This will be my first time detailing my G and first time doing anything other than a wash.

I have read autotopia sites and there is a lot of information and i have read the threads here. I am coming to get insight from others as to what i should do.

The car is a 03, i feel the paint is in good condition but there are some fine scatches, which can be compared to driving past a tree/bush and getting marks that show the metal. Car is Carib Blue.

What products and steps would you recommend me to do. The only thing i have purchased to far is a Clay bar package

Thanks for taking the time to right up or post threads i did not search for.

 

you're probably going to need to polish the paint too... for first timers,
how about you get a cotton pad and Meguiar's ScratchX and go at it
by hand? do 4-5 apps with elbow grease. it's tough work but the
results are very nice.

wax, NXT would be easy to do, or just go to www.detailersparadise.com and
get some Prima Hydro. it is a spray wax but will outlast NXT.

 

Thank you. I'll pick up the ScratchX tonight. I have access to a PC, but i guess elbow grease will do

 

Step One: Wash entire car with Dawn Original Dish Soap. I use the same methods as you for the wash except I dry with an "Absorber". Essentially it is a Sponge Rag. I really like them, they work great and leave no scratches as long as you have gotten the whole car really clean. I wash with dawn ONLY TWICE A YEAR. I do this specifically because of its detergent properties. It eats away all the crap on the car including any old wax still on the car. While washing the car I use EAGLE ONE WHEEL CLEANER... pick the one you like, but I spray the "chrome and wire" spray right on the clear coated wheels. I have to wear rubber gloves because it burns my hands. I do one wheel at a time, get it wet before I spray the stuff on there, then use a good sponge to get everything off and then spray them off. Sometimes I jack up the car and really go nuts with the wheels by taking them off and just detailing the wheels completely separate. In between I use Blue Coral or Mothers or Meguiars or Turtle Wax Car Wash. Not quite as harsh.

Step Two: I Clay Bar. This step should be done in a garage. This step removes any impurities that the dawn couldn't get off. Do one panel at a time, spray the **** out of the panel with the detailer spray and then rub the clay into it. Don't be scared of it, rub hard and don't do it on ANY DRY OR EXCESSIVELY HOT SURFACES. Black gets hot quick so just do it inside or under a carport or something to be in the shade.

Step Two B: Repeat Step One.

Step Two C: Windows, Tires, and Rubber: As soon as I finish clay barring the car I add Wet Tire Gel to the tires, I use Mothers Back to Black on the rubber and black plastic and do the windows with Zep foaming spray glass cleaner. I use lots of different tire stuff all the time, I prefer the Gel's, but I think that the NXT Extreme shine spray is pretty damn good.

Step Three: I wish I could say I tape off all the black plastic, but I don't. If you want to be perfect you should.

Step Four: Clean the paint. I use Mothers Paint Cleaner (Step 1). I do it one panel at a time using a Porter Cable 7424 to apply and a good high quality microfiber rag to remove it. This step really does wonders on minor scratches and swirl marks.

Step Five: Polish. I use Mothers Polish (Step 2). Again, I do it one panel at a time and etc. This step really makes the color POP. WIll look sick.

Step Six: Sealant. Most people use a Carnuba Wax, but I prefer synthetic. I use Meguiars NXT Tech Wax. I love this stuff. Seriously. I might try the Eagle One Nano wax because the pacakaging is cool, but I like the NXT. I apply to the entire car at the same time. It comes off real easy. This step seals the work you have done thus far to the paint.

Step Seven: Chrome stuff. I use Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish on the Exhaust tips and anything chrome like the logos.

I only do this twice a year or before a big show off or something important. In between I wash and use Meguiars NXT Tech Wax and tire spray. And this is just the exterior. The interior is pretty basic, I vacuum like a meth head and use a tooth brush and all that to get all the dirt out. I then use protectant gel on all the panels and use lexol cleaner and lexol non darkening leather conditioner. My product choices are all pretty easy to get and relatively inexpensive but lots of people swear by Zaino, but I think my process looks just as good as theirs for a hell of a lot less.

 

Bassholic - if this doesn't do the trick for you, I'd recommend using the PC along with some quality polish(es). Sometimes the paint will need a multi-step polish combination to really get the results you are looking for since you mentioned it would be like driving the car past a tree or bush.

Wash your vehicle, clay to properly prep the surface, then start with the least aggressive polish and work your way up the levels of aggressiveness until you achieve the desired results you are looking for. Afterwards you could continue to apply a glaze to help hide in imperfections that were unable to be buffed out by the polish combination.

After those steps, your clear coat will be in the best condition, now it is time to protect it. Follow up with your favorite sealant and / or wax.

If you'd like some product recommendations let me know.

Let us know how you make out with everything.

George