3000 miles + 8 washes = 0 swirl marks
 

Hey All,

Just wanted to make note of my recent pleasure. I've been driving my 8 for about 3 months now. It is a Copper Red mind you (dark color) and have been pleased to notice that using the following regemin I've been able to keep my car "swirl free".

Meguire's Gold Class Car Wash
Costco Microfiber Towels (Yellow- Washed after every app and separate for wheels, body, and windows)
Zaino Z6 (for mirror shine after wash)

I don't wash the car every week, more like every 2 and it IS garage kept but I thought I would share my new car regemin for those looking for a solution to avoid ugly swirls. NOTE: Z2 wax hasn't been necessary yet as car still has showroom shine.

I do appreciate that it is early and it may occur eventually but so far so good. Not one swirl in any light or from any angle. I'm quite pleased since it is a dark color car and it is very common.

Hope this helps someone looking for a program for their new car. Do remember to use separate towels between the body and wheels of the car. Particulates from brake dust and road grime rubbed into your paint on a towel will guarantee you problems...

Time

really??? i bet i could spot some in the sun. maybe its cuz ur car isn't black. haha

costco towels are good for about 3-4 times, then ya needa replace.

I'd really look into the Der Wunder towels at autopia-carcare.com. Big, a couple dry a whole car easy, and don't seem to wear out. Worth the cost. I wouldn't trust cheap towels, even if they're microfiber, because they do start to wear out.

Anyway, for those getting swirls...it's usually not drying the car, but it's how you wash it that may cause swirls. E.g, how you apply your soap without catching dirt on your bonnet or whatever

I always wash with microfiber towels. When drying the car, I use a leaf blower. The less I rub on the paint the easier it is on it...

So 2 1/2 years later, I don't see any swirls. Of course, silver is not going to show like black would..

My microsfibers from Costco are holding up just fine after 8 uses. No deterioration. I've got a huge pack so for sure I'll swap out when necessary... Interesting bout that leaf blower. That's a new one.

Time

its a little harder to see swirls in red. try shining a halogen lamp at your paint and look at it from different angle's.

Yeah, I use a leaf blower too, works best for me.

Hmm... seems like a leaf blower would be a good way to pelt your car with high velocity dust particles. Maybe not an issue, I dunno (dust is pretty small after all.)

FWIW, Consumer Reports rated waxes. For newer cars, Eagle One Wax-As-U-Dry and Turtle Wax 1 Step Wax & Dry T-9 were both rated highly, but both need to be reapplied often. Since they're spray-ons, that's not so difficult.

i think a leaf blower will be fine, driving fast on the highway is mostly similiar.

consumer reports is one of those magazines that you should take with a grain of salt. not really useful.

leaf blower should be fine, it's not blowing dust... it's blowing air.

Opinions from owners and controlled tests aren't really useful? I'd say it's better than flipping a coin!

And last I checked, outside air contains dust.

I've been using those Cosco microfibers too, switching to new ones after ~ 3-4 applications. I'm about half way through the pack and still deciding if I should wash them or just buy a new pack since they are pretty cheap.

I usually wash the car every 2-3 days at a coin wash ( nothing fancy, $2-3.. just soap-rinse-wax) then drive it home to wipe dry with Autoglym Synethic Chemosis*sp?!* and finish up with Turtle wax ICE Polisher Spray.

One a nice sunny weekend I will do a complete wash on my driveway