Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Detailing my Car

I have a want/need to detail my car, even after everything that has happened. I have been doing a lot of reading and have come up with a process, please let me know what you all think.

1. Wash car with Dawn/Water combination to remove all the dirt from the car

2. Clay Bar (z-18) to remove all the tar/particles/crud etc, with water/Z7 in a spray bottle as lube

3. 3M Swirl/Scratch remover

4. Wash car with z7

5. Z1 to "pretreat" car for polish

6. Z2 to polish car

How many times should I apply the Z2 once I am done? Am I missing any steps? Let me know if I need to do anything differently. BTW, I have never detailed my car before

Those look like the steps I'll be using when it warms up. As for how many coats of Z2 - as many as you want. The more you add, the more it'll reflect.

I anticipate spending a good day doing this, maybe I can sway Antonio to let me "borrow" some Zaino when I am home in a few weeks BTW, have you used the glass cleaner? My windshields are awful, mostly because I used to smoke in the car...used to

Windex should probably work just fine, but I got some junk from Pep Boys called Stoners Glass Cleaner or something.. Works good, dunno if it's actually any better or not, but whatever.

You'll probably be more pleased with the results if you have your car buffed out. I would do this after clay bar-ing. If you know how to do it, knock yourself out, otherwise take it to a detailer. As for window cleaner, try a solution of half windshield washer fluid, half water, and use newspaper.

I tried glass cleaner and all it did was streak and and did not remove the haze. It is just awful.

Use baby shampoo, stuff works like a dream.

Windex has always worked okay for me. Not great, but I don't smoke so it works. I have seen that Stoners stuff recommend before and might try that next. I have not used the Zaino glass cleaner.

I used a buffer once in my life and I wouldn't trust myself to do my new cars. Maybe with more practice, but I intend to try the 3M stuff first. It's cheaper than paying someone else and probably will be enough.

Really baby shampoo, never heard of that one.

Dweezel I wouldn't be myself if I didn't check in here, especially since its so close to spring, so heres my perscrirtion:

1. wash car with quality car wash soap
2. depending on your cars condition go with
Mequiars Body scrub (if really oxidized) or
Mequiars cleaner wax
3. then apply a coat of Mequiars #7 glaze polish
4. after that, depending on the color of your car
I'd go with Mequiars Gold class, if its dark,
or Mequiars #26 Hi-tech yellow wax
5. if you really wanna add some "extra" protection
apply a coat of Mequiars #20 Polymer sealant

Don't forget about rims and tires too. Mequiars Endurance Hi-gloss is the best, period, for your tires Good luck with whatever you use but with the money left over from the buying of Mequiars, you can buy some other car cleaning/detailing items