Newbie to Detailing Here

[royalewitcheese]

Hey all!

I just bought a 4 year old Black BMW X3 and want it to look it's best. It's my daily driver, so keeping it perfect at all times won't be an option, but I'd like to get the paint corrected and seal it, then just be able to wash and wax it to maintain. The car looks to be in good shape with some minor one off scratches that don't seem like they would be able to be fixed easily, and there are swirl marks all around. Here's my plan and I'd appreciate some input if this would work well. I don't have access to any polishing tools, so everything will be done by hand.

My question is that I plan on using a clay bar after I wash it. I purchased M105 and M205 without knowing that these products were made to be used on a polishing machine and not by hand. So, my plan is to get the Ultimate Compound. Would it be OK to use the Ultimate Compound and then follow that up with M205 polish or should I use the Ultimate Polish after? Also, I'm not even sure if I need to use a compound, so would I be better off using the M205 on a small area and see if it removes the swirl marks first, or do you think that a 4 year old used car would usually always need to have a compound used? I know it depends on the condition of the car and there's many variables, but would I do permanent damage to the car with Ultimate compound by hand if it didn't need it?

Also, would it be advised to use the compound only on areas with the deeper scratches/swirl marks, or would I be best served to just do the entire car and then polish the entire car?

Of course, I'll follow whatever I do up with a wax to seal it. Thanks for the help!

[ffboy]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Ultimate Polish is derived from M205, in terms of cleaning ability, they are very similar. Yes, it would be better if you try M205 or Ultimate Polish on a small area, you will more or less be able to gauge if the results (minor swirl or scratch removal) are up to your liking. As for the deeper scratches, you can use a more aggressive product for them (Ultimate Compound or ScratchX2.0 would go nicely), then follow it up (together with the entire car) with the Ultimate Polish.

Then wax/seal, maybe Gold Class Carnauba+ topped with Ultimate Fast Finish.

[The Guz]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Welcome to MOL.

By the way M105 and M205 can be used by hand. Also be sure to use foam applicators as you will be working by hand.

[royalewitcheese]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Big thanks guys! You actually read my mind The Guz. I was going to ask about which applicator to use as I only have the microfiber ones. I just ordered some maguiar foam pads to use for this weekend. I'll let you all know how it goes!

[Nick Winn]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Welcome to Meguiar's Online.

Yes, our M105 Ultra Cut Compound & M205 Ultra Finishing Polish are approved for use by hand. We would agree, we tend to prefer using soft foam applicator pads like our W0004 Soft Foam Applicators for applying products to paint.

When working by hand for applying a compound or polish, it is best to work in smaller 1 square foot or so areas at a time. This is especially important for the compound. You are essentially confining your area so you have greater ability to remove defects in that area. Clear Coat paints are "scratch sensitive" especially during washing & wiping down. On the other end of things; the process of removing defects from the clear coat with a paint cleaner or compound, the paint is most often hard or "resilient." More reasons to confine your area when attempting to remove defects by hand.

Wash, then clay, and perform a test spot, using the M205 Ultra Finishing Polish you have. If this does not remove the defects to your satisfaction, you can use M105 Ultra Cut Compound first.

If you attempting to perform a multi step process by hand, I might suggest not trying to complete this in one day. What you could do is, for example, especially if you have a garage:

Day 1: Wash & Dry. Clay the hood, compound the hood if needed, polish the hood, wax the hood. Call it a day.
Day 2: Light dust present on the vehicle from driving or sitting, wipe down with a detail spray like our Quik Detailer Mist & Wipe. Surface back to clean. Clay the two front side panels & front bumper. Compound these areas if needed, polish areas, wax these areas. Call it a day.
Day 3: Etc.
Day 4: Etc.

By the end of the week you can have the entire vehicle done you will likely get better results since you were taking you time. Just a thought.

[royalewitcheese]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Thanks Nick. I didn't realize how long this would all take so breaking it into parts of the car sounds like the best bet. So, would I be best off claying the areas right before they are polished? I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't want to clay the entire car, only polish/compound an area, and then have to clay again and risk damaging anything because if this is a multi-day process, I may have to finish the rest next weekend.

Also, if the polish removes most of the minor swirl marks/scratches and there are some deeper ones that I want to try the compound on, can I just use the compound on that area and polish that area after rather than having to use the compound on the ENTIRE car? I'm trying to save myself some work and don't want to do anything to unnecessarily shorten the life span of my clear coat.

Last question, I can tell that my car needs to be polished at least on the entire hood. Do you always recommend that if I polish one area to polish the entire car? Or, if another area doesn't have any swirl marks or problem areas, can I skip that area altogether? Thanks!

[Nick Winn]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Thanks Nick. I didn't realize how long this would all take so breaking it into parts of the car sounds like the best bet. So, would I be best off claying the areas right before they are polished? I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't want to clay the entire car, only polish/compound an area, and then have to clay again and risk damaging anything because if this is a multi-day process, I may have to finish the rest next weekend.

In my opinion it is best to complete one panel from start to finish if separating it out into a multi day process. This way the areas of the car which are not worked on in that day still remain protected with any remaining wax protection. (Clay/compound/m205 will remove wax)

Also, if the polish removes most of the minor swirl marks/scratches and there are some deeper ones that I want to try the compound on, can I just use the compound on that area and polish that area after rather than having to use the compound on the ENTIRE car? I'm trying to save myself some work and don't want to do anything to unnecessarily shorten the life span of my clear coat.

Yes, absolutely. But also do not be afraid to use the compound on the entire car if needed. Applying our compounds by hand with good technique is an extremely non invasive process.

Last question, I can tell that my car needs to be polished at least on the entire hood. Do you always recommend that if I polish one area to polish the entire car? Or, if another area doesn't have any swirl marks or problem areas, can I skip that area altogether? Thanks!

I would clay, polish, and wax the entire car. Not only does M205 Ultra Finishing Polish remove fine swirls & scratches, it will provide a dramatic increase in gloss & clarity, especially for a dark colored paint, and especially for a vehicle which is 4 years old and maybe has never been polished. It will most certainly be worth it in my opinion.

[royalewitcheese]

Re: Newbie to Detailing Here

Thank you so much! What a great forum.

I can't wait to try this out on my ride. I'll let you know how it goes