Mark asks the D.I team how to restore the shine on his 2001 BMW 330Ci.

My 2001 BMW 330Ci – silver titanium – was in an accident.  The rear of the car – C-pillar back – was rebuilt.  The body shop did a fantastic job.  The paint matches nearly perfectly.  But, the clear coat is not as shiny as the original clear coat on the remainder of the car.  I’ve tried Meguiar’s Swirl Remover (#9) with a random orbital buffer – not much good!  Ok, I need advice on buying a buffer such as ones that you sell, the pads and chemicals to “equalize” the clear coat shine!!

Mark,

Giving your situation there could be a few things that need to be addressed. Let’s assume your car just needs a proper leveling and polishing. The first thing you will want to do is invest in a Porter Cable 7424XP (PC). Next you will need the proper pads and polishes for the job. Then before any polishing is done, properly clay bar all painted surfaces to remove any bonded contamination that could interfere with polishing. Seeing that you have a  BMW with ceramic clear I am going to recommend the Menzerna polishes. These polishes are specially formulated for your type of clear coat. Using a 5.5inch Lake Country Orange Pad with Menzerna Super Intensive Polish will help remove the more serious defects and level the clear coat. Use 2-3 pea sized dots for a 2×2 working area. Do this all at speed 6 on the PC. After you are satisfied with the results move onto the next step. The next step will be done on a 5.5inch White Lake Country Pad using Menzerna Super Finish on speed 6. You can make a final pass on speed 5 if you would like. This step will remove any hazing left over from the previous step and add an additional gloss to the paint. Doing this should leave your paint looking excellent and then you are ready to add your protection. My favorite sealant is the Blackfire Wet Diamond. It’s a great all around sealant that has the looks and durability you are looking for while providing the slickest finish around. You will apply the Blackfire on speed 4 using a 5.5inch Lake Country Blue Pad.

Make sure you have quality microfiber towels for polish removal and sealant removal. Do not mix the towels. For polishing removal grab a few of the Great White’s and for your sealant or wax removal grab a few of the ReThickulous Towels. Best of luck to you, Mark, and remember I am local to you and here to help.

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