A little confused about steps

[Murr1525]

Once all the steps are complete, would you repeat this process in full monthy or every few months or could you wash polish and wax over the previous full detail?

Well, you could do a full detail every week (and a few people do), but that would drive most of us crazy. If you wash every week or so, and use a spray wax after, your 'full detail' should last a couple months at least. And then you can polish and wax again when you feel like it.

My car is new. I've purchased the Ultimate compound, and Ultimate polish. Is the Ultimate compound too much for new car paint? I certainly don't want to damage the paint

Well, I wouldnt use UC if it wasnt needed. What sort of damage/defects does the paint have right now?

[Marc08EX]

You only need to clean and polish the paint as necessary. When you don't have any defects to remove, you can do the following to your car:

1. Quick Detail your car to remove light dust. You can use Ultimate Quik Detailer.
2. Wash your car using any of Meguiar's car soap.
3. Wash and Quik Wax your car. You can use Ultimate Quik Wax.
4. Wash and wax your car. You can use Ultimate Wax, NXT 2.0 or any wax you like.

Claying is used when you have bonded surface contaminants. If your paint is rough and you don't have swirls/defects, then you can just wash --> clay --> wax.

The Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish is used when you have swirls and defects in your paint. Ultimate Compound is more aggressive than Ultimate Polish. What that means is that UC will remove more severe defects than Ultimate Polish. If your car has very minor defects then you might get away with UP especially since it's a new car. But if your car has severe swirls then UC might be needed. Ultimate Compounded is clear coat safe.

[IrishStout]

I have noticed that the hood has holograms. I've also seen some very fine scratches in some areas from settled dust being wiped off I guess. The car is new, but is a left over 2011 model so who knows what happened while sitting on the lot for a year.

[Marc08EX]

Can you please post a picture?

If your hood has holograms from a rotary buffer, it'll be best to start with Ultimate Compound and use Ultimate Polish afterwards.

The best way to find out what will work best is for you to try the products yourself in a small test spot. Using what product depends on the paint itself on top of various other factors.

[BillE]

No need to re-do everything that often.

If the surface is maintained well, the use of a 'compound' can be a once a year (if even that) job.

Polish/Wax every 3 months or so. That is really your call, do ya want to do it.

Using something like Ultimate Quik Wax after washing will do wonders for keeping things looking good.

Bill

[IrishStout]

Thanks all. I'll post a pic when I get the cleaned. It's been way too hot here to do much of anything. My house has full sun until late evening.

I like the every 3 month approach. What is the best method to remove old wax? Or is that not necessary too often too. Do most folks strip the old wax before polish and re-wax?

[Murr1525]

No, not much need for old wax removal.