Help a rookie out! waxing and fine scratch removal questions

[SuprCupr]

Hi everyone,

I have a mini cooper thats white but has black roof that scratches very easily. Its an 05 and when I got the car a year ago the paint was a bit rough, mostly just had a ton of those little rust looking specks that stand out on white paint. I spent ALOT of time waxing it and after using the clay bar on it the paint shines and is very smooth. I get a lot of compliments on how shiny it is! lol

Its being stored for the winter but in the spring I'd like to give it a fresh coat of wax and address some of the very fine scratches that I could never really get off of the roof. Wax seems to just conceal them but eventually they reappear. What would be my best bet as far as removal? I don't have a one of those rotary buffers and I'd be doing it by hand. I don't want something too strong, as I'm a beginner when it comes to this stuff and don't want something than can cause more harm than good in the wrong hands.

The paint on the rest of the car is in good shape but I really want to protect it as well as give it a kick *** shine! I was planning on using the ultimate wax but I heard that synthetic waxes were a bit more of a sealer that you would use as a follow up to the use of another pre treatment product? Am I correct in thinking this? If so I was thinking of using a carnauba cleaner wax to clean my paint then follow up with a synthetic like the ultimate wax to seal it up and add longer lasting protection?

Any help is appreciated!

[Murr1525]

Re: Help a rookie out! waxing and fine scratch removal questions

Well, few things ...

As far as the rust spots, you would want to look at using something like IronX after washing to work on that.

For detailing, you would be looking at something like this

1. Wash - Gold Class soap, 2 buckets, Grit Guards if possible. Good quality mitts, towels.
2. Clay - Smooth Surface Clay kit
3. Clean - You would probably want to buy the Ult. Polish and Ult. Compound. That way you would have Ult. Polish for a mild cleaning and polishing product, and then the UC for a stronger product. You would do a test spot with the milder product, then move up to the stronger product if needed.
4. Polish - For the best shine, you can either use the Ult. Polish last before waxing, or also add in a pure polish product, like #7 or Deep Crystal Polish.
5. Wax - Ult. Wax is a good choice for durability, and has a nice shine. There is nothing wrong with using a synthetic wax rather than carnuba, just up to you, or if you want to play with different things in the future.
6. Wax - 2 thin coats is best.

You would want to use the Smooth Foam type of applicators for applying, and good MF towels for removing products.

A cleaner/wax type product can be nice for a quick detail in the future, like:
1. Wash
2. Clay if wanted
3. Cleaner/Wax, ColorX, Black/White Wax, etc type product.
4. Wax - Ult. Wax

[SuprCupr]

Re: Help a rookie out! waxing and fine scratch removal questions

Thanks for all the helpful info.

Believe it or not, I actually got rid of all the rust spots with wax. At the time, I really didn't know that there was other more abrasive products out there that could get the job done easier. All I had was a bottle of Autoglym and it took me about an hour per panel but I split it up over a few days and got it done. It took a lot longer I suppose but either way I guess I got the results I wanted.

As for washing, right now I use the ultimate quick wash and wax and dry with a microfiber. I then follow up with the ultimate spray wax. I have an instant detailer that I use between washes.

I think I'm going to go ahead with the ultimate polish followed by the ultimate wax. I like the idea of the ultimate compound but I think I'd be most safe using the least abrasive product to start off with. After looking at this thread http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...ed-up-my-paint it has me thinking that its something best left with a power tool and bit more knowledge? Doing it by hand seems to be something that requires a bit more of a delicate touch. Where do scratch x and swirl x fit into the equation relative to the ultimate compound and ultimate polish?

[Murr1525]

Re: Help a rookie out! waxing and fine scratch removal questions

If the rust was on the paint, then could be gone. If it was embedded more, and you just removed the surface rust, maybe not. Just have to see.

Its not as if the swirls will get worse if you dont fix them now.. so can start gentle and go from there.

Generally, working by hand and a smooth foam applicator will be millder than a machine, though the maching can even out the pressure a little at least.

If you were to rate things from mildest, it would go Ult. Polish, SwirlX, ScratchX, UC.

SwirlX may be an option.. the ScrathX 2.0 is almost UC, just in a smaller package.