did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

[ridgeway2030]

I've been utilizing the Meguiars five step process for around five years now on both of my vehicles, a 2008 Toyota Camry, and a 2005 Toyota Highlander. Generally, my regimen has consisted of Gold Class liquid car wash, the consumer clay kit, deep crystal clean, m7, and either NXT 2.0, Ultimate, or Gold Class. I've grown accustomed to doing everything by hand. Generally the process takes me around five to six hours per vehicle. For the first three years, my vehicles weren't garaged, so I would get up very early and start on the vehicle just as the sun was coming up. This would allow me to be finishing around noon or so, just as the heat was really starting to pour itself on. I even did this under a tree to avoid some of the sun. So, anyway, detailing has become something i've really enjoyed doing, when I have the time, even if all I own are grocery getters

Around two years ago, I moved to Northern Virginia. I now have a garage that I can detail my vehicles in. The climate is somewhat hotter during the summer, and there tends to be air quality alerts frequently during those months. Over time, I began to notice that I wasn't getting the same results with my former regimen. More specifically, I was having difficulty getting everything off the paint with the clay bar, and I didn't feel like I was getting that pop out of the paint like i once had. I also noticed the headlights were beginning to yellow over, which was something I was able to solve with the Meguiar's heavy duty headlight kit.

The other day I purchased M105, M205, 2 bottles of Final Inspection, Mild Detail Clay, M21, and "The Power Kit" which contains G110v2, 2 soft polishing pads, 1 soft finishing pad, and 1 microfiber towel. I wanted to try the professional line of products. But now that I have them all here, I'm wondering if I went a bit too far here. My intent was to wash the vehicle with gold class car wash concentrate, use the mild detail clay with the Final Inspection, follow up with M205, and then two coats of M21.

After further investigation; however, I seemed to find out that m205 is really a follow up product for m105? So I threw in the m105 with the purchase, but I'm not sure my vehicles need m105. I have a few scratches on the camry, rock chips, and places where I applied small amounts (droplets & strokes to cover scratches) of car paint that I should't have. Would M105 followed up by M205 clean those areas up? Regardless, can i really harm my paint job if i use both products as directed? Or have i gone too overboard altogether? Part of my intent in buying the Power Kit was to save a little time (doing it by hand is killing me) and ensure more uniformity in my process.

[ethereal45]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

I'll leave the majority of your questions to the pros, but yes you can definitely hard your paint with M105. M105 is the most aggressive (liquid) product that Meguiar's makes, and if you go too overboard with it, you could burn through your clear coat completely.

Is this a worst case scenario and highly unlikely? Yes, but it is a distinct possibility so you have to treat the product with respect and use it when deemed to be appropriate with proper technique. As to whether it will be useful to level improperly applied touch up paint -- I'll have to leave that one to the pros.

[Bruce Devilbiss]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

I have a black 03 Honda accord that over the years I just left go. I bought a Porta-Cable DA and went to work on the Honda. I used the 105 with a LC yellow cutting pad. This took care of all the swirls and light scratches. Only do a 2' x 2' section at a time and wipe it off before it dries. Then I put a coat of 205 using a LC black finishing pad and followed with a coat of NXT 2.0 using a LC white polishing pad. except for some dings the Honda never looked better.

I just finished my 2010 F150 pickup. I used the 205 with the yellow pad and 2 coat of NXT with the black pad. I also clayed the truck first. The paint was not near as bad as on the Honda. The paint now is so slick and shinny, a fly will bust his butt landing on the car.

There are a lot of good video's on the site as well as Youtube on the how two's on claying, waxing, polishing, washing and so on. This is what I did before I started anything. Good luck on your cars.

[Murr1525]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

Generally, my regimen has consisted of Gold Class liquid car wash, the consumer clay kit, deep crystal clean, m7, and either NXT 2.0, Ultimate, or Gold Class. I've grown accustomed to doing everything by hand.

Well ,the DC Cleaner is discontinued anyway, so you will have to update a bit. Ult. Polish would be a good choice for a mild regular cleaner, and include the polish to save you some time. Or other assorted options are available of course...

Over time, I began to notice that I wasn't getting the same results with my former regimen. More specifically, I was having difficulty getting everything off the paint with the clay bar, and I didn't feel like I was getting that pop out of the paint like i once had.

May have picked up some more stubborn dirt over time, or something new in this area. You could move up to something like the Pro Mild (blue) clay, which is just a little stronger (not sure if that is what you meant by mild below).

However, I would also have to give a mention about using something like the Car Pro TRIX, or even just the TarX. Their products worked really well when cleaning my wheels, and I used a little on my cars paint also, so it is something I would look into as a step before claying.

I also noticed the headlights were beginning to yellow over, which was something I was able to solve with the Meguiar's heavy duty headlight kit.

Just be sure to keep the waxed, or use the Headlight Protectant regularly. And you cna use a mild cleaner on them regularly also when doing your paint.

The other day I purchased M105, M205, 2 bottles of Final Inspection, Mild Detail Clay, M21, and "The Power Kit" which contains G110v2, 2 soft polishing pads, 1 soft finishing pad, and 1 microfiber towel. I wanted to try the professional line of products. But now that I have them all here, I'm wondering if I went a bit too far here. My intent was to wash the vehicle with gold class car wash concentrate, use the mild detail clay with the Final Inspection, follow up with M205, and then two coats of M21.

Never too many products, but want to have enough of the right ones.

None of those would be bad... May just want some more polishing pads if doing a lot of work, or on a more stubborn paint. #105 is ok to have also, though Ult. Compound cna be easier to use with a DA, and is a little milder.

After further investigation; however, I seemed to find out that m205 is really a follow up product for m105?

Follow-up isnt really the right word... It is just that #205 is the milder cleaner, and #105 is the stronger cleaner.

So if all you need is the mild cleaner, then you just need #205. If you need the stronger cleaner, then you need #105. #105 may not leave the finish perfect, so then you would use the milder cleaner after.

As mentioned, UC may be a bit easier to use, but can worry about that after trying a test spot with #205. Can always run to the store to get some.

I have a few scratches on the camry, rock chips, and places where I applied small amounts (droplets & strokes to cover scratches) of car paint that I should't have. Would M105 followed up by M205 clean those areas up?

Not really. Body shops dont always charge a lot to knock a blob down.

Regardless, can i really harm my paint job if i use both products as directed? Or have i gone too overboard altogether? Part of my intent in buying the Power Kit was to save a little time (doing it by hand is killing me) and ensure more uniformity in my process.

Well, just need a bit of common sense.. if something is taking effort, or seems wrong, stop and come ask. Can help to watch the various videos and articles on how to use the machine, etc. Moving the machine slowly and evenly is the main thing, but dont focus on one spot, work an area.

[ridgeway2030]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

Well ,the DC Cleaner is discontinued anyway, so you will have to update a bit. Ult. Polish would be a good choice for a mild regular cleaner, and include the polish to save you some time. Or other assorted options are available of course...

I was reviewing your post as well as the updated Meguiars Five Step Process in previous forum postings. You're saying I can save time by using Ultimate Polish, both as a paint cleaner and as a polish? What other type of cleaner would I use if I were to use the m205? SwirlX? I'm just trying to understand all of my options. At this point I am thinking about taking back the M105 and M205 and picking up the ultimate polish at walmart.

I take it if i did use the M205 I couldn't use it regularly because of its cut?

[Murr1525]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

Well, I was just saying that DC Cleaner was a very mild cleaner, and then DC Polish had a lot of polishing oils. Ult. Polish (and #205) is a mild cleaner with a lot of polishing oils, so it combines the steps.

You could always follow them with a pure polish still, but thats up to you.

Ult. Polish is closely related to #205. #205 is just a fraction stronger, while UP has a bit more polishing oils. But pretty close in the end. Both would be fine for regular use by hand or machine. If you have the machine now, I'd keep the #205.

[ridgeway2030]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

Well, I was just saying that DC Cleaner was a very mild cleaner, and then DC Polish had a lot of polishing oils. Ult. Polish (and #205) is a mild cleaner with a lot of polishing oils, so it combines the steps.

You could always follow them with a pure polish still, but thats up to you.

Ult. Polish is closely related to #205. #205 is just a fraction stronger, while UP has a bit more polishing oils. But pretty close in the end. Both would be fine for regular use by hand or machine. If you have the machine now, I'd keep the #205.

So I could use UP or m205 followed by m7 (pure polish) if i so desired, with hopes that the end result *may* be better? I hadn't thought of following up with a pure polish after using UP or M205, but I do have M7 at home still.

[ridgeway2030]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

i only put may in asterisks because, if i think im understanding you right, its purley optional, and the results will not necessarily be better or different. It's subjective?

[Murr1525]

Re: did i buy too much?/m105 appropriate?

Yeah, its one of those things where you line up a group of people, some may see a difference, some wont. Or maybe a difference, but is it worth the effort.

Any improvement would be most likely on a dark color, or single stage paint.

But you can just do a fender or something by hand real quick with it, or a square on the hood, and see if you see anything compared to the rest of the car.