Am I doing it right???

[amf]

I live in a country where Meguiar's products are very expensive so please bear with me if I'm not using 100% Meguiar's products.

I wash with NXT Car wash (about $12!) then dry the car. I then apply with an orbital polisher (Black%Decker's), the Deep Crystal Sytem Cleaner ($12!) then wipe it off. Then apply Deep Crystal Sytem Polisher (with the orbital) then wipe off. After that, I wax with a cleaner/wax carnauba product by hand and buff/wipe it with MF cloth. I also have an NXT wax Spray which I plan to use in between car washes. The Meguiar's cleaner and polisher cost me about $14 each!

Would it be enough? Or something's missing? Thanks in advance!

[Murr1525]

With that routine, you car should be in good shape for a very long time.

The only suggestion I might make is about the last cleaner/wax step. A wax only product, such as DC#3, or Gold Class, Nxt, or perhaps another good companies if you have to, may give a bit better durability and looks than an all in one type product.

The cleaner/wax would be better as a quick detail when you are too busy to do 3 separate steps.

I often use ColorX ( a cleaner/wax) topped with Nxt Wax or Gold Class Wax, as a quick 2-step detail.

[amf]

Ok. I'll try to buy the NXT wax when my budget permits me to. Thanks for the reply!

[SprintKing]

Re: Am I doing it right???

Originally posted by amf
I live in a country where Meguiar's products are very expensive so please bear with me if I'm not using 100% Meguiar's products.

I wash with NXT Car wash (about $12!) then dry the car. I then apply with an orbital polisher (Black%Decker's), the Deep Crystal Sytem Cleaner ($12!) then wipe it off. Then apply Deep Crystal Sytem Polisher (with the orbital) then wipe off. After that, I wax with a cleaner/wax carnauba product by hand and buff/wipe it with MF cloth. I also have an NXT wax Spray which I plan to use in between car washes. The Meguiar's cleaner and polisher cost me about $14 each!

Would it be enough? Or something's missing? Thanks in advance!

come to australia

NXT wash is about $20 and the professional polishes range from $20 up to $80 for #83 in the half litre bottle.
Having said that i wouldnt buy anything else as i believe not only in the meguiars system but its customer support which is second to none!

It looks like you have the system right.
The only thing i might suggest you to try is some clay between the washing and the cleaner step. Clay removes above surface contaminants such as tree sap and other environmental fall out, & the cleaner would remove dirt in the paint. with clean paint you can then polish and seal in all your hard work.

if your unsure just refer to the Meguiars 5 Step Circle

the Spray Wax / Final Inspection is a great way to maintain that just detailed look

would love to see some pics of your ride

[amf]

Re: Re: Am I doing it right???

Originally posted by SprintKing
would love to see soem pics of your ride [/B]

Will Try! Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

Hi amf

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!


Murr1525's comment are dead on, I would add this one little addition which is that generally speaking a polish wax, (like Gold Class), or a pure wax, (like Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax), or NXT Tech Wax, (A specialty wax), will tend to impart a deeper, wetter looking shine than most cleaner/waxes.

Meguiar's cleaner/waxes, for example A12 Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax and ColorX are better than most cleaner/waxes on the market and although they are an all-in-one type product, that is they will clean, polish and protect in one application, they will still leave a very high gloss, deep wet shine on paint in relatively good condition after correctly applied and removed.

In fact you can find threads on this forum where some people have posted they think ColorX leaves a better looking finish than some of our other waxes.

I myself have tested our A12 Cleaner/Wax, a product that sales for a suggested price of $4.99 here in the U.S. against some leading boutique waxes that cost much, much more and on black paint, (the best color to test any wax on), our popular cleaner/wax outperforms most if not all waxes I've tested it against.

So don't discount Meguiar's cleaner/waxes and lump them all together with all the other Joe Consumer type brands and even some of the Boutique brands available usually at a dramatically higher price.



Of course, as Murr1525 pointed out, if you're a serious enthusiasts, then moving toward more dedicated LSP's will usually take your car's finish to an even higher level of quality appearance.

[sneek]

GC is a polish wax?
ive been using
DC1
DC2
then gold class

i guess i'll start using my NXT more

[Murr1525]

I think Gold Class is a polish/wax the same way Nxt is a cleaner/wax. Dont mistake it for a full polishing step.

[sneek]

Originally posted by Murr1525
I think Gold Class is a polish/wax the same way Nxt is a cleaner/wax. Dont mistake it for a full polishing step.

ah i see so i am doing the right think

i still dont know why i like gold class more than NXT it just feels right to apply gold class paste and something is wrong with NXT liquid

[Murr1525]

Yes, you're way is quite alright.

[Magic]

i still dont know why i like gold class more than NXT it just feels right to apply gold class paste and something is wrong with NXT liquid

Like Mike always say's

"Find something you like and use it often"

[amf]

Here are the pics of my Black Honda Civic after the taking the steps I outlined in my initial post:

















Quite good???

[gb387]

The first one concerned me for a second, thinking what happened to the paint(the white spot on the door)... but its a great reflection!!!

That looks great, very nice!

[amf]

Thanks!

[amf]

2 days after I did the process I outlined earlier, I noticed that my car's paint looks and feels oily (an oily residue is present and noticeable if you lightly rub a finger on the finish). The car is in the garage and protected from rain, dew and sun but fresh air circulates in the garage. Anyone experienced this?

Could it be that the products I used were not suitable for the tropics? Temp here is quite hot, 30 deg to 33 deg during the days is normal. Or could it be that the carnauba wax I used is not compatible with Meguiar's?