I did a test a while back and found that unless your car has VERY VERY fine swirl marks, all swirl removers I've used (about 13 different brands) have little or no effect on reducing the appearance of swirls.

In fact you will probably add more of the very same fine swirls to your car that you're intending to remove whenever you try to buff them out with a 100% soft buffing cloth towel.

The deeper swirls are the problem and there hasn't been a product out there that makes a difference significant enough to make it worth going through the trouble..

Does anyone have a different opinion on this matter? Because I'm dying to find out what I can do to remove the swirls on my black 98 honda civic. The paint job is still very shiny, just lots of swirls at the hotspots... otherwise the paint is still in excellent condition.

Did you try Zaino Z5 (http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Z-5&Category_Code=Zaino)? I don't have swirls so cannot speak from experience, but their other products seem very good...

I tested Z5 on my girls black G20 that has a lot of swirl marks (her idea of a car wash is the economy car wash at the corner gas staion *shudder*) and it takes 2-3 layers for the bigger ones, but it DOES get the job done. I'll post pics next week when I get back in town.

The best one I've used is 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, I had a few swirl marks on my 8 when I got it from the dealer and I used it to remove them and they are gone.

Originally posted by alarabie
The best one I've used is 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, I had a few swirl marks on my 8 when I got it from the dealer and I used it to remove them and they are gone. Seconded. It works magical wonders that not even Zaino can reproduce.

that's strange, because I got the exact reverse.. the 3M imperial glaze did VERY little to reduce hotspot reflectivity of swirl marks. The still showed up as the glaze made no difference at all..

you are taking any wax off before trying to polish out swirls?

I use the swirl remover polish before waxing the car.

I also vote for the 3M stuff. If used properly it works very well but remember it IS abrasive.
Zaino Z5 mostly covers up the swirls, it doesn't get rid of them.