got new 240, advise on detailing??

Post by **sh4de** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

just bought a '98 s14, been driving it for about a week and it's starting to lose some of that showroom shine. So i am going to try to wash it and stuff on sunday. I got some turtle wax and some turtle wax polish, tire cleaner, and armorall stuff for the interior. My question is can anyone recommend any products for the lenses especially headlights, the front and back bumper and the rims? Also feel free to include any techniques that you use for detailing yours. And, is there any part of the body that i should not apply wax to? Sorry i don't know a lot, before this i drove a '90 s13 and didn't worry so much about keeping it clean and shiny. thanks. ---matt

Post by **b240** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Without getting to into it. Dont use armorall unless you plan on putting it on atleast once a week.

Post by **big jon's 240** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Im not a big fan of "turtle wax". I'd go with meguire's (sp?) or Eagle one. Just spend some time reading the labels of stuff at the autoparts store for wheel cleaner, or lens polish's. Look around on the internet, there are dozens of detailing guides out there.

Post by **Infamous** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

i just washed my moms car today, it was dirty as hell, i washed it with dish soap (to strip the wax) i dried it, and applied 2 coats of Meguiars Gold Class Liquid wax (safe for clearcoats

) and applied Meguiars High Endurance to the tires, and well the whole car looks like its wet, i almost busted a nut it looked so good. the high endurance can get messy, just warn you. before you wax, make sure the car is completely dry, get in the jambs, and get water that can be trapped in between stuff, cuz it sucks when your trying to apply wax and water gets all over. and take your time. use windex for lens and windows (you can go to an automotive store and get the "automotive glass cleaner" i just prefer windex)

Cliffnotes:soap = dish (to strip all the wax)soap after wax = meguiars is recommendedwax = meguairs gold class liquidtires = meguiars high enduranceinterior = just windex for all surface (unless your dash looks horrid, use some type of "armor all" type product (ie: meguiars)

Post by **nametakennow** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Meguiars is definitely the best for about anything.

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Meguiars = #1 or Mothers = #2Wash, Wash again, Wax, Wax, Wax, Polish.

I always use a specialty glass cleaner.. windex streaks.un bolt your seats and remove if you really wanna vaccume deap.. its the only way to get all the crud. apholstory(Sp) cleaner, Then armorall everything.Then spray a few mists of your favorite car fragrence(sp) and let it sit for a while.

Mmm.. shiny.

Post by **GELLIS2586** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

I do car detailing for a business and any kind of Turtle Wax product sucks. I use mothers carnauba wax and or Zymol (waterbased no swirl marks) it all depends on the condition of the paint. If it hasn't been waxed before or in awhile clay bar it to get all the trapped minerals and road grime that cause oxidation then wax. Meguairs leather cleaner is the best and I use meguairs quick detailer to completely smooth out the wax. For tires use eagle one or black magic. On the inerior I use just water. Mist it on there and wipe it off armorall and other shiny products cause a build up of heat on the dash and makes cracks. For windows i use stoner invisible glass, it leaves no streaks what so ever especially if you use newspaper to clean the windows with. If you wanna shine your engine up just spray wd-40 around it doesnt last a long time but makes it look good. And finally make sure you wash and wax your car in shade.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Cyberkreig wrote:Meguiars = #1 or Mothers = #2Wash, Wash again, Wax, Wax, Wax, Polish.

Nobody told you that you polish before wax?

Post by **djtodd** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

I swear by Meguiars. Love the stuff.

Machine glaze every now and then for oxidized spots/sections and show car glaze for that wet finish.

Post by **Infamous** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

i wash in broad daylight, the hood is ususally so hott i cant leave my hand on it for more than two seconds

, but hay, im not going outa my way to find a garage, wait 10 years for some shade treees ti grow, or clean out the garage, so if it works, use it:D

Post by **skydragoness** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

you don't have to have a garage to park in or trees to park under. just wash the car during a cooler part of the day and you can always take the car to a self-wash place and park it in a bay and do it there (don't piss people off or nothing!)

i detail my car myself as well.--Turtlewax sucks very much.but i do have a turtlewax polish (for 'white cars' that actually works pretty good for discolorations and such but it leaves a lot of swirl marks and doesn't last long--any recommenditions?) and i do use turtlewax-brand tire gelbut as far as wax/polish goes, stay away!!

--right now i am using Meguiar's which is very very goodi do like the sound of Zymol. as i do get those swirl marks a lot.---I use Mother's Wheel Polish for my rims--and i don't really clean my interior class per se' i use some anti-fog stuff on the inside class, and my 'Absorber' towel dries up the car and the glass nicely.

my double deuce is immaculate... mwahaha

Post by **BB Turbo** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Yeah, well, i have been around a few of the dealership detailing places so i guess i know my fair share. Anyways.Make sure you got the right products, of course. For most of the products, my family jus uses meguiars for everything.Heres a process that i have known for a long time, and is usedfor when you really want to get in depth and get everything.1.Evaluate, look and feel around your car, see what chemicals or products that you might need, on the inside too. Depending on the color of your car, if it i a light color, then you do not need to get the full wax and polish thing that most people do, why? Because lighter colored cars do not absorb as much light as darker colored cars, go ahead and do it i guess if you wanna enter it in a show where thy take extra notice on little things like that. If it is darker colored, i wold recommend the meguairs 1 2 3 step cleaning system, it is time consuming, but it looks really nice. But actually, what i have found, is if you use the meguairs gold class clay bar, it is the best thing you have ever done, so before anything, please use the clay bar, the results are unbelievable in my opinion, so check that out. Moving along though.2. Wash, park your car in the shade, and make sure it is nice and cool so the water wont dry early and leave dry spots, tats only if you are very meticulous lie my family, anyways, i would try out meguiars gold class or crystal car wash, very nice those too, then dry with a chamois, or shammy, whatever or terry cloth. For the inside, just take your pick, i dunno what youll wanna do witht the inside, so uh.....do whatever until it meets your standards, i got my ways, but its too long t explain3.This would be where the 3step deal comes in, either meguairs or mothers would do.4. Wax. Use either a liqd or paste you decide, use meguairs, or mothers.Since your worried about the lenses in the lights, its probably a conensation build up, use a blowdryer to take it off.

Post by **Infamous** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

BB Turbo H C S15 wrote: park your car in the shade, and make sure it is nice and cool so the water wont dry early and leave dry spots

what i do, is just keep spraying the car, like if i do the hood first, then work my way back, and notice the hood getting dry, i just spray it with the hose, it works

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Luke wrote:Nobody told you that you polish before wax?

Doesnt the meguires bottle say the to wax then polish?

Post by **BB Turbo** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Actually, to get the hazinss out of your lenses in the front, take them off, o the lense part that is hazy, either blowdry it or use nail polish remover, goo gone, or even paitn thinner in certain cases, they all work and are good, i just cant stand lenses that are like that, im a neat freak. Haha, you all should see my room.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Cyberkreig wrote:Doesnt the meguires bottle say the to wax then polish?

I don't remember what the bottle says. I do know that you use polish to remove blemishes and remove old wax and whatnot. Which means it's going to have some type of abrasive in it to do that. The meguiars 3 step system also has "1-cleaner, 2-polish, 3-carnauba wax". Just tryin to help, the way i learned is you polish to deepen the shine, and wax to protect it in the end...

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

that makes sense.. You are probably right. I'd have to go read my Meguires bottle to know how i did it the last time.. And its easier for my lasy *** to just belive you.. sorry for posting mis-information.

Post by **sh4de** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 12:31 pm

Thanks to all, that's pretty much what I understood the wash-polish-wax order to be also. --matt

got new 240, advise on detailing??

got new 240, advise on detailing??

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