My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

[simo87]

hello guys!

First I will apologize for my bad English ...


Then, I present myself: My name is Simon and I write from Italy! I have a Mitsubishi Colt (3 door) 2006 black (not metalizzed).

Unfortunately, the car body is opaque, and full of swirls and scratches.

For this reason, I thought of buying Meguiars various products to improve the situation.

First I thought the "Meguiars NXT Generation Car Wash" to wash it thoroughly.

Then suddenly the claybar. Then I will use scratch-x 2.0 to remove all scratches and swirl.

At this point, what you advise me to use between treatment with the scratch and application of wax (NXT Generation Tech Wax)??

on some forum someone advised me the Deep Crystal System Polish, others ColorX, still others the Ultimate Compound.

What do you think?

thanks for the reply

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

I forgot to say that everything will be done by hand

[William_F]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

Welcome to MOL

Any polish after the Scratch X would be a good idea.

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

thanks!

in particular, what do you recommend to me among the 3 products I've said before?

[Murr1525]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

Have you seen any SwirLX or Ultimate Compound in the stores also?

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

swirlx pheraps is too little abrasive for the situation of my car

I will order everything in online shops

[Murr1525]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

If you think you will be keeping detailing the car a lot in the future, I might consider going with SwirLl and Ultimate Compound in your order. That way you have a general cleaner for the future, and then UC to make sure those swirls go away.

However, starting with ScratchX would not be bad, and then following up with the DC polish and 2 coats of Nxt 2.0. Hopefully you get good swirl removal with that, and wont need any stronger products.

And again, if you think you will be keeping up with some detailing, ColorX + Nxt wax is a very fast and nice detail.

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

If you think you will be keeping detailing the car a lot in the future, I might consider going with SwirLl and Ultimate Compound in your order. That way you have a general cleaner for the future, and then UC to make sure those swirls go away.

However, starting with ScratchX would not be bad, and then following up with the DC polish and 2 coats of Nxt 2.0. Hopefully you get good swirl removal with that, and wont need any stronger products.

And again, if you think you will be keeping up with some detailing, ColorX + Nxt wax is a very fast and nice detail.

Whereas I'm going to rinse thoroughly (so follow all steps) at least 1-2 times every 2-3 months (the other times I will make a faster treatments), which of the options that you have advised me, you consider the best?

[Murr1525]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

So many options.....

The fastest detail with no swirl removal will be:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Nxt 2.0

And then:
1. Wash
2. Ultimate Quick Wax

for your regular wash.

The swirl removal gets a bit trickier, since it ***** to buy a million products just to try things. Is there any chance of pictures of the surface? I just have a feeling you may end up going with Ultimate Compound if it is as bad as you describe.

[Andrew C.]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

I'd suggest going ahead with using Ultimate Compound, then follow that with Swirl X and then NXT 2.0. Since your swirls should be removed at this point, you can maintain your car by using good wash technique and not putting more swirls back into your car. You can go ahead and apply Color X (just to get a little cleaning power in there) followed by NXT 2.0 every 2-3 months.

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

thanks for the info.
I see if in the next days I can take photos of the surface.

Also I was inquiring about the products in the professional line: in particular the products M105, M205 and M21. According to you they are better? they can be applied by hand, as the products in the consumer line?

[Murr1525]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

#105 is a bit stronger than Ultimate Compound, and is a nice product.

By hand, I would probably pick SwirlX over #205.

#21 2.0 and Nxt 2.0 are pretty similar.

[simo87]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

ok. thanks.

tomorrow I see if I can take photos of the surface.
so you better advise me on what products to use (I am very confused, because there are very many products, and I would like to make a single purchase)

[Murr1525]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

It is cheaper here to buy a few things to play with.... overseas, it is nice to get it right the fisrt time.

[searle]

Re: My first car detailing...questions, suggestions, opinions

Just to clarify what others have already said, SwirlX may remove your swirls. If not, then ScratchX-2.0 is more aggressive and might be needed. If that is not successful, then Ultimate Compound is the most aggressive (but still suitable for consumer use). Start with the least aggressive and only move up if the defects cannot be removed. If, for example, ScratchX works then you would not follow with UltimateCompound since it is not required. You can always finish-up will a milder cleaner (for example SwirlX after UltimateCompound to totally finish any micro swirls remaining). After defect removal, many folks apply a glaze (DC2 or M07) if the cleaner does not already include some glaze (for example SwirlX does include glaze). Then seal/wax.

For "minor-details" you can use ColorX as an All-In-One (cleaner+glaze+wax), and would not follow it with any other cleaner or glaze, but could possibly top it with another wax (say NXT) if you really wanted to.

All the above consumer products have equivalents in the professional line, and there are even more options there. The professional products are not necessarily "better", just typically optimized for fast/volume work.

Make sense?