Review: Meguiar's D166

[RZJZA80]

Today I worked on a 2013 Mercedes Sprinter Limo. As you can see it's an enormous vehicle. My client wanted a one step to make it shiny and remove swirls so I thought I'd try out Megs D166 since I'd just bought a bottle recently. The D166 is very easy to apply, and polishes to a near clear consistency rather quickly. I was impressed by the level of cut I got out of it combined with H20 Cyan pads and the GG21. Wipe off was also very easy and smooth.

As you can see the vehicle was in rough shape, it's a single stage paint vehicle so that gummed up the pads but the product itself was very easy and pleasant to use. The smell reminded me of lemon grass oil, pleasant and not overpowering at all.

Overall I'd recommend this product to anyone looking for a good one step that's easy to use and smells good. I can't comment on durability obviously but hoping it'll last at least 3 months or more.

This is after one pass only:

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[dlc95]

How are your Cyan Hydros holding up on that 21mm tool?

I'm not a fan of the smell. Reminds me of sour apple - nauseating..

 

[RZJZA80]

How are your Cyan Hydros holding up on that 21mm tool?

I'm not a fan of the smell. Reminds me of sour apple - nauseating..

I didn't have high hopes for them but they actually held up very well, no more wear and tear than on my GG6's. I used 5" pads though, not sure if 6" would be any different.

The smell was ok for me, reminded me of Thailand where lemon grass oil is used all over the place.

 

[mwoywod]

You have my respect. Using hydro-tech pads on a 21mm long-throw polisher is really living life on the edge. Plus achieving acceptable results with D166 on a foam cutting pad isn't easy. Not to mention it was single stage paint and in my testing I found D166 to be particularly poor on these paint types in particular. Did this combination leave any DA haze?


This post has motivated me to give D166 another shot. After D166 quickly turns to a clear consistency, how much longer did you work it? I wasn't a fan of the way it disappeared completely vs something like HD Speed that leaves a translucent film. If there is nothing being left behind on the surface in some areas I feel like its not leaving behind an even layer of protection. Maybe that doesn't matter?

 

[Eldorado2k]

@RZJZA80. Great job. That van is poppin!

Plus achieving acceptable results with D166 on a foam cutting pad isn't easy.


After D166 quickly turns to a clear consistency, how much longer did you work it? I wasn't a fan of the way it disappeared completely vs something like HD Speed that leaves a translucent film.

I dunno, the handful of times I've used Megs D166 so far have all been good. I find it works best with foam cutting pads.

And it definitely leaves a thin translucent film to wipe off whenever you're ready. Any more and it would be caked on.. Instead this D166 wipes off easy.

And the results after just 1 section pass with a foam cutting pad have all been consistently great.

I've never tried HD Speed, but it the longevity of its protection is as bad as I've heard I don't want anything to do with it. Especially with the bad air quality that surrounds this part of the city. I won't fully vouch for D166's longevity being stellar, but it can't be too bad so I feel ok offering it to customers.

 

[RZJZA80]

You have my respect. Using hydro-tech pads on a 21mm long-throw polisher is really living life on the edge. Plus achieving acceptable results with D166 on a foam cutting pad isn't easy. Not to mention it was single stage paint and in my testing I found D166 to be particularly poor on these paint types in particular. Did this combination leave any DA haze?

This post has motivated me to give D166 another shot. After D166 quickly turns to a clear consistency, how much longer did you work it? I wasn't a fan of the way it disappeared completely vs something like HD Speed that leaves a translucent film. If there is nothing being left behind on the surface in some areas I feel like its not leaving behind an even layer of protection. Maybe that doesn't matter?

It did leave behind a slight haze, but that was acceptable in this situation and especially being single stage paint. Reading some others experiences with D166 I wasn't really expecting much and had other options to reach for just in case. I started out with a Megs MF polishing pad and as soon as I found out it was single stage paint I switched to foam, I don't like MF on single stage paint. The pads actually lasted longer on the GG21 mostly from the lack of any heat buildup I would get with the GG6.

I actually liked how it finished out in this case, but I know what you're saying in other cases like two stage paint, I like to see something to wipe off, but on this single stage paint it actually worked out well. I tried and tested Speed when it first came out and it's one week of durability was a deal breaker for me, that was just ridiculous.

 

[RZJZA80]

@RZJZA80. Great job. That van is poppin!



I dunno, the handful of times I've used Megs D166 so far have all been good. I find it works best with foam cutting pads.

And it definitely leaves a thin translucent film to wipe off whenever you're ready. Any more and it would be caked on.. Instead this D166 wipes off easy.

And the results after just 1 section pass with a foam cutting pad have all been consistently great.

I've never tried HD Speed, but it the longevity of its protection is as bad as I've heard I don't want anything to do with it. Especially with the bad air quality that surrounds this part of the city. I won't fully vouch for D166's longevity being stellar, but it can't be too bad so I feel ok offering it to customers.

Thanks! You definitely used a lot more D166 than I did. I used 3 drops per pass.

You're exactly right about Speed though, great shine, but lasting a week I never would think of using it again.

 

[mwoywod]

Thanks! You definitely used a lot more D166 than I did. I used 3 drops per pass.

You're exactly right about Speed though, great shine, but lasting a week I never would think of using it again.

I also only used 3 drops as well. Maybe that is my issue. I certainly never had it leave an even translucent film like Eldo has shown. It only leaves a translucent film based on the direction I move the polisher. If I move with the rotation of the polisher I see the film, but against the rotation it goes completely clear. I'll try using it really heavy and see if that helps. I know that is how Mike Recommends cleaner waxes should be used but I'm used to using Speed which is a different beast entirely.

Also, I've always been able to get 1-2 months when I use HD Speed as a standalone product. Personally, I care more about ease of use and finish/gloss with an AIO. Speed saves me so much time, leaves a great finish, and is such a pleasure to use that I can justify spending 30 minutes to apply Opti-seal or Reload as my LSP.

 

[RZJZA80]

I also only used 3 drops as well. Maybe that is my issue. I certainly never had it leave an even translucent film like Eldo has shown. It only leaves a translucent film based on the direction I move the polisher. If I move with the rotation of the polisher I see the film, but against the rotation it goes completely clear. I'll try using it really heavy and see if that helps. I know that is how Mike Recommends cleaner waxes should be used but I'm used to using Speed which is a different beast entirely.

Also, I've always been able to get 1-2 months when I use HD Speed as a standalone product. Personally, I care more about ease of use and finish/gloss with an AIO. Speed saves me so much time, leaves a great finish, and is such a pleasure to use that I can justify spending 30 minutes to apply Opti-seal or Reload as my LSP.

They must have come out with a new formula at some point since I tested Speed. I'm not sure using more will provide better results but i did notice that working it in for too long would cause it to stick to the paint more. Again, this could be the effects of the single stage paint more than the D166 but I'll try it on clear coat to be sure.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I usually start off with a circle around the pad as a way to let it self prime, then 3 dots from there on out.

 

[dlc95]

I didn't have high hopes for them but they actually held up very well, no more wear and tear than on my GG6's. I used 5" pads though, not sure if 6" would be any different.

The smell was ok for me, reminded me of Thailand where lemon grass oil is used all over the place.

Good to hear! I use those a lot on my PC, and love them, but I would imagine a 21mm tool brutalizing them.

My gf has some lemongrass oil around here somewhere. I'll have to check it out.