MY First Autopian Detail

milani

milani

New member
After many weeks of researching the site, asking questions, reading the e-book, and running from store to store in order to find product, I have completed my first Autopian detail job on my C240. Here are some before shots:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1834&papass=&sort=1

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1831&papass=&sort=1

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1830&papass=&sort=1



Here are my steps:



1. Wash with Meguiars GC wash

2. Dry with absorber and MF towels

3. Clay with Clay Magic

4. Paint cleaning by hand with Meguiars Paint Cleaner

5. Attempted scratch removal by hand with Meguiars Scratch-x (what a waste of time that was)

6. Polish by hand with Meguiars Polish

7. Wax by hand with Meguiars Carnuba Wax



Interior Done with Lexol products (Leather, vinyl, etc)



Here are my after shots:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1861&papass=&sort=1

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1859&papass=&sort=1

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1858&papass=&sort=1

My after shots are good, but I feel they can be better. :nixweiss The paint just does not pop the way I would like. Any suggestions will be appreciated.



Also, just to avoid the flaming, I know my camera sucks!
 
Actually, I think you did an AWESOME job. There is ONLY one person I know who can do magic without a PC and that is Scottwax...I think. I got a PC last summer and it made the job so much easier and gave me better results. So suggestions: a PC (with all of the foam pads), maybe some Klasse, maybe some BlackFire, maybe some PS21, and yes, maybe Zaino. I really believe that any one of these products will give you what you are looking for!:xyxthumbs
 
Of course, uconn, I will have to research further on your suggestions to find the sealant that I will desire.:o Any ideas on where to get a PC in the Chicago area at a good price? I am still convincing my wife that it is a better choice to buy the PC and get the swirls out yourself than to take the car to the local car wash /detail shop. Wish me luck!
 
ScratchX does not help at all? Hmm. .. then I should not waste my time with that as I also do not have a PC ... Should I use SMR instead?
 
milani said:
Of course, uconn, I will have to research further on your suggestions to find the sealant that I will desire.:o Any ideas on where to get a PC in the Chicago area at a good price? I am still convincing my wife that it is a better choice to buy the PC and get the swirls out yourself than to take the car to the local car wash /detail shop. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...



Hey milani,



your car looks smashing!:xyxthumbs ...about the PC...I made a haul and picked up my PC 7336 SP from Lowe's at Dekalb...they stock those models there for $109.99...there is a new Lowe's opening up in St. Charles that I know of also...Homer Glen is near Plainfield/Bolingbrook correct?...I believe that those would be the closest Lowe's to...I have also heard of some member's going to Home Depot and having them order the PC for you if you give them the model#...I know that Home Depots are like StarBucks now...hehehe...



Hope this helps some...
 
Yeah, I am about 20 minutes from Bolingbrook and about a half hour from Plainfield. I did not know that there was a Lowe's out there. I will have to check it out (since the tax is cheaper too!) Thanks! (Actually, I stopped at Starbuck's the other day and ordered paint and rollers instead of coffee:LOLOL )
 
sorry milani, just to double check...the closest Lowe's to Bolingbrook/Plainfield seem to be the Lowe's in St. Charles(opening soon) and the Lowe's in Dekalb...I'm pretty sure there is no location in Bolingbrook/Plainfield...just making sure...don't want to take you out on a bunk mission...



if you go to www.Lowes.com and go to "Store Locator", you can check to see if there are other locations that are closer depending exactly where you work or live...
 
tradertt said:
ScratchX does not help at all? Hmm. .. then I should not waste my time with that as I also do not have a PC ... Should I use SMR instead?
Click to expand...

Agreed! When I pick up a couple of tiny little obvious scratches en route to a concours, I am quite happy with the ScratchX treatment. But for anything significant, I find it pretty useless. :(
 
kg/cm² said:
Bolingbrook
Click to expand...



OMFG! MY HOMETOWN! Sorry... Don't want to hijack the thread. :D



Milani, I can definately tell the difference between your befores and afters. The car looks wetter, and it does look fantastic btw! I will echo what others have said... try S100. There's a Harley dealer in Lisle, on Ogden - they might have it. Also one in Joliet, I think, but can't remember where.



Oh, since it sounds like you're probably in the Naperville area, you might want to check out Berland's Tools in Lombard for the PC. They might have it, too. They're umm... north of Butterfield near where Portillos is, just west of Yorktown. I can't remember the name of the street/roads, but I could direct you there by landmark. (My grandma lives REAL close to there.)



Great job on the Benz, and your camera does just fine! Welcome to the disease... :xyxthumbs
 
I am looking for all of your opinions on this:



I am ready to take it to the next level on both of my cars, the black C240, and a white QX4. I am considering the following options:





Klasse: at least 2x AIO followed by at least 2x SG



OR



Zaino: at lease 2x Z-5 and at least 2x Z-2 (both with ZFX accelerant).





Which do you prefer, or will one work better on a particular car? Also I have read several suggestions to follow the Klasse with P21S/S100 or any high quality wax. Will this also apply to Zaino? :confused:
 
Hey milani...I agree with everyone...you gotta try P21S/S100...everyone swears by it...many members here have had EXCELLENT results using a sealant + carnauba topper (i.e Klasse + P21S/S100) also...



...also, if you take a look at the Autopia store, there is a "kit" that DavidB offers which include the products you mentioned plus more to achieve a beautiful finish...The Perfect Shine



I personally use something similar (sealant + carnauba)...however...I use Zaino as my sealant with S100 as a topper...a few members on this board however had not-so fantastic results topping Zaino...many believe that the characteristics of each product cancel each other out...but *I* am quite pleased with the outcome on my vehicle...



hope this helps...
 
milani said:
Klasse: at least 2x AIO followed by at least 2x SG
Click to expand...



I can't speak for Zaino because I've not used it. But Klasse topped with S100 looks great. I've used both S100 and Souveran as a topper on my cars, and love them, both my vehicles are dark (metallic graphite and midnight blue). Jngrbrdman, I believe, uses Klasse and S100 on his white car, and it looks awesome. Klasse just has this glow that you have to see to believe. It's all a matter of personal preference, but I honestly believe that polymer/acrylic topped with carnauba is the best of both worlds. Just remember to post pics. :xyxthumbs
 
So far, it sounds like the score is: Klasse - 2, Zaino - 1/2...You guys (and girls) are more than helpful. Thanks for the input. :bow
 
Using your input, I just ordered the Autopia Klasse Perfect Shine Kit and a bottle of SG (and some plexus to do some plastic polishing). I am going to follow jimwh's recipe for using it as well. I will eventually get it done and post some pics when I am through with the 2xAIO and 3xSG as well as S100 topper. Sweet! Thanks David for putting together such great products (as well as great information from all of you guys). :bow :bow :bow
 
Sweet man!...Awesome choice...had that kit been available before I made my Zaino order last year, I would have purchased the Perfect Shine Kit...hence the reason of topping Zaino with S100 -- I wanted to experiment with the sealant + carnauba technique...I'm sure you will be VERY pleased with the results ...I look forward to seeing your pics...:xyxthumbs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top