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Help with a once beautiful black car.

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  • Help with a once beautiful black car.

    I bought my car back in September. It had a new Ambassador paint job from Maaco. Back then I wasn't too knowledgeable about paint and how to care properly for a car. I was still using Turtle Wash & Wax to clean my vehicles. So when I got this car I decided to get serious. Little did I know that my first black car would be the most difficult to maintain. I made an error by using a low quality sponge to wash the car and as a result it is covered in fine scratches. Even after I learned my lesson I continued to go without the two bucket system for a number of months. As a result my car went from this..

    (You can click any thumbnail to make it much larger)





    to this..






    It is like this all over the car. I took these not 30 minutes ago right after drying the car off with microfiber towels and washing it with Gold Class. Before the winter began I purchased some Meguiar's products to protect the paint from the harsh Utah salt. I did not apply any treatments until after the 60 day window after the car was painted.



    Now that spring is around the corner I want my car to shine like a black diamond in the sun. I need your help. The lineup of products that I pictured is what I plan on using, and in that order, from left to right. What do I need to remove my fine swirls and my horrible hard water marks? I was planning on investing on a DA Polisher. But what products would I use it with? How would I use it? Can I save my paint or should I just buy another paint job and start again from scratch. Thank you for any and all advice.

  • #2
    Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

    Your swirls don't look too deep.

    Your Step System shown in the picture is perfect, once you have removed the swirls/scratches from your paint.

    Before investing into a DA (which are great) I suggest you try the new lineup of Meguiar's Products: Ultimate Compound & SwirlX. Apply these by hand using a applicator pad and you should get excellent results. Afterward of course apply your NXT 2.0. Then down the road use the DC steps + NXT.

    You Definitely need 2 Buckets, Microfiber Wash Mitt, Grit Guard, and high quality Microfiber Drying Towels if you want to be serious.

    It sounds like your paint is new, but put your hand in a plastic bag and touch the surface, if it feels ruff, purchase Meg's Smooth Surface Clay Kit and use it before the Ultimate Compound.






    1. Wash
    2. Clay (If needed) w/Quik Detailer
    3. Ultimate Compound
    4. SwirlX
    5. NXT 2.0
    6. Quik Detailer

    After Paint Correction:

    1. Wash
    2. DC Paint Cleaner Step 1
    3. DC Pure Polish Step2
    4. NXT 2.0 (2 thin coats)
    5. Quik Detailer

    *Before using the Ultimate Compound and SwirlX be sure to do a TEST SPOT on a small area to see your results before using it on the entire vehicle.
    Matt

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    • #3
      Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

      Great, thank you so much for your help. I am wondering, after I washed my car and it still had those hard water spots I attempted to take the QD to it and remove them but only after a generous amount of elbow grease did I get them off in one spot. Will the ultimate compound take these out as well? Thank you.

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      • #4
        Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

        Oh yeah . It should easily remove them. Quik Detailer is made to remove light dust and dirt. I suggest not to use "elbow grease" with it. DC step 1 should remove them as well.
        Matt

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        • #5
          Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

          Excellent, you've made me very excited to clean up my car come a nice sunny day. Thank you again.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

            Post some Pics when your done

            Glad I could help out!

            As long as your pictures are reasonably sized, you don't have to make them thumbnails, it will just be more work for the viewer
            Matt

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

              By all means get yourself a dual-action polisher, Joe. It will make your job so much easier. We black car owners need all the help we can get!
              Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
              --Al Kimel

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              • #8
                Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

                Would I be able to use the exact same products with the DA or would I want to step up to the professional line of products? Which pads would you recommend for use with the consumer products if it were desirable to use the DA with them?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Help with a once beautiful black car.

                  Originally posted by Joe Cool View Post
                  Would I be able to use the exact same products with the DA or would I want to step up to the professional line of products? Which pads would you recommend for use with the consumer products if it were desirable to use the DA with them?
                  Yes, the consumer-line products are formulated for us with D/A polisher.

                  You need several polishing pads (a minimum of three but six would be better). Use the polishing pads with SwirlX and Ultimate Compound. You would also use a polishing pad to apply DC1 Paint Cleaner, though many apply it by hand.

                  Use the finishing pads to apply waxes and pure polishes (e.g., DC2). I'd get two finishing pads.

                  The D/A will save you a lot of time and energy and will do a much better than you an accomplish by hand polishing alone.
                  Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
                  --Al Kimel

                  Comment

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