AIO Is Making Me Want To Drive My Car Off A Cliff

[Landerholm]

The is the second time ive AIOed my car now... With PC, after FI2.

The first time I removed the AIO with Final Inspection and MF towels before SG. The problem was, no matter how hard I tried, minor scratches were made with the cloth, and then the Final Inspection left a smeary haze. (I guess I could have washed it off).


This time I AIOed it, then WASHED it. With Meguires Gold Class soap. Keeping in mind I had spent around 10 hours this time in all the prep work, AIOing the finish to the point where little product was left, etc. Then I washed the car.

What a complete disaster. I am about to strip all of the paint off my car. The washing (which was very thourough and involved more pressure that any car wash should) left hazy remians of what must be the AIO. Then of course the sun came out while I was washing the car (I am very experienced in dealing with hard water, I re-wet constantly, dry immediatly, etc). INSTANT water spots all over the side of the car. I have got to re-AIO at least that entire side of the car again.

I want to cry.

HOW DO I GET AIO OFF LEAVING A PERFECT FINISH READY FOR SG!?!?!

I will add I was working under a 300 watt halogen light and it is a jet black car.

[Steve530]

I've never had a problem removing AIO, I just wipe it off with a good MF towel. Did you wipe it off when it was still wet?

[Landerholm]

I've never had a problem removing AIO, I just wipe it off with a good MF towel. Did you wipe it off when it was still wet?
"still wet"? I AIO a panel for a good 5 or more minutes....Its never seemed especially wet. How long do I have before it dries?

[hal9000]

5 min = too long. Try about half that. As for the scratches made when you buffed it off. Get better towels. Whose MF's are you using?

[ZaneO]

AIO has always been a very easy product for me to use.

I use it with a polishing pad and the PC set on 5-6. It "flashes" very quickly and is easy to remove. You don't have to use very much product at all. I use less than 1 oz. on a normal sized car.

Use less...work it slightly less...get better towels :)

[Landerholm]

I use the BEST MF towels. Theyre the good Cobra ones.

I usually use a "line" of product across half the diameter of the pad for each 1/2 panel. How much should I be using? If I use less than that the pad seems to go dry and its not enough to finish smearing the product on the entire panel prior to turning on the PC. Can I spray Final Inspection or some water on the pad?

[ZaneO]

*I* usually lightly mist the pad with distilled water before applying any product. I apply 1 or 2 thin lines of AIO across the pad, spread over the panel with the machine off, and then polish until nearly dry (no dusting).

I don't care for the Cobra towels personally, but I don't think they should be scratching.

[Landerholm]

I will use a tiny bit of QD since this is my 3rd time AIOing it.

How long does it take you to AIO an entire E36 coupe? A black one....very very black....

[JD886]

You may want to dampen the pad your applying it with. This will allow you get more out of a smaller amount of AIO.

It definately sounds like your applying too much. It becomes exponentialy harder to take off the more you put on.

Also... something I encountered is several times, under only semi-bright situations it will seam as if all the AIO is taken off but it isn't. Make sure before you go on that it is all taken off. A PC with a MF bonnet set to 5 should take it right off.

[Landerholm]

You may want to dampen the pad your applying it with. This will allow you get more out of a smaller amount of AIO.

It definately sounds like your applying too much. It becomes exponentialy harder to take off the more you put on.

Also... something I encountered is several times, under only semi-bright situations it will seam as if all the AIO is taken off but it isn't. Make sure before you go on that it is all taken off. A PC with a MF bonnet set to 5 should take it right off.
I was thinking about a MF bonnet but since I tend to put very fine scratches in occasionally when removing with a clean MF -- wouldnt the MF bonnet create a ton of swirls?

[Steve530]

Yep, if you're having problems with a MF towel, I would be wary of a MF bonnet. I loads up quickly, anyway.

Maybe you're working too hard. IMHO, you should get the finish swirl free with some lightly abrasive material, then apply the AIO with nothing else. Maybe a little water to moisten the pad just when you before you start. But no FI, don't wash it, and definitely don't power wash it. Do a small section, then wipe if off right away. It should buff off easily. You might want to test it on a very small section until you work out the problems.

Good Luck.

[timsev]

why are you washing after you put on the AIO? Just put it on, wipe it off. Probably the easiest thing ever invented for a car.

[96 328ic]

I was advised by david that AIO can haze and should be followed up by 3m FI2

[Estoril ART]

I was advised by david that AIO can haze and should be followed up by 3m FI2

Really? But then what about the haze caused by FI2??

[Landerholm]

3M FI2 is for before AIO!

I just redid the entire car. It went well. I ued a tiny bit of Final Inspection on the pad with each panel and a tiny bit of Final Inspection on the MF cloth to remove the AIO.

It looks great, although is Final Inspection supposed to leave that "slimey" residue that you can sort of draw in with your finger?

(I had washed it to get the AIO off to prep it for SG, just like I will wash the Final Inspection off to SG it this time around).

[96 328ic]

Really? But then what about the haze caused by FI2??
whoops..... I dont know what i was thinking but you are right.... it is swirl remover/ heavier polisher (3m Finesse it 2) then the finer polish (AIO)

Thanks for catching that.

[96 328ic]

3M FI2 is for before AIO!

I just redid the entire car. It went well. I ued a tiny bit of Final Inspection on the pad with each panel and a tiny bit of Final Inspection on the MF cloth to remove the AIO.

It looks great, although is Final Inspection supposed to leave that "slimey" residue that you can sort of draw in with your finger?

(I had washed it to get the AIO off to prep it for SG, just like I will wash the Final Inspection off to SG it this time around).
yes you are correct.... dont you mean finesse it 2 instead of final inspection?

[Landerholm]

yes you are correct.... dont you mean finesse it 2 instead of final inspection?
No...Whenever I use Final Inspection it leaves a slimey residue on the car. And under good light you can sort of draw in it with your finger. Like butter smeared all over a mirror. I think im removing it well.

[hal9000]

No...Whenever I use Final Inspection it leaves a slimey residue on the car. And under good light you can sort of draw in it with your finger. Like butter smeared all over a mirror. I think im removing it well.

Nope, not normally. Did you wash the MF towels after purchase? Did you use a fabric softener or static cling sheet?

[96 328ic]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376980

AIO is the best.