Does it really cost $500 to detail your own car?

[kevin_1981]

I would recommend you pick up something else other than M105 as you are starting out. It has a little learning curve. I would go with Meguiar's ultimate compound over M105 just to get your feet wet in using a compound.

As others have said, you an skip the foam cannon and pressure washer. I would put the money towards wheel woolies over the speed master brush.

You can knock off the Griots rubber product off your list since you have D101. Pick either of those car washes. No need for both. Optimum Car Wash would be a good choice.

Those should save you a few more dollars.

What The Guz said!

 

[TTQ B4U]

Thanks for all the replies. I forgot to mention I do already have Klasse all-in-one and Klasse Sealant glaze. Would you still recommend the HD Speed/HD Poxy for paint correction over the Meguiar's products?

Klasse is great stuff but can be a PIA to use. Yes, I would still recomend HDSpeed/HDPoxy. Match it up with green and or orange pads and you're golden.

A few people are saying to get the GG polisher but I just don't see the value in it when I will use it once, maybe twice a year on my car.

the GG has more power and will not slow or stall as easily. Better machine all around.

 

[dcjredline]

You will see the value of the GG6 over the HF when you use it 1 or 2 times a year.

OH and another thing no one touched on is this...You only THINK you will be doing just your car, that is how I bet the majority of us thought when we first started. Then someone will see your car and ask you to do theirs and then it will just snowball from there.

We dont call it a disease for nothing.

GOOD LUCK and you have come to the right place to get (and have gotten) some great advice.

 

[mvolps22]

I would recommend you pick up something else other than M105 as you are starting out. It has a little learning curve. I would go with Meguiar's ultimate compound over M105 just to get your feet wet in using a compound.

As others have said, you an skip the foam cannon and pressure washer. I would put the money towards wheel woolies over the speed master brush.

You can knock off the Griots rubber product off your list since you have D101. Pick either of those car washes. No need for both. Optimum Car Wash would be a good choice.

Those should save you a few more dollars.

If i get the Ultimate Compound would you still recommend M205 or Ultimate Polish? Would I then have to do Ultimate Compound to correct, Ultimate Polish to polish, Klasse AIO as a wax, Klasse SG to protect or is that duplicating work? Seems like overkill.

 

[poyo150]

Griots griots griots!

I've been reading this since you first posted it. If this is your first time detailing I would suggest getting some practice with other cars before you tackle yours. You want the portle cable or griots (your choice) for the quality of the DA. Your going to detail your car again and you want your DA to last for the next detail. Yes its a little more pricey but it will last.


In the end the choice is yours on the products you get. You wanted help and people are helping you what's best for you.

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[The Guz]

If i get the Ultimate Compound would you still recommend M205 or Ultimate Polish? Would I then have to do Ultimate Compound to correct, Ultimate Polish to polish, Klasse AIO as a wax, Klasse SG to protect or is that duplicating work? Seems like overkill.

KAIO has no abrasives in it. It does it's thing chemically. UC and UP both contain abrasives. The ultimate twins give great results. You can't go wrong with either M205 or UP. My personal preference is M205 because of it's versatility. I can't comment on which steps or products you need to do without doing a test spot. So it is possible you may need to do that. Although KAIO will remove whatever work was done by UP or M205.

I haven't used the Klasse twins in a very long time. As a matter of fact I sold them. They work great but there are easier products to use that can achieve the same results. But I did that same exact procedure you listed. It just took too much of my time and also that KSG is a bit finicky.

 

[MattPersman]

Might be cheaper to get a local member to de swirl your car when you get it first and for you to just invest in rinse less wash juice, towels and whatever LSP you are gonna use, and tire shine too


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[brettS4]

I agree with the Guz about Klasse products. I used them for several years when I started out and they can give good results but they are a lot more work than most of the newer options. They also don't give true correction. You're masking defects rather than removing them. You'll have to keep reapplying it on a regular basis or the defects come back.

I'm a fan of Wolfgang and Menzerna products, but at this point I think I'd buy 3D HD products. The people here whose opinions I trust are mentioning them regularly now.

Buy the GG6 instead of the HF. It's much higher quality and you'll be glad every time you use it. And you'll be using it for many years.

For paint correction I'd start with:

GG6
LC Backing Plate
ThinPro pads
HD Adapt (depending on your paint condition/hardness)
Collinite 845
MF towels
IPA and spray bottle

That's about $300.

And you'll need to pick up a few odds and ends of your choosing (wash mitt, shampoo, etc). But this is the bare bones to get your paint looking good. The engine bay, plastic and rubber parts need a few different products.