White car detailing help.

[04DreamCobra]

I have a 2004 SVT Cobra, oxford white, and have swirls and the usual contaminations on it. I rescued it from its previous owner that didin't give it the attention it need so I have to bring it back to true shine. I have noticed that the white doesnt exactly luster, but wondered if anyone had any ideals on how to get swirls out of a white car and get the most shine/wet look/anything great out of a white car. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

[Marc08EX]

Re: White car detailing help.

Getting swirls out and choosing which products to use doesn't really depend on the color of the paint but on the paint's hardness.

Since this car has never been detailed or never been card for, I would bring out the big guns to remove as much defects as possible. I would do the following steps:

1. Wash the car using a good car soap: Ultimate Wash & Wax or Gold Class Shampoo
2. Clay: Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit
3. Use a cleaner polish to remove severe swirls, scratches and oxidation: Ultimate Compound
4. Use finishing polish to amp up the gloss: Ultimate Polish
5. Wax: Ultimate Wax or NXT 2.0

You basically need to get your paint's surface as smooth as glass and as free of swirls/defects as possible in order to achieve the ultimate shine and reflection. Those steps along with the products suggested will help you achieve that. Are you doing all these by hand or do you have a dual action polisher?

I would highly suggest reading Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

Here's a white car I did using Ultimate Compound. The car was hammered and wasn't really taken care of before we started but look at how much gloss we got out of it after detailing it properly: Detailed: 1997 Honda Accord - White

Hope this helps.

[smack]

Re: White car detailing help.

Impressive imformation Marc.

Follow it to a tee Cobra.

[04DreamCobra]

Re: White car detailing help.

Wow. Great info indeed! I will be doing it by hand. I don't have a da polisher. I assume all these steps are capable of being done by hand. And thanks btw!

[Marc08EX]

Re: White car detailing help.

Yes they are all achievable by hand. In fact, Meguiar's demos the Ultimate Trio (Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish and Ultimate Wax) both by hand and by D/A polisher in their Saturday classes. You can check out the threads here:
Pictures from Saturday Classes

If you really want to bring your detailing to the next level, you need to invest in a G110v2. Not only will it help you achieve better and faster results but your back and arms will thank you.

You're welcome. We're all here to help. Please let us know how your detailing project goes. We're excited to see your before/after pictures.

[04DreamCobra]

Re: White car detailing help.

She's getting a very good bath right now. I'll take a pic after the bath then after its all done. I will def invest in a polisher. For now I have to grit my teeth and know its for a better cause. Ha. Wish me luck.

[Murr1525]

Re: White car detailing help.

If you find a lot of tar, or mini rust flakes (like on the paint, not the car rusting), you may want to look at something like the TRIX from Car Pro also.

[04DreamCobra]

Re: White car detailing help.

I can't get my pictures to load. I took them with my phone. But the car went from a hazy swirly clean. Still shiny somewhat but nasty. To all the haze is gone and about 90% of the swirls are gone! Worked great! Took me all day but well worth it. I will continue to try and load the pictures. Super smooth and clean finish!

[Marc08EX]

Re: White car detailing help.

This article might help: How to place an image in your messages

I'm looking forward to seeing your results!