Hi there, an detailing apprentice from norway here with some problems deciding what route to take.
The thing is the car has some swirls, especially from a t-e-f-l-o-n (why is this automaticly sencored?) coating that was done by the former owner (they must have made them with a polishing machine or something). The car has never been "hurt" by a machine washer thank god. I want to remove these, make the metallic flakes pop up while giving it a deep dark black look with the tools i have available or get some more products if necessary. The time to do this is not a concern since i can work it several days in a row if necessary
The car is a 3 door hatchback (03 honda civic type-R). The paint is Nighthawk black pearl wich is the same black that comes on the US Acura RSX Type-S. The hood is somewhat steep so it catches up alot of stone chips im afraid, looks like ill have to get it repainted or fit a carbon fibre hood instead in a year or two or else it will drive me crazy. Luckily the chips are tiny but visable to me of course.
When it comes to the finish i want it that liquid wet deep black look and i want to remove as much as i can of the swirls in the paint. Also im having problems removing all leftovers in the hood and front bumper from some bug splatters. I can almost see some spots wich looks like small smears that must be leftovers. And i dont know how "hard" i can use the washmit on them so i dont try to "rub" it off. I tried using clay but it seems hard to remove with this also.
The products i have consist of the following:
- Megs Dual Action polisher
- M83
- M80
- M07
- NXT wax
- NXT wash
- all 3 types of pads to the polisher (megs)
- bonnets for the polisher (also megs)
- Gold Class applicator pads
- Super suede drying cloth
- Deep Pile Chenille Wash Mitt
- Supreme Shine Microfiber Towels
- Even coat applicators
- ScratchX
- Bug and tar remover
- Claybar
- Trim detailer
- 2000-2500-3000 grit wetsand (only been experimenting slowly on some fender parts ive got laying around)
Also got a whole heap of products like engine degreaser, wheel/tire cleaners, metal polish and so on. Works exelent but the paint is the thing that dont give me that complete satesfaction when i take a close look. I guess im a perfectionist.
Did a workover last sunday on a orange metallic smart roaster that didnt have much swirls since it was repainted just months ago. I used wash-clay-M80-M07-NXT wax and it looked great, but i guess a black car also lets you notice the swirls more noticable. It has some darkblue and silver flakes in it, the paint on my car that is.
Im also posting some pictures to give you an idea of what om working on, i dont have any pictures of the swirlds themselves since these are more "showoff pictures" but hopefully it will inspire some feedback
Ill also post a picture i found that looks somewhat like the swirlds in my paint (same color also it seems) exept that i dont have the marring in the paint and i dont think i have any waterspots that i have noticed so far.
Links to great examples for a big workover, suggestions on what products to use, what not, what will work best and anything you find worth suggesting is greatly appreciated. I feel somewhat alone over here in Trondheim City in Norway even though there are heaps of cheap (and crappy) detailing businesses all over. I even got two offers from some bystanders when i went over the Smart to do their cars
Seems like people are willing to pay me about 200-250$, hopefully this means im not completly lost. Ill post a picture of the Smart if i can find one also.


The thing is the car has some swirls, especially from a t-e-f-l-o-n (why is this automaticly sencored?) coating that was done by the former owner (they must have made them with a polishing machine or something). The car has never been "hurt" by a machine washer thank god. I want to remove these, make the metallic flakes pop up while giving it a deep dark black look with the tools i have available or get some more products if necessary. The time to do this is not a concern since i can work it several days in a row if necessary

The car is a 3 door hatchback (03 honda civic type-R). The paint is Nighthawk black pearl wich is the same black that comes on the US Acura RSX Type-S. The hood is somewhat steep so it catches up alot of stone chips im afraid, looks like ill have to get it repainted or fit a carbon fibre hood instead in a year or two or else it will drive me crazy. Luckily the chips are tiny but visable to me of course.
When it comes to the finish i want it that liquid wet deep black look and i want to remove as much as i can of the swirls in the paint. Also im having problems removing all leftovers in the hood and front bumper from some bug splatters. I can almost see some spots wich looks like small smears that must be leftovers. And i dont know how "hard" i can use the washmit on them so i dont try to "rub" it off. I tried using clay but it seems hard to remove with this also.
The products i have consist of the following:
- Megs Dual Action polisher
- M83
- M80
- M07
- NXT wax
- NXT wash
- all 3 types of pads to the polisher (megs)
- bonnets for the polisher (also megs)
- Gold Class applicator pads
- Super suede drying cloth
- Deep Pile Chenille Wash Mitt
- Supreme Shine Microfiber Towels
- Even coat applicators
- ScratchX
- Bug and tar remover
- Claybar
- Trim detailer
- 2000-2500-3000 grit wetsand (only been experimenting slowly on some fender parts ive got laying around)
Also got a whole heap of products like engine degreaser, wheel/tire cleaners, metal polish and so on. Works exelent but the paint is the thing that dont give me that complete satesfaction when i take a close look. I guess im a perfectionist.
Did a workover last sunday on a orange metallic smart roaster that didnt have much swirls since it was repainted just months ago. I used wash-clay-M80-M07-NXT wax and it looked great, but i guess a black car also lets you notice the swirls more noticable. It has some darkblue and silver flakes in it, the paint on my car that is.
Im also posting some pictures to give you an idea of what om working on, i dont have any pictures of the swirlds themselves since these are more "showoff pictures" but hopefully it will inspire some feedback

Ill also post a picture i found that looks somewhat like the swirlds in my paint (same color also it seems) exept that i dont have the marring in the paint and i dont think i have any waterspots that i have noticed so far.
Links to great examples for a big workover, suggestions on what products to use, what not, what will work best and anything you find worth suggesting is greatly appreciated. I feel somewhat alone over here in Trondheim City in Norway even though there are heaps of cheap (and crappy) detailing businesses all over. I even got two offers from some bystanders when i went over the Smart to do their cars



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