[Alex.J]

The reason you had swirl marks in the first place was probably the chamois, don't dry it with a chamois!

Hopefully you don't wash it with a sponge?

Anyway, it depends who the dealer used as they do 2 things when machine polishing!

If it went to the body shop, a professional detailer is called in to do work and it will be sh*t hot!

The other option is the bunch of monkeys that wash all the cars on the forecourt grabs an argos special polisher and buffs a shine..

The latter, is er, well, pointless because they probably just remove the swirls they just put in themselves washing it with the same sponge he used to clean out his childs sandpit!

[Russbmw]

Think I'd rather do it myself TBH.

[CustomColours]

Not to burst anyones bubbles but this car hasnt been "machine polished" as in the paint has been cut and a small layer of paint has been removed.

What they have done is polish the car using an orbital polisher (its a machine) so they give the impression your car is being mopped. When in actual fact its a lazy mans way of using polish and a cloth.

[Mikex101]

Have a look for a product called C2V3 from Gtechniq. Its basically a sealer and works great. Couple of sprays on a cloth, couple on a panel and just wipe over then buff off, after which your car just repls water and everything that comes with it. Simple high pressure rinse has it looking spot on again. Very good product.

[Sparky68]

Originally Posted by CustomColours

Not to burst anyones bubbles but this car hasnt been "machine polished" as in the paint has been cut and a small layer of paint has been removed.

What they have done is polish the car using an orbital polisher (its a machine) so they give the impression your car is being mopped. When in actual fact its a lazy mans way of using polish and a cloth.

You can quite easily correct a car with a orbital or DA just depends on pad and polish combo.

[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by Sparky68

You can quite easily correct a car with a orbital or DA just depends on pad and polish combo.

Absolutely. Just takes longer than using a rotary - but you don't run anywhere near as higher risk of marring the paint!

[a11y]

Agreed. I don't trust my skills yet to risk trying a rotary on my own cat! Had a go of one on a detailing course I attended and was encouraged to keep going at a panel till I knackered it. Surprisingly easy!

[J Dub]

When I bought mine, the BMW dealer did a machine polish and frankly it was crap. In sunlight i could see swirls and was not happy. I would rather find a specialist detailer and pay a bit more, the clue is specialist as its all they do.
May have a Machine polish in the spring, then hand wax it a few times myself there after

[chedixon]

My experience with machine polishing at Syter Nottingham wasnt so happy!

More holograms than a lorry load of credit cards, glad youve found a good one, very hit and miss though from experience.

[Russbmw]

You have to bear in mind their target market for this "machine polish" service.

It's not aimed at enthusiasts like us, it's a quick (for £50-£60+vat or whatever they aren't spending more than 30-45 mins I reckon) buff up so that someone who's not going to be inspecting their car for swirls says "oohh...shiney!" when they see the last 12 months grime have been washed off and it's had some wax slapped on it.

Anyone expecting a full on paint correction is a bit deluded IMO. A bit like a prat on ebay that paid £4 for a chrome plated plastic trim piece I had for an e36, then wrote me emails bitching and moaning it wasn't crafted out of a solid lump of chrome. WTF?!

[Alex.J]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

You have to bear in mind their target market for this "machine polish" service.

It's not aimed at enthusiasts like us, it's a quick (for £50-£60+vat or whatever they aren't spending more than 30-45 mins I reckon) buff up so that someone who's not going to be inspecting their car for swirls says "oohh...shiney!" when they see the last 12 months grime have been washed off and it's had some wax slapped on it.

Anyone expecting a full on paint correction is a bit deluded IMO. A bit like a prat on ebay that paid £4 for a chrome plated plastic trim piece I had for an e36, then wrote me emails bitching and moaning it wasn't crafted out of a solid lump of chrome. WTF?!

Wonder if he realises chrome is a coating/plating so would never receive a solid chunk of 'chrome' as it doesn't really exist ha..

[Russbmw]

I know mate, a complete mong!

[RichyB]

The car took a couple of hours to do it was done by the bodyshop out the back of cheltenham BMW definately not by the forecourt washers! the only reason I paid 50 for it is because a good friend is a salesman there it was done on a Sat on the side. I agree maybe not the complete take a layer of paint off machine polish but he did use a cutting paste made by 3M in places where the paint was a bit rough and flat! the car has got 99k on it and after I bought it the wax polish that the dealer put on looked great but disappeared very quick lol and I was left with a rough finish.... I have been looking at meguiers gold class liquid carnauba wax to keep it going has anybody used it or has any other recommendations Im definately going to have a look at that C2V3 from Gtechniq.
Cheers

[DMH-01]

The paint will feel rough due to contaminates such as tar, fallout etc.

Using a tar remover, fallout remover and then claying will make the paint feel like glass.

For the winter months I'd look to use a wax such as Collinite 845. It's easy to apply and will easily last for 6 months.

For the summer Vics Concours is a very good wax, gives a nice wet look.