New to Detailing..Help

[MBenz94]

Hi, I am completely new to detailing. I been washing my car for 7 years and just found out recently that i had been doing it all wrong. No two bucket system, no sponge, only a cotton cloths for washing and drying. I waxed the car sometimes (once a year seems reasonable to say).

So the car had swirls all over. Most i would say are minor but some places, there are a lot. Also, there are scratches, caused by regular driving i guess. And to top it all off i believe there are very very small dots of tree sap sticking to the car. Also, there is some left over chewing gum left by a very nice college student and the glue remains of the dealer's sticker on the back.

From looking on the Meguiar's website and watching the how-to guides i have learned the following.
1) wash the car with a mitt, and dry with a chamois
2) clay bar the entire car using the clay kit
3) part that i am not sure what to do. So as i have stated there are many swirls and scratches (all mostly minor). I am not sure if i should use the Ultimate Compound or just the Ultimate Polish? do i have to use the Ultimate Compound in order to get rid majority of the exterior problems or just using the Ultimate polish get the job done?
4) i got the Ultimate Wax. How often do i need to wax?
5) Do i really need the quik detailer if i wash my car every other week or so?

Another question i have is about waxing. The website says to wax 3-4 times a year. Lets say i wax the car, and next time when i wash it with Armor All Wash and Wax, wouldn't the previous wax be taken off? or will stay.

and today i got the Quik Interior Detailer and cleaned the interior completely. Is this enough or do i need to get something else for the interior to go with the QID? i never cleaned the interior before... just used leather wipes on the seats

Thank You in advance and i hope to learn a lot from everyone

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

Oh and i forgot to mention that it is a 2005 MB C230 Kompressor with Black Exterior and Interior.

[ricadodetail]

Claying is very simple but crucial to ur car. Follow the intructions of the kit.
The way i do it is by taking the clay bay try and get it to fit my palm then wet it u can use water only. I use filtered water just to be safer. Or detailing spray. Wet the spot that you are claying. Try and do this in the shade. Works in sections to get all the dirt out right. I clay my car everytime you are going to wax it that way the wax can bond to the paint alot better. Once ur done wit a section clean it wit a microfiber feel the surface should feel smooth if not re wet it and pass it againg. Rember to re mold the
Clay so that you clay it the right way. After the claying of the whole car top to bottom side to side even windows then you apply the coumpound polish or wax depending on the damage. I would say compound but first go to youtube.com to get an idea of how to use the products.
I know its not all the questions but my phone is about to die cant finish all the question. Good luck.

[mis3]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

1. Wash the car with a micro-fiber mitt, then dry with a MF towel. I personally don't like chamois.
2. The Meguiars clay kit comes with Quik Detailer. Better to use QD than water to clay.
3. Since your car is a few years old and black, I suggest both UC and UP. If you apply by hand, the UC will clean the paint effectively but not so much in swirls removal. UP will add depth and darkness to your black paint.
4. Not sure. It depends on the weather, if you park your car indoor or outdoor, and more importantly, how fussy are you. I myself wax every 3-4 weeks.
5. I use Ultimate Quik Wax in between waxes (after a wash). I use Ultimate Quik Detailer to remove dust and for spots cleaning, like bird droppings, road tar, etc.

Every time you wash your car (or rain), it will remove part of the wax. This is why you should wax again in 1-2 months.

For dash and interior panels, I suggest #40 (Vinyl Cleaner and Condiftioner) or Ulitmate Polish. The interior needs these products for UV protection, etc. I would not use Quik Detailer in interior care. In fact, I never use QD for anything other than clay.

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

Filtered water wont be safer... There's no lubrication in it.

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

1) wash
2) clay
3) You would want the UP and UC. Removing swirls by hand can be hard, but you can always try. If not, the same products are machine safe, so no loss there. Just focus on a test spot, or test panel at first, dont try to do the whole car at once. it wont work out well... UC is the stronger cleaner, so that is the one for removing a lot of swirls.
4) Hard ot say really. How harsh is your environment? Will you do anything after washing, or use a wash & wax type product? All effect it.
5) You would want QD for claying, and bird droppings, and that sort of thing.

6) If you use a wash and wax type product, or use a spray wax after washing, you will get better life out of your wax.

7) The QID is good, and has a little UV protection. You might want to get something like Natural Shine if you like the low gloss look, and alternate a bit. The Natural Shine will have more UV protection and moisturizing, so using the Natural Shine once, then QID a couple times, then Natural Shine again, and kind of alternating would make sense.

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

Thanks for replying everyone

I live near DC so the weather isnt too harsh. I always park in the garage whenever im home which would be through the night. During the day the car will mostly be parked outside.

I don't really want to use a buffer because i haven't used it before and i love this car too much to mess up somewhere.
Are there any basic/cheap buffers for beginners that i could get?

Yea i was thinking of doing the 5 step process every 6 months, and wax every 3 months with the Ultimate Wax. In between the Ultimate wax, i was thinking of using the Quik wax or can i just use the Armor All Wash and Wax?

The interior had zero protection for the past 7 years, and it still looks very good, almost good as new once i used the Interior Quik Detailer.
Should i get the ultimate protectant or QID would be enough?

Thank You again

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

The cheap buffers may or may not do a whole lot, which tends to be the problem. With the more expensive ones, you'll be almost certain to find some pad/product combo to fix your problem.

Some rotary buffers can be cheaper than a good DA polisher, like the G100v2, PC, etc. But the rotary is what you really want to avoid.

For the schedule, with every 3 months, you may prefer to do Cleaner Wax or ColorX, then Ult. Wax, rather than 2 coats of Ult. Wax. But up to you how dirty you think the paint is.

With the washing, the spray wax will be more protection than the wash n'wax type products (Meguiars prefered of course ). I tend to do a wash and spray wax usually, and keep some Wash n'Wax for when in a bigger hurry. But either one is better than nothing.

As for the interior, the more it is outside, the more UV protection would be important. And the dressing would be the more UV protection.

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

yea i agree, i really want to avoid the rotary buffers. But the reason for cheap orbital would be that it is going to be better than doing everything by hand.

Every 3 months, would this be good?
1) WASH
2) ULTIMATE POLISH
3) ULTIMATE WAX

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

how does this buffer look?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=orbital+buffer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15591818159537668979&sa=X&ei=YJRhTuyLEbOisQLD4s0i&ved=0CIoBEPMCMAE

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

I like to get 2 coats of wax, but have to see what you like the looks of, and what you enjoy.

For my way of doing it, it would look like:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - Ult. Polish
4. Wax
5. Wax

or:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax

Those both get the 2 coats of wax. But if you like one coat, or if you are washing and UQWing often, and just do one coat of wax... it may all even out in the end. Probably does.

I try to UQW after washing, but my car might have to go 2-3 weeks between washings at the moment.

That sort of thing is just personal preference.

[Andy M.]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

how does this buffer look?
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CIoBEPMCMAE

You won't be able to do correction work with that. It doesn't have enough power. That will make it easier to spread wax but that is about it. Look around for a deal on an old G-100 on ebay or Craigslist, or save up and buy a G110A.

Andy

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

I think if i can't get the swirls out by hand (which i most likely won't) and the i dont like the finish, then i will get it professionally detailed and just take care of it afterwards.

I really dont want to try new things especially on this car, i could do it on my dads

I am hoping that with the clay, ultimate compound and polish and good wax, the would look much better so i wont even be that picky about the swirls. I dont know yet, i guess i'll just have to see how much i can accomplish by hand.

Thanks for the advice guys

[MBenz94]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

another question, what kind of application pad should i use for polish?
i already have 2 microfiber pads... do i have to use the foam pads for the compound and polish?

[mis3]

Re: New to Detailing..Help

yea i agree, i really want to avoid the rotary buffers. But the reason for cheap orbital would be that it is going to be better than doing everything by hand.

Every 3 months, would this be good?
1) WASH
2) ULTIMATE POLISH
3) ULTIMATE WAX

I would do Cleaner Wax instand of UP.
There is little or no cleaner in UP and UW.

If using CW, since it is a wax already, you may not have to apply the 2nd coat of UW for even coverage.