Will I get good resutl with the consumer line products?

[bigjason]

Let say I bought the three steps stuff off WalMart, and use it as direction, will I get result as good as the profession line? What's the main difference between consumer or professional products?

[Beercan31]

The 3 steps stuff you mention I assume is the Deep Crystal System.

Yes you should get as the same results as the professional line, The difference being the professional line does not contain silicone.

[rusty bumper]

As Rich said, you will get good results with the consumer line, but the pro line is much more flexible, and is geared to provide outstanding results for different kinds of paint.

Me personally, I think that I get better results with the pro line than I used to get with the consumer line....But either one will make for an eye catching finish to be sure.

[grover]

Here is a link to a thread about the job I did with the Deep Crystal System:

Sebring Makeover

I was astonished at how well the 3 step method worked. I've been trying to figure out the pro line, so many numbers and different products. I figured if the Deep Crystal systme worked that well the first time, why not use it all the time? It has amazing results and takes a lot of the guess work out which products should I use.

The only thing I will add to the 3 step method is that next time I will use clay bar on the car before the paint cleaner.

Hope this helps.

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally posted by grover
I've been trying to figure out the pro line, so many numbers and different products.

Me, too. Mike Phillips has said that there needs to be more help in this area, and I think he's trying to figure out the best way to do it, as time permits. I recently had a revelation in understanding the inter-relationship between all the products, you can take a look at it at the end of this thread: http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...threadid=1556. (I may be the only one that understands this, I did it at 3AM)

However, to get back to Bigjason's questions, you can certainly get great results with the Consumer line. The Deep Crystal trio should be fine, you might have to substitute a more aggressive cleaner depending on the condition of your paint, or local defects (ScratchX).

[Acuracl99]

As long as your finish is pretty swirl free the DC system looks awesome. It dosent do much for swirls though so a nice app of scratchX to remove some swirls followed by the 3 step system will give you very nice results! Surface prep is key

[gb387]

I too have had good luck with the Deep Crystal System, that is where I started a few years ago. When you get use to using it and understand what each step does start moving over to the pro line.


Something like this:
DC#1
DC#2
#26 Hi-Tech wax (inplace of the DC#3)

Then sometime later:
DC#1
#81 Hand polish (inplace of the DC#2)
#26 Hi-Tech wax (inplace of the DC#3)


The combos are endless but if you play with some of the products a little and talk to MOL member you will find the combo that you like best.

I have seen better results from the pro line. But the Deep Crystal line is a great place to start and if you only use the DC line you will be happy and it will always perform well.

[Setec Astronomy]

gb387, what do you like for a cleaner in place of the DC1?

[gb387]

Originally posted by Setec Astronomy
gb387, what do you like for a cleaner in place of the DC1?

I have not change my cleaner yet that is next on the list. I have been thinking and I might just stick with the DC Cleaner. I wax my truck about every 2-3 months and the DC#1 has always performed well and its gentle enough to use over and over.

From time to time I will use some #9 2.0 swirl remover as my first step then move on to the #81 then NXT or #26

[scottlee]

this is a real vrappy pic, but i think you can sort of see the results of DC 1,2,3 i have a dig cam now and willupload new pics soon,
( after the next detail)

[Mosca]

I think that ANY Meguiar's product, consumer or professional, will produce the advertised results when used in accordance with the instructions... AND applied to the proper job.

In the consumer line, what often happens is that someone will either let their car go for a couple years, or buy a car that has been somewhat neglected.

What's the first thing you do when you buy a used car? You wax it, of course. So Joe Consumer really wants to do it right, and he gets the 3 step, because 3 is better than one!

But, JC is expecting to remove years of oxidation. JC is expecting to remove years of swirls. JC spends hours working over the swirls and etch marks with Step 1.

And JC is disappointed in the results.

But, it's not the product that is at fault, and it's not really JC, either. It's that the product was used in a situation that it wasn't made for.

The Pro line has a much wider range of products that will work on a much wider range of defects. Many of the pro products are designed to be used with additional tools, like the rotary and d/a.

So the answer is, the consumer line products match up very well with their pro line counterparts; the Cleaner Wax is about as good as #6, and ColorX is better. Step 2 is very similar to #81. Step 3 is like a liquid #16 in many ways. Step 1 and ScratchX work about the same as #82 and #9. Sure, there are differences, but they are minor.

But the pro line has so many products that cover a wider range than the consumer line does. #83, for swirl removal. The power cleaners, #s 4, 84, and 85. And the specialty products that offer better quality at a slightly higher price; #00 and #62 car washes. #26, for a really deep glow. #7 for the ultimate in wet. #40. #20. MPPC.

So, my answer is that usung the consumer line is analogous to doing a tuneup. You can do plugs and wires in the driveway. But, if you need a timing belt, changing plugs and wires won't help. You need more tools and more knowledge.


Tom

[scottlee]

well said, point taken.

[rusty bumper]

Good writeup Tom.