alpha Detailed: 08 S2000 GPW CR - In Progress & Help Requested

[alpha]

Hello All,

This is my first time using a PC. I bought a 7424XP, but I had to send it back for an exchange since it was defective.

Anyways, I found out that one of my friends has a 7336SP and he let me borrow it.

I have some questions, and some in progress photos.

This isn't my first detail, but it is my first detail with a PC. And it's the first time I've detailed the s2k.

I don't drive it everyday, and I try and keep it clean, which is why the before pics don't show a lot of dirt.

Here's some before pics..

Cleaning the arches and wheels. I used some Megs All Wheel Cleaner for the back of the wheel. For the front, I had some Turtle Wax Car Wash from back in the day, so I used that.

A couple pictures of under the license plates..

I then washed the car using Palmolive dish soap to strip any sealants and wax that happen to be on it. Honestly, I haven't waxed the car since I got it 7 months ago, but the dealer tossed in the protection package they offer, so it had should have had some sealant on it.

The following pic shows the beading before washing the car with Palmolive. I have washed the car with ONR, so I think some of the beading is from the use of ONR.

The following pics are after I washed with Palmolive, clayed, and washed again wiht Megs Deep Crystal Car Wash. I clayed the car with Mother's clay that I bought OTC. The paint was fairly clean. It was a showroom car at the dealership, and it stays garaged at home.

Some pics of it taped up..

Here are some pics after a pass of polishing with the PC..

I'm using Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 because it came with the kit I bought the PC with. I'll be following this with Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0, and then with Pinnacle Paintworks Cleansing Lotion (if necessary). I'm also doing an IPA wipedown after polishing each section.

Here's a couple pics of the driver's side of the hardtop. I used a LC CCS 6.5" white pad with the Total Swirl Remover 3.0. I spread it on speed 3 and worked it in on speed 5.

These pics were taken under halogens. I'm going to take some better pictures using the sun tomorrow.

Here's a pic of the hood. Hard to tell since it's white.

Here's a couple pics of the passenger side. In the first pic, I used a LC CCS Orange Pad 6.5" to see if I could get some better correction (since the white pad left some light swirls and scratches on the drivers side). I didn't notice better correction using the halogens, so I went back to a white pad on the right side of the hardtop (the second pic).

So here are my questions:

1. The paint isn't looking fully corrected. I've read that Honda paint is soft, so I'm trying not to go too aggressive. There are still some traces of light swirls and scratches after the first pass of TSR 3.0. I was thinking of using the FG as a finishing polish to get rid of any holograms or anything if they do show up after the first step of polishing. I'm planning on using the FG with a white pad. Should I try another pass with the TSR and CCS white pad combo? Or should I try something else? Or should I just say thats good enough, go with the FG, and then the cleansing lotion? (hopefully if the latter, the paint looks fully corrected).
2. Is the product/pad combo not aggressive enough? Should I not expect full correction from the first step? I also have Megs Swirl X and Megs Polish (Step 2 in their 3 step system).

After polishing, I'm planning to add 2 layers of DPGS 3.0 followed by a layer of SSII as LSP. I'm applying 2 layers of DPGS 3.0 to maximize coverage.

I vacuumed the interior, but I'm going to be applying some Vinylex. I'm also planning to use Megs NXT Tech Wax to seal the wheels.

Any help and tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[santov]

The Step2 polish from Meguairs doesn't have any cutting power. It's more made up of oils to make a deep color. If you use that with a white pad or greater you'll just be adding haze to your paint. If you want to use that stuff do all your paint correcting BEFORE any polishing. (I love the smell of that stuff!)

Based on what I read in your post sounds like SwirlX with a white pad on 4 or 5 speed (do a before/after to verify) followed by Step2 polish, followed by wax of your choice.

Good job taping, I hate taping. And SWEET car :righton:.

-V

 

[alpha]

Thanks for the quick response. I only mentioned the Swirl X and Step2 Polish because I have it from before when I used to do things by hand.

I have some Wolfgang's Total Swirl Remover 3.0 and Wolfgang's Finishing Glaze 3.0 (came with a PC kit I bought). So I'm using these two instead of the Megs stuff. I wasn't sure if SwirlX or Step2 Polish was more or less agressive than the Wolfgang's stuff. It's good to know that the Step2 Polish doesn't have any cutting power.

As mentioned, I'm going to try and get better pics after the first pass of polish using the sunlight. I'm wondering if the results I'm getting are what I'm supposed to expect from the first polishing step.

I was also thinking about using a white pad with the Finish Glaze, more as a finishing polish to clean up any haze left from the swirl remover. Would this be the correct step?

Thanks for the compliment on taping and the car. It's the first time I've taped up a car since I haven't polished a car before really. I used the Megs Step2 polish on a previous car, and did that by hand.

 

[keke1987]

I was also thinking about using a white pad with the Finish Glaze, more as a finishing polish to clean up any haze left from the swirl remover. Would this be the correct step?

Yes do this step. In fact finishing glaze is not a glaze but a finishing polish like menzerna nano, so use it with white pad will probably remove all swirl left by TSR

 

[ryandamartini]

Also when your new PC comes back, it is more powerful than the 7336. You will be able to apply more pressure for the compound you are using.

Remember when using the pc, you do need to apply up to 10lb of pressure on the head of the polisher and move it along in side to side motions and then up and down in a 2x2' area. With the pc, you may need multiple passes.

Try the total swirl remover 3 on orange pad maybe not moving as fast with up to 10lb of pressure. (bathroom scale is good for measuring this) Then follow up with a white pad.

 

[alpha]

Here's some after pics pre-LSP. I'm going to apply a layer of sealant tonight, let it cure overnight, apply another layer tomorrow, let it cure, and then apply a layer of SSII.

The second pic is of the hood..

It's not 100% corrected, but it's probably about 95% if not a little more corrected. Considering this is my first time with a PC, I'm happy with the results.

I'll take better pics after LSP.

 

[CAR-GEEK]

I want to get to this level but I have to say taking wheels and tires off seems extreme. Is it really necessary or were you just being a perfectionist?

 

[alpha]

I want to get to this level but I have to say taking wheels and tires off seems extreme. Is it really necessary or were you just being a perfectionist?

It's not necessary. I just wanted to give it a thorough cleaning and felt like taking the wheels off.

 

[akimel]

There is one good reason to take off the wheels, if one has the proper equipment: namely, the S2000 wheel wells are very difficult to clean otherwise. I do not have the proper equipment. I do the best I can do on the front wells, and as far as the rear wells, well, I have to be content to simply spray some APC on them and then rinse them off. They are too narrow to insert a brush.

Congratulations on a successful polishing job! :cheers:

 

[alpha]

I do have to agree with akimel. Taking the wheels off makes cleaning the arches much, much easier on the s2000. To clarify on my earlier post, I normally wouldn't take the wheels off just for regular washes, but I would take them off for full details like this.

Anyways, another update:

I took a few pics after the first layer of DGPS 3.0.

And the picture that makes all the hard work worth it..

 

[Dave4047]

I too just picked up the kit which included the PC & WG TSR 3.0 & FG 3.0. I just got done doing my wife's daily driver, a blue '07 Odyssey. I had to make several passes with the TSR 3.0 to get all the light scratches out. Swirls were mostly gone after the first pass but deeper stuff needed more attention. After the FG 3.0 & WG sealant it looks really sweet for a grocery getter! My point is dont be afraid to make several passes with the TSR 3.0, it did the trick for me.