Right Glenn here's an easy diy guide to compounds and machine polishing. I was a detailer for over 15 years including running my own business and specialising in paintwork rectification and buffed many a car over the years including 5 years of day in day out in a bmw main dealer and that was all I did was buff flat black cars back to showroom condition.

Start with the bonnet and mask it off right down the middle and start with one half so you can see the before and after. What you need to get is 3m fast cut plus part no 50417 and an orange farecla pad part no G-MOP i think and a spray bottle full of cold water. Put the compound directly onto the panel and give it a quick mist and attack it with the buff. About half speed until you get used to the motion then up it a bit and keep a close eye for the compound starting to haze and dry and you will know the panel is starting to heat up,when it starts to go too dry that's when you are at the most risk of burning through the paint and the swadge line down the bonnet is the easiest to burn as the paint is considerably thinner here and it's very easy to burn. About 8-10 passes with the machine will take out all the swirls and by then there should be next to no compound left on the panel. Onto polishing it and pretty much the same again. This time 3m polish part no is 50383 I think. It's a blue top anyway and a black waffle pad. Good layer of polish on the panel and a misting of water again and then off you go. Same again watch for it going dry and just keep misting with water until all the polish has more or less gone and your done. Quick coat of whatever polish you normally use then good buff up with a microfibre then pull the tape off and it should be like night and day compared to the tired side. Average about half an hour per panel as your just learning and take your time and will be fine. Keep it wet and you will be fine. Your focus is silver is it not? Should be easy once you get that 1st panel right but remember as you've had a go on the bonnet already the paint will already be that bit thinner. Also remember to mask up any rubbers and washer jets etc as they are easily damaged accidentally and also the gloss black door trims can be buffed aswell but only once you've got the confidence.

Failing all of that you could just buy a pot of zymol and polished it every 3 months as that hides 99% of swirls 1st time

Hope this helps. John