MX-5 OC Forum

 Hi , a friend of mine recommended Farecla G3 for my car to bring out the shine. Just wondered if any members have used it and if so what kind of results were seen?

Many thanks.

Farecla products are great. G3 is a paint renovating compound which is slightly abrasive. When used with Mop (polishing machine) it will wear through the top layer of paint removing light scratched and restoring the original shine. It will give you great results but don’t us it too often as you will wear the paint away. Also if you are using a Mop it would be worth paying a professional as if you mop too hard for too long in one place you will burn the paint. The paint is thinner on the edges of panels. It can be used by hand but it will take longer to achieve the same results.

For similar results use Autoglym paint renovator ( pink label ) a good set of cloths and some elbow grease.

Fifth Gear did do a test using an alfa 156 and different polishes including Farecla. would be worth a you tube visit.

 Thanks very much for your reply.  I had planned to use the product by hand using mutton cloth (another recommendation) and only use it once and then continue to use a normal wax after cleaning.

The paint on my car is good but quite dull and I have tried using Autoglym Super Resin Polish but that makes no difference.

I had a quote from a garage to buff the car all over for £150 but thought I would try myself with the Farecla first.  I suppose it would be best to try it first in an inconspicuous area of the car?

Also is it usual when polishing a car with normal wax that the paint colour comes off on the cloth?

Thanks

Jen

 I have found that with a lot of older cars now that the paint will lift on to the cloth. Its a sign that the paint is past its best but as long as you limit the amount of time you give it a heavy wax then you sould be ok. My sister in law had a Red Mk1 UK Mx5 and the paint would regularly look like it was flatted ready for paint but a good renovator like G3 soon got it shining again.  Super resin finish is designed to fill small scratches rather than remove. you should have no problems with the G3 by hand but it will be a lot of work. Once you have finished it would be worth putting a layer of this on http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_177425_langId_-1_categoryId_165527

Microgod:

 I have found that with a lot of older cars now that the paint will lift on to the cloth. Its a sign that the paint is past its best

My 96 UK Red Mk1 does make my cloth's very Red, as it is in concourse condition it certainly is not past its best. The paint coming off onto the cloth is because it is a cellulose paint and not a laquer covered paint as in newer cars. MX5's do have very soft paint and will scratch if not looked after carefully, do not use a very abrasive polish as you will go through the paint especially on the edges, T-Cut is a certain No No. The guys at Polished Bliss are very helpful, look them up and give them a ring they will give you all the advise you need for your car and paticular color.

The proffessional detailer that helps on my Red un uses Menzerna polishes the Power Finish and especially the Super Finish is just the dogs whats its..... used with an appropriate pad on a machine polisher will give you a great finish. I machine polished my Black un last weekend......

 G3 is great stuff.  I hand-finished the paint on my 1950s car using G3 and mutton cloth, then T-cut, then wax. 

It's a slightly larger grade abrasive than T-cut IIRC and used properly can help you get an amazing finish.

Amy.

Speedy aka Ian:

Ian,

I know you're clever mate but how on earth did you drive that onto those ramps like that?!

peleton72:

I know you're clever mate but how on earth did you drive that onto those ramps like that?!

Top Secret

 Thanks again, in fact I already have some extra gloss protection so that saves another purchase. And I'll apply it when I've finished. 

Well just been out and bought some G3 the liquid compound, mutton cloth and am going to give it a go by hand.

Sounds like I'm going to set aside at least a day to spend on it or may try doing it panel by panel.

Thanks to all for the helpful comments and tips.

Jen

 If you're doing it by hand, a good tip is to do panel by panel, about a foot square at a time, then move on to the next section until you've finished a panel.  Then move to the next panel, etc.  This helps you keep track of where you've been (though you should feel the difference when you're applying it to a spot you've already done).  It'll take a fair while but it'll be worth it

 Thanks Amy, I am a bit nervous about starting it and how much pressure to apply but got to give it a go!  Panel by panel is definitely a good tip and the way forward for me I think.

 You need to be reasonably firm - but remember the paint may be quite thin!  If you're using mutton you'll notice that you need to use a reasonable amount of the compound to begin with as it'll soak into the cloth, but as you go along you'll need less of it as there'll be residual compound left in the cloth.  I tend to put a 10p or so sized blob on the cloth to begin with and see how that goes, adding more as necessary until I've done a section.

If using Faracla G3 then be sure to go over the car with Faracla G10 afterwards to remove any swirls left by the more abrasive G10.

Faracla products (yellow/brown containers) have until recently only really been available from professional bodyshop paint factors etc, the recent trendy black packaging is aimed at the DIY detailers or `boy-polishers` as I used to call them.

Squidlord is a member on here who kindly came to my dads` house recently and clayed and cut and did all those amazingly OCD things to `Old Man Eunos` V-Spec and made it look pretty good and it only took two days

 2 days seems a reasonable amount of time to do a decent job, rushing is usually what leads to marred paint and buffer trails, you only get the results by putting the effort in imo:)

msb:

you only get the results by putting the effort in imo:)

For the Meguiars Showcase at the NEC, I and a professional detailer spent three long days on my Mk1, i was guided in where and what to do next, OCD didn't have a look in