First Time detailing

D

DragonCub

New member
Hi guys,

Been reading the forums for a few weeks now and I want to start detailing my car. I have a 98 Silver Audi, from what I read, Audi are a pain to work with. There are some scratches on the hood and trunk as well as some side panels. The car has swirl marks on majority of the car but there not that bad.

Here what I plan on doing (pics to follow), let me know if this is correct or if you have other suggestion.



Wash with dawn.

Clay

SSR 2.5 with yellow cutting pad (I'm not sure if 2.5 is too much)

Klasse SG

S100.



or



SSR 2.5 with cutting pad

Menzerna

Klasse AIO

Zaino Z5

Zaino Z8



I'm wanna use the Zaino products but haven't figured those out yet, maybe someone here can suggest somthing.



Those that have experience with Silver paint what have you used in the past?







A day after washing with BlackMagic car wash.





The Scratches







The Swirl Marks (I'm not a good photographer, this is the best I could do. Even in the sun there hard to see with your own eyes, you have to look at them at an angle)













How do you remove Water spots??









I really appreciate your help.
 
SSR 2.5 with cutting pad

Menzerna

Klasse AIO

Zaino Z5

Zaino Z8



sounds like a nice approach to me, do a search about zaino and certain number and see how other people apply them
 
Which Menzerna? FPII would be the choice I would think.

Maybe consider ZP-C instead of AIO if you want the Zaino route? Similar product but I'm not sure which has more power. It would seem like you want this as a base though so power may not be needed since you will have the second polishing step with a Menzerna product to remove any haze generated by the cutting pad and SSR 2.5.

You will need either Z1 or ZFX if you want to use Z-5 (or Z2). Check out Zaino's website for the specifics.

You can wash with Dawn but it's not really necessary if you are going to be polishing like that.



Do some searching for removing water spots. You can likely polish them out but they may be stubborn.



I've used Zaino on silver with great results. Realize that the prep is really the focus for a great looking car.



Make sure you have the right tools and a lot of MF's if possible.



Have fun!
 
I think SSR2.5 on a yellow cutting pad is fine, not "too much". You may want/have to follow that with SSR2.5 on a polishing pad, or compromise and use SSR2.5 on an orange pad.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
or compromise and use SSR2.5 on an orange pad.
Click to expand...



Works like a charm.



Before



S2010002.JPG




After



S20100031.JPG
 
thanks for the comments guys, looks like I need to read some more.





EMazda3S said:
Which Menzerna? FPII would be the choice I would think.

Maybe consider ZP-C instead of AIO if you want the Zaino route? Similar product but I'm not sure which has more power. It would seem like you want this as a base though so power may not be needed since you will have the second polishing step with a Menzerna product to remove any haze generated by the cutting pad and SSR 2.5.

You will need either Z1 or ZFX if you want to use Z-5 (or Z2). Check out Zaino's website for the specifics.

You can wash with Dawn but it's not really necessary if you are going to be polishing like that.



Do some searching for removing water spots. You can likely polish them out but they may be stubborn.



I've used Zaino on silver with great results. Realize that the prep is really the focus for a great looking car.



Make sure you have the right tools and a lot of MF's if possible.



Have fun!
Click to expand...

I may ZP-C instead of the AIO. I just made that list by looking at other peoples threads and seeing their results. Those were the products they used.



Thats why I want to know from those people that have silver cars what combanatios has worked best for them. and has anyone used a similar combo as the one I suggested on silver?







Also I saw that thread with the silver s200 and he used souveran, which showed great results.
 
Since the other guys pretty much covered the wash/wax part this is what I did for my waterspots on glass. Best way to remove them: Get some #0000 steel wool, Klasse AIO, and Vinegar. This removed spots on my windows that had been on there for at least 3 years. Spray the glass a couple times with vinegar and let soak. Then I take the steel wool and apply a little AIO and start rubbing. I also used a 4" cutting pad on my PC which worked but some areas I had to use the steel wool and rub damn hard. Might get some very slight microscratching, so order some DP Glass Restorer and you'll be set.
 
DragonCub- Extensive experience with silver Audis here...



But no experience with the SSR line.



Yeah, after the yellow cutting pad, you oughta use a milder pad as the yellow will leave some micromarring (which might be tough to see depending on your lighting). Dunno if the FP will be enough, I've only used it on Audi clear that'd already been through a few polishing steps.



Best advice I can give is to a) have lighting that shows what's really there, b) inspect often so you know what's happening at every step, c) allot plenty of time and work limited areas at a time.



Toppers dont' matter all *that* much IMO, I get the paint the way I want it before I apply a LSP and then just see how the subtle effect on appearance strikes me. But OTOH, and it's just a personal preference, I was so disappointed with how KSG looks on Audi silver that I took it off and put on something else, and I hardly *ever* do that. Parked beside an identically-painted car with another LSP I was shocked at how much I disliked the SG, but hey, that's just me and I think it looks OK on other silvers.



Oh, and Souveran was always my wife's favorite on Audi silver (just needed redone too often for me to stick with it). I currently have UPP on one and #16 on the other, different looks but both are nice IMO.



IIRC BradB uses Zaino on his silver Audi, and he's one discerning guy.
 
Accumulator, do you have any pics of your audi so I can compare the difference?

I tried looking through your posts but couldn't find anything.



also when you say that souveran needed to be redone too often, how often are we talking about?
 
DragonCub- nah, I'm digital-image-capture ignorant :o and I don't take many pics of my cars anyhow. I find it hard to see the differences in LSP in photos, let alone internet postings.



IMO you can't really base decisions about the subtle stuff we talk about on inernet-quality photos anyhow. Just too many variables so don't put *too* much stock in how pics look on the 'net (for instance, how many people even calibrate their monitors properly). A little lighting/exposure/film/equipment difference will often mean tons more than which LSP you used and I can never tell what the significant factor really is. Just my $0.02.



I'm always shocked when my wife asks "did you use a different wax on my car?". I would've bet my life she'd never notice (and sometimes she doesn't). This stuff is usually more subtle than you might think. IMO the primary reason I can see all these differences so clearly is that I can park her silver '00 A8 next to my silver '01 S8 and compare them directly. I've had a pair of silver Audis since forever so we know what we like.



The way to find out what *you* like is to try different stuff.



The Souveran seemed to degrade after maybe 3 weeks. It's no biggie to redo it but I'd rather not (at least not on my wife's daily driver ;) ). I will say that after nearly 20 years of using it on my sorta-silver (light gray metallic single stage) Jag I've never found anything that looks quite like it. E.g., I was surprised that P21S looked brighter, with less depth but would I have noticed the diff on any other car :nixweiss And my wife *still* remarks how nice it looked on her Audi...maybe you oughta give it a try.
 
I was checking the price on the souverand and I think I have a little sticker shock.

How does the liquid souveran compare?
 
Never tried the liquid version.



I always say that if you have to even *think* about spending that kind of money for a wax then you shouldn't do it. It's for people who don't care about the cost.



The big deal is gonna be getting the marring out. I'd concentrate on that. There are plenty of reasonably-priced LSPs you can use and IMO if you get the prep right you'll be happy with most any of them.



My usual go-to LSP (Meg's #16) is getting hard to find..but I sure like the UPP on my silver S8. Wouldn't use it unless you get the finish perfect though, same with Zaino. If you're gonna live with a little micromarring/etc. I'd use a wax instead of a sealant. Maybe Collinite 845.
 
Accumulator said:
Never tried the liquid version.



I always say that if you have to even *think* about spending that kind of money for a wax then you shouldn't do it. It's for people who don't care about the cost.
Click to expand...

Looking at the prices again. now I'm a little confused. 8oz of Souveran is $70, but the kit is $80. Is the rest of the stuff only worth $10? I might as well get the kit.
 
alright the more I'm reading the forum, the more I'm learning about all these products. It makes it so hard to choose the right ones without spending alot of money trying them all out.



After reading and seeing all of Scottwax's thread with silver cars I'm thinking of a new combo now.



SSR 2.5

106/RMG

Jeff Werkstatt's Prime

Acrylic Jett Trigger



What do you guys think?

oh the decisions!
 
IMO you'll be satisfied with most any of the commonly-suggested approaches.



I usually suggest the people who are just starting out stick with products that are extremely user-friendly. Concentrate on the process(es) involved and see how it goes.



I'd recommend that you clay, polish (first aggressive for the scratches and then mild everywhere), and apply a LSP. Just that will be plenty of work, especially on an Audi. That'd be no glaze, no final topping, just the basics.



Getting the marring out is gonna be a challenge, so concentrate on the polishing.



Regarding the Souveran kit, it's generally priced that way, which might be a clue as to the profit margin on Pinnacle products ;) You can bet they're not losing money on *any* of their products, either in combinations or individually.
 
Just placed my order, what do you guys think? I didn't know it was gonna cost so much and I still have to get the PC. Plus there's other products I wanted to try. :(



Yellow Propel Turbo Pair $ 6.99



Excel 3.5'' Hook & Loop Flexiplate $ 14.49



Pure Australian Light Sheepskin Washmit $ 3.99



Poorboys World Super Slick & Suds Concentrated Car Wash (Qt) $ 14.89



Excel AquaClear Optical. $ 2.59



(A3) Poorboys World SSR2.5 - Medium Abrasive (16 oz) $ 12.89



(A1) Poorboys World SSR1 - Light Abrasive (16oz) $ 12.89



Excel Monterey Waffle Weave Drying Towel $ 10.49



7 for 6 Yellow Supreme deal $ 14.94



Excel 5'' Counterweight $ 2.00



Excel Pad/Plate kit (5'') $ 29.99



(3) Propel Green Medium Polishing Pad $ 7.79



(4) Propel Yellow Med. Cut Pad. $ 7.79



Red Moose Machine Glaze $ 15.99



1 Acrylic Series Kit

Prime, 500 mL

Acrylic Jett, 500 mL

Acrylic Glos, 500 mL

(2) Prime/Jett Applicators

(2)M-Fibre Essential Towels
 
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