Car Care and Detailing Thread

[lewdog]

Others mentioned I should start this thread in my other thread. And while I won't have the new car for a while, I'd like to hear some thoughts and recommendations so I can have most of it on hand before the car shows up. My other thread had a lot of great posts in it and you guys have been a big help.

While black cars looks great clean, keeping it relatively clean in Phoenix might be the death of me. But I'll sure as shit give it my best shot.

I actually like cleaning and waxing our current cars but it's not like I am being meticulous about it. I've never had a car with rims either and I know those can get dirty quick. I've never owned a dark colored car and I've never had a car with leather. I plan to take really good care of this car and would like some tips on doing so. But I'm just a ****ing n00b.

I'll throw some links out from Amazon as I mention things.


Some of the things already on my list are:
1. Not sure if everyone recommends wool wash mitt over micorfiber here but many people I know do?
http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Genuin...wool+wash+mitt

2. Grit guard and two wash buckets. One for rinse and one for soap/water.

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Genuin...wool+wash+mitt

3. Waffle Weave Drying towel. There are tons of towels out there but this seems to be able to take up a lot of water.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q8DMA0/...I21164SXVV1AWB

4. Car Wash

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009IQXFO/...b_recs_2_title


Some mention that after washing you should use a paint cleanser before waxing. But wondering if washing then clay baring is sufficient prior to wax?

I've seen this P21S Paintwork Cleanser mentioned on a few reads. Looks like good use for water spots and swirls prior to waxing if needed. Not sure if you would do entire car first or just use it for bad spots before waxing?

http://www.amazon.com/P21S-12350B-Pa...twork+Cleanser


Also, a company called Zaino has great reviews and recommendations. They have a package that looks like it includes all products I'd need together including wash, polish, wax, leather and tire care.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...y_Code=prokits



I do not have a polisher and would need to get one of those as well but not sure where to start on that front.



Can't wait to see what you guys have tried and recommend.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Damn.


Heading to Amazon...

I got the Opti-Coat off Amazon. About $60 including shipping. Prep your car right and it's super easy to apply. Tube was enough for the Mustang and I applied it fairly heavy. Wish I could have had some left over for the chrome rims but I polish and wax those enough anyway.

It rained here yesterday and car was covered with water in the parking lot. Hit the interstate doing 80 MPH and all the water just sheened right off the panels. Even took a bit of the dirt with it as it ran off. Great stuff.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Well, I have a saying that's probably been muttered by black car owners before...."Once you go black, you'll NEVER go back."

I am as delicate as I can be and don't cut corners when washing. Washing her every 7-14 days, taking me about 1.5 hours each time, I still see some very light but noticeable micro-marring in the bright sun of AZ. Very frustrating. Even though the picture above looks flawless, it's not in the direct sunlight of mid day when it was taken. It's not noticeable until you are up close but still noticeable to me. Maybe I'm just being anal.

Even if I use the Optimum No Rinse formula, I always hose the car off before even touching the paint. I then use a two bucket method with grit guards in each. Two clean Microfiber wash mitts, that rarely show any dirt on them when I wash. Small panel sections at a time before rinsing the wash mitt off again. Dry with 4 waffle weave towels and blot drying as much as I can. If I do swipe across the paint to dry, the towel is held lightly at the corners and dragged across the paint with no pressure put on by my hands.

Maybe it's just the particles in the air whizzing across the car when doing 70+ MPH on my commute? Maybe this is all just common with black paint no matter how careful you can be?

I've given up on the California Duster after using it on half the hood. I could see it leaving slight marks in the paint with barely any dust and some tree pollen on the hood. I'd rather she be left a little dusty than worry about keeping her spotless but adding more micro-marring.


/Rant

Was really hoping that the Optimum coating would be some magic cure that helped with the micro scratches. I corrected my black paint when I first got my car about a year and a half ago and did the hood again recently but now has all the micro scratching. Granted you can't see this until you get a few feet from the car but find it pretty annoying. The micro scratches were not visible unless you were under bight light on my last car that was grey. I'm fairly convinced all the micro scratches happen when you wash your car and mostly when drying. I have very nice microfiber towels for all of that which helped but didn't stop the scratching.

I have a pretty good eye for detail but my dad is far worse and has two black vehicles now. He got annoyed enough that he bought a blow dryer that helped quite a lot. When I have used it the drying process is less annoying as well.

Think this is the one.
http://www.autogeek.net/mema.html

[Miles]

I had always loved the look of a black car and love the metallic paint on my M3 which has a different look of dark blue in various lighting. May consider something other than black for the next car which will not be soon. Black is a bit much on the ocd for a daily driver but looks ****ing great when clean.

[lewdog]

Having trouble with the chrome rims. Found these weird spots on them today. Nothing can be felt when running your fingernail over them. I sprayed chrome wheel cleaner on it, rinsed, dryed and still on. Then applied turtle wax chrome Polish with microfiber, buffed off, still there. I clean my wheels 2-3x per week and car was just washed Saturday And I noticed these today. I Never let crap sit on wheels very long. Any help on getting rid of these spots or what it's from?

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I got the Opti-Coat off Amazon. About $60 including shipping. Prep your car right and it's super easy to apply. Tube was enough for the Mustang and I applied it fairly heavy. Wish I could have had some left over for the chrome rims but I polish and wax those enough anyway.

It rained here yesterday and car was covered with water in the parking lot. Hit the interstate doing 80 MPH and all the water just sheened right off the panels. Even took a bit of the dirt with it as it ran off. Great stuff.

Applied it yesterday, rained today, looked great! Well, besides the fact that apparently I sucked at applying it, because I had to correct several spots today.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Applied it yesterday, rained today, looked great! Well, besides the fact that apparently I sucked at applying it, because I had to correct several spots today.

So what did you think of water on it? Did it run right off? Wait until you hose it down, it's crazy.

Yea it takes patience to level it. I followed the applicator pad with a microfiber when I did it. Seemed to take well and I could easily see streak marks on the black paint making corrections easy.

Get some pictures sometime.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Applied it yesterday, rained today, looked great! Well, besides the fact that apparently I sucked at applying it, because I had to correct several spots today.

Where is the pics?

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by lewdog

So what did you think of water on it? Did it run right off? Wait until you hose it down, it's crazy.

Yea it takes patience to level it. I followed the applicator pad with a microfiber when I did it. Seemed to take well and I could easily see streak marks on the black paint making corrections easy.

Get some pictures sometime.

I did it in the late afternoon and it was pretty cloudy, which is probably why I missed so many spots... but, think I got it all taken care of when I got home.

Yeah, it beaded up & ran off really well... there's a decent chance of rain all week, so I'm sure I'll have a few chances to take a pic, and don't think I've posted one since I got it tinted.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Where is the pics?

Well, all the water ran off by the time I got home... if it starts raining again, I'll get the car out and take a pic, which will be slightly less dorky than hosing it down in this weather.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Well, all the water ran off by the time I got home... if it starts raining again, I'll get the car out and take a pic, which will be slightly less dorky than hosing it down in this weather.

Yea, my car was covered the other day in water from a huge rain. Hit about 50 MPH+ and the water just zoomed off the car.

BRC, did you see my pictures earlier? Is your car getting a coating of some kind?

[Bearcat]

Don't remember which brand they use, but the tint shop was really pushing their self-healing clear bra... probably one of those things I'll push off until after I have to repair a bad ding.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Don't remember which brand they use, but the tint shop was really pushing their self-healing clear bra... probably one of those things I'll push off until after I have to repair a bad ding.

Ask MIADragon about those. He didn't really like them from what I remember and many claim the lines they leave are more unsightly than some dings on the front end of your ride. I chose to pass on getting one.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ask MIADragon about those. He didn't really like them from what I remember and many claim the lines they leave are more unsightly than some dings on the front end of your ride. I chose to pass on getting one.

yep, my research showed that the vast majority think the clear bra leaves a line on the car no matter how good the product.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

yep, my research showed that the vast majority think the clear bra leaves a line on the car no matter how good the product.

I've been really checking that on cars here in AZ since so many people drive nice cars. I can almost always see a line with the clear bras. Saw a horrible one on a 2 year old black BMW today that looked God awful. I'd rather fill in rock chips with touchup paint than see that line on my hood.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ask MIADragon about those. He didn't really like them from what I remember and many claim the lines they leave are more unsightly than some dings on the front end of your ride. I chose to pass on getting one.

After 9+ years, the Monte Carlo didn't have any noticeable dings, which is one reason I'm not sold... I see it as insurance as opposed to preventing the inevitable. And I've heard the same.... the lines are noticeable and even with a long warranty, yellowing/discoloration would suck.

And as anal as I've been with washing it and making sure there isn't brake dust buildup, etc; it would have to be something pretty noticeable to even annoy me, since I could just touch it up most dings.