really bad swirl marks

[dreamspeed]

Is our paint just really prone to swirl marks? I bought my M3 used in basically mint condition except for the insane amount of swirl marks everywhere.

Looking at the condition of the car i assume the previous owner took very good care of it so did he just like to wash his car using sandpaper or is the paint just prone to it?

[Vic311]

ALL paint is prone to swirl marks..its a sign it was washed incorrectly..It now needs correction.

Also google two bucket wash method and use a leaf blower to dry..this will keep it swirl free after you have polished and sealed it properly

[TTG]

If previous owner did not know how to wash the car or drove through car washes......paint will get all sorts of imperfections.

You will need a good paint correction.

[Burn0utsRfun]

+1 to both posters up top. Previous owner most likely lacked the knowledge on good wash, wax/polish techniques. Paint correction will most likely run you about $500 depending on the depth of swirls, but (again depending on the depth of the swirls and your paint thickness) they can be completely removed as opposed to being just covered up until the wax wears off with a $70 detail. After the paint correction, as long as you use proper methods of washing it, you can say bye bye to the swirls for good.

[analyze]

What color is your car? It's more noticeable on darker paints for obvious reasons. Claybar your paint to remove any potential debris embedded in your paint and then use a lightly abrasive paint cleaner. That usually helps remove swirl marks. A couple of coats of polish will also help hide the swirls.

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by analyze

What color is your car? It's more noticeable on darker paints for obvious reasons. Claybar your paint to remove any potential debris embedded in your paint and then use a lightly abrasive paint cleaner. That usually helps remove swirl marks. A couple of coats of polish will also help hide the swirls.

Polishing a car doesnt "hide" swirls... it eliminates them

[fastmike]

If it really bothers you, I'd recommend a paint correction. I got one on my Jet Black car and results were amazing.

Swirls are just minor scratches in the paint as others have said. Likely due to harsh car washing from the previous owner who didn't know any better.

After that, start being more careful with the paint such as avoiding automated car washes.

[fastmike]

If it really bothers you, I'd recommend a paint correction. I got one on my Jet Black car and results were amazing.

Swirls are just minor scratches in the paint as others have said. Likely due to harsh car washing from the previous owner who didn't know any better.

After that, start being more careful with the paint such as avoiding automated car washes.

[Leonardo629]

BMW clear coat is actually really tough, but improper washing and wiping usually means you are sanding the paint surface with tiny rocks. I've seen car wash workers using the same towel to wipe brake dust and the bodywork...SCRATCH!