First time shopping list & schedule with Souveran

R

RaysMD

New member
I've come here for some advice on which products to purchase. I've been reading many of the archives last night and have settled on a few items. Please let me know what you think about my choices or if I have forgotten anything. These items are for a new car, so I decided to skip the polish/cleaner for now.



A. Dawn soap

B. Meguiar's shampoo @ Target

C. Chenille wash mitt (100% cotton)

D. Microfiber towels (yosteve/neatitems)

E. Souveran wax or Blitz wax

F. Wheels - Eimann Fabrik Hi-Intensity



Schedule for new car (picking it up 5/17/02)

1. Wash with Dawn to strip dealer's wax

2. Apply Souveran wax (hopefully q2-3 months), then wash weekly or bi-weekly with Meguiar's shampoo.



Good enough? Since it's a new car I hope I don't need to use a cleaner or polish on it.
 
Sounds like an excellent list, and plan. However, i would clay the car, and use a cleaner just to make sure all residue and industrial fall out and what not is removed.. And when you pick up the car, like everyone always says on the board, tell the dealer NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO WAS THE CAR....





What car are you getting?
 
I recommend a thorough claying and ABC treatment (optional) but claying is a definate.



The lists sounds good.



Souveran, is this for a garage queen, if so I would say apply souveran once every 6-8 weeks. If its a daily driver and you still love to wax, give Klasse a try.



What do you intend to dress the tire with? the interior dressing and fabric/carpet protectant?



A $40 shop vac (think it was 6 gallons, Rigid, 2hp or so) at home Depot is a good idea to keep the interior clean.



What PFG said, DO NOT LET the dealer wash the car or do anything to it, maybe remove the tranist guard coating if any, but if they wash it there is a 99.9999999998% chance they are going to swirl the finish, leaving you with a need to polish it, and lead to yoe getting a Porter Cable to help you out.



Jason
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by JasonC8301 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

What PFG said, DO NOT LET the dealer wash the car or do anything to it, maybe remove the tranist guard coating if any, but if they wash it there is a 99.9999999998% chance they are going to swirl the finish, leaving you with a need to polish it, and lead to yoe getting a Porter Cable to help you out.

Jason [/b]</blockquote>

Jason, you are being WAY to modest and tristworthy of the dealer. You know darn well that that chances of getting swirls and marring are EXACTLY 100%... Dont try to undermine the people, and speak well of the dealers.. speak the TRUTH! haha..
 
I had a good experience with a dealer preped car. The silver 2000 BMW 323Ci I detail. It was washed and taken care of by Manhatten BMW and it was SWIRL LESS! NO swirls. Thats the .0000000002% of the dealers that actually try to satisfy the customers. Minimize swirls by not driving the car often which = not washing the car often = less chance of introducing swirls.
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. However, I'm picking the car up from the BMW Performance Center Delivery center in Spartanburg, SC. Jason and PFG, it's a BMW M3. .I've been saving for this car since college; 9 yrs later, it's mine. I've heard good things about the PCD people. They're supposed to do a great job on car. I'm not sure what products they use though. Someone had mentioned Meguiar's on the roadfly.org forum. I'll have to re-visit the idea of using a clay bar and cleaner.



As for the interior; I was thinking about Pinnacle leather and rubber/vinyl products. Any good?



The car is probably going to be a garage queen. Driven 2-3x/week. If I find that my workplace's garage is safe from door dings, then I might drive it more often.



Besides the car shampoo, what else can I use to prolong the wax when I'm in between waxes (ie., waxing every 6-8 weeks). Quick detailer? Or what's this idea about using Blitz for the base and then Souveran on top?





Thanks,

Rays
 
Sweet an M3.



To save yourself the trouble, don't let them touch it. Meguiars makes good products, but I wouldn't trust most detailers at dealers with any product.



Pinnacle is a good choice for the interior. :xyxthumbs



One Grand Show Off, Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl, or Pinnacle Crystal Mist are 3 VERY good Quick detailers to prolong the life of the wax after a wash.



If the car is driven 2-3X a week, then apply Souveran every 4-6 weeks, or whenever you see the shine is fading. I got more than 8 weeks on a ML320 with 2 coats of Souveran (one week between coats.) I did QD with One Grand Show Off 2 times a week.



You can surely use Blitz as a base. Since its not a daily driver, has a garage to call home and you are willing to apply wax often, a polymer sealant is not necessary. If you do apply Blitz as a base, remember to let it cure/harden after removal for a few days before you apply Souveran.



If you are going to use Pinnacle stuff, why not just order a kit from CMA?

$120 and you get - Souveran, a bottle of Pinnacle wash, Paint cleansing lotion, crystal mist, vinyl/rubber protectant, koala wipe towel, foam and terry applicator.
 
RE: clay bar & polish





What exactly does a clay bar do? Does it just remove the grime that's stuck to the clear coat, or does it remove a part of the clear coat? That's what I don't want to do.



Thanks,

Rays
 
A claybar will pull out embedded paint contaminants (which consist of tiny metal shavings from rail dust, brake dust and industrial fallout) without removing any of your clearcoat. When used properly (i.e. with plenty of lubrication and with very light pressure), there's very little danger of causing any damage or swirls. Click the link below for more info.

Using a Claybar to Remove Paint Contamination
 
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