New Car Paranoid

[pr3lud3]

New to forums please forgive me if I am posting a question already answered. Last year I purchased a new motorcycle, Raven R6 ( black on black ) I waxed it with meg. 3rd step liquid carnuba wax ( the stuff that smells like bananas ) Sorry I am new to forum. Well to make a long story short I am now faced with a new problem. I lust bought my first new car 2007 Honda Fit ( black ) when I waxed my bike for the first time I noticed hairline scratches from waxing. I used microfiber application pads and microfiber clothes to remove wax. What my concern is the surface area on the car is a lot greater ( ie. the hood ) and I do not wanna end up with the same problems on the car. Yes the bike looks good but little flaws on the tail bother me and I know I caused them even though I though I was cautious. I never wanna see the same thing happen to my new car and I am willing to take extra time to get it right. Please Help thank you!!

[pr3lud3]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Also I have only had the car for about 4 days and I am really looking forward to getting it protected as soon as possible.

[bronxon]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Hello,

Congratulations. Enjoy your new car!!

I think you dont have to polish your car (deep crystal system polish), if it is a new car I would.

1. Wash and may be clay
2. Use NXT wax o Gold class wax.

If you decide to use DC polish , get sure to work in small sections and remove inmediatly. And then wax it.

The first mistake I made with my car was to wait until the polish dry, it was a nigthmare=)

You should visit the link http://www.meguiars.com/rx/rx_main.asp , there are very good tips.

Please share photos when you are done !!

[the other pc]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Hi pr3lud3, to MOL!

If waxing gave you swirls there must have been something in the process that did it. It certainly wasn’t the step3 Deep Crystal Wax so it must have been something else. Maybe some residual dirt hadn’t been completely washed off, maybe it was your wash mitt/sponge/brush/whatever, maybe the towels or applicators did it (not all microfibers are created equal) or maybe it’s just that the paint on your bike is supremely sensitive. You’ll have to experiment to figure it out.

There’s almost zero chance the paint on the car is the same paint as on the bike. Whether it’s less sensitive, more sensitive or whatever is unknown until you give it a try.

I would do some experiments on inconspicuous areas of both vehicles to dial in a process.


PC.

[TrufflePig]

Re: New Car Paranoid

did you totally clay your car first.

if you said it happened in the waxing process it might not have been totally clean of any contaminants. and you have a black car that sounds like its scrath sensitive.

M66 works good for these types of conditions.

[HagFan]

Re: New Car Paranoid

I'm a newbie too, but I would clay it first.

I just did my new Civic Si (2 months old) and I first washed it per conventional wisdom here-- that is 2 buckets, grit guard, NXT wash and a terry cloth washing sponge. Next, I clayed it because, even though it's new, I used the plastic baggie test and could feel some roughness. It seemed mild, but after clay I could feel a signficant difference.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't all soft material bonded ot the finish and some of it would have come off during waxing or polishing and caused some slight amount of swirling.

Then I used New Car Glaze #5 followed by #21. All by hand, this time only. DAP next time.

[pr3lud3]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Sorry it has taken me a few days to get back to the forum and read the replies. My project has been stopped because in Cleveland we got A LOT of snow over the weekend ( if you haven't heard the Indians are not playing in their stadium because of it ) and has kept me from being able to take care of the car. I have never clayed a car before and I wouldn't even know the process. If you clay a car and then keep it waxed regularly, do you have to clay again? Thank you for all the great replies

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Claying is really easy. Just spray the panel with Quick Detailer, slide the clay back and forth until smooth, dry the QD, and move on.

As far as how often to clay, it depends. Depending on what kind of environment you are in, you may need to clay monthly, or you may need to clay 4 times a year, twice a tear, etc. The big thing is to get the surface perfect now, and you will know what smooth paint feels like. Then, as time goes on, you will be able to tell what the paint feels like, and when it is time to reclay, etc.

[pr3lud3]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Ok so I have visited multiple auto parts stores and I am trying to compile the right tools for the job.

1 - megs gold premium car wash
2 - I can only find the smooth surface clay kit ( good, bad, is there a better kit? )
3 - Looking for pure polishes not a cleaner/polish. cant seem to find any ( #5 or #7 ??? )
4 - I have used deep crystal Carnuba before, looking at Gold Glass liquid or NXT I know Synthetic or not is the question but any suggestions
5 - And when it comes to QD I have bottles of that stuff nothing works better for getting bugs off the front of a freshly waxed bike

So is this the right choices or are there better ones to follow the five step process, also 2 coats of polish? good idea or a bad idea? I will definately put on 2-3 coats of wax. Thanks again

[TrufflePig]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Ok so I have visited multiple auto parts stores and I am trying to compile the right tools for the job.

1 - megs gold premium car wash
2 - I can only find the smooth surface clay kit ( good, bad, is there a better kit? )
3 - Looking for pure polishes not a cleaner/polish. cant seem to find any ( #5 or #7 ??? )
4 - I have used deep crystal Carnuba before, looking at Gold Glass liquid or NXT I know Synthetic or not is the question but any suggestions
5 - And when it comes to QD I have bottles of that stuff nothing works better for getting bugs off the front of a freshly waxed bike

So is this the right choices or are there better ones to follow the five step process, also 2 coats of polish? good idea or a bad idea? I will definately put on 2-3 coats of wax. Thanks again

1. Meguiars Gold Premium Car Wash is good. will do the job. I like NXT but they both work really well.

2. The Smooth Surface Clay Kit is actually better because it comes with a Supreme Shine Microfibre. They both contain the same clay just one comes with an MF and the other doesn't so its a bonus to you.

3. can you get DC2 at all. no luck on #7 eh. that's usually a stock item in a lot of stores. have you checked Napa or AutoZone. you should be able to find it no worries down in the US. hmmm weird.

4. NXT works awesome. two coats as your LSP and you're set. very good durability and nice reflection and shine to it. goes on easy and comes off easy.

all the best.

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Paranoid

The one thing you are missing in a cleaner. Not sure if you are avoiding one for some reason, but Deep Crystal #1 Cleaner is very mild and very easy to use.

It would be used after the clay and before the pure polish.

Deep Crystal #2 is a fine choice for a pure polish, you should be able to find that.

Here are some pics:

Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner



Deep Crystal Polish



If you really cant find either of them, then a cleaner/wax would be fine as well. ColorX is my favorite, but the regular cleaner/wax would work also.

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Cleaner/wax
4. Coat of Nxt, etc.

ColorX



Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax



You only need one coat of polish and 2 coats of wax.

Remember to use 2 buckets when washing, plus a third/change water after wheels.

Good Luck...

[pr3lud3]

Re: New Car Paranoid

I was avoiding a cleaner because the car is new and I figured the clay would take care of that. Should I use a cleaner? Also all of this will be done by hand I do not have a buffer.

[pr3lud3]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Also Grit guard where can you get those? Also after scouring through these forums for a lot of USEFULL information I am feeling like a moron that thought he knew how to take care of a car, any suggestions for glass & tire shine?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Clay and cleaners do two different things. Clay remove stuff like rail dust, break dust, sap, small bits of tar, etc that are actualy sitting on the paint surface. A mild cleaner is going to remove dirt that has accumulated down in the pores/irregularities of the paint surface.

Being that it is a new car and no swirls, a nice mild and easy to use cleaner will be fine.

For you, you will pretty much be applying the product, working in a little ,and removing, so 1 coat of cleaner and 1 of polish will take about as long as the 2 coats of polish you were imagining needing.

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Paranoid

Pretty much online is the only place... Autodetailingsolutions.com is a good source for that and Meguiars stuff. Or just gritguard.com.

The feeling dumb will go away quickly... esp once you see results.