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**Mike Phillips** · Jun 20, 2005, 12:49 PM

Hi James,

Seeing this is your first post, Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

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**Mike Phillips** · Jun 20, 2005, 01:19 PM

Re: Detailing Car To Be Sold

Originally posted by james2538
Hello!

Sorry if its long

I am kinda new to this whole detailing thing. I have been using Gold Class Car Wash on my vehicle for about two years though. My question is I am not quite sure what items I should use on my car. It is a 1997 White Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer. It has been washed off and on through its life and very rarely waxed. I am preparing to sell the car to buy a new vehicle. I would like the car to look better before I put it on the market.

Should I use the consumer/professional/???
Are these the right products to use to get the vehicle clean?
Are there any others/better ones?
What do I use to clean door jams-
What steps should I follow?
Should I use dawn to strip wax before starting?

Here are the products I was planning on using:

PAINT:
Car Wash- NXT Generation Car Wash or Gold Class Car Wash?
Cleaners- Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner
Clay Detailing- When/Should I use this?
Polish- Deep Crystal System Polish
Wax-Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax or NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste or Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax?
ColorX- Should I use this?
ETC.- Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover

Either wash will remove loose contaminants and get your car clean. After washing, clay your car. Always clay first, then use a paint cleaner.

If you're going to sell this car, because it's white and there won't be a lot of appearance difference between a multi-step system approach and a one-step system approach, you might consider the following for the paint.

Wash with either of the car washes you mention.
Clay - This is important because it will remove above surface bonded contaminants
Strong Cleaner/Wax - Use ColorX, apply and work in to the paint very well. Don't skimp on this step. Only work a small section at a time, like 12" square or so depending on the shape of the panel you're working on and then move to a new section and overlap into the previously waxed section.

ColorX is a strong cleaner/wax but you still must do the applying, cleaner/waxes, like paint cleaners are not the type of product you simply wipe-on, and then wipe-off... you want to work the product against the finish to work the cleaning power of the product and this is what is going to restore clarity and gloss your this S.U.V.'s finish. The key thing to remember is that if you do a good job of applying this one-step product really well, you'll be done after this one step.

With a multi-step process you will have to do all the above with the first step, the paint cleaner, and then still follow this with the polish and the wax, two more steps. This is okay for medium to dark color where your efforts will be rewarded in depth, richness, clarity, gloss, reflectivity and shine, but with white paint, you pretty much only get clarity and gloss, and since you're planning on selling the car... thus the recommendation to do a one-step.

TIRES/WHEEL/TRIM/WINDOWS:
Tire- Gold Class Endurance High Gloss
Wheel- Gold Class Instant Wheel Cleaner
Ext. Trim- Gold Class Trim Detailer or
Exterior Trim Detailer?
Windows- NXT Generation Glass Cleaner
Chrome- ?????

The above all sounds good, for the plastic trim you only need one trim dressing, if it's been a while since you've dressed the trim, use the gel formula, Gold Class Trim Detailer and apply with a piece of terry cloth and work the product against the trim aggressively, the terry cloth will help clean the surface while the Trim Detailer will penetrate and revitalize the appearance of the trim.

For Chrome, if it's stained, or dull, try this,

All Metal Polysh

Safe for all whees, including clear coated wheels and contains an anti-corrosive ingredient.

Works great on chrome!

INTERIOR:
Plastics- PlastX
Trim/Dash- NXT Generation™ Tech Protect (best one?)
Leather?- Gold Class Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner & Conditioner
Carpet- Heavy Duty Carpet & Interior Cleaner
Odor- Car Odor Eliminator
ETC.- EXTRA All Surface Cleaner

The PlastX is for restoring clarity to clear plastics, not things like black plastic trim. If this for interior plastic trim, then go a head and use the Gold Class Trim Detailer. The rest of your product selection looks good except Extra has been discontinued, you might call Customer Care at [1-800-347-5700 to see if it's still available.

For cleaning those black scuff marks on the interior panel in the picture, you use this product...

Heavy Duty Carpet & Interior Cleaner

Here are some pics:

Leather? or what?:

Probably just the faces of the seats, the rest will all be vinyl.

How to get rid of this?

If that's some kind of clear bra or chip guard on the paint, then you have to treat the surface which is plastic. For this, you might try,

Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner

I would add more pics once done!

If you have any substitutes or suggestions please add!

Thank You!

See my comments above and good luck!

**james2538** · Jun 20, 2005, 01:41 PM

Thank You!

Thank You!

That helps alot.

I'll go out and buy the materials soon.
Should be finished by end of week.
Will post pics.

**Mike Phillips** · Jun 20, 2005, 01:58 PM

Re: Thank You!

Originally posted by james2538
Thank You!

That helps alot.

I'll go out and buy the materials soon. Should be finished by end of week. Will post pics.

Hi James, I forgot to tell you that for the door jambs you can use a quick detailer or if they're really bad, you can use the ColorX. Just be careful not to get ColorX on black pebble textured plastic trim as it can stain it white. If you do get this wax on any of these surfaces quickly wipe it off and you should be okay.

To see what ColorX can do, check out this before and after...

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

Have fun and good luck!

**james2538** · Jun 23, 2005, 11:10 PM

Inside Detailing Complete

I have bought most of the products needed. Also I went ahead and detailed the interior of the vehicle. I also decided to detail the engine bay. As far as the exterior washing and tires (need to re-apply, i was tired and it got a little sloppy) was as far as i got. I had trouble finding a store that carries the Quick Clay Detailing System. Do you know what stores carry it? Also love the Nxt Generation Glass Cleaner and Natural Shine.

Thanks!

Here is pics:

outside (only washed):

Inside:

Before Engine:

Engine:

More pics available in the gallery at the website for car:

http://explorer.atspace.com/

**Bama** · Jun 24, 2005, 04:49 AM

, Mike, say it ain't so... Extra has been axed? I love that stuff. I hate to see it go.

**Mike Phillips** · Jun 24, 2005, 05:42 AM

Re: Inside Detailing Complete

Originally posted by james2538
I had trouble finding a store that carries the Quick Clay Detailing System. Do you know what stores carry it? Also love the NXT Generation Glass Cleaner and Natural Shine.

Thanks!

Hi James,

Your results are looking great! You'll have to keep us up to date as to how well your Ford Explorer sells and if you think you Meguiar's Makeover help in any way. As far as the Quik Clay System goes, it can be hard to find on store shelves and often times you'll have to order it direct.

Best of luck to you when you begin advertising!

**Mike Phillips** · Jun 24, 2005, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by Bama
, Mike, say it ain't so... Extra has been axed? I love that stuff. I hate to see it go.

Last I heard, this product was discontinued. If you want to pursue this, please start a new thread. Thanks!

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