Spent some time of the car today as the last proper chance to sort it before the winter weather arrives and it was so nice and sunny today made good use of a nice day!

Car was last cleaned 3-4 weeks ago and having cleaned it today it revealed a lot more swirls and scratches then I had expected - a couple I knew about needing to have a go at.

The car was mopped 9 months ago when the AG Lifeshine was applied and since then has had AG EGP and two coats of AG HD Wax on it. Always washed with 2BM and sponges and dried with microfibre.

What gets me is where do the scratches come from? Quite thin and fine, in various places, but a couple of bigger/longer ones on the roof.

Question is how do I reduce the build up of scratches/swirl marks on the car that shows them badly! Is a sponge not best to wash the car with? I always rinse the car with a pressure washer first, then snow foam, rinse and then hand wash.

I reduced them bit today with AG paint renovater and then SRP and then HD wax and he car looks better. It just seems a bit of a relentless task with black magic?!

Guess I could get a mop to sort them but would be doing a lot maybe?

Thoughts/suggestions welcome, thanks!!

Theres a huge discussion about the benefits/disadvantages about sponges, MF Mitts, Lambswool mitts etc on detailing world.

Some tests (Albeit not too scientific) have been carried out and it seems to fall between a lambswool mitt and a Grout sponge. I personally use a noodle, and it works best for me, but the guy I detail with uses a lambswool mitt as his weapon of choice, I like to let him think he's got the better product so he ends up doing all the washing :P

By doing the 2BM you are obviously taking a bit of pride and care in what you are doing but regular sponges (like the big yellow jumbo sponges etc) have a tendancy to hold onto wee bits of dirt that will cause your swirls/marring and random deep scratches(RDS) even if they are not at all visible.

To be honest I dont know all that much about the AG lifeshine but I'm assuming its the same as alot of the dealer offered sealing packages.

The other AG you use are fine, but they have a high percentage of fillers in them, your car when waxed/SRP/EGP'd will look spanking but as the protection breaks down the fillers will reveal more and more of the small scratches.

At your stage I would suggest a correction if it is really getting to you and then carrying on as you are (maybe with slightly different products/methods) and you will keep on top of it really well.

Black magic shows up everything, and I find that I am never happy, always a new RDS or patch of marring appearing but thats the joys of black car ownership.

Have a check of my thread detailing an octavia Mk2 in black (not black Magic but fairly close and same workability)http://briskoda.net/styling-car-care/octavia-vrs-estate-detail-nsf-1mb/100798/

Theres a huge discussion about the benefits/disadvantages about sponges, MF Mitts, Lambswool mitts etc on detailing world.

Some tests (Albeit not too scientific) have been carried out and it seems to fall between a lambswool mitt and a Grout sponge. I personally use a noodle, and it works best for me, but the guy I detail with uses a lambswool mitt as his weapon of choice, I like to let him think he's got the better product so he ends up doing all the washing :P

By doing the 2BM you are obviously taking a bit of pride and care in what you are doing but regular sponges (like the big yellow jumbo sponges etc) have a tendancy to hold onto wee bits of dirt that will cause your swirls/marring and random deep scratches(RDS) even if they are not at all visible.

To be honest I dont know all that much about the AG lifeshine but I'm assuming its the same as alot of the dealer offered sealing packages.

The other AG you use are fine, but they have a high percentage of fillers in them, your car when waxed/SRP/EGP'd will look spanking but as the protection breaks down the fillers will reveal more and more of the small scratches.

At your stage I would suggest a correction if it is really getting to you and then carrying on as you are (maybe with slightly different products/methods) and you will keep on top of it really well.

Black magic shows up everything, and I find that I am never happy, always a new RDS or patch of marring appearing but thats the joys of black car ownership.

Have a check of my thread detailing an octavia Mk2 in black (not black Magic but fairly close and same workability)http://briskoda.net/styling-car-care/octavia-vrs-estate-detail-nsf-1mb/100798/

great, many thanks - yes have seen that write up before, nice job.

sometimes I wish I didnt have the lifeshine put on as since then I have read and learnt so much more about other products which I am cautious about using as I am told to really only use AG products if I can on the paint so that it works with the system. However, if anyone knows of an alternative to SRP that is safe on the lifeshine to remmove the defects then that would be good. I know the valeter uses a wurth super swirl remover on the mop but I dont have a mop :thumbdwn:

I may well invest in a lambs wool mitt then instead. Hoping this work will last the winter now and the car has enough protection on it for all the salt etc. Guess I should wash it less just in case I make more problems with any tiny bits of salt left on the car.

Sometime think I bought the wrong car - silver would have been much easier, or yellow!