I picked up my MINI from the BMW/MINI dealership on 22 JUN 2010 when I got it there where buffer swirl marks on the brand new paint. I did not notice it until we got home and the MINI was in the sunlight. When they deliver your MINI here in Germany it is inside and you can't see because there is not sunlight. I have washed the MINI several times and I do not know how to get the swirl marks off of the paint. Needless to say I am very unhappy about this. The BMW/MINI dealership here in Germany treats MINI owners like second class citizens. It is like if you don't own a BMW your trash or like the BMW owners live in the penthouses and the MINI owners just live in the apartments. I don't like that attitude. We spent our money at there dealership just like they did. So I guess what I am asking here is two questions.
1. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get swirl marks out of my paint?
2. Do the BMW/MINI dealers in the U.S. treat MINI owners like second class citizens?

I guess I should mention that my husband and I are both in the U.S. Army and we are stationed in Germany so it could also be that we are American. Who knows. Either way I am going to keep a smile on my face and keep going back there when I need work done on my MINI

 

The Detailing 101 forum would probably be the best place for questions about your swirl marks. They can make some recommendations about products and proceedures to get your paint squared away.

 

Yep the Detailing101 forum is the place to go, but since I've found you here, what you need to do is find a quality paint polisher, and not a run of the mill detailer.

Or you could probably correct it yourself if you have the time and inclination.

The buffer trails are a result of someone using a rotary buffer on the car. Most likely to apply a glaze or wax before delivery.

With my 2010 Clubman S, I specifically told the dealer NOT to wash or detail the car before I pick it up, and so they didn't, but I still found buffer trails on the barn doors, so it seems somebody worked on it. I have since found that my driver side quarter panel was repainted somewhere before delivery and possibly the barn door was too and thus the reason for the buffer trails. In any case, the way to solve it is with a Porter Cable Random orbital dual action polisher known as The PC.

Using the PC and some Prima Swirl polish, you can take the trails out. Unless they are really deep and you might need a professional with a rotary buffer first. The problem is that many detailers aren't truly proficient with producing swirl and hologram free jobs. They usually aggressively polish, then fill with compounds, instead of knowing truly how to finish polish. That's where a quality paint polisher comes in. He/She knows exactly what to do and how.

My Clubbie S on delivery with holograms, swirls, and even a chip at the lower left corner of the barn door.


Richard Lin

 

Hey OctaneGuy, great post!
I have the same problem with my Clubman. I can see the swirl marks from my balcony on a really bright day. The swirls are white. I think I will try this too!
Thank you!

 

Thanks! Be sure to direct your questions at the Detailing101 thread or come on over to my FaceBook page and ask questions there!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...=47&ajaxpipe=1

Richard

 

Thank you for the suggestions and I will post the question also on the Detailing101 thread and see what I come up with. Thanks again......

 

The aszhole that detailed my Mini used a buffer on the hood stripe a damaged it. I'm waiting for a replacement. Professionally trained employees huh.

These sites have great info & products.
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html
http://www.griotsgarage.com/

 

The good detailers are the quality paint polishers. They charge more than the normal detailer and you do need to do your research first, but there are some obvious signs.

The quality paint polisher will look for "liabilities" on your car and address them before working. Anything that could easily be damaged will be taped and protected. Experience would also dictate that vinyl stripes whether printed or solid or delicate/intricate cuts could be buffed or not.

The term "professional" simply means they are paid and has very little to do with their experience, attention to detail, or ability to fix anything. Find out who is the "best" and most experienced person at a shop you are looking at and ask LOTs of questions. Most detail shops won't answer questions about their process or chemicals. That's a sign to keep on looking.

Richard

 

Thread moved to Detail 101.

 

Never quite understood the "need" or requirement to use a polisher on a brand new car which has not yet even left the dealership...

They could have easily just hand washed the car using a quality car wash with wax in it, dried it off, and achieved better and less damaging results.....where are heck are their heads at ????

 

Now that's just wrong.........dealer gets a D- and salesman gets two dope slaps. and reverted for retraining.

 

Except the dealer didn't buff it. They had strict instructions not to wash/detail it, and so it came with swirls and holograms, that missing paint on the barn door, and what I found yesterday was clearcoat overspray on the driver side door jambs..which lead to seeing an extraordinary amount of orange peel along the edge of the drivers side quarter panel that didn't exist on the passenger side. The dealer said there was nothing on the VDC history showing it suffered damage during transit.

It arrived on Monday night, and I picked it up Tuesday morning.

 

It's possible your paint repair was done even before it left the factory. If that is the case no way the dealer would know & the folks that build them are not talking.

Seems like factory or dealer supplied swirls & holigrams are included at no extra charge on many MINI's, mine included.