1999 car, products/tips to use?

[TraptPatriot]

Hey everyone, first off want to say I love the site. Always been a big fan of Meguiar's and the great people that love to make their cars look great.

What I am trying to do is compile a list of tips and products to use to make my car look good before a local car meet. I have a 1999 Buick Regal GSE, basecoat "Light Toreador Metallic", color code 345D. Very deep red, almost close to burgundy.

From what I understand, the car has never been taken care of, only washes and the like. I have owned this car for close to three years now, and have always washed it regularly, but never really got into the detailing experience. So I come to you for advice.

Here is my mock-up list of products to get and use and what stages to use them in:
1. Deep Crystal Wash
2. Smooth Clay Bar kit
3. Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
4. Ultimate Compound (As needed)
5. ScratchX 2.0 (As needed)
6. Deep Crystal Polish
7. Deep Crystal Wax

Is this list a good idea? Feel free to make changes/suggestions to the list and what stages to use them in. All of this will be used with a 10" orbital buffer and lots of pads.

Thanks! And here is a picture of my baby. No, she is not stock. =)

[BlackScreaminMachine]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

I have a 1999 Buick Regal GSE, basecoat "Light Toreador Metallic", color code 345D. Very deep red, almost close to burgundy. Cool Color, GM was good for that in 1999, MANY different one year only offered colors.

From what I understand, the car has never been taken care of, only washes and the like. I have owned this car for close to three years now, and have always washed it regularly, but never really got into the detailing experience. So I come to you for advice. (You came to the right place)

All of this will be used with a 10" orbital buffer and lots of pads. (What brand Buffer?? Also what pads?)

Here is my mock-up list of products to get and use and what stages to use them in:
1. Deep Crystal Wash
2. Smooth Clay Bar kit
3. Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
4. Ultimate Compound (As needed)
5. ScratchX 2.0 (As needed)
6. Deep Crystal Polish
7. Deep Crystal Wax

My Process:
1. Wash- Meg's Gold Class (Meg's Ult Wash/Wax for Future Washes)
2. Clay- Meg's or Mothers (make sure to break up the clay into smaller pieces) (re wash)
3. SwirlX- See if that gets most of the correction you want. Step up if needed.
4. Meg's #7 Show Car Glaze
5. Meg's NXT 2.0
6. Meg's #26 Hi-tech Yellow
7. Meg's Ultimate Quick Wax (works for final wipe down inspection and put a nice booster for rain, use after every wash).

** I will mention that depending on what buffer you have, your level of correction can certainly change. Here is a Pic of a LT1 Firebird Formula I worked on, I used basically this same exact process.

Before:



After:



Before:



After:



Misc: An example of Ult. Compound on a Friend's Nay Blue Met. 2000 Trans Am.

[Murr1525]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

1. Deep Crystal Wash
2. Smooth Clay Bar kit
3. Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
4. Ultimate Compound (As needed)
5. ScratchX 2.0 (As needed)
6. Deep Crystal Polish
7. Deep Crystal Wax

1. Wash - Quality soap, 2 buckets, Grit Guards if possible, good towels, etc.
2. Clay
3. Clean - I would plan on buying SwirlX and UC. Test spots with SwirlX, step up to UC if needed.
4. Polish - DC Polish
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0 or Gold Class+
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best

7. Maintain - UQW is good for after future washes, UQD is good for light dust, esp at the show.

[BlackScreaminMachine]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

^ Great point, I forgot about the Grit Guards. A major help in maintaing a swirl free finish.

[Chris Thompson]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

Your process looks good to me but if you are going to be going to local car meets, you might also consider getting the #7 show car glaze. It really adds a nice finish.

[BillyJack]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

From the pics, your Buick looks pretty good already! I have the same color on my DD Olds Intrigue that I use for a "test mule" on various products. That color has a lot of metallic, so if you get the clearcoat really "clear", the red really pops. My Olds was filthy when I brought it home last year, having been parked under a huge pine tree for many months without being driven. It took 2 clay jobs and a bunch of effort with small brushes in all the nooks and crannies to make it just tolerable in appearance. I agree with your process with one exception;Deep Crystal Cleaner has been discontinued for a few years, so unless you already have some, it will be difficult to find. After spot correction with stronger compounds, I used M03 with a rotary as my cleaner/polish. With a low-powered consumer orbital polisher, M80 would probably be a good choice. With regard to an LSP, my best gloss came from 2 applications of NXT, better than traditional waxes alone IMO. I've tried carnauba waxes over the NXT and it definitely added to the gloss, at least to my aged eyes. Also, I endorse the previous post about M07 as a pre-show topper over your wax/sealant of choice. It's only good for a few days or the first wash or rain, as the oils are water-soluble. Mike Phillips has referred to M07 as "Queen for a Day", since it's a popular short-term enhancement product in the show car world, and I've used it as a pre-show prep on my El Camino.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Bill

[sontakke]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

Here is another 1999; done with Meguairs Ultimate Compound and SwirlX

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

process looks good. I second the need for grit guards.

[TraptPatriot]

Re: 1999 car, products/tips to use?

Thanks for all the helpful tips, guys. Advance Auto Parts had a deal (BIG40), $40 off $100 spent. So, of course, I went all out. I was not able to get the paint cleaner or the polish, but I did get the "Show Car Glaze Polish". I think it will work better. And, Ace Hardware seems to still have some paint cleaner, will check that out tomorrow.

On a side note, where can I get grip guards or buckets with grip guards?