My first DA detail - 2006 Mustang GT - advice welcome

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mfergel

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Just getting started in this whole thing. Car is a 2006 Tungsten Gray Mustang GT I don't really have any before pictures to show how bad the paint was because honestly, it wasn't horribly bad. I just wish the factory orange peel wasn't so horrible. Guy that owned the car before me took care of it and I avoid car washes and use a good washing mitt. However, and I should be scolded for this, I haven't waxed the car in 4 years. As such, there is some water etching in the clear coat that I couldn't get out. Primarily on the roof and the rear spoiler. Swirling was really minor. Worse thing I had to deal with was wet sanding some residue/etching from where there used to be some pinstriping that ran along the upper body belt line.

Steps.
Chemical Guys Honeydew using two-bucket method with grit guards and microfiber mitt
Meguiars Clay Bar/Quick Detailer kit
Meguiars M105 with LC Hydro Cyan at 6 with Harbor Freight DA
Meguiars M205 with LC Hydro Tangerine at 6 with Harbor Freight DA
Chemical Guys Black Light Hybrid with LC Hydro Crimson at 4 with Harbor Freight DA
Chemical Guys Petes 53-Pearl Paste Wax
Mothers Back to Black on trim

I still need to do the windows (some water spot etching on those). Wheels/tires haven't been done on this round but normally I use a combination of Sonex Full Effect and Castrol Super Clean. Door jams, trunk area still need to be done as does a full interior detail. Will need to rewash the car for some final photos. Unfortunately I have no garage and my magnolia trees (4 of them) are blooming so the car is already being covered with pollen.

Any tips advice is appreciated.

Here's an example of the old pinstripe that I had to wet sand.
oldpinstripe-vi.jpg


Love those reflections.
052613002-vi.jpg

052613003-vi.jpg

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Looks great for first timmer but yeah I can't believe you haden't waxed your pony for that long of time.
 
I forgot to add that I used a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol prior to glazing.
 
I never used rubbing alchol I usually just use some IPA but I suppose there all the same or no?
 
It's just what I was told that using a cleaner removes the oils so the glaze will work properly. Another one of those things where if I'm told wrong I'd love to know.
 
Yes. I've actually got a different set of wheels I'm getting ready to put on. A BBS F1 style wheel in matte black. Decided to move back from 19's to 18's.
 
Not only have I been really bad about having not waxed the car in 4 years but I wasn't doing the best job on the interior either. Here's a shot of the leather seats.

6684_10151427761339149_1446453913_n.jpg
 
mfergel said:
Not only have I been really bad about having not waxed the car in 4 years but I wasn't doing the best job on the interior either. Here's a shot of the leather seats.

6684_10151427761339149_1446453913_n.jpg
Click to expand...

yikes!

What product are you using?
 
It really came back after four years without wax. Looks like it's coming along real good. Stay on top of it and you will never have to work that hard again.
I hear ya on the pollen. I washed mine Sun. afternoon, and when I went to get in on Mon. I had to run the windshield washer just to see. :(
 
Nice work for using a DA for the first time. What size pads were you using?
I wish I had a solution for the trees too :( ...I recently moved and I have three big trees over the driveway and it constantly showers my car with sap, pollen, leaves and other stuff.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Damn! Great job for an AIO leather product! :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Yeah, just something I happened to have around. I think I'll pick something else up for future cleaning and protection. Just haven't decided on a product yet.

steamshooter said:
It really came back after four years without wax. Looks like it's coming along real good. Stay on top of it and you will never have to work that hard again.
I hear ya on the pollen. I washed mine Sun. afternoon, and when I went to get in on Mon. I had to run the windshield washer just to see. :(
Click to expand...

Yeah, aside from those touchless car wash spray on waxes it hasn't been coated. I'm honestly ashamed of myself. Most of my family/friends were thinking I was spending way too much time on my car the last two weeks but I've had to explain to them that it's because I didn't do anything for 4 years that I now had to do so much.

noslef said:
Nice work for using a DA for the first time. What size pads were you using?
I wish I had a solution for the trees too :( ...I recently moved and I have three big trees over the driveway and it constantly showers my car with sap, pollen, leaves and other stuff.
Click to expand...

I used 5.5 Lake Country Hydro pads. I had actually started with the 6.5's but switched once I picked up a smaller backing plate.

In the past, I thought about those metal 'car ports' but I know the pollen would still get on the car. Just part of life I guess. Hopefully another year or so my living situation will change and I'll be somewhere with a garage.
 
Nice results, I have been using the megs rich leather AIO and it works wonders, ive been adding blackfire leather conditioner on top of it to give it some extra protection as well. My girl has an 06 v6 convertible and I know how much of a bear those s197's can be as far as paint correction!
 
Yeah, at some point I'll actually need to replace (at a minimum) the upper leather on the drivers seat. The car has nearly 100,000 miles on it and from getting in and out of the vehicle the leather is actually worn along the left side of the upper. Looks horrible. Will need to replace the carpet at some point as well. The carpet is worn through where the heel rests near the gas pedal. Those issues both existed before I bought the vehicle so I don't quite feel so bad about those. I think some weathertech floor matts might actually cover up the hole in the carpet (as well as do a great job of protecting the carpet). One of my future purchases.
 
It looks excellent.

Here are my thoughts about "IPA'ing". IPA and rubbing alcohol are the same. When working with conventional polishes, glazes, and wax (not coatings) IPA wipedowns are a waste of time.

Blacklight has AIO properties, so it will clean the surface on its own. I have found no evidence that "polishing oils" decrease the life of a sealant / wax / or glaze.

In fact, BF GEP (Gloss Enhancing Polish) leaves a "glaze" behind (fills) and is recommended before use of BFWD sealant. I've done some sealant tests with glazes and without and found it doesn't really affect longevity.

IPA provides no lubrication, takes times, and can induce towel marks. I think its an example of "working backwards". Just polish and go strait to your glaze or LSP.
 
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