Need help...getting ready for new black car

[Tex]

Hello everyone,

Well, it was "new car time" and I have ordered a black BMW:xyxthumbs:. The problem is: I have never owned a black car and do not know if I should buy extra products compared to what I have. Here's what I own:
- Tools: MF towels / drying towels / polishing towels, Brushes for wheels and wheel wells
- Wheel cleaners: Griots Garage and P21S gel
- Paint cleaners: Meg Crystal paint cleanser / Klasse AIO
- polish: Meg Crystal polish
- Glaze: 3M Imperial Hand Glaze
- Sealant: Klasse SG
- Wax: Meg gold class

The questions I have are:
- Am I missing something that a black car will need?
- I do not own a polisher, but I am close to buying a PC or something similar: what products and pads would you recommend for a black new bimmer?
- I have always felt like Klasse SG was hard to put and remove, despite using all the tricks in the books. Is there a synthetic sealant that is easier to use yet as efficient?

Thanks

 

[08krewkab]

how about some auto wash.....

 

[Gary Sword]

Unless you want you car to have swirls I would make the following suggestions:
1. Don't let the dealer wash it before delivery.
2. If you don't have a leaf blower to dry it with I would be one.

If you really want it to look good forget the Meg Gold Class and get some Pinnacle Souveran Paste. I would also go with a different sealant and forget the glaze. Sealants by Wolfgang, Four Star and Duragloss are much easier to apply and remove then the Klasse products. I do love Klasse AIO on glass.

 

[ScottB]

leaf blower or CrSpotless system -- must have with black. Souveran Wax is a splurge but the absolute best wax on blacks for looks and show status.

 

[Tex]

how about some auto wash.....

Yes, no, I mean wash, dry, wheels and interior are covered. My problem is that I know black looks great and detailed right and just the opposite if not.
As a side note, I have tried the DP wash and it is a great product for the $$$, especialy since I got it in a BOGO sale

 

[Tex]

how about some auto wash.....

Unless you want you car to have swirls I would make the following suggestions:
1. Don't let the dealer wash it before delivery.
2. If you don't have a leaf blower to dry it with I would be one.

If you really want it to look good forget the Meg Gold Class and get some Pinnacle Souveran Paste. I would also go with a different sealant and forget the glaze. Sealants by Wolfgang, Four Star and Duragloss are much easier to apply and remove then the Klasse products. I do love Klasse AIO on glass.

These are good suggestion. I always ask the dealer to not wash my car and did this again:xyxthumbs:
Instead of the leaf blower, I have the drying towels, but since I own a blower, maybe I should try.
So, out with meg, in with Souveran and I guess I will try Wolfgang for the sealant.

Should I get a swirl remover product at all?

 

[Tex]

leaf blower or CrSpotless system -- must have with black. Souveran Wax is a splurge but the absolute best wax on blacks for looks and show status.

CrSpotless...ok, now I need to check the AG website, I have no idea what this is

 

[bigdawg]

CR Spotless Water Systems, deionization system, water de-ionizer, purified water systems, cr-spotless, spot free rinse, spot free car washing

 

[O.C.Detailing]

Tex, I believe newer BMWs have a harder clear coat. You could try the optimum line of polishes as they're awesome as far as I'm concerned, but I'm not sure if you'd need M205 to really keep swirls out due to the non-diminishing abrasives in it compared to other polishes and compound which have diminishing abrasives and aren't that effective on harder clears.

My personal favorite sealant right now is Poorboy's EX-P. I've tried Wolfgang and it's a bit hard to wipe off compared to EX-P, but I will admit the WG has a bit of a deeper and wetter look to it unless you apply 2 coats of EX-P, then the EX-P is actually a bit better. That's just from my experience though, so good luck with your choices. And DEFINITELY get a polisher to make light corrections easier and MUCH faster than doing it by hand. My advice, if you can afford it, go with the Flex 3401. If you're on a bit of a budget, then go with the Griot's Garage Dual Action Polisher. For the money, you can't beat the power it gives you. The Lake Country Hydro-tech Pads are awesome and will stretch out your product a bit as they don't absorb it as quickly as the CCS pads do. Get the 6.5" Hydro-tech 3-pad kit to start with and go with 2 tangerine and 1 cyan so you have 2 light-cut pads and 1 cut pad. Make sure you get a white CCS polishing pad and a black or red Lake Country finishing pad as well to apply those sealants! Have fun.

 

[Tex]

Tex, I believe newer BMWs have a harder clear coat.

That would be about time! I have owned a 2004 and then a 2008 3 series, and both were a Royal pain for their clear coat was like jelly. I am glad they moved to something a little harder.

You could try the optimum line of polishes as they're awesome

I have never tried these, but had my eye on them (as well as some of the Pinnacle ones). I will order some and see. the worse case scenario, wifie's 02 Passat will get upgraded products :xyxthumbs:

My personal favorite sealant right now is Poorboy's EX-P.[...] apply 2 coats of EX-P

Another one I did not try. Besides the Klasse, I have tried the Sonus in the past and did not like it. So PB it is.

...get a polisher[...] if you can afford it, go with the Flex 3401. [...]The Lake Country Hydro-tech Pads are awesome and will stretch out your product a bit as they don't absorb it as quickly as the CCS pads do. Get the 6.5" Hydro-tech 3-pad kit to start with and go with 2 tangerine and 1 cyan so you have 2 light-cut pads and 1 cut pad. Make sure you get a white CCS polishing pad and a black or red Lake Country finishing pad as well to apply those sealants! Have fun.

I still need to look at the different packages AG offers for polishers. Have you ever tried the CCS gold "jeweling" pad for finishes? Any reason to go with that instead of the black or red?

Thanks for your recommendations. I have to admit that going to a black car was not an easy decision (because of the need for perfection in detailing) as compared to the Montego blue which was very forgiving of imperfection.

 

[ronkh57]

Assorted polishing
2 coats PB EX-P
1 coat Natty's blue
1 coat natty's red

 

[DARK HORSE]

Souveran - It's like candy for your black car...

 

[loudog2]

2. If you don't have a leaf blower to dry it with I would be one.

Gary, let me know how you are going to be a leaf blower

 

[unclestu]

Souveran - It's like candy for your black car...

Looking real fine Tad. Souveran makes sunny days worth waiting for. Love that clean sharp reflection in the paint. Wait til you try out the PC :buffing:

 

[DARK HORSE]

Looking real fine Tad. Souveran makes sunny days worth waiting for. Love that clean sharp reflection in the paint. Wait til you try out the PC :buffing:

Thanks Stu...

 

[Tex]

So, I'll be resurecting this thread for a little bit. The car got delayed from Germany a bit, giving me more time to research and put in my order. I did this a couple days ago and ended up with the following:
- PC package with "select your own pads". I took 2 orange, 2 white, 1 black, and it comes with 2 red pads as bonus.
- 1Z intensiv paste (more for another car than mine, but could be handy in case of deeper defects
- 1Z HGP / WGDGP combo. The polish will be a good (read efficient and cheap) substiture for 106, for the time being
- Menzerna PO85RD since I wanted a jewelling polish. The package comes with a red pad and I have a black one in case the red is too soft for that
- DP RWG bythe gallon on BOGO for routine QD/ clay luve and rinseless wash
- Some new MF towels
- The Pinnacle polyclay on BOGO
For now, I am missing the following from the recommendations:
- Crsplotless system (the polisher and products were already $400....I'll wait a bit for that one)
- Souveran: I will get that whenever it gets in a special sale or BOGO. Alternatively, since I am a big fan of the DP products, I might try the Maxwax.

The plan of attack is the following (since the car is brand new):
- Wash: 2 buckets, new Cobra Mitt, DP shampoo, new drying towel, leaf blower
- Clay with Pinnacle and DP RWG as lube
- the car "should" not have swirls, so the next step will be PO85rd on red (alt: black) pad
- 2 coats of WG DGS
Based on what I see, I may put a wax or not.
- protect rubber with 303 or 1Z Gummy
- Glass with DP glass cleaner
- 303 on all vinyl trim, dash, engine covers
- Eagle one tire dressing
How does that sound?

 

[Joshs2013MSAltimaSL]

So, I'll be resurecting this thread for a little bit. The car got delayed from Germany a bit, giving me more time to research and put in my order. I did this a couple days ago and ended up with the following:
- PC package with "select your own pads". I took 2 orange, 2 white, 1 black, and it comes with 2 red pads as bonus.
- 1Z intensiv paste (more for another car than mine, but could be handy in case of deeper defects
- 1Z HGP / WGDGP combo. The polish will be a good (read efficient and cheap) substiture for 106, for the time being
- Menzerna PO85RD since I wanted a jewelling polish. The package comes with a red pad and I have a black one in case the red is too soft for that
- DP RWG bythe gallon on BOGO for routine QD/ clay luve and rinseless wash
- Some new MF towels
- The Pinnacle polyclay on BOGO
For now, I am missing the following from the recommendations:
- Crsplotless system (the polisher and products were already $400....I'll wait a bit for that one)
- Souveran: I will get that whenever it gets in a special sale or BOGO. Alternatively, since I am a big fan of the DP products, I might try the Maxwax.

The plan of attack is the following (since the car is brand new):
- Wash: 2 buckets, new Cobra Mitt, DP shampoo, new drying towel, leaf blower
- Clay with Pinnacle and DP RWG as lube
- the car "should" not have swirls, so the next step will be PO85rd on red (alt: black) pad
- 2 coats of WG DGS
Based on what I see, I may put a wax or not.
- protect rubber with 303 or 1Z Gummy
- Glass with DP glass cleaner
- 303 on all vinyl trim, dash, engine covers
- Eagle one tire dressing
How does that sound?

That looks like a great plan of attack. Keep in mind that even though your car will be new, it could still have minor swirling that 85rd may not be able to remove. In the future you may want to pick up a medium polish such as SIP or M205. If you don't want to shell out the dough for Souveran, go with Poorboy's Natty's Blue. For the money it's one of the best waxes you can get. I prefer it over the Dodo line of waxes. You will LOVE the WG sealant.

 

[DARK HORSE]

Sounds great, except for the Eagle one tire dressing, may want to consider Optimum opti bond tire gel (it will not sling like many otc's do and it can also be used on all rubber and vinyl).
Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel, Tire gel protectant, OPT Tire Dressing Gel, protect tires, optibond tire gel

Also be sure that you are using a grit guard in each of your two buckets. Many recommend that you spritz the paint with a QD when using your drying towel (this will add some lubrication and help to protect aginst scratches) I LOVE FK-425 for my black paint (it provides an awesome AMP up in shine, slickness, and has anti-static properties that help to repel dust). Black is notorious for accumulating and showing dust. When using a leaf blower and quality microfiber WW to dry, blow from the top down. Make sure the leaf blower has never been used to suck. Let it run for a few seconds before aiming it at the car. Be careful that you do not point it at the ground!! After using the leaf blower, mist the car one panel at a time with FK-425 and gently blot dry to remove residual water or water spots.

Like Josh said even though your car is new, it could still have swirls that 85rd may not be able to remove. In the future you may want to pick up a medium polish such as SIP or M205, both great choices. I am a Souveran fanatic "Big Time", but I also have used MaxWax and can absolutely say w/o hesitation it is ABSOLUTELEY Awesome on black as a "pretty" wax as well. Like Killrwheels says "It is truly a hidden gem"!! it looks great!!

 

[Joshs2013MSAltimaSL]

Sounds great, except for the Eagle one tire dressing, may want to consider Optimum opti bond tire gel (it will not sling like many otc's do and it can also be used on all rubber and vinyl).
Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel, Tire gel protectant, OPT Tire Dressing Gel, protect tires, optibond tire gel

Also be sure that you are using a grit guard in each of your two buckets. Many recommend that you spritz the paint with a QD when using your drying towel (this will add some lubrication and help to protect aginst scratches) I LOVE FK-425 for my black paint (it provides an awesome AMP up in shine, slickness, and has anti-static properties that help to repel dust). Black is notorious for accumulating and showing dust. When using a leaf blower and quality microfiber WW to dry, blow from the top down. Make sure the leaf blower has never been used to suck. Let it run for a few seconds before aiming it at the car. Be careful that you do not point it at the ground!! After using the leaf blower, mist the car one panel at a time with FK-425 and gently blot dry to remove residual water or water spots.

Like Josh said even though your car is new, it could still have swirls that 85rd may not be able to remove. In the future you may want to pick up a medium polish such as SIP or M205, both great choices. I am a Souveran fanatic "Big Time", but I also have used MaxWax and can absolutely say w/o hesitation it is ABSOLUTELEY Awesome on black as a "pretty" wax as well. Like Killrwheels says "It is truly a hidden gem"!! it looks great!!

I love Opti-Bond! Best and easiest stuff to use in my opinion. I would like to try Pneu...if I could get over the cost.

 

[Tex]

That looks like a great plan of attack. Keep in mind that even though your car will be new, it could still have minor swirling that 85rd may not be able to remove. In the future you may want to pick up a medium polish such as SIP or M205. If you don't want to shell out the dough for Souveran, go with Poorboy's Natty's Blue. For the money it's one of the best waxes you can get. I prefer it over the Dodo line of waxes. You will LOVE the WG sealant.

I do realize the car could have swirls. With that said:
- the car is a BMW European Delivery Program. When I saw it in Munich, it did not have swirls (I closely inspected that) and it is not supposed to get washed until it reaches the dealership. And I asked the dealership to NOT wash it (in fact, I would sleep better if they weren't even looking at it ). I am hoping this will allow me to get it swirl free.
- If the car has swirls, I have the 1Z High Gloss polish which is supposed to be like the Menz 106, and the intensiv paste which can take most stuff out

Reg. the Eagle One tire gloss: I know this is not the best product, I am just trying to get rid of some stuff before I buy some more. I have this and the Michelin tire dressing, and did not want to buy a third bottle (yeah, wifie does not want to see a second cabinet of detailing products...I can understand that). I had my eye on the DP tire dressing: what do you guys think about it

Thanks for all the advice. Like I said in another thread, this forum is really a learning center for me.