Ugh - Correcting Paint after "Dealer Prep"

[USMCStang]

Well, figured I'd post back up here after spending a weekend detailing the truck! I didn't really take many pictures, since I was way too busy (and excited) to worry about it, but I did get a basic before and after at least!

Products/ process used

1. Wash (foam cannon/ 2 bucket mehod) w/Meguiar's Deep Crystal wash
2. Iron-X spray on paint, Iron-X gel on wheels, Meguiar's All-wheel cleaner on wheels.
3. Pressure washer rinsedown
4. Tar-X in wheel wells, front bumper, any other tar/ bugs I found on the paint.
5. Another wash w/deep crystal
6. "Polished" glass w/Meg's ultimate compund, Old 6" yellow pad, and Griot's 6" DA (except mirrors)
7. Began polishing process using Meg's Ultimate Polish/ lake country white pad. Ultimate Compund as-needed in the worst swirl areas.
8. Polished bumpers, running boards, and exhaust tip with Nevr-Dull
9. Full IPA wipedown
10. Final glass clean with Meguiars Perfect Clarity
11. Rain-X on all exterior glass
12. All black plastic trim coated with Meguiars Ultimate Black Plastic Trim Restorer
13. 303 protectant on tonneau cover
14. Turtle Wax Graphene Flex Wax (spray) on all exterior surfaces except glass, wheel wells, and tires
15. Endurance Tire Shine on tires

As you can see, I like my Meguiar's products, lol. They've always served me well, and I almost unequivocally use OTC products that I've grown to trust over the years. The only product that was new to me was the Turtle Wax Graphene...it was an experiment, and I have to say, I love the stuff already. I haven't done a maintenance wash yet, but compared to the Meguiar's Ceramic Spray, I have to say it's definitely glossier, seems to darken the color more, and slicker. As Mr. Phillips says, "find products you love, and stick with them".

Happy to say the swirls are gone, the wheels are gleaming, and, at least until it rains, I like just pulling the truck into the sun and staring at it from my deck while having a beer! Thanks everyone for all of the advice, insight, and help!

I haven't done the interior yet, but it really doesn't need anything other than a vacuum and 303 application.

Before ever touching the paint myself (including washing, obviously, lol):


Nearing end of process. Polishing and waxing wheels:




End result! (minus some endurance tire gel)

[pilotpip]

Mother's all-chrome spray works great on all the chrome and shiny plastic on 150s.