The L is the first black vehicle I've ever owned. I always said to myself that I'd never buy a black vehicle ever, EVER!! Then I came home w/ the L. The thought of swirl marks barely crossed my mind when I bought it. Now I'm kicking myself for it.

Its so demoralizing to have just finished washing your truck, look at it in the sun, and see swirl marks.

I've done the whole Meguire's 3 step system, which is supposed to get rid of swirls, and dose, until you wash it again.

What have you L owners w/ black paint done to get rid of your swirls? I wish I had a digital camera, I'd take some pics to show you how my truck is one big swirl mark..........

 

Mine's been outside since it was born (5 days before yours I see) and it's got some swirls from all the dealer washes it went through, but they're not too bad. I've been using the Zaino for dark colored paint and it does a pretty good job of filling them in. 2 coats and you really can't see any swirls anymore. Every 3 or 4 washes it needs another coat (you'll see the water bead less and know it's time for more) but keeps the swirls in line.

My problem is scratches not swirls though. Fine scratches from numnut people and their cars rubbing against my L in the public parking lot at work. Zaino works well on the swirls but doesn't hit the scratches at all. Other people really **** me off at that.

 

Oh, and I've used the 3 step Meguairs before. It was good for brightening up the faded paint on my old 95 Ranger, but it's really not in the same class of quality as Zaino does for the L now IMO.

 

Most products people use for swirl marks only FILL the swirls, not remove them. In order to remove them you actually have to polish away a layer of paint (or clearcoat) and get down below the swirls. Obviously once you do this you want to avoid getting new swirls so you have to make sure you use good products like soft sheepskin washmitts and microfiber towels.
Visit www.autopia.org for more detailed info on swirl mark removal and prevention.

 

I traded my 99 Black Lightning in for that reason. Bought a silver one.
I only wish I'd known about Zanio back in 99. If I kept that truck, it would have been paid-off and then I could really spend some money on it

 

Try looking in General Care and look up post's by RockPick, he's a Mequiar's boot-camp survivor (and polish guru). Try using Mequiar's #9 (swirl mark remover). I currently use the three step system also but thinking of moving to #9 and #26 Mequiar's pro line (for the same reason as you).

 

Yeah, but its SILVER.

:P

 

I have the Black Love/Hate relationship also.

I just tried the Mequiar's NXT Front to back on the hood and roof and up and down on the sides.

Swirls practicaly disapeared. I now have my Black and she's beautifull

 

3m swirl remover for dark cars. Works awesome, just follow the directions exactly. Microfiber is the only thing you want to touch your paint, and no circular motions, use back and forth motions.

 

My 99 black L was a killer in the Florida summer, talk about HOT!

I like my 03 white L much better.

Chas

 

Menzerna Polish and Pinnacle Souveran will solve all your problems.

 

Many pros recommend 3M or Meguir's Swirl Mark Remover ("SMR"), but it should be machine applied with a Porter-Cable DA polisher.

I use it and it works like crazy.

I use Meguirs all the way. The polishing is the most important step. I spend four hours or more polishing for every hour spent waxing.

Yeah, other polishes and waxes work great. As a matter of fact, most work great.

The key is the P-C DA. Run, don't walk, to get one today. Great results with Lightning speed.

 

This is what I do. Primer/sealer whatever straight motion on then straight motion off(horizontal sides front back motion on hood,roof) then circular motion wax and then same straight motion for wax removal. Also do one small section at a time and remove wax right away before dry (dried wax is hard and will scratch) then remove the remainder like you would normally. The idea is to not build up or put on to much wax, hence the reason for immediatly removing the wet layer. Two black vehicles one was a SD 4x4, a dark blue one and now the grey L. No swirls and back in the old days I used Meguiers, it's just now I use some overpriced stuff from Griot's garage which is usally rebottled something or other, but it works good. Just my .02

 

Yeah, I'd rather drive my Lightning than clean my Lightning

But you'll never get an argument out of me on how good a clean, shiney Black Lightning looks
Iam just a lazy bastard

 

I use Zaino works good but, like the man said a good buffer is great along with trying to keep back and forth motion verses circular,also I was told to use only 100% cotton (canon Towels) to polish with! Their also is a product called Ebony, been around for years that is for swirls on black paint. But the key is to have plenty of