Waxing, Polishing and Sealing your paint on your M37, Q70

[DubXSY51]

Disclaimer: I am not a professional Detailer (though my work is quite close) please use extreme caution when Polishing your car. I am not responsible for any damage done while using the products disclosed in this post. Always read the directions and or visit this link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... r9V52Nv9XI for all of the Manufactures how to videos.

That being said..... here is a list of what to have on hand:

Materials List:
1) Large microfiber shammy
2) Masking tape (jams, headlights etc.)
3) Freshly washed or brand new buffing pads
4) Your favorite Buffing or Orbital Wheel and Polishing compounds ( I used Griot's Garage)
5) Gloves and Safety glasses (trust me compound in the eye hurts like a m*f*er)

***Prior to attempting any polishing or Sealing of your paint wash your vehicle and wipe completely dry before you start this process. Also I recommend doing all work inside a Garage or area shaded from direct sunlight and heat (if possible) due to the compound requirements for adhering properly to the clear coat.



Here is what I used on my car, Griot's Garage Machine Polish 3 step (no longer available) newer complete 1 step Compound available.

[DubXSY51]

Here is the finished product...more pictures to come!
Hood

Fender

Rear lid

Door


Front



Tell me what you think, also what is everybody using out there? Waxes Carnauba? That's what I like

[Larz]

HA!! I have been a Griot's customer since forever! I have NEVER been disappointed with a single product. Your car looks absolutely brilliant!
It's a crying shame that no photograph can accurately show the depth and pop that these products provide.
I've just upgraded to the BOSS system with the Boss G15 machine and the correcting, perfecting, and finishing creams. My car has NEVER been garaged since new and the finish beats ANY new car in the showroom - just like yours. Twice a yer I spend the better part of an entire day cleaning, clay bar, polishing, and waxing. Prices are higher than the ho-hum products at the auto shop, but you use so little, they last for years.
Well done, mate!

[DubXSY51]

Thanks Larz! Good to hear I am not the only Griot's believer, I still have some waxing and a sealer to put on, more pictures to come... The Boss G15 is an awesome machine, I am envious

[Debonair]

Nice write up and great result! The only suggestion I have is to add clay baring the paint to the regiment. Black can look amazing when kept up and clean.

I have a UDM but still have not got around to polishing out the whole car. I saw this post late last night and it made me laugh because I had just finished washing, clay baring, waxing, and sealing my paint. This after I taped off and machine polished my headlights back to full clear. A final full wipe down and... it was too dark for pics. Maybe today.

Clay Magic Clay
Meguires Ultimate Liquid Wax
Auto Magic Polymer Seal It
HD Touch Detailer (this stuff leave the paint super slick)

Optimum Compound & Optimum Polish (for the head lights)

[DubXSY51]

Yes! absolutely Debonair ~ I absolutely agree Clay bar needs to be part of the process, I have only had to lightly touch up my car with a Clay bar due to some road tar. Headlights so far are looking pretty good, but may need to polish them in the future, I usually hand wax them just to give them a little protection. Will be posting some more pics of the process
*Front Picture do over*
(I Blanked out License Plates)



Sorry Rookie mistake, tried to edit but it has been too long and others have replied.

[walt1227]

Looks good! I have all the stuff to do mine but haven't had time to get around to it. I have the entire Meguires Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit, Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, and the Gold Class Carnauba Paste Wax. I bought the Chemical guys TorqX buffer kit that came with the bottles of polish all still in the box. Probably will use the Chemical guys stuff first and use the Meguires stuff later.

[mrnix]

Good info. I have been using Chemical Guys stuff on My M37X since it got it last year. It is Malbec Black, and the last round I did a coat of Black Light glaze topped by Pete's 53 Black Wax. Thankfully I wax it regularly, because my son spray spray paint on it in April, and I think there was enough wax over the clear coat which allowed the spray paint to come off with goo gone.
That day after I removed the paint, I applied Black Light glaze, Jet Seat sealant, then Butter Wet wax and was very happy with the results.

[DubXSY51]

Testing Some of the newer Griots Garage Products:
____________________________________________
1) Complete Compound for 6" Orbital
2) One Step Sealant & Wax
3) 36" Microfiber waffle Cloth with pockets
4) 6" Microfiber Fast Finishing Pad
5) 6" Foam Correcting Pad
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

____________________________________________
Results and Ratings

Rating for ease of use: Five Stars! I found the 6" Microfiber orbital pad to be my favorite for correcting small defects, swirls and scratches in clear coat.

Rating for application: 4.5 Stars ~ I found the Microfiber pad my favorite for even spreading of compound across the face of the pad, very little clumping and easily brush off any
excess with your fingertips.However coats tended to go on to a little thick in some spots and speed control would often need to be adjusted on the polisher to thin the layering effect. The Foam Correcting Pad seemed to spread a little easier without needing to speed up or down on variable control.

Rating for scratch & swirl removal: 4.5 Stars ~ Most large and obvious defects in the finish completely removed!HoweverMany passes were needed to achieve this result, so a lot of work.

Rating for 36" Microfiber waffle cloth: 5 Stars! Wonderful at drying and also clean wiping of the polished surface, also it can be used as a drying rack for other shammy or microfiber towles. Highly recommend this product!

As always, the 6" Orbital Variable speed Polisher performed flawlessly, and with the new buffing Pads (and some of the old) the whole experience was a rewarding and came out as close to flawless as can be expected. As Larz has stated in the past..

It's a crying shame that no photograph can accurately show the depth and pop that these products provide.

there is not a camera or cell phone that can adequately display the liquid like shine of the black paint in the sun and the wonderful smell of fresh polish in the garage air. After 2 coats you tell your self just just 1 more to make sure...and then that turns into one more and so on. Polish for the love of it, use what you are comfortable with, I hope this post at least details some products to try and gets you inspired!
Pictures

[GMBQ70]

Your ride looks amazing! Nice job & thanks for the write up.

[Larz]

I agree with your ratings completely. And you don't have to have the BOSS machine to use the BOSS system liquids. I prefer the orange pad to the micro fiber polishing on the hood and the trunk, but use the micro fiber pads for everything else. Seems harder to determine how much pressure and speed on the horizontal surfaces with the newer pads. I guess I've just been using the colored pads too long and I am less familiar with the newer ones. I am blessed in that I have a white car. Black is the absolute hardest to get to a finish like you have but it is soooo amazing to see it when you achieve that deep lustre and pop. For my car, it's achieving the finish that appears as a fine gem-like pearl. It gets a very deep lustre and the finest little scratch that make you groan on a black car is very hard to see on a pearl coat.
The best results I've seen on cars are from Griot's, Chemical Guys, and Zino. They always out perform any parts shop products - not that they aren't worth using, mind you. They just don't perform as well.