I NEED to make my used car look like a new car

[WallStGuru]

I have a 2010 Honda Civic that I purchased in May. After the first day of owning it, I compounded and waxed the entire vehicle because I thought the dealership did a horrible job. Since Pennsylvania has had a strange winter due to global warming, I want to spend an entire day in the very near future revamping my vehicle instead of paying someone else to do it.

The color is dark blue where everything can be seen. Going through a car wash just makes my car look worse because the paint shows everything. After detailing my car with your recommendation, I plan on using the self service car wash where I will sneak in my bucket and sheepskin mitt and give my car a wash. Now, I am sure I will get many responses, but I am looking for the "perfect" combo for this car.

-What brand do you recommend?
-What package do you recommend for my car?
-What steps should I take to ensure a perfect detail?

[glen e]

by hand or by orbital?

to be "perfect", you will need an orbital....and 12-15 hours or so....

[slickooz]

Yeah are you using a machine?

I would first get couple things.
1. Grit Guards
2. clay bars
3. detail spray
4. lots of MF
5. brushes
6. wheel cleaner
7. window cleaner
8. APC+
9. DA or rotary
10. LOTS of pads
11. compound/polishes
12. sealant/wax
13. tire shine

That should be enough to get you started.

[WallStGuru]

Does anyone have product or brand recommendations for achieving maximum results for a dark blue car?

[Setec Astronomy]

You're going to get a hundred different recommendations but here is mine:

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System 5 Inch Starter Kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit (http://www.autogeek.net/da-microfiber-starter-kit-5in.html)
Meguiars Dual Action Polisher G110, meguiars g110 polisher, meguiars polisher, (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-dual-action-polisher-g110.html)

Watch the video here: Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System, paint polishing system, car polish, car detailing system, compounding system, remove scratches (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-da-microfiber-system.html) , and you will have your car looking great in no time. You might want to add a few extra pads.

Alternatively you could use the Optimum pads and polishes:

Optimum Microfiber Polishing Pad, microfiber pad (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-microfiber-polish-pad-525.html)
Optimum Microfiber Cutting Pad, compounding pad, microfiber disc (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-microfiber-cutting-pad-525.html)
Optimum Hyper Polish Spray, Optimum spray polish, hyper spray polish, Optimum car polishes (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-hyper-polish-spray.html)
Optimum Hyper Compound Spray (http://www.autogeek.net/opt-hyper-compound-spray.html)
Optimum GPS Glaze Polish Sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-gps.html)

[WallStGuru]

Thanks!!!!



you're going to get a hundred different recommendations but here is mine:

meguiars da microfiber correction system 5 inch starter kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit (http://www.autogeek.net/da-microfiber-starter-kit-5in.html)
meguiars dual action polisher g110, meguiars g110 polisher, meguiars polisher, (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-dual-action-polisher-g110.html)

watch the video here: meguiars da microfiber correction system, paint polishing system, car polish, car detailing system, compounding system, remove scratches (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-da-microfiber-system.html) , and you will have your car looking great in no time. You might want to add a few extra pads.

Alternatively you could use the optimum pads and polishes:

optimum microfiber polishing pad, microfiber pad (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-microfiber-polish-pad-525.html)
optimum microfiber cutting pad, compounding pad, microfiber disc (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-microfiber-cutting-pad-525.html)
optimum hyper polish spray, optimum spray polish, hyper spray polish, optimum car polishes (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-hyper-polish-spray.html)
optimum hyper compound spray (http://www.autogeek.net/opt-hyper-compound-spray.html)
optimum gps glaze polish sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-gps.html)

[WallStGuru]

Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to all of your great responses.



About a month ago, I got my car professionally detailed from a buddy of mine that I went to HS with that now owns a restoration detail shop in my area. They really are the best of the best in the area. Its called Oakes Detailing. My car looked amazing when it was done.



Unfortunately, I do A LOT of highway driving and it is time for me to keep up with what my buddy started with. I go to the self service car wash on a weekly basis to use their high pressured water hose with my own Meguiars Gold Class Soap to clean the car. All I do is pour a little bit onto the car and rinse it off. I am VERY afarid to use my sheepskin wash mitt to wash the car with soap because I am afarid that it may scratch or cause swirls in my paint. My car is dark blue and shows everything



I am really looking for advice on keeping up with my car. My buddy who is the detailer has yet to get back to me on what to do to keep up with the look and I really need to do something about my car before it is too late and I need to spend two full days on the car.



I have been looking at Chemical Guys products, but not sure what to get. I deff need something for bug and tar removal and then an overall way to actually wash the car on a weekly basis at the self service. I do NOT use their brushes or anything. I strictly go to a self service car wash for their high pressured water spray since I am not allowed to wash my car in my development and use it to rinse my car off first and then pour Meguiars Gold Class soap on it.



Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[BobbyG]

Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to all of your great responses.

I am really looking for advice on keeping up with my car. My buddy who is the detailer has yet to get back to me on what to do to keep up with the look and I really need to do something about my car before it is too late and I need to spend two full days on the car.

I have been looking at Chemical Guys products, but not sure what to get. I deff need something for bug and tar removal and then an overall way to actually wash the car on a weekly basis at the self service. I do NOT use their brushes or anything. I strictly go to a self service car wash for their high pressured water spray since I am not allowed to wash my car in my development and use it to rinse my car off first and then pour Meguiars Gold Class soap on it.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It did take you a while to get back but at least you came back! :props:

Everyone would love nothing more than to drive around in a perfect defect free car with a showroom finish. The problem with that philosophy is it's nearly impossible because driving the car subjects it to all of the variables that caused the finish defects in the first place.

Washing your car at once a week under normal conditions will keep the finish looking it's best. Removing surface contamination before it becomes embedded is paramount to maintaining a cars finish.

Washing with a quality car wash mixed as directed will dissolve and float away most surface contamination. Once the car is thoroughly washed and rinsed, dry it using a leaf blower. Drying it using this method avoids touching the finish at all therefore not imparting additonal defects while drying.

As a booster apply a quality spray car wax. Autogeek has many to choose from and personally I prefer Optimum Spray Car Wax or Duragloss Aquawax.

For maintaining that freshly detailed look Mike Phillips has written just an article that might be just what the doctor ordered...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/40056-how-maintain-freshly-waxed-car.html

[darkangelism]

It is a daily driver, you are not going to be able to keep it perfect. You might want to see if your detailing friend can do a coating like opticoat.

Do you have a garage? Keep the door closed and use a no rinse car wash.

[WallStGuru]

Thanks Bobby G! I will look into that

[WallStGuru]

Darkangelism-I do have a garage. Have you used the no rinse car wash before? I just cant see how it actually works and not leaves a film on the paint

[FUNX650]

Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to all of your great responses.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/charlie-martinsheen.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/49664)



:)

Bob

NOTE: I'll be back in a little while.

[darkangelism]

Darkangelism-I do have a garage. Have you used the no rinse car wash before? I just cant see how it actually works and not leaves a film on the paint
no, though i am getting some soon to test, but you wipe it off with a MF towel, so it doesn't sit on the the paint.

How To Use A Rinseless Wash, no rinse car wash, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, Detailer's Pro Series Rinseless Wash & Gloss, ONR (http://www.autogeek.net/how-to-use-rinseless-wash.html)

[WallStGuru]

I love it ha! Thanks for the kind welcome back

[WallStGuru]

Thanks Darkaangelism!