Just got my car painted. I didn't notice before but in direct sunlight i can see swirl marks or spider marks whatever you call them all over my BLACK car. I'm hearing all sorts of stuff...from just wax it and have it washed and it will go away after awhile, that they did a bad polishing/buffing job, to it's "normal". So.. don't know what to believe. Please help!! Is this something that can be fixed???

 

I personally do not consider swirl marks of any kind to be "Normal". And no, they won't just "go away" after awhile. Having swirl marks on a black car is normal, meaning that the black paint shows almost every tiny imperfection more so then other colors. You can get swirl marks from a variety of places. when you wash it, over time, the swirl marks will get in the paint, just from rubbing it with a sponge/chamois. Drying with a towel, will also leave marks over time. You can also get swirl marks if, after your car was painted, they sanded the clear coat with a high grit paper, and then buffed it out with a compound that wasn't strong enough, thus leaving swirl marks behind. To properly rid the car of swirl marks, you need to buff it out with a rubbing compound capable of cutting through the clear just enough to get rid of the sanding marks. Then after that you end up with a surface that's a bit hazy. Then you go over it again with a buffer and a polishing compound that shines it right up.

There's a member on this board that runs a business called presidential detail or something along those lines, if you search for his threads, you can see how he gets swirl marks out from a car, before and after shots.

That's the long version. Short version: Yes it can be fixed. If the shop that painted your car also "sanded and buffed" the final finish. I would take it back to them and make them re-do it. If a shop rushes it, it could turn out like what you have. BUT, if we're talking "I got my car painted" a month ago, then the swirl marks might be from you washing it since you got it.

One last tip, I know this is a long post, You can use something like meguairs scratch-x to get rid of swirl marks. I've never done it before, But I think it says on the bottle that you can use it for that.

 

I'm sorry about your problem. I bet you spent good money to have your car painted. If I were you I would definitely take the car back and have them re-do it. I woudn't have even accepted it in the first place. I've detailed cars for 13 years and have owned many black cars that are so nice you can practically comb your hair on the car. They look like a glass mirrors.