Sheeting is actually the opposite of what you want.
If you can remember to, the next time you clay your car or a panel, run your water hose over that panel. The water will sheet and stick to the paint which is not a good thing because it means the water is staying on your car and likely to...
Great work, especially for your first time. :dblthumb2:
I was also surprised at the muscles used/time involved the first time I did a full correction. I had sore muscles and I lift weights almost every day :eek:
APC+ should be diluted 10:1,water:degreaser, for interiors.
Also, you have a multitude of substitute polishers for a PC. My personal favorite is the Griot's Garage dual action polisher. Its served me very, very well and has a fantastic warranty.
I'm lock step with Bobby's recommendation. I love both the glass restorer and the Meguiar's Glass Cleaner. I've used many glass cleaners and it's hard to beat Meguiar's for the price OR the performance.
Also, after claying the windshield, wax it. I'd use a sealant that lasts quite a while (I...
In fact...Here is a thread Sully's Detailing just posted where he used D151 as a one step.
Here is a direct link to his facebook and at the top are the photos of the BMW.
What I use for the areas you mentioned:
Door jams:
(Meguiar's APC+ D103 diluted 4:1-water:APC)
(Mini Microfiber mitt from Walmart)
(I also use a wash soap for some lubrication)
Gas cap area:
(Once again diluted 4:1)
Available here
Engine:
(Yes, I buy a lot of APC+ :xyxthumbs:)...
If you want almost guaranteed results, go with the M105/205 combo.
If you want to take a risk, go with the Optimum spray compound/polish.
Not that I believe that the Optimum is inferior to the M105/205, I just believe it takes some getting used to going from a thicker liquid polish to a light...
A picture of the color/consistency for those who do not know what I'm talking about:
Foamy and green as compared to clear and watery as seen with IronX:
IronX may be a little stronger than Sonax, but it also smells worse, is "harder" to use, usually more expensive, and you can obtain Sonax...
The short answer is yes you can use it on paint.
My white car suffers from iron particles and I used IronX for a while but switched to sonax for three reasons--color, consistency, and smell.
The color of sonax is green as most know which really let's you know (at least on light colors) where...
Doing a test spot will be your best determiner since most people on here can only guess as to how well a green or white pad will work with that vehicle's paint and your technique.
However, a green pad should work fine with the XMT 360.