It will raise the bar. Use it to inspect wheel wells and you want to work on those more as well.
Oh my goodness, I don't know if I want to do that, lol. I did buy some UTTP for the first time, but I haven't used it yet. When I swap my wheels out this winter, maybe I'll clean those wells and then coat them with it, just as an experiment to see how long it lasts through a harsh Nebraska winter.
While we're on the topic, does UTTP add any shine at all? Or does it just protect? Reason I ask is, I currently have been using Optimum Tire Shine. My tires still bead after quite some time, but they don't have the same finish they do after you first apply it. Maybe I should have added a second coat. I'm hoping UTTP keeps the look a bit longer, not just the beading and protection. Optimum TS does do a good job of keeping the wiper arms on my car looking new, in fact, it's hard to believe, and it's surprised me a bit.
Which Brinkmann would you use for a black car? Can't decide between dual xenon or dual LED.
I'm using the marine version with Xenon. All I can tell you is that it shows flaws ten times what the sun does.. on my car anyways. It's a very white light so anything, and I mean anything shows up like a sore thumb. It's a blessing and a curse so far. I'm anxious to use it after actually correcting paint because it will be much easier to see how well a product does in fact "finish".
One question of mine, for you guys who do this for a living that use the light... How do you go about things? I imagine if you do a lot of one steps in your business, where you're not creating perfect paint, it would be hard to judge how good is good enough with this light, because it is absolutely unforgiving in my experience so far. Perhaps it's easier on non black cars.
Yes... over time, no matter how careful you are there will be some light swirls and scratches that develop.
The fact of the matter is that the more you touch your car, the more of a chance there is of scratching it. All you can do is use proper technique to try to minimize that chance, but there is no perfect way to eliminate it all together.
Just give it a light polish every year or so with something like M205 to keep it looking its best.
I've heard this before but sometimes I need reassurance, lol. I've used SF4500 this summer on a couple panels and it was enough to bring the paint back to its maximum potential; it was capable of removing light swirls and water spots that accumulated since I hit it hard last year.
Daily drivers are not going to stay swril free and scratch free. Just the road dirt they are subjected too will do your finish in. Best thing to do is seal it and keep it as clean as you can but manage your expectations (it's not a show car...or is it?).
It is not, it's a daily driver. Black 350Z that's approaching its tenth anniversary. I'll try to heed your advice and manage my expectations.