Firstfives.org

Hi All,
I have a powder blue 530i that has spent years sitting in a barn. The car finish is pretty much gone. I am looking for some ideas on how to try to bring out a shine to the finish. Any suggestion on which wax would be best to help clean up the car would help.

Thanks

I'd start with a polishing compound. I like Meguiars products but there's an assortment of good ones out there. After you get the shine back, then wax it. Again, many good ones, I like Meguiars gold class.

Thanks I have never tried that before. I will take a look into it.

I have always been terrible with paint, but at some point I was going to try and follow this article;

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask ... aints.html

My paint is metallic but I believe it's a single-stage so this should apply.

This goes way into tons of detail, but you get the idea.

I see good and bad info in the link. Least aggressive, definitely, which is why I suggested polishing, not rubbing compound.

OP's car I believe would be non metallic, single stage. By 79 I think all the metallics were clearcoat, I know my 79 Kaschmir E12 was and I think all metallics were. Solid colors remained single stage thru the E28 run.

I plan on going to the store this weekend to pickup a few things. I want to try to clean up the car. I will let you know how I make out.

Mike W. is Meguiars gold class a polisher? I thought it was a cleaner.

Gold Class is a wax. It might have a tiny bit of abrasive in it, but it's not a clearer wax, just a wax. You would need a shine on the car before you put it on, hence my suggestion of a polishing compound. Just how badly oxidized is it?

I would say about a 6 out of 10. It was stored in a barn for years. It really didn't see bad weather but the barn had a dirt floor. I live in New England and the winters can be bad.

I read the how to link in this thread. I can see this taking a whole weekend to get it done right!

I'd recommend using a clay bar. Wash, clay bar, wash again and then wax. This brought the original finish back on my 77 530i that was also stored for years.