Tiauguinho
New member
Hello to all fellow detailers.
In April 2006 I purchased my second hand 99 Mazda MX5 in British Racing Green. The car is in excellent shape mechanically, had only one owner and covered almost 100k miles until today and has been giving me a great ownership experience, either for its driving/handling qualities and for its reliability.
Ever since getting my little MX5, that I started to pay attention to detailing itself. As my love for the car grew, so did my need to dedicate more attention to it, to having it always washed and clean, to give it all it needed to be as perfect as possible.
Google helped me finding Autopia, I payed attention to all the teachings from David on his How-to-Guides and decided to give it my first careful try. On August 2006 I gave my car its first detail with AutoGlym products (SRP and EGP, plus a nice wash inside using AG Interior Shampoo). The car looked so much better afterwards. It shined and the paint looked so much better, even with my complete newbie technique, I was able to make it look better. Impressed with the results of this whole detailing business, my girlfriend decided to try and helped me buff EGP (I applied a slight bit more then what I should have been, making it hard to buff out). It was the best 5 hours and a half of work I ever had put on a car. It was the kickstart to my new hobby... and with my girlfriend approval, it made it all even better!
Living in Lisbon, disabled me from detailing my car. The lack of a garage to keep it or to detail it, meant that I could only go to the self car wash place with my Autoglym shampoo and ask the owner if I could use the place for a bucket wash. At least, I avoided washing it with those nasty shampoos that they use. But, even though I tried to take care of my car, no garage in Lisbon meant scratches...
Having moved recently to The Netherlands and having a garage meant that I could finally start detailing it. I browsed the Autopia forums, I read and read over and over again the How-to-Guides and decided to order a bunch of products to see what would fit me and my car better.
This is the list of products I have:
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Autoglym Interior Shampoo
Autoglym Clean Wheels
Autoglym Glass Polish
Autoglym Engine and Machine Cleaner
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover
Autoglym Tyre Dressing
Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care
Meguiars ScratchX
Meguiars NXT Tech Wax
Meguiars Quick Clay Detailing
Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo
Meguiars Endurance High Gloss Tyre Protectant Gel
Sonüs SFX-1 Restore Polish
Son üs SFX-2 Enhance Swirl Remover
Sonüs SFX-3 Final Finish Polish
P21S Carnauba Car Wax
Tools:
Autoglym Leather Chamois
Meguiars Versa Angled Wheel Brush
Meguiars Versa Angled Tyre Brush
Meguiars Foam Applicator
Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt
Sonus Der Wunder Buffing Towel
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel
Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel
No-brand soft sponge for interior
Used toothbrushes
I do all my work by hand, never used a machine, was about to buy a Porter Cable + Transformer, but after seeing the news about the Ultimate Detailing Machine, I decided to wait until it comes out and buy that one.
Today I washed my car using Gold Class Shampoo (Double Bucket technique was applied) and right afterwards I clayed it. My next step was to polish the car to get rid of the swirls and scratches. I put some Super Resin Polish on my foam pad and started by doing the trunk. 60% of the swirls were gone, but lots of very light scratches prevailed... With this in mind I ask you for your advice on the following:
1. Which product should I use next? Will the Sonüs SFX-2 be effective when applied by hand for the light scratches? If so, which technique should I exactly apply?
2. What is your general opinion of the NB Miata paint?
3. Any recommendation for a product that I may have skipped?
4. I have the P21S, Autoglym EGP and the NXT Tech Wax. Which other wax or what applying technique would do the job perfectly for the dark metalic green?
I thank you all in advance for your attention.
Here is a picture of the car taken with my mobile phone
In April 2006 I purchased my second hand 99 Mazda MX5 in British Racing Green. The car is in excellent shape mechanically, had only one owner and covered almost 100k miles until today and has been giving me a great ownership experience, either for its driving/handling qualities and for its reliability.
Ever since getting my little MX5, that I started to pay attention to detailing itself. As my love for the car grew, so did my need to dedicate more attention to it, to having it always washed and clean, to give it all it needed to be as perfect as possible.
Google helped me finding Autopia, I payed attention to all the teachings from David on his How-to-Guides and decided to give it my first careful try. On August 2006 I gave my car its first detail with AutoGlym products (SRP and EGP, plus a nice wash inside using AG Interior Shampoo). The car looked so much better afterwards. It shined and the paint looked so much better, even with my complete newbie technique, I was able to make it look better. Impressed with the results of this whole detailing business, my girlfriend decided to try and helped me buff EGP (I applied a slight bit more then what I should have been, making it hard to buff out). It was the best 5 hours and a half of work I ever had put on a car. It was the kickstart to my new hobby... and with my girlfriend approval, it made it all even better!
Living in Lisbon, disabled me from detailing my car. The lack of a garage to keep it or to detail it, meant that I could only go to the self car wash place with my Autoglym shampoo and ask the owner if I could use the place for a bucket wash. At least, I avoided washing it with those nasty shampoos that they use. But, even though I tried to take care of my car, no garage in Lisbon meant scratches...
Having moved recently to The Netherlands and having a garage meant that I could finally start detailing it. I browsed the Autopia forums, I read and read over and over again the How-to-Guides and decided to order a bunch of products to see what would fit me and my car better.
This is the list of products I have:
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Autoglym Interior Shampoo
Autoglym Clean Wheels
Autoglym Glass Polish
Autoglym Engine and Machine Cleaner
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover
Autoglym Tyre Dressing
Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care
Meguiars ScratchX
Meguiars NXT Tech Wax
Meguiars Quick Clay Detailing
Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo
Meguiars Endurance High Gloss Tyre Protectant Gel
Sonüs SFX-1 Restore Polish
Son üs SFX-2 Enhance Swirl Remover
Sonüs SFX-3 Final Finish Polish
P21S Carnauba Car Wax
Tools:
Autoglym Leather Chamois
Meguiars Versa Angled Wheel Brush
Meguiars Versa Angled Tyre Brush
Meguiars Foam Applicator
Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt
Sonus Der Wunder Buffing Towel
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel
Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel
No-brand soft sponge for interior
Used toothbrushes
I do all my work by hand, never used a machine, was about to buy a Porter Cable + Transformer, but after seeing the news about the Ultimate Detailing Machine, I decided to wait until it comes out and buy that one.
Today I washed my car using Gold Class Shampoo (Double Bucket technique was applied) and right afterwards I clayed it. My next step was to polish the car to get rid of the swirls and scratches. I put some Super Resin Polish on my foam pad and started by doing the trunk. 60% of the swirls were gone, but lots of very light scratches prevailed... With this in mind I ask you for your advice on the following:
1. Which product should I use next? Will the Sonüs SFX-2 be effective when applied by hand for the light scratches? If so, which technique should I exactly apply?
2. What is your general opinion of the NB Miata paint?
3. Any recommendation for a product that I may have skipped?
4. I have the P21S, Autoglym EGP and the NXT Tech Wax. Which other wax or what applying technique would do the job perfectly for the dark metalic green?
I thank you all in advance for your attention.
Here is a picture of the car taken with my mobile phone
You did a really nice detail. THe last 3 pics of your car don't show any scratches. As for cleaning foam pads, Autogeek has polishing pad cleaners. The DP Polishing Pad Rejuvinator has good reviews