Help! Preparing a 1-month old car for a photoshoot...swirls!

Ben Carufel

New member
I've been asked to get a red 2003 Mistubishi Evo8 ready for a magazine photoshoot this Sunday morning. The main problem is that the car has minor swirls. Now, I figure I could just fill them and it would look great for the shoot, but I'd like to land this guy as a customer, as well.



I'm thinking SMR, then Klasse AIO, then top that with S100. I don't want to get too abrasive with the paint because it's so new, but there are very minor swirls that need to come out...



How does that sound? I was thinking maybe S100 SEC, which I just picked up yesterday, but I haven't experimented with removing swirls with it. Thoughts?



Thanks guys!
 
Your SMR, AIO, and S100 routine sounds like it would be the best. Or you can also put a glaze like #7 between the AIO and S100 for the wettest look.



Don't worry, SMR is super mild, and would just take out the most minor of swirls. I was just going to suggest going to DACP when I reread your post and saw that you mentioned very minor swirls. I don't think SEC would do anything with the swirl because it's a pure chemical cleanser, but I have not used it. Others with experience with it will chime in.



But I think the first combo would really be a winner.:xyxthumbs
 
Actually 3M SMR then AIO won't work. Cause AIO will remove the fillers that the SMR will fill in. What you could do is AIO then SMR and then S100 Carnuba
 
OUCH said:
Actually 3M SMR then AIO won't work. Cause AIO will remove the fillers that the SMR will fill in. What you could do is AIO then SMR and then S100 Carnuba



You sure about that? I know that SMR has *some* fillers, but I've always understood that it's somewhat abrasive, enough to remove minor swirls. In which case, it would remove or abrade the AIO if you were to apply it after AIO...which would defeat the purpose of AIO...
 
SMR doesn't have much in terms of fillers, if any. Another route to take is using Meguiars #9. Two benefits in this case: 1) leaves some nice fillers behind 2) probably easier to work with by hand. #9 has some cleaning properties as well, but an AIO coat may do this job a little better. BTW, AIO doesn't offer much in terms of protection. I use it merely as a mild cleaner and nothing more.



If you want to keep him as a customer, how about throwing a claying in there (if it's a loaner car, then don't bother)? There are advantages for new cars as well.



If you are prepping the car the day before, make sure to QD the car once more the day after. S100 tends to look a little better after curing in my experience anyway.
 
JustinTRW said:
SMR doesn't have much in terms of fillers, if any. Another route to take is using Meguiars #9. Two benefits in this case: 1) leaves some nice fillers behind 2) probably easier to work with by hand. #9 has some cleaning properties as well, but an AIO coat may do this job a little better. BTW, AIO doesn't offer much in terms of protection. I use it merely as a mild cleaner and nothing more.



If you want to keep him as a customer, how about throwing a claying in there (if it's a loaner car, then don't bother)? There are advantages for new cars as well.



If you are prepping the car the day before, make sure to QD the car once more the day after. S100 tends to look a little better after curing in my experience anyway.



Thanks for the input Justin! I might just go over the car with a claybar, since I've got that pretty much down to a science.



I'm sticking with 3M products both because I have more experience with them, and I prefer them for machine use than Meguiar's products. I'll be using a PC...



I realize that AIO doesn't protect much, but there is no way in hell I'm going to SG that car. Not on such a tight schedule, anyways. I love the cleaning properties in AIO, though, so thats why I included that.



What QD would you recommend for the S100? I've got Meg's QD, Griot's SpeedShine, and that's it...



Greg - I'm thinking E1 A2Z wheel cleaner on the intercooler, then give it a spray of Armor All for a little gloss.
 
The S100 obviously covers the protection part, so no worries. Use the QD you prefer. Both Meguiar's and Speedshine are excellent.
 
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