Washing products for new black car?

[a6l3i]

Hi
My new car was delivered yesterday. The exterior is Metallic Black.
Since the car is new, I think it's better to start to wash with a shampoo for first months, thereafter start with a Wax.
1- for washing, what are differences between Ultimate Wash & Wax, Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner & NXT Generation?
2- which Wax is your suggestion?


Thank you . . .

[Bjkearns]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

That is an interesting car you are getting there
Is it built on the M37 chassis?

You are going to care for a black car the same way you would any other car

2-five gallon buckets
2 grit guards on the bottom of each bucket
Meguiars Micro Fiber Mit or a QUALITY wash mit,sponge,bone
Soap, I have only ever used Gold Class but I am very pleased with it and for my needs I couldn't see needing anything different
Water Magnet for drying

For wax/sealant I like Ultimate Liquid wax or M21.

Stick around this is a good place, Welcome and congrats on the new car

[Murr1525]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

You can start with a full detail right away.

1. Wash - UQW is good if you wont be using a spray wax after washing. If you do use a spray wax after washing, like Ult. Quick Wax, then Gold Class is good. Using two buckets, good quality towels, sponges, etc.
2. Clay - If you have never clayed, it is always good to do. The Smooth Surface Clay kit covers everything.
3. ColorX - I like to use ColorX (it is a cleaner/wax) for the first coat of wax. Though a regular Cleaner/Wax sample comes in the clay kit i think, so could use that up.
4. Wax - The best durability would be Ult. Wax (liquid/paste), or the Nxt 2.0 (liquid/paste). The Nxt 2.0, or Ult. Wax paste seem to apply more like a traditional wax, the Ult. liquid is a bit different.

5. Maintain - After future washes, Ult. Quick Wax is a great to use when finishing drying.

[JonH]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

I am confused, I have been reading this forum for some time now and wonder about reccommendations for "claying" and "compounding", etc. Why would a guy with a brand new car want to do these steps to a factory fresh paint job?

[a6l3i]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

Thanks guys. . .
@Bjkearns : as it's Nissan, I think it's not built on M37 chassis.
As i'm new to Meguirs' products and forum, i decide to review all training clips in website as well as YouTube, then continue to ask from you
Meanwhile, as got my car directly from Nissan factory (not in CBU delivery), i think the "Clay" step would not be necessary.

[wifpd4]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

If a clay bar and lube is an expense you wish to avoid or clay bar/lube is not readily available, then it can be a step you skip. You can find a video of the simple hand in plastic sandwich bag test for smoothness on the Internet. If your finish is smooth, skip it. I on the other hand would say this is my new car and I want it to look the best it can and I can make it. So I would clay bar it. A smooth, clean, paint surface is the foundation of all the work that follows.

My suggestion, like the suggestions of others, is to carefully wash it using a quality soap, a quality mitt and the two bucket method. Follow it with careful drying. Next, clay the entire car using a mild clay and quality lube.

Next in the sun, look the car over and find any defects you may wish to correct. Fix them or not, your decision. As Murr mentioned, ColorX is an easy to use, wonderful product to shine the paint, correct very minor flaws and leave a base coat of wax. Follow it with a wax, starting with something Murr mentioned. It won't matter which as this is the first time you wax and you will change your mind dozens of times over the next few years. Once you narrow your choice, use it and use it often.

As much as we'd like our cars to be perfect from the factory, that is often not the case. You can get it that way with a little extra effort.

[wifpd4]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

(Jon, yes clay-baring and compounding are activities you may wish to perform on a new car. No two new cars are the same. They are loaded onto different boats, trains, semis, trailers, even driven be different people. Wrapped in plastic or not, sit at the factory outdoors, sit in the dealers' lot, put through the pouring rain test tunnel at the factory or washed by the high school kid on the dealers' lot. They are all different and may have acquired defects that require correction or they may be perfect. Only you can decide and folks with vast experience are here to help. Read, watch, ask, act.)

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

I am confused, I have been reading this forum for some time now and wonder about reccommendations for "claying" and "compounding", etc. Why would a guy with a brand new car want to do these steps to a factory fresh paint job?

David explains this quite well below......

Jon, yes clay-baring and compounding are activities you may wish to perform on a new car. No two new cars are the same. They are loaded onto different boats, trains, semis, trailers, even driven be different people. Wrapped in plastic or not, sit at the factory outdoors, sit in the dealers' lot, put through the pouring rain test tunnel at the factory or washed by the high school kid on the dealers' lot. They are all different and may have acquired defects that require correction or they may be perfect. Only you can decide and folks with vast experience are here to help. Read, watch, ask, act.

We've seen cars delivered new from the dealer with horrible swirls created by their prep department, and we've even seen extremely expensive cars (in the $400,000US price range) sitting on showroom floors that were full of swirls. If a dealer has a very good prep department then they are most likely doing all those things before presenting you with a near flawless car. But more often than not, the finish isn't anywhere even close to flawless. Transport can wreak havoc on a finish, especially if the vehicle is crossing an ocean between the factory and your driveway. Most major manufacturers even have full body shop facilities available at port of entry so they can fix issues that arise in transit.

[a6l3i]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

Hi all
Following your kind guidance, I surfed all training clips and many pages and select some products for my car

I’m living in Germany and here are some famous brands like SONAX but for washing, waxing, color maintenance and leather many Germans also prefer Meguiars.
Unfortunately some products are not represented here even by Meguiars’ official branch, and other products have more prices in € in comparison with $ in USA!! Even 2 or 3 times! I’ll write the price of products in € and $ within the parentheses.

If you haven't time, I appreciate your suggestions to my questions in separate posts

1. Wash: I decide to use Gold Class car wash (13€=16$) when I want to apply liquid wax after washing. otherwise, I will wash with UW&W (18€=23$) followed by UQW (18€=23$) and UQD (17€=22$). is it a good approach? or u suggest to use GC car wash all the time?
   
   Is there any special advantages with Meg's Water Magnet (18€=23$) and Meg's Microfiber Wash Mitt (12€=15$) for best result? or I can use high quality “made in Germany” cases as well?
2. Clay: u are right. There are some fine points in which are sensible by hand on hood & roof!! Hence, I’ll have a clay after first wash buy “Smooth Surface” (13.5€=17$).
   .
3. ColorX: I found ColorX just on ebay.de for 18.5€=24$. Since I decide to buy both SwirlX (16€=20$) and Scratch 2.0 (12€=15.5$) for emergency cases, can I eliminate from ColorX? does ColorX as powerful as SwirlX or is softer?
   .
   
4. Wax: for this one as murr said, I will apply Ultimate Liquid Wax (ULW) (30€= 38$), and UQW after normal washes. Just one question about waxing?
   in all training clips they are using Foam Applicator Pad while Even Coat™ Microfiber Applicator Pads (11.5€=15$) announced as best applicator for waxing. What’s ur suggestion?
   .
5. Leather: as I prefer matt finish for my cream seats leathers, I select GC Rich Leather C/C Gel (16€=21$).
   One guy told me it’s better to take a GC Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner (17€=22$) as well, because it has more cleaning power, and it’s helpful if the GC c/c be unable to clean the dirt! Should I do the same?
   my Teana interior . . . (but with left steering well)
   
   .
6. Dashboard: I decide to take Natural Shine Protectant (13€=17$) for my cream dashboard.
   May I apply it for panels, audio devices, wooden sections, etc. as well? Or I's better to take Quick Interior Detailer (12€=16$)?
   .
7. How we can wash Supreme microfibers after being smeary with waxes, SwirlX, ColorX, etc.? Can we share a microfiber for waxing, washing, interior cleaning, etc. or it’s better to take separate ones for each one? (how many do you have?)
   .
8. How about Applicator Pads (APs)? If I use an AP with Ult. Liquid Wax can I use it for SwirlX or Scratch2.0 next time? Or we need separate ones? is there any way to clean APs?

finally, with an approximate calculation i think the minimum total cost would be 223€= 300$

[Bjkearns]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

After working at and being around dealerships, just because a car is new that doesnt mean it is "clean"
Most cars that leave dealerships need attention and some more than others

[Tuck91]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

a6l3i,

I would just use the SwirlX or for spot treating areas on the car, rather than use it on the whole car. Your fine using ColorX to apply to the entire car.

For the leather and dashboard, I would use Quik Interior Detailer for a clean matte look.

[Murr1525]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

[[LIST=1]
*]Wash: I decide to use Gold Class car wash (13€=16$) when I want to apply liquid wax after washing. otherwise, I will wash with UW&W (18€=23$) followed by UQW (18€=23$) and UQD (17€=22$). is it a good approach? or u suggest to use GC car wash all the time?

Well, with cost an issue, UW&W followed by UQW would be a bit repetetive. I would only use UW&W when no time to work after. And since you can use UQW while drying, its hard not to use UQW.

Is there any special advantages with Meg's Water Magnet (18€=23$) and Meg's Microfiber Wash Mitt (12€=15$) for best result? or I can use high quality “made in Germany” cases as well?

Hard to say. Meguiars isnt the only good MF in the world.

[*]Clay: u are right. There are some fine points in which are sensible by hand on hood & roof!! Hence, I’ll have a clay after first wash buy “Smooth Surface” (13.5€=17$).

The clay can be used several times, so not a bad buy. You would need more bottles of QD though.

[*]ColorX: I found ColorX just on ebay.de for 18.5€=24$. Since I decide to buy both SwirlX (16€=20$) and Scratch 2.0 (12€=15.5$) for emergency cases, can I eliminate from ColorX? does ColorX as powerful as SwirlX or is softer?

You would want ColorX for quick details. Wash/ColorX/Wax makes a good quick detail. So up to you if that interests you.

To be honest, ScratchX 2.0 would be the one I would skip, or at least not buy again. Ult. Compound is likely the better buy.

[*]Wax: for this one as murr said, I will apply Ultimate Liquid Wax (ULW) (30€= 38$), and UQW after normal washes. Just one question about waxing?
in all training clips they are using Foam Applicator Pad while Even Coat™ Microfiber Applicator Pads (11.5€=15$) announced as best applicator for waxing. What’s ur suggestion?
.

I like the smooth foam, not MF.

Though for UQW, I'll use the MF towel I am drying with usually.

Kind of do a general quick drying, then when I go back to do a "final drying", spray the UQW and wipe around/dry.

[*]Leather: as I prefer matt finish for my cream seats leathers, I select GC Rich Leather C/C Gel (16€=21$).
One guy told me it’s better to take a GC Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner (17€=22$) as well, because it has more cleaning power, and it’s helpful if the GC c/c be unable to clean the dirt! Should I do the same?
my Teana interior . . . (but with left steering well)

.

Ehh.. If you can buy APC or APC+, those make for a nice stronger cleaner, that can be used for leather, plastic, vinyl, tires, wheelwells.... and a hundred other things.

[*]Dashboard: I decide to take Natural Shine Protectant (13€=17$) for my cream dashboard.
May I apply it for panels, audio devices, wooden sections, etc. as well? Or I's better to take Quick Interior Detailer (12€=16$)?
.

Yeah, the Natural Shine can be wiped over everything. I like to spray on my applicator (towel), and then apply. Then wait 5-10 minutes, and come back with a clean towel to buff off excess.

[*]How we can wash Supreme microfibers after being smeary with waxes, SwirlX, ColorX, etc.? Can we share a microfiber for waxing, washing, interior cleaning, etc. or it’s better to take separate ones for each one? (how many do you have?)

You want at least one towel for each step.

Also, the waffle weave style (Water Magnet) are for drying. The fuzzy kind (Supreme Shine) are for removing product. They dont work well for other uses.

As far as washing, the washing machine works fine.

[*]How about Applicator Pads (APs)? If I use an AP with Ult. Liquid Wax can I use it for SwirlX or Scratch2.0 next time? Or we need separate ones? is there any way to clean APs?

AP?

I guess you mean applicator pad. Yeah, once they are washed, they could be used for something else next time.

I like to throw them in a bucket of dishsoap/water, let them soak, then rinse out, and air dry. Dont store them in air tight bags.

[a6l3i]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

Bjkearns: that's what i believe now! the new cars need the first clay or colorx in first wash.
.
Truck91: what is your leather's color? for my cream leather i am confused between Quik Interior Detailer, APC/APC+, GC Rich Leather C/C Gel, and GC Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner !! Specially for those cases that some dirt (oil, sauce, etc.) drops on leathers!!
.
Thank you Murr for your comprehensive reply
- So i will buy ColorX for appling B4 Ult. liquid wax.
- I decided to buy Scratch2.0 because of it's ability to remove deep scratches that other polishes and waxes can't, as Meguiers says in following movie at section 04:40":
Ultimate Compound, ScratchX 2.0 and SwirlX from Barry
I thought that Scratch 2.0 is just for special injuries happen to paint in small section, not whole the car. while UC can remove deep swels and normal scratches on entire car. can UC fixes deep scratches like what was shown in above movie (04:40")?

[Murr1525]

Re: Washing products for new black car?

Truck91: what is your leather's color? for my cream leather i am confused between Quik Interior Detailer, APC/APC+, GC Rich Leather C/C Gel, and GC Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner !! Specially for those cases that some dirt (oil, sauce, etc.) drops on leathers!!

Yeah, lot of options.

I would want Quick interior Detailer for general dusting on the interior. I wouldnt use it for real cleaning.

The Gold Class Cleaner/Conditioner for general use, moisturizing, etc.

You'll get the most value for your money with one of the APCs. The Aloe Cleaner would only be for leather. The APC's can be for almost anything.

Thank you Murr for your comprehensive reply
- So i will buy ColorX for appling B4 Ult. liquid wax.
- I decided to buy Scratch2.0 because of it's ability to remove deep scratches that other polishes and waxes can't, as Meguiers says in following movie at section 04:40":
Ultimate Compound, ScratchX 2.0 and SwirlX from Barry
I thought that Scratch 2.0 is just for special injuries happen to paint in small section, not whole the car. while UC can remove deep swels and normal scratches on entire car. can UC fixes deep scratches like what was shown in above movie (04:40")?

Removing something fron one area, and from the whole car, is pretty much the same thing. The ScratchX 2.0 is just packaged more for smaller area. But probably the better buy on UC cost wise. And UC is a bit stronger, which just makes the effort easier.