Need some advice with my Meguiar's products:

I

Inzane

New member
I have the following Meguiar's products:



Deep-Crystal 3-part system (in the Maroon bottles)

- Step 1 Paint Cleaner

- Step 2 Polish

- Step 3 Carnauba Wax

Gold Class liquid wax

#7 Show Car Glaze

#9 Swirl Remover

Quick Detailer spray



I also have Mother's Clay Bar kit which includes their version of a QD spray and a little bottle of cleaner wax.



I use Mother's California Gold car wash soap.



I have three vehicles to deal with:

- 93 Black 300ZXTT - this is my baby, its non-metallic black and unfortunately has lots of swirls. I gave it a coat of gold class about 2 months ago, it had a power polish last year, I partially clayed it 2 years ago, and its had sporatic spot uses of QD, #7, and #9 (but I've never done a whole car with the 7 or 9). I was thinking of washing and claying the whole car, followed by either #7 or #9 (or both) and then finish with the gold class.



- 2001 Sentra, Cajun Spice (dark metallic red/burgandy), has lots of swirls, lots of rock chips on the fascia and hood, I'm ashamed to admit I haven't applied any protection yet to this 2.5 year old daily driver. Not sure what to do with this one yet.



- my fiancee's 99 Sunfire (metallic green). She had one of those dealer-offered paint protection packages applied when she got the car new 4 years ago. But hasn't had anything since, except washes. This car has a lot of tar (GRRR!!) which needs to be removed, and a fair number of swirls too. The few times I've washed the car for her, it doesn't seem to come totally clean. After what I thought was a thorough wash, there still seems to be dirt adhering to the paint (ie. the towel or absorber gets filthy during the drying phase - ????). I'm thinking this car needs the whole works: clay, cleaner, polish, wax.



I am obviously a beginner here, with not much detailing experience. I'd appreciate some product-specific advice on what best use you think I can make of the above listed products on the different car scenarios. I'd like to take advantage of what I have without having to spend too much more money just now on more products, but if you have any more recommendations of stuff I should pick up immediately to fill in this picture, please let me know.



I especially don't know how much use of the deep crystal products I should make. Bought those quite a while back before I heard of better things. Don't know if they are poor, good, ok, or what. If anything, I'd be willing to use them on the Sunfire just to experiment or practice.



Thanks!
 
Sure, you CAN do this by hand, but for best results, you may want to invest in a PC if you intend to do this often.



Swirls can be a PITA to remove by hand, and you may have to be at it for a good long time with the cleaner. Try the Medallion Paint Cleaner, as it's a bit more aggressive of a cleaner for use by hand.



Here's more info on Megs #7 from Mike Phillips, from Meguiars:

Mike Phillips #7 Guide



Keep seaching the forums as well.



Regards,

Deanski
 
Forgetting the other two cars for the moment, and focusing on my Black Z for the immediate future, I washed, rinsed and dried it tonight, but ran out of time to do any more.



Tomorrow I am planning to start by claying the car with my Mother's Clay Bar kit.



But the next question is: which of my above mention products should I use:

-the deep crystal 3-step process?

- just deep crystal Step 2 & 3 (polish & wax)?

- #9 + GC?

- #7 + GC?

- #9 & #7 + GC?

- a combination of some of the Mirror Glaze products with some of the Deep Crystal products (eg. the step 2 + GC)?

etc.

(keeping in mind this will all be done by hand since I don't yet own a PC).



Also what are the differences between Meguiar's Gold Class wax, the Deep Crystal Step 3 Carnauba wax, and the #26 yellow carnauba wax (which I don't have)?



Thanks.
 
I am no expert in detailing (compared to the other members here) but from what you've said I think that you probably aren't going to become a slave to detailing but, will probably increase your frequency of maintenance. Given that, the 3 step is the easiest way out as it is meant to go together and has a good, long lasting protection quality. But you've got some other good stuff in your arsenal that would be a shame to waste. If you would use your "professional" series products, the protection would be equal or better but the result very much better to the 3 step but also require more work. You will not remove swirls with the Cleaner in the 3 step either.



If I were you, I would try 3 step Cleaner, #9, #7 and then GC.



For the others, that probably won't get the frequency of your 300Z, maybe just the 3 step will suffice.



Autoeng
 
OK, here is what I would recommend



Process 1- repair damage

Wash car with Dawn + use bug and tar remover where necessary

Clay car

Dual Action Cleaner/Polisher or a fine cut rubbing compound (to take out swirls)

#9 to polish out haze left by polishing

#7 Show Car Glaze

Apply a wax



Process 2 - maintain, repeat on a regular basis

Deep-Crystal 3-part system (in the Maroon bottles)

- Step 1 Paint Cleaner (probably every other or every third waxing session)

- Step 2 Polish

- Step 3 Carnauba Wax or use Gold Class liquid wax



Washing

Your soap is good, but invest in a good wash mit preferably sheepskin or 100% cotton



Now do process #1 initially then follow up with process two monthly or at least the wax step. Try to wash every 1-2 weeks.



It's up to you to decide which cars to do first, but the process will be pretty much the same for all of them IMO.
 
Steps 1, 2, and 3; essentially the same as #9, #7, and #26 liquid. There are probably differences, but I wouldn't sweat them. Step 2 might be more like #81, which is a lot like #7. Stuff like that.



Gold Class Wax is a curious product, IMO. It is a wax/poly hybrid, with cleaners, but the cleaners are extremely mild. I still say it's not as short-lived as others say, but I'm outnumbered 10000 to 1 on that score, so believe who you want to. I can't warm up to the way it looks. It's not deep enough to be the best wax, it's not shiny enough to be the best synthetic. But, it's a decent enough world-class product, it's just not for me. Others will disagree.



I'm a big fan of the #26 paste. It has excellent gloss and depth, and gives my car a very regal appearance. It's part of my "standard look" now, #53; 7+20+26.



I prefer the Mother's QD to the Meg's. Meg's works fine, but Mom's is slicker and smells better.



I'd do what you said you were gonna, with the Z. Wash (get a couple sheepskin mitts), clay, 9/7/GC. Get some clean 100% cotton terry towels to use with the Megs, and some microfiber towels to finish up with.



there's lots of info here at Autopia, but the best way to put it in useable order is to become a contributing member by downloading the ebook. Products are cool, but it's processes that unlock their power. With the proper processes understood and applied, the products become a matter of preference rather than solutions themselves.



Tom
 
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