Is this the right approach?

[Chop]

Hi Guys,

I have been reading a lot about detailing and now I'm ready for some action. I recently got a white car that appears to have been neglected detailing wise. I started by looking for information on how to remove nasty water spots and came accross this and other sites with great info. I decided to post here since I have quite a few Meguiar's products and where else to get info than from the source.

Anyways,

I am planning on the following to get this car back to shape and to make it look its best.

1. Car Wash - DONE
2. Clay Windows/Polish windows (I tried almost everything and the spots didn't go away but the polish did the trick) --DONE
3. Clay Paint - DONE
4. Ultimate Compound
5. SwirlX
6. Wax (not sure which one yet)

So I already washed it and gave it a thourough clay but the problem is in the lower panels near the front tires where theres plenty of tar/grim that appears to be etched to the paint (as it feels smooth after claying already).
Here are some pics:
Before:

After Clay:


So my question is whether multiple passes of clay would make any difference? Or shuold I go for Ultimate Compound and/or SwirlX. I chose those two products as they are readily available where I live but if another option would help me better I can try it.

By the way I have a G110 on order and possibly coming this weekend. So my last question for now is whether I need anything else or does the G110 have everything I need DA wise, backing plate, etc (I am getting a Meguiar's foam polish and finish pads in the combo)

Your feedback would be greatly appreaciated.
Help me get the best out of this car so I can .
Well not really but you get the point.

[CieraSL]

Re: Is this the right approach?

As far as your wax of choice goes, I'd go with NXT Tech Wax 2.0. I guarantee you won't be disappointed with this winner. And as far as the etch marks go, I'd try Ultimate Compound. A couple of passes will probably do the trick. Mike Phillips would really be the one to ask. Hope this helps!

[Carfire]

Re: Is this the right approach?

[horsehaulin]

Re: Is this the right approach?

Is silicone tire dressing what causes this?

[Murr1525]

Re: Is this the right approach?

Hi Guys,

So I already washed it and gave it a thourough clay but the problem is in the lower panels near the front tires where theres plenty of tar/grim that appears to be etched to the paint (as it feels smooth after claying already).

I have had #105 pull some nice tar gunk off my paint, and Ultimate Compound is similar. I would probably use it by hand. The DA is good, but by hand you can focus your energy a bit more, with no clutch.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Is this the right approach?

The blackish looking stains on the lower quarter panel should come off with some compounding, don't use clay for this kind of thing when compound is the better product.

Stains are always hopefully topical, this way just a little rubbing with a compound, paint cleaner or cleaner/polish.

Sometimes when tire dressing slings off a tire it acts as the carrying agent to transfer the carbon black, (pigment used to make rubber black), from the surface of the tire onto the car paint.

So it's usually not the tire dressing in and of itself that is causing the stain but the carbon black, the tire dressing just was the method of transfer from tire to paint.

Hopefully the UC will remove it without too much work. Use it with a piece of terry cloth that you can throw away when done.

[Chop]

Re: Is this the right approach?

As far as your wax of choice goes, I'd go with NXT Tech Wax 2.0. I guarantee you won't be disappointed with this winner.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for my waxing.

I have had #105 pull some nice tar gunk off my paint, and Ultimate Compound is similar. I would probably use it by hand. The DA is good, but by hand you can focus your energy a bit more, with no clutch.

I'll give it a try with hand to try to remove those black spots.

The blackish looking stains on the lower quarter panel should come off with some compounding, don't use clay for this kind of thing when compound is the better product.

Stains are always hopefully topical, this way just a little rubbing with a compound, paint cleaner or cleaner/polish.

Now I know better. You shuold have seen the state of my clay bar .

Hopefully the UC will remove it without too much work. Use it with a piece of terry cloth that you can throw away when done.

So do you recommend I just do the areas with the carbon spots by hand. I think I will try that tonight. If so and If later I do the whole car via machine should I be concerned about having different levels of white (one where I only used machine and one where I used hand then machine). Or are you recommending I do the whole car by hand

Final question is the UC and SX safe for trim? I was planning on masking the black (shiny and mate) molding but I am not sure about some middle panel moldings made of plastic and chrome. You can barely see moldings in the pics.

all

[Megafast13]

Re: Is this the right approach?

Hey, feel free to use your DA on the car, it's so much easier.

You should use a terry cloth by hand in the tar/grime areas so you don't transfer that into your polishing pad and scratch other areas of the car!

If the trim you are referring to is painted, than use UC or swirlX. If it is Fake Chrome, than try some SwirlX too. But if it's simply plastic than use GC Trim Detailer

[Chop]

Re: Is this the right approach?

Well here is an update. I still don't have my G110 so I did some work by hand this weekend.

Here is the area with the carbon spots after I polished it using Ultimate Compound:



Here is a full shot including helper after some weekend work (UC and Wax by hand). Not perfect yet but all I could do with my bare hands:



And I say not perfect cuz I still have some RIDS in various spots. I'm hopping I can get rid of them once I get my G110



By the way, I was able to remove that nasty grime in between the moldings using Simple Green and a Credit Card wrapped in terry cloth.