New here with some questions!

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mhs5002

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hey everyone. first of all, I just wanna say this is such a cool site with so much info. I am quite overwhelmed and not sure what products I should try so I'll give ya some background 411 about my car and concerns.

I have a 2003 navy blue nissan maxima SE. I bought it in August and its so awesome. I got it detailed and it came out kinda crappy, meaning it didn't look much different. Here are my concerns with it, though:

On the hood and roof, there are these like white needlepoint size dots. I took it back to the dealer and he kinda picked at them and some of them came out. I'm really not sure what they are but I think part of it is acid rain not being properly washed while sitting on the dealer's lot. It has some light scratches on various parts. I tried maguire's scratch X and it did absolutely nothing. So my questions are what products would you suggest? I just finished reading up on the duragloss and am interested in some of those products. I would like to get the following products for the car---- 1.)a good car wash that can be used every time I wash the car( 901?), 2.) something to try and restore the shine and remove swirls & scratches 3.) a wax that gets the job done and that will still work when applied by hand( AW 951?) 4.) a tool to apply the wax( i know that sounds probably dumb but I know you experts can tell me!) and pretty much anything else that will really 'smooth' the paint, if theres such a product. I really just want this cars paint to pop. Sorry this is so long but I wanted to give the full rundown and ANY input would be greatly appreciated!! :)
 
You really want to look into a good porter cable kit. It is without a doubt the best way to take care of your car and keep it looking its best. A Porter Cable 7424 is a very nice dual action polisher for removing swirl marks/hazing and oxidation.

My favorite is the porter cable that comes with the edge 2000 pads. The pads are thick so they are double sided, kinda like two pads in one! :) Plus your 10% discount.
http://autogeek.net/ed20pocacoki.html

The benefits also include applying light polishes to the car, cleaning carpets, polishing off waterspots, etc... very diverse lil tool :D And trust me once you learn proper auto care, you will most likely end up buying most of this anyways, so I am just warning your checkbook :D If you would like to read some information on the PC and its benefits, check out : http://www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polisher.html


Now if you just want to focus at the problem at hand, look into a claybar, spray some lube near the dots and just press down with pressure and scrub it off. Also, might want to clay the whole car while you are at it. Claying info:

I recommend you read this: http://autogeek.net/clbaandlu.html

For an all in one clay, I recommend: http://autogeek.net/pipoclbu.html You get good clay, lube, and two nice cobra microfibers to buff off the excess so that it wont streak your car.

As for a wax, no questions asked I am LOVING DP Maxwax. It is a very nice carnuba wax that applies smooth as butter, and comes off equaly as easy. And it smells like butterscotch! :D
http://autogeek.net/carnauba-car-wax.html

To apply the wax, I highly recommend a Cobra foam applicator. http://www.autogeek.net/pinfoamwaxap1.html

Here it is on my 95' camry:

PA220095.jpg



If you do decide to invest in the porter cable kit, for polishes look at the Pinnacle XMT series, hands down some of the best compounds I have ever tried.
 
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looks like you got some fine info and links ...

wash ---- clay ---- polish --- protect
 
Let me first say Welcome glad to have ya.
These two characters before me pretty much took care of it. But I"l throw in my 2 cents.

A Good car wash
good wash mitt. Just cant beat the shmitt.
clay- (pretty much any from AG)
Polish - XMT 1,2&3 Polish.........Wonderful stuff
Sealant-My vote will go to DP's New Surface shield sealant, PB's EX-P is really good to but Iv not tried it myself.
Wax- There area a couple of good ones Top 3 would probably be Max wax, Nattys Blue and Souveran.
 
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A good shampoo then it's got to be Pinnacle, but some great advice already given but i agree with the clay
 
Thanks for all your replies so far. Everyone here seems really helpful. So I guess I am going to buy some wash( shampoo), clay, and wax. Now would you polish AFTER you wax? I probably will get some polish too, then.

I forgot to mention that when I got it detailed, the guy claimed he used clay. The car looked and felt really smooth but the dots were still there. Should I still try to clay it myself? I was going to buy the pinnacle ultra poly clay if I decide to clay the car. Will one bar of clay last if I do the whole car? When you say press down w/ pressure and scrub off, do you mean press the clay down and scrub at the same time or press with clay then wipe with microfiber towel? Sorry, I am just a little confused because there is so much you can do to your car and I don't wanna do it wrong and have it look like crap!

forgot to ask...the pinnacle shampoo...is it the bodywork shampoo thats $19.99?
 
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mhs5002 said:
Thanks for all your replies so far. Everyone here seems really helpful. So I guess I am going to buy some wash( shampoo), clay, and wax. Now would you polish AFTER you wax? I probably will get some polish too, then.

I forgot to mention that when I got it detailed, the guy claimed he used clay. The car looked and felt really smooth but the dots were still there. Should I still try to clay it myself? I was going to buy the pinnacle ultra poly clay if I decide to clay the car. Will one bar of clay last if I do the whole car? When you say press down w/ pressure and scrub off, do you mean press the clay down and scrub at the same time or press with clay then wipe with microfiber towel? Sorry, I am just a little confused because there is so much you can do to your car and I don't wanna do it wrong and have it look like crap!

forgot to ask...the pinnacle shampoo...is it the bodywork shampoo thats $19.99?
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[Questions answered in order asked]

You Wash-clay-polish-wax.

That bar will last you to do the whole car 2-3 times.

When you have the claybar, press down with the flatof your pals with pressure and go N-S, W-E, over the troubled spot. When you are done, wipe off the lube with the cobra microfiber towel
 
You've got some really good info already...the only thing I will add is make sure to take good care of your car detailing tools too. Properly rinsing wash mitts, pads, brushes afterwards will go a long way to ensuring you have a swirl free car.

I thoroughly rinse all of my brushes and wash pad. I leave my wash pad on top of my grit guards in a 5 gallon bucket. I have a second bucket where I stand all of my brushes (bristle end up) to dry.
 
emaxxman said:
You've got some really good info already...the only thing I will add is make sure to take good care of your car detailing tools too. Properly rinsing wash mitts, pads, brushes afterwards will go a long way to ensuring you have a swirl free car.

I thoroughly rinse all of my brushes and wash pad. I leave my wash pad on top of my grit guards in a 5 gallon bucket. I have a second bucket where I stand all of my brushes (bristle end up) to dry.
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good tip. :cheers:
 
Ok so this is what I am gonna buy so far:

pinnacle bodywork shampoo
pinnacle poly clay
dp max wax

Hopefully the wax and clay might make a difference. I would get polish( XMT) but I don't have the device to apply with and I assume they can't be applied by hand. I'm just gonna cross my fingers that the clay and wax will make my car look somewhat better than it does now. Thanks for all your help everyone and any other info that may be useful please send my way!
 
The XMT can be applied by hand, but you won't really get the full potential of the results you're looking for, the polishes won't break down to perform as necessary.

Just using the products you've specified should give you decent results. I'm a cheap a$$, and I have absolutely no regrets in buying my PC, it's well worth the money.:awesome:
 
mhs5002 said:
Ok so this is what I am gonna buy so far:

pinnacle bodywork shampoo
pinnacle poly clay
dp max wax

Hopefully the wax and clay might make a difference. I would get polish( XMT) but I don't have the device to apply with and I assume they can't be applied by hand. I'm just gonna cross my fingers that the clay and wax will make my car look somewhat better than it does now. Thanks for all your help everyone and any other info that may be useful please send my way!
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While the bodywork shapoo is good, my personal favorite cleaner is Meguiars ColorX. I can speak from experience, it really livens up the paint.
 
thanks for the suggestion, ryan. I just checked out the colorX and from I read, its not a shampoo or carwash but more of a polish replacement. Seems I would have to wash the car first, clay it then use this product then wax it. would that be alright?
 
mhs5002 said:
thanks for the suggestion, ryan. I just checked out the colorX and from I read, its not a shampoo or carwash but more of a polish replacement. Seems I would have to wash the car first, clay it then use this product then wax it. would that be alright?
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correct :)
 
ryandamartini said:
While the bodywork shapoo is good, my personal favorite cleaner is Meguiars ColorX. I can speak from experience, it really livens up the paint.
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If you are not getting a polish, why not add a paint cleansing lotion to the mix ?? It will remove oxidation and old wax chemically and add some light fillers. Megs ColorX is more of a cleaner/wax product versus a specialty product. Are you set on DPMaxWax ?? If not go this way and save some money:


http://www.pinnaclewax.com/sisewaxkit.html
Sig Series II also rocks, very similar to MaxWax, and add in free bottle of Crystal Mist plus free shipping currently. 79.99

http://www.pinnaclewax.com/liqsouvconwa.html
Liquid Souveran is clearly a great choice also, same price field. 79.99

and this site offers the clay by Pinnacle to add to order, and also get free shipping. 39.99

http://www.pinnaclewax.com/pipoclcobgro.html
 
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No I'm not 'set' on the DP per say just cuz I haven't tried any good waxes yet so I have nothing to compare to. The first link you posted looks really good and a good point about saving some $$. So obviously the bodywork shampoo first but would the clay or paint cleanser come next? the kit comes with the sig series II wax and the crystal mist spray wax. From what I understand the sig series wax is more 'hardcore' if you will and the spray wax can be used if you decide just to wash your car with no other detailing? Like a quick touch up... Correct me if I am wrong!
 
mhs5002 said:
No I'm not 'set' on the DP per say just cuz I haven't tried any good waxes yet so I have nothing to compare to. The first link you posted looks really good and a good point about saving some $$. So obviously the bodywork shampoo first but would the clay or paint cleanser come next? the kit comes with the sig series II wax and the crystal mist spray wax. From what I understand the sig series wax is more 'hardcore' if you will and the spray wax can be used if you decide just to wash your car with no other detailing? Like a quick touch up... Correct me if I am wrong!
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correct the mist is a quick detailer. when used in between washes, increases life of the wax.
 
You would wash --- clay -- paint cleanse --- protect.

AG modified the Crystal Mist just a little bit recently, and its more of a spray wax now. It truly boosts more carnaubas for that pop and sparkle between waxings. Still easy to use as a wipe and go product ....

As for Sig Series II , there is nothing "hardcore" about it. Its a paste wax , pure and simple. Think Souveran at a lower price point. Uses some polymers to amp up reflection (like DP Max Wax) that is not used in Souveran. Super easy to use, and a WOWO product. 15-20 minutes max and should be able to add 20 coats per jar minimum.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
You would wash --- clay -- paint cleanse --- protect.

AG modified the Crystal Mist just a little bit recently, and its more of a spray wax now. It truly boosts more carnaubas for that pop and sparkle between waxings. Still easy to use as a wipe and go product ....

As for Sig Series II , there is nothing "hardcore" about it. Its a paste wax , pure and simple. Think Souveran at a lower price point. Uses some polymers to amp up reflection (like DP Max Wax) that is not used in Souveran. Super easy to use, and a WOWO product. 15-20 minutes max and should be able to add 20 coats per jar minimum.
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Sounds like two things I need to try Killr!
Awesome advice sir.
 
awesome..thanks! I think I am gonna order that kit to try out and I will post when I am done. ( if I get it this week I will do it someday this week) If I can figure it out I will post a pic or two as well! thanks for your help so far everyone:)

edited to add: when I was placing the order for the clay bar ( I ordered the light green one) the directions said NOT to apply a lot of pressure but just enough to make the clay slide around. I was planning to apply pressure to try and get the white dots out, though. So my question is should I or should I not apply pressure? It says if you do, the paint will become abrasive.
 
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