My paint is starting to piss me off now, it's a '94 polo coupe in (I presume) alpine white, but the paint is looking so old and crap :( It's got grubby fingerprints from having work done on it (yes, my fault!) and most of the sides/doors have dark sort of stains on them, noticeable from a few meters away. They're sort of off-white/grey. Also streaks where water has run down the doors that are off-white/grey. I tried taking a photo but only have a camera phone and even on macro (in this evening light) it didn't show anything, I'll try again in the light tomorrow.

Obviously I've been washing the car and have tried many times to get rid of these marks but washing just doesn't touch them (I'm using auto glym bodywork conditioner and shampoo or something like that), but this does nothing at all to them. I also never polish or wax because (apart from not really knowing how to) I don't want to polish dirt into the paint because it's never clean even straight after washing, and I don't want to wax and lock in the dirt because it's never clean even straight after washing, so the problem is getting worse because there's no protection.

Does anyone have any tips on how to make a white car clean? I've seen a few white mk3 coupes on here that look absolutely mint. Is the autoglym 'shampoo' any good, or can anyone recommend something better? But even so I doubt washing alone will remove the greasy fingerprints and whatever these stains are.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease help!

possibly try claying it with some megs clay and quick detailer or using there 3 step paint resto kit?

where do you get that stuff? and how does it work i would like 2use it but dont no how lol

where do you get that stuff? and how does it work i would like 2use it but dont no how lol

Which one are you talking about? The clay car kit, I got mine off ebay. I would like to know some more info about this paint restore kit :p

Yeah I've got meguiars quick clay and it's ok on some bits, but I had a good go at the water run stains on the door and it didn't really do much :(

More info on this resto kit would be good. Are halfords still doing their 3 for 2 offer?

where do you get that stuff? and how does it work i would like 2use it but dont no how lol

Which one are you talking about? The clay car kit, I got mine off ebay. I would like to know some more info about this paint restore kit :p

Both lol

Yeah I've got meguiars quick clay and it's ok on some bits, but I had a good go at the water run stains on the door and it didn't really do much :(

More info on this resto kit would be good. Are halfords still doing their 3 for 2 offer?

Where abouts can you get that paint restore stuff is it teyh same as clay bar?

halford do it it comes in a pack with 3 bottles of stuff like a 3 stage kits thing worked well on mine in the past

ahh paint renovator its in a burgendy tub and its good at removing swirls and blemishes... but just that clay bar now where to get the lol

Sounds to me its needs a good machine buffing with G3 rubbing compond and lots of water. This will get rid of the marks and also make it shine.

Another option is a complete respray.

where do you get the g3 compound lol I'm sure we both will need to know this?

Any good bodywork supplies store, or you can get in on ebay. Use it with LOADS of water and wash it off before it dries too. It's the shit.

G3 does rule. I don't have a machine buffer but used a lil bit on my roof works wonders, is it ok to do the whole car by hand with G3?

That clay stuff sounds good, it is the maguires one right?

I had this ray - my brother wrote in the dust on my bonnet 'You Little Chav' and when i washed it off it had stained... I used AutoGlym Super Resin Polish twice and the bonnet looks brand new.

CLaybar can also be a good idea, as can G3 - though it is a little harsh. But try AG Paint Renovator or Super Resin Polish, and if thats not good enough call Chipsaway The fella i spoke to wanted £120 to go over the whole car, which isnt bad.

@Polomon - This is the clay bar kit I got and I'm pretty happy with it, although I haven't tried the meguairs one.

Once I get the main stuff I want on my car done I might call Chipsaway, cheers skatty :)

the megs clay bar can be brought online.thro ebay and also wait for it........ from halfrauds

G3 and a mop, near impossible to do by hand, unless you can polish at 900 rpm!!

@Polomon - This is the clay bar kit I got and I'm pretty happy with it, although I haven't tried the meguairs one.

Once I get the main stuff I want on my car done I might call Chipsaway, cheers skatty :)

link not responding? but i will have a search tahnks and I've just bougth some clay bar in halfords but i wioll have alook for some more...

G3 and a mop, near impossible to do by hand, unless you can polish at 900 rpm!!

well... lol :-D

I've done a whole car by hand with G3..just remember to put aside time for washing it all off properly after and polishing and waxing the whole thing as well to protect the paintwork.

Charlie how would you go about doing that? I've got a big bottle of it sat in my room but I'm not too sure on how to use it and i don't want to ruin the paint... I'm guessing you work on clean paintwork, apply lots of water and use the G3 ona microfibre, rub like crazy (in circles?) and apply more water, then polish some more. After that, wash it off again with car shampoo and apply polish... How does that sound? Coudl you give me any tips?

Charlie how would you go about doing that? I've got a big bottle of it sat in my room but I'm not too sure on how to use it and i don't want to ruin the paint... I'm guessing you work on clean paintwork, apply lots of water and use the G3 ona microfibre, rub like crazy (in circles?) and apply more water, then polish some more. After that, wash it off again with car shampoo and apply polish... How does that sound? Coudl you give me any tips?

me too please :-)

easy way past this i had the same trouble with my grandads 14 year old red golf (pinking) so wash it as you would then wash the soap off the thoroughly then with bucket of warm water and a sponge put in half a litre of malt (brown ) vinigar you can buy 1ltr bottles from asda etc for a quid or 2 then rub it over with that but make sure the paint works still wet from when you have washed it then go round wipe the vinigar all over as you would washing like normal then go back and wash it off(as you do) then leave it to dry after a thorough rinse then you will prolly need if its not braught it up enough one of these http://www.thepolishingcompany.com/foryourcar.html

the 240v looks like an angle grinder that black then a bottle of t cut if it still needs it (by hand all over and wipe off again then this colour renovator!!http://www.ekmpowershop2.co.uk/ekmps/shops/motocareltd35/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=195

at the bottom of the page this works wonders

i know these tips from mercedes as i worked there for 2 week lol it was rubbish rather VWs thanks!

and for proof this is it

sorry i dont have any before pics but for peace at mind my grandads 70 now and only drives the car etc so its down to me to clean it otherwise it gets left like it did for the last 6yrs yes 6yrs wothout 1 wash (only when it rained!) lol

so

here

I'm only 15 and no steam cleaners etc just wd40 polish for the inside and red colour renovator and a good buffing and washing

looks ace in the soon!

also ever wondered how to get black marks off the black trim after cleaning windows with creams or waxing etc--- baby oil it---

rob

Thanks for all the advice... trouble with these electric things is I'm very scared I'll burn through the paint as I've never seen it done. I'll give it a polish today and see how that goes I think.

Anyone know if there's any college courses or anything on car detailing? These people must learn somewhere!

Well I spent most of yesterday afternoon washing and polishing - came up lovely after the polish! Started on the A pillars and round the window seals which had greasy prints on from installing electric windows, the polish got rid of it as if they were never there! Then did the bonnet and the difference in polished and unpolished areas was amazing, the reflection so much brighter and sharper. Didn't have time to do the really bad bit on the side but did a test on a particularly bad greasy fingerprint area and again the bit I did was actually white rather than grey!

This has restored hope in my car being white and given me reason to bother washing it more now because I know it can look good! I didn't manage to get a very even finish on it but this was my first time ever polishing so I'm very pleased with the results. This was all by hand using Autoglym Super Resin Polish, thankfully didn't need anything more than that.

Thanks all.

Ray

Oh and I must remember my digital camera next time to get some snaps, camera phone isn't up to much.

Edited 29 July, 200719 yr by Ray2k

rob and ray- fair play i use that autoglym stuff it's good like G3 but G3 is more aagressive.

pokemon and skatty- the key is

1. wash and rinse car throughly

2. apply G3 a bit at a time on a wet cloth and use a spary bottle at sametime so it doesn't dry out. Especially good at getting small scratches (i.e. rould door handle bowls) out. Also removes surface haze scratches. Using circular motion, work round the car quickly so you can wash it all off asap.

3. wash car again throughly, dry with blade thingy and chamois, then polish and wax as well to protect shine.

Not a ed38 style detailing guide, but good results for a couple hours work tops.