Right, yesterday I machine polished and detialed a Mini1, 7 years old with 7 years worth of scratches, marks and general lack of care. SADLY no pickies, forgot to take the camera :rotz:

I stared of with snow foam, left to dwell for about 10 minutes. Cleaned the door shuts with Megs APC and a brush. Rinsed and washed with Megs car shampoo. Wheels cleaned with Megs APC and wheel brushes and rinsed.

Clayed with Megs Speed detailer and Elite fine grade poly clay.

Plastics taped up, all ready to go. I used my DAS6 polisher on level 1 to spread out the Menzerna Intensive polish with a orange Elite cutting pad, increased the speed to 4 to work the polish, making slow passes over the body work, roughly 4 times each way, ie left to right and forward and back. I then increased the speed up to 6 to finish off. Buffed of with a micro fiber cloth.

I then repeated this process with Menz Finishing polish on a red Elite finishing spot pad. Rinsed and wiped down with a drying towel I got from the US aided by Megs Speed detailer .

I was realy peed of to find that after my hard work I had not removed a big mark on the passanger door. Admittedly you would have to realy look hard to find it if you didn't know it was there. I also failed to remove some scrates on the roof that looked like cat with extra sharp claws spinning around on the paint. I ponted this out to the chap who's car it was, he was not too bothered by this, but realy happy with the polish and gleam I had achieved with the car.

I then applied megs Gold class wax and let it to cure while I cleaned the glass and hoovered out the inside, cleaned the leather and interiour plastics. I forgot to take my tyre dressing pad, so had to dress the rubber with AG rubber and vynal care. I then buffed off the wax with a buffing towel over a poliching pad on my DAS6 on level 3 and wiped down with a micro fiber cloth and Megs Speed Detailer

I have to admitt that it looked blooming great when I finished, but I'm a bit peed off that I didn't get all the marks out.

Advice is greatfully received........ :(

Advice is greatfully received........ :(

Firstly I would say it sounds like you have achieved a lot and if the customer is happy then that is the main thing but I share you thoughts also.

You will find with a DA unless you have the right polishes and pads for the paintwork then you are going to struggle, it can be done but you may have needed to resort to wet sanding and then polishing the deeper stuff.

I also think that you have to be realistic and work with the limitations of what you have but in most cases you will be able to get 90% plus out of most paintwork with a DA.......

Take the Mini as a learning curve, the paintwork is tough on that and if you have something else lined up you may find it easier?

Hello ritchie,

Stop being so hard on yourself, instead think how great looking your car now is !!!

Put lots of vehicle near you all to shame, mine included.

Get them photos on this site right away, and stop beating yourself-up, OK.

Ian. 13/10/2009. :thumbup:

Firstly I would say it sounds like you have achieved a lot and if the customer is happy then that is the main thing but I share you thoughts also.

You will find with a DA unless you have the right polishes and pads for the paintwork then you are going to struggle, it can be done but you may have needed to resort to wet sanding and then polishing the deeper stuff.

I also think that you have to be realistic and work with the limitations of what you have but in most cases you will be able to get 90% plus out of most paintwork with a DA.......

Take the Mini as a learning curve, the paintwork is tough on that and if you have something else lined up you may find it easier?

He wants me to do his Ferbi and Fiat Punto, so I must have done some thing right

What pad and polish cominations do you reccomend??

He wants me to do his Ferbi and Fiat Punto, so I must have done some thing right

What pad and polish cominations do you reccomend??

Sounds like the start of a slippery slope........

It's almost the 'million dollar question' that mate, for me you need a range as no paintwork is the same, some you can get away with a light cut and other you need a heavier cut.

I am working with the Kevin Brown Method at the minute using Megs 105 and 205 on Lake Country Flat Pads to achieve a good finish, also use Megs Pads and 3M Pads, Menz and 3M polishes are also very good but I appreciate it's all money.........

Sounds like the start of a slippery slope........

It's almost the 'million dollar question' that mate, for me you need a range as no paintwork is the same, some you can get away with a light cut and other you need a heavier cut.

I am working with the Kevin Brown Method at the minute using Megs 105 and 205 on Lake Country Flat Pads to achieve a good finish, also use Megs Pads and 3M Pads, Menz and 3M polishes are also very good but I appreciate it's all money.........

Kevin Brown Method?? whats that then?

Kevin Brown Method?? whats that then?

Kevin Brown Method - Detailing World

Enjoy the read......

Kevin Brown Method - Detailing World

Enjoy the read......

Blooming heck!! Lots to take in

Blooming heck!! Lots to take in

Oh yes.......

IME the punto paint is pretty soft FWIW, because scratchX worked on it and doesn't seem to touch anything on new Mini or VAG paint.