i have a 08 VE SS PHANTOM BLACK ... i am starting to notice fine swirls of scratches all over the paint work , i am using the mothers brand car wash .. does any one else have this problem with the paint .. does any one have the holden paint protection. is it worth doing
Welcome to the world of owning a black car. Dark colours like reds, blues and blacks ALL show up swirls. It's hard to avoid and paint protection will not prevent this. All paint protection does is prevent fallout like acidic bird dropping and tree sap from eating through the paintwork until you have to to wash it off. You'll also find that most paint protection warranty will be void unless you reapply every 12 months.
It's near impossible to avoid swirls but to minimise them use a dedicated washmit. Like Meguiars lamswool mit or even the microfibre 'noodle' sponges. The old fashioned foam sponges are a massive no no. Thats your biggest problem. Also wash in straight lines not in circular motions and don't scrub. Just let it glide across the surface. As far as what wash to use, use anything with a high lubricity or what feels slippery. Meguiars soft wash (pink stuff) or MEguiars NXT wash (purple stuff) is what I prefer but the Mothers stuff should be fine. Don't use dish washing detergent. Before I forget don't wash the car when the surface is hot. The water will evaporate before you can rinse the soap of and what you'll be left with is the minerals in the water which can eat through paint. Commonly known as 'water spotting'. In summer wash in the later afternoon or very early in the morning.
When drying don't use a chamois. Buy yourself some microfibre cloths and and a spray detailer. I use the 2L bottle of Meguiars Waterless wash which is actually rebottled Meguiars 'last touch' from their detailer range of products. Has a high level of lubricity.
Finally instead of paying $1500 for some dealer to apply protection, buy yourself some good quality wax/sealant. Meguiars Hi Tech Yellow wax is great on black. Adds a lot of depth. Then each time after you wash use a spray on wax to boost the protection. Duragloss Aquawax is fantastic but can only be bought online. Remember that what it looks like all depend on the time you take to prep the paint work. That includes washing, claybar, buffing out swirls etc, then applying your polishes and waxes/sealants. There is a detailing sticky in the Genral section. I've made a number of posts in the last few pages you may find useful.
By the way, where are you located?
