[patp811#yahoo.com]

Whats the best thing to use on the tires to get that "just picked my car up from the dealer" look back?
They looked so nice there for a bout a week or so and now they are dull again. I hear that some of that tire shine is not good - best ideas? Thanks!

 

[chitown1211]

QUOTE (PattyNY811 @ Jul 15 2010, 07:43 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=342128

Whats the best thing to use on the tires to get that "just picked my car up from the dealer" look back?
They looked so nice there for a bout a week or so and now they are dull again. I hear that some of that tire shine is not good - best ideas? Thanks!

I have used Armor All foaming spray for about 4 years now on all my cars. Easy to control, just spray and walk away. and the shine lasts a long time. I have never noticed any ill effects to my tires.

 

[chitown1211]

QUOTE (Mobile11 @ Jul 14 2010, 10:38 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=341631

The kit comes with a bottle of Quick Detailer to use in conjuction with the clay bar and I have been using it constantly on my car. Since the car is black, dust shows up the first time you drive it after washing so I just spray on the QD and wipe it off using microfiber towels about every other day and it's a pretty good no-water solution and only takes a few minutes.

Any risk of swirl marks or light scratches doing this?

 

[shinigami]

no swirl marks from quick detailer, after using it a few times. maybe it's just hard to see the swirls on the paint.

different question: i used rain-x on the glass, and swirls show up sometimes on the glass. any tips with rain-x anybody?

 

[jng34c]

Clay bars will not leave swirl marks unless the bar picks up a lot of debris and you're not folding it over for a clean section. You shouldn't experience much of any issues as long as you clean the car well before you clay bar. Oh, and you don't have to follow the circle method with waxing and clay barring... some folks just apply in the direction the wind hits the car. Also, CLAY BAR THE WINDOWS. Yes, it seems strange to some, but clay bar them really well and this gets a lot of that caked on grit that keeps water from sheeting properly. I don't recommend Rain-X. I don't like it. I just clean the windows with Invisible Glass really well, then clay bar along with the rest of the car, and THEN apply a thin coat of wax just like with the rest of the car. This does the trick and you don't have to worry about all the smearing that rain-x causes.

 

[shinigami]

QUOTE (Proprioceptive @ Jul 16 2010, 08:24 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=342195

Clay bars will not leave swirl marks unless the bar picks up a lot of debris and you're not folding it over for a clean section. You shouldn't experience much of any issues as long as you clean the car well before you clay bar. Oh, and you don't have to follow the circle method with waxing and clay barring... some folks just apply in the direction the wind hits the car. Also, CLAY BAR THE WINDOWS. Yes, it seems strange to some, but clay bar them really well and this gets a lot of that caked on grit that keeps water from sheeting properly. I don't recommend Rain-X. I don't like it. I just clean the windows with Invisible Glass really well, then clay bar along with the rest of the car, and THEN apply a thin coat of wax just like with the rest of the car. This does the trick and you don't have to worry about all the smearing that rain-x causes.

so rain-x is known to leave residue on the glass? it feels like every time i clean the windows and only minutes later, i can see the swirl shaped residue on the windows..
should i clay bar the windows with car cleaning substance (meguiar's quik detailer) or a glass cleaning substance?

 

[Mobile11]

QUOTE (PattyNY811 @ Jul 15 2010, 07:43 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=342128

Whats the best thing to use on the tires to get that "just picked my car up from the dealer" look back?
They looked so nice there for a bout a week or so and now they are dull again. I hear that some of that tire shine is not good - best ideas? Thanks!

I use this NXT Tire Shine and it works really well and also easy to apply.

 

[jng34c]

QUOTE (shinigami @ Jul 16 2010, 08:56 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=342199

so rain-x is known to leave residue on the glass? it feels like every time i clean the windows and only minutes later, i can see the swirl shaped residue on the windows..
should i clay bar the windows with car cleaning substance (meguiar's quik detailer) or a glass cleaning substance?

I don't know if it's known for this... but I've never liked it myself. When you clay bar, if you're using the Meguiars clay bar kit you can buy at Walmart, just use the quick detailer spray it comes with. Definitely do not use glass cleaner. The quick detailer spray is a great lubricant, won't smear when you wipe it off and cleans the paint job well... plus it smells good!

 

[13loody]

You can clean your car the quick and easy way, or you can thoroughly detail it. It all depends on how much time and money you're willing to put in.
1. Use a fine claybar and lots of quickdetail
2. Buff out microscratches, Meguiar's Professional line
3. apply Menzerna FMJ sealant
4. Next day, Wax
a. use a paste wax for ease (apply every month)
b. use a 100% carnauba wax for longer lasting shine (2-3 months)

 

[shinigami]

QUOTE (13loody @ Jul 29 2010, 04:34 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=345801

You can clean your car the quick and easy way, or you can thoroughly detail it. It all depends on how much time and money you're willing to put in.
1. Use a fine claybar and lots of quickdetail
2. Buff out microscratches, Meguiar's Professional line
3. apply Menzerna FMJ sealant
4. Next day, Wax
a. use a paste wax for ease (apply every month)
b. use a 100% carnauba wax for longer lasting shine (2-3 months)

thanks but
what's Menzerna FMJ sealant? why do I need this if i am going to wax anyway?
and i guess ill go with carnauba wax then because i can't wax every month.

 

[acrscotland]

I just cleaned mine last weekend - took me about 10 hours:

- Wash with car shampoo and dry thoroughly
- Used this kit to clay bar the car completely: http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-07240-Califo...0621&sr=8-5
- Polish with this: http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-A2116-Deep-...0653&sr=1-1
- Waxed with this: http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars--2216-Cryst...0662&sr=1-3
- Cleaned the wheels and applied 3 coats of this: http://www.amazon.com/Poorboys-World-Wheel...0742&sr=1-1
- Clean the windows with this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-06616-Glass-...0906&sr=8-1

I usually Rain-X, too but I ran out of time - next time perhaps!

Overall I'm really pleased with how everything came out - the quality of the paint is much better than my old 2008 Subaru. It's well worth getting a good clean/wax in while the paint is new as it's just maintenance from here on out! Oh, and the wheel sealant is one of my favourite products - brake dust, tar etc can't stick. Fantastic stuff!!

 

[Garnerwolf]

Guess this comes down to personal opinion, but I'm struggling with doing the whole clay bar/wax thing on a brand new car. I just washed mine for the first time last night (got less than 300 mi on her) and the water beaded up very nicely. I realize this is not the sole indicator of how much protection is on the paint.

Do you guys think detailing it when it's very new is "necessary" or just "preferred"? (Need to do my daughter's car first before she goes back to school, and I don't have that many free 6 - 10 hour blocks of time).

Thanks

 

[acrscotland]

I think it comes down to personal preference and time, honestly. I didn't do it in a 10-hour block - it was really in 2-3 hour sessions over the course of a weekend. Regarding the clay bar, I have to say I was amazed at how many contaminants were removed with it - even on a new car. I think it could certainly be missed if you were short on time but I'm glad I did it just so I know I was starting with a 'clean canvas'!

Incidentally, here's a great thread on tips and tricks other people have learning. I'm going to try the one idea to ease Rain-X application - basically clean window, load up on Rain-x and then wash your car as normal!

http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...ned-thread.html

 

[shinigami]

QUOTE (acrscotland @ Jul 29 2010, 09:20 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=345856

I think it comes down to personal preference and time, honestly. I didn't do it in a 10-hour block - it was really in 2-3 hour sessions over the course of a weekend. Regarding the clay bar, I have to say I was amazed at how many contaminants were removed with it - even on a new car. I think it could certainly be missed if you were short on time but I'm glad I did it just so I know I was starting with a 'clean canvas'!

Incidentally, here's a great thread on tips and tricks other people have learning. I'm going to try the one idea to ease Rain-X application - basically clean window, load up on Rain-x and then wash your car as normal!

http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...ned-thread.html

ugh, i have to wash the whole car to do this? i usuaully just use ultimate quik detailer by meguiar's, so i never washed my car yet..

 

[acrscotland]

You don't have to! At least you're using the Quik Detailer - it's much better than nothing. It's definitely an undertaking - I have always done it twice a year with my cars - before and after winter. I don't have the time/motivation to do it more frequently!!

 

[shinigami]

QUOTE (acrscotland @ Jul 29 2010, 10:14 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=345871

You don't have to! At least you're using the Quik Detailer - it's much better than nothing. It's definitely an undertaking - I have always done it twice a year with my cars - before and after winter. I don't have the time/motivation to do it more frequently!!

i doubt i can mix the detailer on top of rainx to do this method. probably has to be a real car wash.

 

[acrscotland]

Sorry! My bad - I guess I didn't read your reply properly - I didn't realize you were referring to the rain-x method! You're right - quik detailer definitely won't cut it and you'd have to wash the whole car....!