New Car?

[Rico]

Soon I'll bring home a new 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet, convertible. Currently the car is still on the boat. What immediate actions should I take, to protect & beautfi?

1. I use the two bucket method w/grit guard for washing + soft H2O.

2. I did take the Saturday class, I have the dual action polisher

3. I have many Meguiar products.

What steps & products do you recommend?

Is "Deep Crystal" car wash Ok for convertible soft top?

What do you use for 'blue tape' residual removing?

Thanks
Rico

ps I searched "new car" & did not find specific infor

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car?

1. DO NOT LET THE DEALER TOUCH IT.

2. Wash is good, probably will need clayed.

3. Assuming there are no defect, just a cleaner/wax and a wax would be good. You can always do more if you like.

Q. Yes, the soap will be ok for the top. Do you seem to get a lot of blue tape residue with the 3M tape? But a QD should be fine.

[searle]

Re: New Car?

As above, dont let dealer "detail" it (or even wash it), just bring it home
- good hand wash required, and clay almost certainly

Unsure that you should need any cleaner.

On my new car I then gave it a coat of M07 glaze to ensure that deep "wet-look". Am unsure if it actually helps new paint, but M07 (or DC2) glaze certainly never hurts.

Finally 2 coats of NXT-2.0

Then, bring out a folkding chair and just sit and admire it for an hour or two

[Michael Stoops]

Re: New Car?

1. DO NOT LET THE DEALER TOUCH IT.

There, fixed that first part for you.

Since you've been to a Saturday Class you know how to evaluate the paint once the car has been washed, so bring it home, give it a good wash with either Deep Crystal or Gold Class (with this beautiful new car now is the time to step up to Gold Class Shampoo) then dry it completely. Now is the time to evaluate the finish.

Run your clean, dry, bare hand over the surface - if it feels rough then clay it. If it's completely smooth then claying isn't going to do anything for you. Audi tends to wrap their cars pretty completely so bonded contaminants may not be an issue at all for you.

Next comes a careful visual inspection under strong light - direct sunlight is good. You're looking for swirls, fine scratches and other below surface defects. If you detect any then a paint cleaner is called for, whether that means the whole car needs it or you just have some spot repair to deal with. Since you have a G110 you might want to go over it with SwirlX just to sort of clarify the finish and really bring up the gloss, or if you prefer using the Mirror Glaze line give it a once over with M205. When used with a finishing pad on the G110 at a moderate speed and with only light to moderate pressure, M205 is extremely gentle but the SMAT technology in it will go a long way to increasing clarity to the finish.

Once you've got the finish to your satisfaction go ahead and wax it. The paint will be fully cured by the time it completes the ocean voyage and is in your garage. Again, with a fresh finishing pad on the G110 run at speed 3 and lay down a thin, uniform coat of NXT Tech Wax 2.0, M21 Synthetic Sealant or any other wax/sealant you like, let it dry fully and wipe off with a clean microfiber towel.

Then drop the top and take that beauty for a nice drive along the coast!!

[Rico]

Re: New Car?

Hi Guys,

i would have never thought about, not having the dealer prep the car! So before it arrives, I should tell sales, not to touch the exterior, right? I guess your all in agreement, as the dealer surely won't use, the two bucket method? Where the dealer becomes swirl maker #1.

Ok!
1. Filthy from dealer two bucket wash
2. Clay depends on smooth hand on finish test
3. M-205, G110 speed 4 - 5
4. Next Tech Wax 2.0 G110 speed 3.0, dry, mico-fiber
5. Blue tape residue, what is QD???

Perhaps I should allow 'Dealer' to remove protective plastic, but not wash? I remember seeing a new EOS Lux, with allot of leftover plastic, in awkward places. If i find remnants, where plastic adhered, for transportation, what do you think for removal?

Hurry Up boat, I'm way to excited

Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving
Rico

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: New Car?

At all costs, Do not let the dealer touch it.

Enjoy your new car.

[searle]

Re: New Car?

probably have dealer remove the protection plastic - they will probably insist on that anyway to ensure reasonable visual inspection of the car.

After the was+clay+cleaner, I personally cannot resist a coat of M07 or DC2 glaze. I know it may not make a real difference on a new car, but I love the meguiars polish and use it twice a year during my spring+fall detailing, as well as on my brand new car. And, probably just me, but I think a glaze adds extra depth and wet-look even to new paint.

Let us know how it all comes out - I am sure you will be delighted.

[searle]

Re: New Car?

and, dont forget pictures :-)

[paulcr39]

Re: New Car?

Hi Guys,


5. Blue tape residue, what is QD???


Rico

QD = Quik Detailer

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car?

The plastic is just like a cling film usually, not too adhesive. But you can have them remove it.

[Rico]

Re: New Car?

Hi Guys,

Happy ThanksGiving,

Spoke to the dealer, & no plastic protestant is used for shipping, Audi uses a white cloth that covers the entire car, factory to dealer. I've still advised them not to wash.

Spoke to Meguiar's customer support, they advised not using M205 (i did not mention this post) they advised M07 which has no abrasives, followed by Next Tech 2 wax.

Take Care
Rico

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car?

#7 also has no cleaning ability. You can make an argument either way about how to do a first detail on a new car.

Your will be pretty clean probably.

If the car sits out on a lot for a while, lots of transport uncovered, etc, it can easily get covered in pretty heavy grime to clean clay and clean off.

I am not sure how well the white cloth works, hopefully it does a good job.

There would be nothing wrong with clay, #7, and a wax, or clay, a cleaner/wax, and a wax, etc. I always like to at least have a mild cleaner just to be sure the surface is perfect, but thats just me.

[searle]

Re: New Car?

^ +1

wash, clay, optional MILD cleaner, M07 or DC2 glaze, wax, then 2nd wax.

[FIREBOY]

Re: New Car?

Soon I'll bring home a new 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet, convertible. Currently the car is still on the boat. What immediate actions should I take, to protect & beautfi?

1. I use the two bucket method w/grit guard for washing + soft H2O.

2. I did take the Saturday class, I have the dual action polisher

3. I have many Meguiar products.

What steps & products do you recommend?

Is "Deep Crystal" car wash Ok for convertible soft top?

What do you use for 'blue tape' residual removing?

Thanks
Rico

ps I searched "new car" & did not find specific infor

Good luck with your new car

[kimchiyuk]

Re: New Car?

Hi there, I am a tech at a Ford dealership. I have watched the prep guy "detail" cars many times and it is SCARY. I'm not saying all dealerships do it this way but this is how the one I work at does it.
First off he uses the same water and dish soap day after day...looks black it gets so bad sometimes! He uses one of those hand held brushes(cheapos from the dollar store) for the tires, body, wheel wells...just imagine the gunk on that brush.
Then IF the vehicle is waxed, it is a quick once over, and removed with old flannel shirts. I have seen 65K dollar vehicles go out the door with what looks like years of swirl marks! NOW DO YOU WANT THE DEALER TOUCHING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!