New Car - New to Detailing

[moosehawk]

Greetings!

I just bought my first new car in late January: A 2012 VW GTI with 86 miles on it. It's the dream car that I never dreamed about. I knew nothing about detailing 2 months ago, so I figured what better time to learn than now while my car's paint, wheels and interior are still in great condition. Plus I'm a serious clean freak and would like to keep it in as perfect condition as possible even though it's my daily driver.

I've been doing a lot of research the last month on detailing after a fellow detail-crazy neighbor pointed me in the right directions (here, most notably!). I've since then stock-piled a bunch of Meguiar's products, and am buying more detailing products by the week as needed. I've already done a full detail about a month ago, although I'm worried about the routine I followed and the quality of my work so I plan on doing a full re-detail this weekend now that I feel I have a better grasp on things, weather permitting. Before doing the re-detail though I'd like your guys' expert opinion on my new method:

My new full paint detail routine:

• Wash with Deep Crystal Car Wash & dry
• Clay Bar with Quik Detailer
• NXT 2.0
• NXT 2.0 (2nd application)

I would plan on doing the full routine once after winter, once in the middle of summer, and once again before winter. Between then I would follow the basic wash regime every week: Wash -> dry -> UQD (when needed).

Questions:

• Should I use the UC after the clay bar, even though my paint doesn't have any noticeable defects besides maybe some water spots? Would it hurt to use it? If so, should I use a MF applicator or foam applicator?
• Should I add a polishing compound, and if so which would you recommend? MF or foam applicator?
• Is there any reason to "strip" old layers of wax/sealant? Or should I just let a paint cleaner like UC take car of that?
• Can I apply UC to the inside of my windows too?

Any other advice you have would be appreciated!

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

Step 1: Calm down and relax... your first detail was fine.

Step 2: Relax some more...

Step 3: You would want a "full detail" to look something like one of these:

1. Wash - Good soap, 2 buckets, Grit guards, good quality towels, etc.
2. Clay
3. Clean/Polish - Ult. Polish or SwirlX for a mild cleaner, or UC for a strong cleaner.
4. Wax
5. Wax

Or, you can speed things up a little with:

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

6. Maintain - Ult. Quick Wax is going ot be best after future washes.

Questions:

1. You can use a mild cleaner first on the spots, then UC. Nothing wrong with using it if needed. I like to use foam for applying things.

2. The Ult. Polish / SwirlX mentioned above, or the ColorX, would work well as a mild cleaner, and adding some of the polishing oils. I like to use foam for applying things.

3. No need to strip things.

4. Ehh... I'd try to avoid it. Sides might be ok if you dont have any tinting. What is on them that needs the UC?

[moosehawk]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

I know, I usually obsess way too much about making sure I did things right... I have no problem spending a little extra time so I'll probably pick up some Ult. Polish then and add that in-between my clay bar and wax steps.

There's nothing on the inside of the windows, but just thought I'd ask while I was asking a bunch of other noob questions.

Should the UQW be applied after every weekly routine wash?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

Yeah, the UQW can be used after every wash.

I just give a light mist while drying, and it seems to do a great job.

I go around once quick to get the big water drops, and then one final drying wipe while doing a light mist.

[FIREdawg]

Congrats on the GTI. I own a 2007 model and love it! I haven't looked at the newer models but do they still have large 5 spoke painted wheels with the red brakes? If so its a good idea to use a bit of wax (I use a cleaner wax) on the interior wheel and brake assembly. Keeps it easier to clean.

What about the interior? Leather or cloth seats?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

The new Brake Dust Repellant could also be a good idea.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

Congrats on the new GTI - awesome car!

Murr gave you some great advice, but we'd also like to point you to the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle and our Quik Tips Video series if you haven't already gone through all that. For someone just getting started these links will give you a ton of great info to get you started, and then you can build from there as your expertise and skill level grows.

[moosehawk]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

Congrats on the GTI. I own a 2007 model and love it! I haven't looked at the newer models but do they still have large 5 spoke painted wheels with the red brakes? If so its a good idea to use a bit of wax (I use a cleaner wax) on the interior wheel and brake assembly. Keeps it easier to clean.

What about the interior? Leather or cloth seats?

I went with the cloth interior, sunroof and of course the heated seats--A must for Minnesota climate .

As for the wheels, Yes I have those exact wheels. I love the look of them. Right now I clean the wheels with the Gold Class All Wheel Cleaner by giving it a hefty spray and letting it sit for no longer than 20 seconds before spraying it all off, using a MF cloth to get some problematic spots. As for wax... I haven't waxed them yet cause I wasn't sure what to use. Would you just treat the painted inner parts the same as you would your body's paint?

Also, I have a few scratches on the outer part of my wheels that I'm not sure what to do about. Any advice on taking these out?





And of course, the swirls/micro scratches. UC, ScratchX, or something else for this?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car - New to Detailing

As for the wheels, Yes I have those exact wheels. I love the look of them. Right now I clean the wheels with the Gold Class All Wheel Cleaner by giving it a hefty spray and letting it sit for no longer than 20 seconds before spraying it all off, using a MF cloth to get some problematic spots

You may save some money/product by buying a good wheel brush (Daytona Wheel Brush is good, if pricey), and spray a little less and then work it around some.

Edit: Actually it is on sale right now at autogeek, esp if you were buying other things.

http://www.autogeek.net/daytona-special.html?productid=daytona-special&channelid=FROOG&utm_source=CSEs&utm_medium=GoogleProductSearch&utm_campaign=CSE

As for wax... I haven't waxed them yet cause I wasn't sure what to use. Would you just treat the painted inner parts the same as you would your body's paint?

You can treat them like paint with a wax, or the Brake Dust Barrier as mentioned. If you use something like that though, you will want to change to a car wash soap for cleaning, and then definately need a brush. The stronger cleaners will strip the products more quickly.

Also, I have a few scratches on the outer part of my wheels that I'm not sure what to do about. Any advice on taking these out?

And of course, the swirls/micro scratches. UC, ScratchX, or something else for this?

Since they are painted, you can treat them like paint with some UC. Wheel paint can be a bit harder to repair though, but still worth an application or two.