Machine polish

[rob172cup]

Hi ive just got my golf this week and want to get the paint looking like new again. Am i better getting a machine poilsih done professionaly to do the job or am i better putting some elbow grease into it

[Daffy]

Get a pro to do it you will never get near a machine finsih by hand. Have a look on DetailingWorld for someone in your area. There are loads of cowboys out there who think they can do it and seem cheap. Personally I would wait until spring next year otherwise you could be back to where you are now with the crud that comes off the road during winter. You will also need a decent wash process to keep it looking sharp.

[keano]

Where are you located Rob?

[JPC]

I'd recommend using a pro to do any correction work. It can take years to be at a level good enough to polish a Vws paint without damaging it or seeing any viable difference ;)

I'm on Lancashire by the way and work all over. Cheers

[rob172cup]

Im in between Hull and York, i was going to wait until summer but just wanted some opinions as it does need doing. Any ideas on cost ?

[rob172cup]

Near Market weighton to be exact

[stealthwolf]

Don't see why you can't get a winter enhancement done. Will seal up the car nicely for the winter so the crud will come off more easily when you wash it yourself.

[rob172cup]

whats involved with a winter enhancement ?

[stealthwolf]

Basically an enhancement detail - which is basically wash/dry/de-tar/clay the car, followed by single stage polish (ie take out light swirls but no heavy correction) and the car is sealed with products that provide durability in cold weather.

[Daffy]

Don't see why you can't get a winter enhancement done. Will seal up the car nicely for the winter so the crud will come off more easily when you wash it yourself.

Better off to seal/ wax it and just wash it off. Unless they have a heated workshop it is more difficult to get polishes to work at lower temps. You will still be left with plenty of debris on the car even after a hot foam wash and no matter how careful a wash you do there will inevitably be some minor marring. Come spring when there is hopefully less crud on the road and hopefully the car you can give it a full machine polish and remove everything, where possible. There won't be much difference in price and IMO it is a waste of money to get a car done now. A decent detailer would probably charge in the region of £300 upwards depending on where you are.,

[rob172cup]

I think ive found my man not too far away , thanks for all the advice !!

Need to get some stone chips sorted first any advice on them ???

[stealthwolf]

Unless they have a heated workshop it is more difficult to get polishes to work at lower temps.

Depends on the polish. Menzerna is a no-no even at 15*C as I recently found out. Even a pass with something like Dodo Lime Prime will remove very light swirls and cleanse the paint. And it works fine at 12*C (so far!).

[Grande_GTi]

I would have said buy your self a beginners Dual action kit from some one like elite, that way you got it for the future,with a Dual action your very unlikely to burn through paint that way and the apprication will be greater as you'd have done it your self.