Paint help!

[dmx]

My car is only 2 weeks old.. and theres swirls on the trunk and swirls on the hood and a spot on the front fender where it looks like the paint is chipped..

..What should i do?

[Mattz280]

Clean the chips and touch them up as best as you can. Wait a couple of days for the paint to fully cure, then polish the entire vehicle with a random orbit polisher and a good, safe abrasive such as Zaino PC until the swirls are gone, then follow up with a good wax or sealant.

If you don't understand washing/detailing basics. Spend some time on autopia.org.

Some tips:

1. Rinse car well starting at roof and working down with low pressure, high volume before washing (open hose works best)
2. Use a car shampoo, not dish detergent
3. Use a soft, quality wash mitt
4. Use the two bucket method: one with soap and one with plain water. Dip the mit in the water every time before you re-soap it to rinse the junk off
5. Wash top to bottom. (I.e. soap mitt, wash roof, rinse mitt, soap mitt, wash windows, rinse mitt, soap mitt, wash hood etc...) Use a sponge for the wheels/tires/rockers...do NOT use your wash mitt on these dirty parts
6. Rinse well afterwards as in step 1
7. Dry with a quality drying towel, or better yet use large white 100% cotton bath towels. The nap will help prevent any leftover dirt from grinding into the paint. You will need two towels. Don't forget about door and trunk jams (do them last)

Now you will be ready for polish. Read directions before use. Use a random orbital, NOT a rotary. After polishing (may take a few passes), there will be no wax and therefore no protection for your paint. I recommend using a synthetic sealant if you don't want to be constantly waxing. Zaino is best for durability, but I have heard good things re Meguiars NXT as far as off the shelf goes. You can follow up with a detailing spray for extra gloss and slickness. Don't forget about your door/trunk/underhood jams and wheels. They are painted and need wax too.

Only quality MF towels (research before letting them touch your paint) or 100% white cotton towels can be used for removing wax and using detailing spray. DOn't use old rags or cheap towels as they will scratch. Always wash your car towels separate from your other laundry. Use only liquid detergent and do not use fabric softener when drying or washing.

By using proper detailing/washing techniques, you will prevent swirl marks, though on dark colours they are inevitable but can be minimized/hidden/corrected. I have probably washed my habby red Si 15 times in the 3 months I have owned it and it is practically swirl free (you might see some minor ones indoors with bright halogen lights, but none in natural light).

[Mattz280]

Read this as well

Swirls In Paint