Flex 3401 and Meguiars Combo Advise!

[Kyle.Meredith]

Hi all!

I've recently taken delivery of Flex 3401 which - due to the deal I managed to blah - came with a selection of pads and some Meguiars products. However, due to my lack of experience I thought it would be best to seek the unlimited advise of the AutoGeek community as to how to proceed.

The tools I have at my disposal are:

• Flex 3401 (obviously)
• Chemical Guys Hex-Logic - Green Heavy Polishing Pad
• Chemical Guys - White 5.5" Hex-Logic Pad X2
• Chemical Guys - Black 5.5" Hex-Logic Pad
• Meguiars Bodyshop #9 Swirl Remover
• Meguairs #80 Speed Glaze
• Meguiars #83 Cleaner/Polish
• Meguiars Ultimate Compound
• Meguiars Ultimate (Synthetic) Wax

The vehicle is a late 2009 VW Passat CC GT in Pearl Black [UK].

I am her second owner from new and from the looks of things, the previous owner used to wash her with an old sponge and bucket he found at the bottom of the garden. Although there doesn't appear to be an dried in stains there is extensive swirl marks which I'm hoping to get rid of.

My question is, given the stuff I have available what combination and routine would you suggest? (Assuming that the wash and clay has already taken place)

Any help would be appreciated!!

[rms64]

Kyle, welcome to the forum.

Do you have a 5" backing plate for your Flex? You'll need that for the 5.5" pads you have.

The Meg's #83 is mildly abrasive so you could start with that first on a test spot (in the spirit of using the least aggressive method first) but given your description of the car's condition I'm guessing you'll need to step up to the ultimate compound at some point. The speed glaze is also mildly abrasive (cut of 4 on a scale of 1 - 10) so you could also give that a shot first if you like.

If you're not seeing good results with that combination, switch to the more aggressive ultimate compound on first a white pad again on a test spot and if that doesn't do it move to the green pad.

Meg's #9 is non-abrasive so really should be used as a final polish, with your black pad.

I hope this helps / makes sense.

Also....you'll need more pads!

[Kyle.Meredith]

Thanks for the reply, rms64!

The Flex is coming with a 5.5" backing plate - does that pretty much render the pads I've got useless?

On the topic of pads, how many pads would you recommend for the car?

Would you also recommend the white pad with the Meg #83 before moving up to the white with UC then green with UC?

So just to summarise, you're recommending:

- Wash
- Clay
- Meg #83 with white (test spot)
. \ Meg UC with white
. \ Meg UC with green
- Meg #9 with black

Would you then follow up with a sealant / wax?

[rms64]

Hi Kyle, I've tried to clarify below - let us know if you have further questions!

Thanks for the reply, rms64!

The Flex is coming with a 5.5" backing plate - does that pretty much render the pads I've got useless?

You'll really want to use a 5" backing plate with the 5" pads - the 5.5" plate isn't useless - can be used with larger pads but I'd recommend using the 5.5" pads for your application anyway.

On the topic of pads, how many pads would you recommend for the car?

My suggestion would be to have at least two of each type, at a minimum - and clean "on the fly" frequently (you can search the forum for that particular method).

Would you also recommend the white pad with the Meg #83 before moving up to the white with UC then green with UC?

Sorry if I wasn't clear earlier - my recommendations were all about doing that test spot first and evaluating. If you're getting good results with the Meg's #83, then continue on the rest of the car with only that.

If not, step it up to UC with white. If that doesn't do it, step it up to UC with green. The idea is to start with the least aggressive combo first and if that isn't satisfactory then get more aggressive.

Meg's #9 with black can be used after you get good results with the earlier steps to get that final polish. Then, you'd want to seal / wax.

So, I'm thinking the most likely progression for you will be:

- wash
- clay
- Meg's UC with green (but do the tests above first!)
- Meg's 83 with white
- Meg's #9 with black
- seal / wax


So just to summarise, you're recommending:

- Wash
- Clay
- Meg #83 with white (test spot)
. Meg UC with white
. Meg UC with green
- Meg #9 with black

Would you then follow up with a sealant / wax?