Autopia.org - View Single Post - newbie here..need help with final detailing decision for 2005 GTI

docrice · 03-11-08, 08:31

Those buffers from Pep Boys are really under-powered for any polishing work from what I hear. They're meant more for applying waxes. Good luck though and it doesn't hurt to try.

The glaze and wax should help temporarily conceal minor swirling, although after a number of washes they'll re-appear. For any permanent solution, real paint correction / polishing is necessary (and generally that involves a capable orbital, if not a rotary, plus appropriate polishes and technique).

Hover around your car with some powerful halogens or an LED flashlight and do a 1 - 3 foot close inspection. At least that way you can assess your paint's overall condition top-to-bottom. Another thing you'll probably want to consider is the plastic / rubber parts (valences, rubber weather stripping, cowl, rear antenna, black trim around the windows, etc.). Those fade out after a while and I personally used Zaino Z-16 as well as Black Wow to get the life back into them (some people use black shoe polish).

03-11-08, 08:31	#4 (permalink)
docrice Registered User docrice is offline Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 88	Re: newbie here..need help with final detailing decision for 2005 GTI Those buffers from Pep Boys are really under-powered for any polishing work from what I hear. They're meant more for applying waxes. Good luck though and it doesn't hurt to try. The glaze and wax should help temporarily conceal minor swirling, although after a number of washes they'll re-appear. For any permanent solution, real paint correction / polishing is necessary (and generally that involves a capable orbital, if not a rotary, plus appropriate polishes and technique). Hover around your car with some powerful halogens or an LED flashlight and do a 1 - 3 foot close inspection. At least that way you can assess your paint's overall condition top-to-bottom. Another thing you'll probably want to consider is the plastic / rubber parts (valences, rubber weather stripping, cowl, rear antenna, black trim around the windows, etc.). Those fade out after a while and I personally used Zaino Z-16 as well as Black Wow to get the life back into them (some people use black shoe polish).