and they seem to do better than the chamois. I won't be able to buy some new stuff for about a week. In the meantime, would washing the areas with the swirls with Dawn and water then applying some Eagle-1 polish help a little?

 

Interesting, that's good to know. I'd say that if you're getting swirl marks that the quick is not all it's cracked up to be. Then again, those foam brushes are second only to sandpaper when cleaning your car.

Dude, back to the foam brushes - 2 years ago in the middle of a New England January- I saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was just CAKED with mud and dirt and salt pull in to one of those bays, and WITHOUT EVEN RINSING the car, he started scrubbing away! Talk about the "nails across a chalkboard" affect, I was in AGONY watching that.

 

Yes, I'm slowly beginning to realize how harmful those foam brushes are. Last time I went there I was contemplating on using it but I did anyways. After all was said and done, I felt the hairs on them and realized what I might have gotten myself into. The problem with my city is we're on a pretty big water shortage right now. If they catch us washing our cars in our driveways we'll get a pretty huge fine, so these self-washes are the only places we have to go

 

Dawn won't affect the swirls. The Eagle-1 polish might, but I prefer other synthetics like Klasse or Zaino. If you like the concept of the Crystal Guard, try the Klasse All-In-One combined with the Sealant Glaze. It's like a hard candy shell around your car! I'll have my inventory early next week.

In the meantime, here's the best value in microfiber drying towels

 

I'll definately be looking into some of your inventory soon

 

You guys are lucky in a sense with Nissan service. Infiniti service gives you a complementary car wash every time. Lets say they see 30 cars per day. How much time and care will they spend washing your car? Most of my swirls/scratches are cause of that. Pisses me off. I tell them a million times, PLEASE DON'T WASH THE CAR!!!

Three times out of ten so far: "Hey, your car is ready. Its parked outside. We washed and dried it for you. We also dressed the tires. It looks amazing!"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

 

That's all I can ask.

 

That reminds me... I'm afraid you're wrong about Nissan service not giving complimentary carwashes. My dealership does anyways. Oh well, it was swirled to hell and back even before they got their hands on it anyways...

 

well i had a fender/bumper repainted due to dealership wrecking my car, and now that the bodyshop washed it afterwards I have swirl marks I never had before, and I've owned the car 14 months!. And I know its from them, because they are in all directions and I only wash and dry with the lines of the car, and not circular, plus I rinse my wash mitt in a separate bucket before getting more suds. Hopefully when I convert to the big Z here (got the stuff in my garage, just don't have time yet), the Z5 will handle it.

 

What's the correct direction to wash/wax in? I always go top to bottom on the sides and left to right on the hood/roof/etc. Is this right?

 

I do the opposite, but that doesn't mean I'm right