need advice on new car

[aonic]

Hi, I recently got a Nissan 350z in black, It came with DISO.. they are not that bad just minor stuff

I am new to car washing and this is my first car aswell. I have been reading these forums for a week now but there are so many products im not sure what i need.

I wanted to know what products would you guys recommend to wash the car, using the 2-bucked system and what products would be best for removing minor to medium swirk marks, and then protect the finish (polish + wax?)
I was thinking claying with Quik Clay Detailing System, then using ColorX + NXT Tech Wax spray. I still dont know what to use for washing, or between these steps.

Please also mention the applicator pads or cloths.

This will be the first time I wash my car, I dont want to screw up

Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

Hi aonic,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Have you read this for working all by hand?

How To Remove Swirls By Hand


Or this if you want to move up to machine polishing,

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

[aonic]

Thank you, its a great write up.

I also wondering what kind of cloths/things should I use for the initial car wash? and should I do Car Wash > Clay > ScratchX > ColorX + NXT Spray Wax(is this same as tech wax?)

or do you recommend the DC way?

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by aonic
what kind of cloths/things should I use for the initial car wash?

Short answer: very soft things

Get a nice soft mitt (or several) and try to *not* "rub the dirt into the paint" when you wash. I'd use the #62 wash.

If the mitt gets dirty and won't rinse clean, use a fresh one. Use something different for the wheels so you don't transfer nasty stuff (like metallic particles from the brakes) to the paint and scratch it.

Washing a black car without marring the paint is tricky, take your time and think about the real issue involved: How do you get the dirt off the paint without rubbing it *against* the paint. Pressing something harder than paint (including many kinds of dirt) into the paint will mar it.

[aonic]

I was thinking of gettin Quik Detailer,

using the water to take away as much dust as possible, and then use quik detailer to clean the carr, then doing the clay and etc.. what do you think of that
?

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by aonic
I was thinking of gettin Quik Detailer,

using the water to take away as much dust as possible, and then use quik detailer to clean the carr, then doing the clay..

I think you'd be asking for trouble to not fully, and correctly, wash the car. The added lubrication and cleaning power of the shampoo (as compared to plain water) would make all the difference and provide the safest way to clean the vehicle. About the only thing any QD is suited for cleaning-wise is removing very light dust, and some of us wouldn't even use it for *that* on a black car

You could always clay while washing. Wash a panel, rinse it, clay it, rewash/rinse panel, move on to next.

[Murr1525]

Well, its hard to screw up, but I'll mention a few things for you.

1. Wash: use Gold Class or Nxt wash, with something like the chenille wash mit or sponge. Also use the two bucket system, with at least one grit gueard in the wash water bucket, both if possible. Dry gently with a couple Water Magnet drying towels.

2. Clay- Use Meguiars Quick Clay with lots of lube.

3. Clean - You can use a paint cleaner like DC#1 which is gentle, and wont remove swirls. ScratchX can also be used here, either on whole car, or certain spots, then DC#1 in the future. Apply with either a Hi-Tec pad, or terry cloth. Remove with a Supreme Shine mocrofiber or two. Terry cloth will be more agressive, for removeing swirls.

4. Polish - Use DC#2 applied with a Hi-Tec applicator, remove with a supreme shine microfiber.

5. Wax - You can use either Gold class or Nxt tech wax, etc in either liquid or paste, aplied with a hi-tec applicator or an even coat applicator. Remove with a Supreme Shine Microfiber.

6. Maintain - After each washing, you can use a Spray wax to restore some gloss and add a little protection. A Quick Detailer can be used to remove fingerprints, and bird ****, etc.

Now, a full 5 step process will always give better results than one-step products. However, on a daily driver, one-step products work quite well. On my daily driver, I do the following more often than the full 5 steps:

1. Wash : as above

2. Clay: as needed, as above

3. ColorX - This can be applied with either a Hi-Tec applicator pad, or a terry cloth towel. It is mildly abrasive, so it can remove some light swirls, but not as well as ScratchX.

4. Protect - as above

5. Maintain - as above

The spray waxes are meant to be used after washing, not as a topper to ColorX. You are best with Nxt or Gold Class as a topper for ColorX.

[aonic]

Thank you My car is almost swirl free now..

dont have time to do entire car, so I am thinking of investing in a PC