how does this sound? ( my detailing process)

[james0509]

( not including interior! )

1. wash (including wheels + tires)
2. dry
3. clay ( if needed)
4. DC1
5. M07
6. NXT


hows the combination, I was thinking of maybe replacing step 5 with COLORX but colorX sort of has the same purpose as DC1.

[the_invisible]

Re: how does this sound? ( my detailing process)

Allow me, if I may, to make a suggestion.

I usually clay my car immediately after a wash, without drying. Simply sheet off the water on your car by running a stream of flowing water straight from the garden hose. That seems to work with some people.

Also, you may want to wash the vehicle after the claying process to remove clay residue and lubrication from the paint surface. The lubricating properties, I heard, hinder the correcting power of the paint cleaner to be used. Some of the pros may disagree, but that's just what I've heard.

Generally, your choice of using DC-1 and M07 is good. But unfortunately it is not suitable for the car you will be working on. Depending on the severity of the defects on your vehicle, DC-1, I am afraid, may not have much correcting ability on your paint. I have just spent 12 hours removing swirls from my BMW using a wool pad and a rotary (that does not include the 2 hours spent on feathersanding the RIDS). I am sure your CLK has paint that is just as hard.

If you decide to use a more aggressive compound like UC or M105 for paint correction, then you will have to follow-up the process with a lighter cleaner polish to refine the finish. Also, I have the habbit of wiping down the entire vehicle using diluted rubbing alcohol after the I have buffed the vehicle using a compound. This removes any abrasives and buffing oil from the paint, allowing the cleaner polish to glide smoothly over the clean surface. Wiping down the car with diluted alcohol also allows you to inspect for defects that still remain on the surface.

Even though ColorX is a cleaner wax, it probably doesn't have enough cutting power to correct any of the larger and deeper defects on your CLK. You could probably remove some moderate defects using ColorX with a foam cutting pad, but that defeats the purpose of using a cleaner wax, in my opinion.

[james0509]

Re: how does this sound? ( my detailing process)

thanks invisible! always there to guide my detailing bloopers!
Dang the hard paint, guess I'll need to add a little more muscle products to my collection

[Ganesa]

Re: how does this sound? ( my detailing process)

yup guess the best option for you is to get a DA G110, with UC+SwirlsX or/plus M105+M205

The process:
1.Wash
2.Clay
3.Clean using the combo of UC+/SwirlX or M105+/M205 (start with the least aggresive product)
4.Wax - NXT 2.0
5.UQW (optional if you are really car crazy ;])
6.Hot Shine/Endurance on the Tires