Best products/techniques to polish Mars Red paintwork

I have a Mars Red MK1 GTI that has had a respray I would say about 5 years ago. I have only had the car a month and want the bodywork looking as good as it can for the 7 Golf generation line up at Elsecar At The Races on the 10th April. It will be the first time I have ever had a car on display. The car as it stands is nice and shiny but want it taking to the next level. Can someone take me through what techniques and products to use. to detail the car? Should I get some touch up made for the small scratches here and there? Is there a product that actually fills any stone chips? Do I still need to Clay bar the bodywork? I have used Poorboys polish before on my white golf which was great so was thinking of getting the one for darker cars called Black hole. I would really appreciate if someone could guide me through the process. Many thanks. The Car is in original spec with the plastic wheel spats, vinyl stripes and vinyl decal on the boot lid. The wheels are the original Tarantulas

I can help you here been looking after my Mars Red paint for 28yrs and it's still like new and not using really expensive products either.

Preparation is the key no fancy wax is going to look it's best without the paint being perfectly clean and depends if your car has been resprayed like the original paint in single stage in red was the final coat, or in a modern finish, with a clear coat on top. Single stage is easier to work with and if there is little evidence of fine swirling will respond very well to an old fashioned glaze such as Meguiars #7 rather than any filler polishes I mention below, but it's tricky to use, you will get pretty close to the finish with what I have put below.

Only needs claying if you can feel any contaminates sticking to paint after it's been washed, should be able to feel roughness with your hand.
stone chips you can do nothing about without some touch up paint
Scratches depend on how deep they are, if they can catch your finger nail in them, then pretty unlikely you will get them out without painting first. If you can't feel them, then chance is they will come out, certainly by using a polishing machine, possibly by hand using a cutting paste such as Meguiars Scratch X. You need to be very very careful as too much effort and you could go through the paint.
Unless you have a machine polisher and know how to use it, you will struggle to get the gloss on your paint flawless but there are some things you can do by hand to improve.
Poor wash and drying technique leads to fine swirls in the paint -really noticeable in direct sunlight and under bright lights in your garage. Using a polish which fills these fine swirls will really help - not permanently - only machining will do this though.
You mention Poorbouys on your white Golf, I presume their White Diamond. If you have still got some then this will be fine, I have this and Blackhole and there is no difference. If you have run out then again without spending a fortune Autoglymn SRP will be even better. really work your polish into the paint well, using sponge applicators and removing with good quality microfibres.
Next stage is a coating to protect what you have done and the choices are either a wax or a Sealent.  You can spend hundreds on waxes, but much better value ones I feel are Britmax Vantage or Poorbouys Natty's.
However, I don't use any now, I use SONAX BSD - Brilliant Shine Detailer, It's on offer at places like EuroCar Parts for about £6 a bottle at moment. I make a hybrid of this up with Autobrite Project 32, but on its own it's just about as good.
All you do is spray it on lightly, use a microfibre to spread it over the paint and then with a plush microfibre folded several times so it's quite padded, very very very slowly move it over the paint. This is best done in doors as you look a bit of a fool, but it removes any excess product and reduces any chance of streaking. The beauty about this is you can use it to finish the car off again when you get to a show, having taken great care that there is no grit on your paint to rub in - again using plush microfibres will reduce the risk

For the black trim if you don't have any product at moment, I have tried lots but feel you can't beat CarPro Perl.  It can be diluted to use on tyres as well.

Rather than ramble on anymore I am happy to chat through with you, send me a PM with your phone number or if you are close enough to South Derbyshire you could even pop over.

If you have time on your hands go to Detailing World.co.uk lots of advice and tips but can get a bit bewildering as everyone has their favourites and some very deep pockets.

RichardHall

Fancy a cheap weekend in Vienna, Austria Richard?
Just bring your stuff with you and you can do mine while you're here mate!    

Don't forget I've only got half a car but wait if can do the Mk6 estate as well then I've got 2!  
All the beer and Schnitzel you want mate.  

Thanks Richard for your help and time. Your car looks amazing. Yes I have lots of the poor boys diamond white left. If its the same as the Black hole then I may as well use it I also have a tub of Poor boys natty wax! I need to buy something for the arches, bumpers and grill. I am also thinking of buying some Kerrosol metal fallout which I used before. It works great on the wheels

Golf Cabrio said

RichardHall

Fancy a cheap weekend in Vienna, Austria Richard?
Just bring your stuff with you and you can do mine while you're here mate!   Don't forget I've only got half a car but wait if can do the Mk6 estate as well then I've got 2!  All the beer and Schnitzel you want mate.  

Don't think my hosepipe will reach that far!  Got my five to do plus end up doing neighbours as well, one has just come round with 65 plate Merc that has been canabalised by the Kosovans, three hours later and better than it left the dealers!

You may only have half a car but fabric soft tops are a right pain, our mini convertible roof gets covered in cat fur!

RichardHall said

Golf Cabrio said

RichardHall

Fancy a cheap weekend in Vienna, Austria Richard?
Just bring your stuff with you and you can do mine while you're here mate!   Don't forget I've only got half a car but wait if can do the Mk6 estate as well then I've got 2!  All the beer and Schnitzel you want mate.  

Don't think my hosepipe will reach that far!  Got my five to do plus end up doing neighbours as well, one has just come round with 65 plate Merc that has been canabalised by the Kosovans, three hours later and better than it left the dealers!

You may only have half a car but fabric soft tops are a right pain, our mini convertible roof gets covered in cat fur!

I've not tried polishing a soft top, should be good for a laugh!     
Cats are not our problem over here but the Marder (wild Polecat) leaves big dirty foot prints all over the car and like to chew anything made of rubber!  



Some people say they eat it to help their digestive system but I'm not convinced about that.
But a serious problem out where I live!  

Hi I would recommend you get a touch up paint bottle and work your magic! There are many companies out there that colour match