Despite only having used an automatic car wash on a handful of occasions over the last two years the Black Magic paintwork on my Octavia is very badly affected by swirl marks. I'm going to have a go at it with Scratch X at the weekend.

However, this got me thinking about the quality of paint finish on our cars. In the work car park this morning there are three other black cars -

an 01 plate VW Golf

an 02 plate Ford Mondeo

a Y plate Vauxhall Vectra

The paintwork on all of the above look much better than mine, in spite of the fact that the owners of all three have used auto car washes on a regular basis. This leads me to conclude that our paintwork is perhaps one area where Skoda have shaved a few quid off, compared to the Golf for example ? Maybe we've got a less durable clear coat ?

Mine has never seen a car wash machine in it's life. For the last 2 years I have hand washed mine using a proper lambs wools mitt, but not before I have given the car a good jetting down to get rid of as much as I can. Then I dry her off with a microfibre drying towel, and all this is done in straight wipes and not in a circular motion.

MY CAR IS STILL SWIRLED TO HELL AND NEEDS SCRATCHX-ing DESPARATELY.

This is the worst I have seen in terms of a black clear-coated car considering the length I go to to try and prevent the problem in the first place.

Mine has only ever been autowashed (nearly 8 months of ownership), and I don't have any swirl marks AFAIK. Do have a few scratches, but they are probably key-related, I think. The manual clearly states that the paintwork is OK for autowashes, so I'm very surprised to hear that paintjobs that have been treated so carefully are swirly...

......so I'm very surprised to hear that paintjobs that have been treated so carefully are swirly...

If you look at my paintwork, it looks perfect. But when the sun is out and you get the light to shine in a particular direction, the swirls are very evident.

my fabia looks lush after a nice wash but some how when ever that god dam sun comes out i get swirls and its really irritateing :(

what is scratch x?

Another Black Magic paint job car here, and I can concur with Greg's experience. After just two years the Skoda paint doesn't quite stack up to the black paint on Mrs D's Micra, which is treated indefinitely worse when it comes to cleaning.

I'm particularly worried by the deep holes and chip marks on the bonnet and front valance - some of them are already beginning to rust! :eek:

The Skoda paint also needs more waxing than the Micra's for it to look decent. And it's never been autowashed in all of its life while the Micra has...

isnt there a 10 year anti corrosion warranty then that means u could have a fresh new paint job or am i wrong

isnt there a 10 year anti corrosion warranty then that means u could have a fresh new paint job or am i wrong

I think that is when an undamaged/unblemished area of bodywork starts corroding before the 10 year mark. If it's a stonechip then I believe that's a different issue.

gosh - does this mean that you guys wouldn't order black magic again? might the same apply to graphite dark grey?

gosh - does this mean that you guys wouldn't order black magic again? might the same apply to graphite dark grey?

Absolutely, I'd order it again!!!! I can't stand red, I have no wish to buy a yellow car. So that leaves silver, which is the only colour I would consider if black wasn't an option !!!

well silver cars are everywhere

I agree with the silver comment. I love black, but not if it scuffs so easily. Hence, my question about the gunmetal graphite grey.

might the same apply to graphite dark grey?

I haven't noticed swirls on my Graphite Grey Octy 2... BUT, in the last day or two I've noticed what seems to be almost as if the paint has cracked in a line from contracting... I dont think its scratches as it's not straight - just doesnt look like scratches... Also it's not in an area that id ever have leant against, nor would anyone else i dont think, so i cant see how it would have become scratched in that way. I'm going to take a closer look this weekend, and will take pictures if i remember. Im concerned that it might be some sort of problem with the paintjob, and if i conclude that on saturday then i migth have to pop by Withams to get their take on it...

Slightly concerned at the moment...

Base colours will always show imperfections first. Paint with a laquered finish will always resist abuse better.

As for car washes, NOOOOooooooooo !!!!

My mate used to manage one, the bristles are industrial grade to last longer so they are hard, the water is usually recycled and twice a day they used to wash down the brushes and end up with a pile of grit.

Some auto washes only have the brushes cleaned weekly. :eek:

So to some up.

Your car gets washed with hard brushes full of grit with dirty water.

No wonder you get swirl marks.

Cheers

Lee

my cars never touched a car wash tho :confused: i dont understand what im doing tho i saw a primera 05 reg the paint was awful swirls all over the whole car like sand paper had been used (some old woman driveing it soo....might explain it ...no affence to the ladees)

just to add, mine hasnt been in a car wash either, only washed by hand and with quite a great deal of care...

A quick straw poll:

Those of you that have purchased a black pearl vehicle, would you do so again given all the concerns voiced here? If not, what colour would you opt for to reduce the blemishing?

As above........YES!!!!

Isn't the clear lacquer on top just paint without colour? So won't it be the same stuff they use on metallics?

I think that dark colours just show the imperfections more, on something like silver the imperfections are still there, but you can't see them so well.

Incidentally, when I was having a bike sprayed in non-metallic black, I asked for a few coats of clear lacquer on top, thinking that would protect the paint, but the guy convinced me that I was better having more paint, so if it gets scratched then it just shows paint like before. I did seem to make sense, so I went with extra paint.

Its now about 20 years since I had the respray done, and scratches have always polished out, so it still looks new, so I'm convinced ...

Have you seen teh related thread I started?

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27209

That's why I only go to take my car for a manual wash. I used to use the auto over a year and a half ago but then I noticed the swirls...but then again, the paint work on Skodas are poor...and I have a reason that is also proof...my dad takes his X5 to the auto car wash everyweek...NO SCRATHES OR SWIRLS WHATSOEVER!

I used to own a diamond black Golf MK4 and I'm collecting a VRS ( Black ) next week , anyway when I used Zymol cleaner wax on the Golf the swirl marks were much less obvious also my mate has a met blue 330ci and he used "Mothers" on it and the swirl marks cleared from it also you should wash your car in COLD water