Prepping a brand new car for the winter.

[MilesToEmpty]

So we just bought a black (I know) 17 GTI. It came equipped with swirl marks and bird poop etching from the dealer, which Im pretty sure I paid extra for.

Ive never detailed a brand new car before and wanted to make sure i didn't do anything I shouldn't, and that I knew what pads I need to use for which product.

I recently purchased:
[h=1]Menzerna Heavy Cut Compound 400[/h][h=1]Menzerna Super Finish (SF-3500)[/h][h=1]Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant[/h][h=1]Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax[/h]

My plan was to start with SF3500. What color pad should I use? Im using a PorterCable. Proceeding to the Wolfgang. Can I use two coats? Adding the Color Lock on top.

I also have some Dodo Juice Purple Haze PRO Soft Wax that I use on my other car. Should I layer that on top of the Color Lock? Or are they going to cancel each other out.

Thanks!

[TD="align: right"][h=1]Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant[/h][/TD]

 

[OCDetails]

There is nothing different about doing a brand new car than a used car. My used car has less swirls than some brand new ones, so the number of swirls doesn't necessarily relate to age. Just use whatever process you have found works on any other car for the type of damage you are trying to correct.

I would definitely go with the Wolfgang sealant. That looks awesome on black. Two coats would look really awesome. I would stop there and just leave it at 2 coats and don't top it with anything else. Wolfgang doesn't need a 'topper' and in my experience nothing enhances the look of Wolfgang except more Wolfgang.

 

[Zubair]

SF3500 topped with WGDGPS is all you need. I didn't find a second coat of WGDGPS to add anything extra in looks or gloss terms but more for complete coverage.

 

[FUNX650]

My plan was to start with SF3500.
What color pad should I use?

I'd start out with Lake Country’s
Finishing Pads for the "Test Spot".

Proceeding to the Wolfgang.
Can I use two coats?
Adding the Color Lock on top.

I also have some
Dodo Juice Purple Haze PRO Soft Wax
that I use on my other car.
Should I layer that on top of the Color Lock?

I'll suggest you start out with applying
one coat of Wolfgang's Deep Gloss Paint
Sealant (WDGPS)...and see how you like
it...before applying any toppers.


•Note:
-Except for applying two coats of
WDGPS, 12-24 hrs apart...[the
concept of "even (total) coverage"]...

I've never seen the need
to ever top WDGPS.

-But my eyes are old; YMMV.



Bob

 

[chet31]

There is nothing different about doing a brand new car than a used car. My used car has less swirls than some brand new ones, so the number of swirls doesn't necessarily relate to age. Just use whatever process you have found works on any other car for the type of damage you are trying to correct.

I would definitely go with the Wolfgang sealant. That looks awesome on black. Two coats would look really awesome. I would stop there and just leave it at 2 coats and don't top it with anything else. Wolfgang doesn't need a 'topper' and in my experience nothing enhances the look of Wolfgang except more Wolfgang.

Agree, new car/used car no particular difference in process. Want to add, no particular difference in prepping a car for winter vs. non-winter. I live in Wisconsin, not sure winter is any harder on a finish than summer. No bird droppings, no sap, no bugs, no baking sun, what's to worry? Also, never saw the point in applying a wax on top of a sealant. Sealants are so good now - apply it and be done.

 

[pilotpip]

Make sure you decontaminate first. You'll be amazed at how much crap comes off the paint and wheels.

 

[MilesToEmpty]

Make sure you decontaminate first. You'll be amazed at how much crap comes off the paint and wheels.

Product in particular? I usually do ironx and then light clay at if needed.

I havent used used an actual "paint cleaner" for quite a while.

 

[TTQ B4U]

So we just bought a black (I know) 17 GTI. It came equipped with swirl marks and bird poop etching from the dealer, which Im pretty sure I paid extra for.

Ive never detailed a brand new car before and wanted to make sure i didn't do anything I shouldn't, and that I knew what pads I need to use for which product.

I recently purchased:
Menzerna Heavy Cut Compound 400

Menzerna Super Finish (SF-3500)

Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant

Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax



My plan was to start with SF3500. What color pad should I use? Im using a PorterCable. Proceeding to the Wolfgang. Can I use two coats? Adding the Color Lock on top.

I also have some Dodo Juice Purple Haze PRO Soft Wax that I use on my other car. Should I layer that on top of the Color Lock? Or are they going to cancel each other out.

Thanks!

[TD="align: right"] Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
[/TD]

I doubt you'd need to compound it. IMO people jump to compounding way to quickly when in fact most swirls can easily be removed with a great polish and the proper pad. Especially on a new car that has little to no exposure to poor washing and drying techniques. Remember to go easy on your new baby. Just saying.

Personally, my process for new car preps is:

Wash
Iron-X
Nano/Clay
Polish then seal/coat or use an AIO.

Based on what you shared and have I would say SF3500 with either a white or green pad if you need a bit more bite as VW/Audi clear is tough. For winter I would top it with 1-2 coats of Collinite 476.

Just my two cents. Congrats on the new car BTW!

 

[pilotpip]

That works. The explorer I recently did a write up about wasn't new, but it was shipped here after being purchased at auction. I don't know where GTIs are produced, but I would imagine there is a ton of fallout on it if it's shipped from overseas.

 

[Desertnate]

That works. The explorer I recently did a write up about wasn't new, but it was shipped here after being purchased at auction. I don't know where GTIs are produced, but I would imagine there is a ton of fallout on it if it's shipped from overseas.

MK7 GTI's like that one are built in Mexico, so there could be a lot or rail dust or simply embedded grim from riding on a train/truck. I would HIGHLY encourage claying the car before polishing.

I too took delivery of a brand new, black, GTI, although mine was a MK6 and I picked it up a little over three years ago. If VW has stayed true to form with their paint, even though the car is not build in North America (mine was the last of the German built GTI's to be sold in NA), the paint will be quite hard.

Like Bob mentioned, you really need to do a test spot. I use the Blackfire "twins" on my car. The SRC Polish is similar to your 3500 and I believe the SRC Compound is more like Mezerna's 2500. It isn't nearly as aggressive as 400. In order to do a one-step polish job before applying LSP, I found I needed to either use a more aggressive LC Orange Flat pad with the SRC Polish, or an LC White Pad with the SRC Compound to get take on anything other than the lightest of swirls. Start with your polish, and play around with pad combinations. I agree with pdqgp that a full-on heavy compounding of the car is highly unlikely. I'd keep the 400 in a glass box with one of those those, "break in case of emergency" signs on it. Good to have on hand, but only use it if REALLY needed. You should be able to get good results without having to go that aggressive.

 

[MilesToEmpty]

I used the 400 on my Prius which is 8yrs old and had never been polished. It worked great. Not sure Ive really figured it out as I had a lot of dusting and people state that it doesnt produce much dust.

Ill order myself a new orange pad. My last one started falling apart on me prematurely. I forgot I bought some P21S wax to try as well. Collinite 476 sounds like some tuff stuff to work with.

 

[Desertnate]

I used the 400 on my Prius which is 8yrs old and had never been polished. It worked great. Not sure Ive really figured it out as I had a lot of dusting and people state that it doesnt produce much dust.

Ill order myself a new orange pad. My last one started falling apart on me prematurely. I forgot I bought some P21S wax to try as well. Collinite 476 sounds like some tuff stuff to work with.

Whatever pad you choose, you'll need more than one. I would recommend you get 3~4 white and 3~4 orange for you polishing needs and then a couple blue/black for LSP application. On my GTI, I use three. I clean them on the fly between sections, but also rotate them after each panel. I've found this keeps them from getting too hot and not overly saturated with product.

 

[MilesToEmpty]

I just ordered a new backing plate for my PC to use 5.5" pads instead of the 6.5" Picked up several orange and white as well.