Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

[razingkane]

October 2009 I followed Meguiar's 5 step process. Aside from monthly washings I've not done any detail work. Well it's April and the local BMW club is starting it's 3 session fun time.

How do I tell when it's time for the 5 step process again? If it's not time now, do I just continue the maintain process or what?

[Murr1525]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

Do it when you feel like it..... Or you can do a quicker version with some cleaner/wax, etc. Just do what you feel you want to do.

But if you did the full detail before, you should have noted how the paint felt, and how the water ran off when you washed, and how the UQD/UQW, etc applied if you used any. When the water isn't sheeting off as well, and the spray products are harder to apply, don't spread as far, its usually a sign that things are wearing off.

[razingkane]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

Do it when you feel like it..... Or you can do a quicker version with some cleaner/wax, etc. Just do what you feel you want to do.

But if you did the full detail before, you should have noted how the paint felt, and how the water ran off when you washed, and how the UQD/UQW, etc applied if you used any. When the water isn't sheeting off as well, and the spray products are harder to apply, don't spread as far, its usually a sign that things are wearing off.

Water still sheets quite nicely and the quick detail goes on and off pretty much as it has for the last 5 months. So I'll wait on the 5 step and keep doing what I'm doing.

[akimel]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

FWIW, the majority of the MOL members prefer to clean the paint at least every six months. I suspect that full details are common in spring and fall.

But as Mat says, do what you want to do. If the paint doesn't need claying, e.g., don't clay. Just keep maintaining until such time as you feel your car needs the full 5-step process again.

You might think about adopting a maintenance program like the one described in this article: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen. This will keep things simple, workable, and effective.

[Murr1525]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

Something like UQW after washing will help even more.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

The 5 Step Paint Care Cycle talks about evaluating the surface to determine what needs to be done, what products to use, etc.

So... wash and dry the car thoroughly and then visually inspect it in direct sunlight or with some other source of strong light - halogens, a Brinkman "swirl finder" light, or similar. If you don't see any swirl marks, etchings from bird droppings, stains maybe from leaves that sat on the paint while wet, random little scuffs and scratches, then you don't really need to use an aggressive paint cleaner to correct these issues. Or maybe you only need to address the odd bump, scuff, scrape or scratch. If that's the case, then maybe just spot correcting with ScratchX 2.0 will be sufficient.

Next you want to run your bare hand over the surface, palm down, fingertips in contact with the paint. How does it feel? Smooth as glass or a little bumpy? If it feels bumpy you've got bonded surface contaminants and clay is the best way to remove them. If it's smooth as glass then there's nothing to gain from claying. Maybe it's only rough to the touch on the horizontal surfaces - just clay those.

Bottom line: evaluate the finish and do what's needed to correct what you find. If there are no swirls then you don't need to spend 5 hours with a G110v2 and Ultimate Compound to remove them. If the paint is smooth as glass then you don't need to bother with clay. But if you think maybe the paint just doesn't quite "pop" like you think it should, then maybe going over it with SwirlX or M205 will help to remedy that.

Regardless of any of the above variables, it most likely is time for at least a fresh coat of wax if the last application was back in October.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

I would err on the side of caution. Surviving a Colorado winter, I would lean toward doing a complete detail. More along the line of thinking like Al stated.

[Murr1525]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

I was thinking it would probably be garaged, but never know...

[Cat]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

I did a full detail in the fall around the early part of October. Our first car show is this Saturday so I am off the next two days from work as I will hit the garage in the morning for another full detailing. Our winter here was really bad and the car is in bad need of a full Meguiars detailing.

Cat :x

[razingkane]

Re: Springtime, when do I do Meguiar's 5 step process again?

I would err on the side of caution. Surviving a Colorado winter, I would lean toward doing a complete detail. More along the line of thinking like Al stated.

Wow....lots of input. I just washed the car this evening because there was a BMW club meeting at a local Sonic. I think my son and I are gonna do a 5 step this weekend. The car was driven from Colorado Springs to San Diego in December and out to Vegas in April not to mention the winter driving. The nice thing is the car is small, it takes little time to go from one end to another and there's no roof.

This will also put me on a Spring detail for the summertime driving session and a fall detail for winter pain.