I'm sick to death with the Black Magic paint

Since new, my car has been washed by hand, Swissoled after each wash (use the cleaner fluid every 3rd wash or so) and genuinely looked after.

Yet seeing the car under artificial light in the local multi-storey shows up swirl marks that franky makes me believe the paint just isn't up to the job. What else can be done to keep it looking new?

Its going to the bodyshop in the new year, and will get them to polish it all up with there industrial jiggery pokery, and will then apply the Diamondbrite kit I have kicking about.

Think I may adopt the 2 bucket washing method too.

So how does everyone else find it?

I have black magic paint on my vRS but I use VANILLA MOOSE WAX HAND GLAZE which is excellent coupled with a good quality sealant and a good quality wax (P21-S Concours Look Carnauba Paste Wax). May car looks as good as it did when it rolled out of the factory but with a deeper shine

Dunno - mine's Candy White and only looks abysmal when dirty snow has dribbled down Grrr.

However, I did see that Pimp My Ride prog where they put sparkly red bits into the black paint. Those sparkles should break up the swirly patterns? Just a thought

Mo

Blatant Hijack FAO Chavyboy:

Did I miss your "New Arrival" post? If so apols and please redirect or tell all

:boing:

Mo

:boing:

I have only ever had 1 black car and after that, I swore I'd never own another black car again.

They look great out of the factory, but that's about it.

Stone chips, scratches and swirls look so much worse on a black car than any other colour.

Don't get me wrong... When they're kept in A1 condition, clean black cars look the danglies, but they're just TOO much of a pain in the ars3 to look after.

Merry Christmas Josh!

I think I'm gonna book my car in with THESE guys - its about 2hr drive for me, but they look like they know their stuff.

When its been polished up etc, I intend to clean it frequently by hand using the 2 bucket method, and still maintain the regular Swissoling. If that doesn't keep it tip-top then I despair! :(

same here Tom, bit of a pain to say the least. Be interested to know how it goes with "clean image"

same here Tom, bit of a pain to say the least. Be interested to know how it goes with "clean image"

I go to Chelmsford on a Monday for my uni course, so will pop in for an appraisal.

I think I'll opt for a Silver valet, with add on:

[*]steam clean interior

[*]interior protection

[*]Super Dry

[*]Touching up of stone chips

[*]Clear coat treatment (3 buffs around

Mines still okay, but it's only a few months old.

I fully intend to apply diamonbrite when I can be bothered though. Send the guy (Alex is it?) at Serious Performance an email asking for some tips on how to do it all and how to keep it free from swirls - he's a nice bloke and gave me loads of pointers on what I should get to do it... I have the email with all his tips in but it's at work and I'm not back in until the 3rd (and I refuse to VPN in for it :P)

I have most of the things he suggested, and I'm certain that you can get everything you need for under 50 quid... Once the DB is applied then you just need a good wax and a good cleaning method to keep it looking like new

Personally I don't use buckets at all... I use a combination of the Flash car wash 'gun' thing with my own shampoo and a lambswool wash mitt (though im changing to a microfibre wash mitt soon)... Just rinse it off under the hose after every panel. At the moment I can barely even see the couple of stone chips I have on the bumper!

Tom

Don't waste your money on diamondbrite or anything similar. Cost me 200 quid on a 2001 red astra even though the salesman assured me the red no longer had the vauxhall oxidising problem. 8 months later after religiously following the aftercare procedure there was massive patches of oxidised paint. Sold it and got a black focus which already had diamondbrite and to me it made no difference. One thing it will not do is prevent the swirl marks from washing the car. VRS paint is **** simple as that. My red vrs comes up as good, if not better, from a normal wash/wax than the 3 cars I've had with diamondbrite .

The title had me worried Tom.

Merry Chriatmas Peeps

Tom, you can get the Diamondbrite kits off e-bay and do it yourself, it does help but you must make it the bottom coat not on after any other polish.

Early in the new year this site will open, http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/

The chaps name is Richard and he will have guides on how to use all the products, I've seen him in action and what a difference he makes to a car. Too far for you to travel but if you get the products and have the time it may be worthwhile.

He's over on clubSE and has a sponsered thread. http://www.seatenthusiasts.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=498

Hope this may be of some help.

Am I the only one here that can see the obvious solution?

Dont clean the car , and swirly marks won't be visible

Like a few other guys here, never again will I buy a black car. My Silver one has been out in the weather for 3 days now and looks clean still.

i used to have this prob. got myself a flash car wash thingy and its great! no swirl marks at all. just a nice all over shine. its quick and easy to use too. highly recommend one.

I go to Chelmsford on a Monday for my uni course' date=' so will pop in for an appraisal.

I think I'll opt for a Silver valet, with add on:

[list']

[*]steam clean interior

[*]interior protection

[*]Super Dry

[*]Touching up of stone chips

[*]Clear coat treatment (3 buffs around

Okay, mine's silver, but the same principles apply.

I decided to use caranuba wax and IMHO it makes ****-all difference if you pay

Hi

For what it is worth, you wont avoid swirl marks unless you can remove all traces of abrasive material before you wash the car. I found the automatic car wash less damaing to the paint than hand washing.

I looked in depth at the various paint "sealants" on offer, including Diamondbrite, and came to the conclusion that they are not coatings as such, just materials that take up the low spots in the paints micro surface irregularities. If you want a good finish and covering up of the swirl marks, look at permagard. A Fabia should set you back around

i used to have this prob. got myself a flash car wash thingy and its great! no swirl marks at all. just a nice all over shine. its quick and easy to use too. highly recommend one.

Trouble is it strips off ALL the wax :thumbdwn:

Just as an aside' date=' I've got a couple of minor stone - chips. Are you guys bothering to touch them up or just waxing over?

John. [/quote']

I use Turtle Wax Chip stick (Black)on the odd stone chip. Gone !!

Yep i agree with Josh!

Had two black cars and they showed up every scratch and stonechip and had to wash it at least once a week.

I vouched never to have another black car so now my VRS is red mind you i hav'nt cleaned her in 3 weeks :P

Trouble is it strips off ALL the wax :thumbdwn:

Not if you use a different shampoo in there instead of the Flash brand stuff

Can i suggest 2 things -

1= get yourself a Supagard kit from eBay (far cheaper than a dealer!) - go over the car with the polish sponge, it'll make the paintwork look pukka. Another bonus of the Supagard pack is the interior protection treatment which keeps the VRS clean and its easy to get rid of any muddy footprints on mats etc with a wet sponge and it stops the dash getting dusty.

2= pop to your local Halfords and get some Turtle Wax Gloss Guard (green bottle about

my black magic is fine

Tom check the guides out at this website, and then contact the guy to see what products he recommends, his products work wonders with black magic.

www.polishedbliss.co.uk

I think the bottom line is that if you are willing to put the work in to make it look right, then the results will speak for themselves.

There are a lot of good car care products out there. Good preparation before waxing is the key.

Try this web site. Excellent for advice on what to do and use. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html