Am I doing anything wrong?

[Saab9-5]

I'm slowly building up my Meguiar's collection of products. Since I freshly got my 2001 Saab 9-5, I feel like it is an obligation to keep a beautiful car in its best possible shape and form. After reading a lot on these forums, and after checking the products that were avaible in stores around me (in Montreal, Canda), here is the final way I've been cleaning and detailing my car for the past 2 or 3 month. (Done once per month)

1- Take off lose dirt with a high-pressure washer, wash it with Meguiar's Deep Crystal Car Wash using washing-mitts, and then rinse everything off with the high-pressure hose.

2- Using Meguiar's Quick Clay Detailing System, I clay bar important parts like the hood, the trunk and the roof. I use the lube, clay-it and then wipe everything with a microfiber towel.

3- I apply Meguiar's Scratch X with a foam applicator. I do the whole car first and then wipe everything off at the same time with a micro-fiber towel.

4- I apply Meguiar's COLOUR X the same way I did with the Scratch X, which means using a foam applicator and doing the whole car before wiping off the product with microfiber.

5- I finish it off with Mothers California Gold Carnauba Cleaner Wax again using a foam applicator. This time, I do one part of the car, leave it for 20 minutes and then wipe it off and start over on another part.

6- I take car of my trim and bumpers with Mothers Back to Black using some random towel. I then polish it off with another towel. (Both towels are clean)

7- Apply Meguiar's NXT Generation Insane Shine Tire Spray on my tires. My rims are usually okay with the #1 step using a high-pressure water hose and polishing them with Mr. Net sponges (I don't have the exact name, they come 4 little bricks of white sponges in their box)

I'm pretty much satisfied with the results and every product used minus the Insane Shine Tire Spray which I find give the wheels a little too much shine and wet-look, which doesn't look clean nor natural enough for me.

What I'd appreciate would be for people that have a little more experience of knowledge than me to take a look at my steps and advise me wheter or not there is something I should change, do a different way, use another product, stop doing, etc. I'll be posting pictures of my last results in the other section of the forums later on today.

Thanks in advance.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Am I doing anything wrong?

Hi Saab9-5,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Originally posted by Saab9-5
3- I apply Meguiar's Scratch X with a foam applicator. I do the whole car first and then wipe everything off at the same time with a micro-fiber towel.

What I'd appreciate would be for people that have a little more experience of knowledge than me to take a look at my steps and advise me whether or not there is something I should change, do a different way, use another product, stop doing, etc.

When applying the ScratchX, there is no benefit to allowing the product to dry. If it's wiping off for you okay, then continue using it this way, if you're finding it difficult to wipe off, then remove it after you apply it and work it in, that is apply to a section, work the product in and against the finish, and then remove it before it dries.

[Murr1525]

Sounds pretty good, though I do have two questions...

1) You mention using ScratchX every month? You should be able to get most/all swirls out the first time, then switch down to an easier to apply/cheaper cleaner like DC#1. If swirls keep re-apearing, then something else may be wrong.

2) You also mention using a paint cleaner, then cleaner wax, then cleaner wax. This system will work fine, but does seem a little repetetive. I have used ColorX topped with NXT Wax with great results, and others like ColorX and Gold Class Wax. It is just that a separate waxing step will usualy leave better wax protection than a 3-in-1 bottle.

[Saab9-5]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Sounds pretty good, though I do have two questions...

1) You mention using ScratchX every month? You should be able to get most/all swirls out the first time, then switch down to an easier to apply/cheaper cleaner like DC#1. If swirls keep re-apearing, then something else may be wrong.

Actually, I didn't really check for swirls or anything the second time around. I simply went with the step to make sure to have the best results possible. I guess it's a beginner-mistake as I like not taking any chances and doing over every step each time (I actually just detailed the whole car twice I think). But yeah, it sounds smarter to check for swirl marks before applying Scratch X blindly.

2) You also mention using a paint cleaner, then cleaner wax, then cleaner wax. This system will work fine, but does seem a little repetetive. I have used ColorX topped with NXT Wax with great results, and others like ColorX and Gold Class Wax. It is just that a separate waxing step will usualy leave better wax protection than a 3-in-1 bottle.

I'm not sure to understand exactly what you mean. Is Colour X a sort of cleaner wax? Or should I simply bump the Mother California Gold Carnauba Cleaner Wax for a pure Wax? If that's the case, which one would you advise me to switch to?

[Mike Phillips]

Murr1525 is right, if you're applying two coats of wax and both are cleaner/waxes, while there is nothing wrong with waxing twice with a cleaner/wax, especially the first time your restore a neglected finish, it is kind of redundant and you would probably like the results you get by applying a non-cleaner wax as your second coat. NXT Tech Wax liquid or paste would be a good choice if it's available in your area.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Saab9-5
Is ColorX a sort of cleaner wax? [/B]

Yes.


It's a strong and powerful cleaner/wax.

[Murr1525]

Never a mistake to do everything every time. Experience with your car will show when milder, or easier things can be substituted.

As for ColorX, yes it is a cleaner wax. Perhaps that was the source of confusion. I would say it is probably a little stronger of a cleaner than the Mothers as well.

I top ColorX with the Nxt Generation Paste Wax, though the liquid version is just as good. The other one I would say is to use the Gold Class Wax. There are liquid and paste versions of it also.

The Nxt puts a very nice gloss on my car (Steel Blue), and I think the Gold Class adds a little more depth to my dads car (Burgandy Red). The Nxt should be a little more durable though. Either will work great, up to you.

[Saab9-5]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Yes.


It's a strong and powerful cleaner/wax.

Oh, I see

How about Color X + Meguiar's Gold Class Paste Wax? Any good or is this also a Cleaner slash Wax?

Edit: I just saw Murr1525's reply after I posted mine. So I guess I'll be bumping Mothers Cleaner Wax out of my ritual and bringing in some Gold Class Paste Wax.

BTW, thanks for your help guys! It's really appreciated.

[Murr1525]

It is technicaly a polish/wax, though I would only regard it as a wax. Not enough polishing ability to replace a polishing step, such as what ColorX provides.

Sounds like a good combo to me... I've used it.

[Murr1525]

BTW, ColorX is a good product, as it can be used kind of mild, or kind of aggresively.

Using a soft foam applicator, and working in gently gives a mild cleaner/wax effect.

Working it in more aggressively with a piece of terry cloth will break down the diminishing abrasives, and remove small swirls and oxidation.

[Saab9-5]

Talking about agressive techniques, how could I integrate a 9 inch Buffer|Polisher (2400 random orbits per minute - Single Speed) into my detailing process? With what product should I use it? Any special techniques that I should watch out for?