Going All Out On Detailing - Suggestions?

**Xyxyll** · 07-16-2005, 10:24 PM

First off, HI! I`m new to the forums though I`ve known about them for a while. A friend referred me here for any detailing/car care questions I may have.

I am the very proud owner of a 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo with pristine original paint! I bought it three months ago from a guy in Philadelphia and brought it down here to south-eastern Virginia. A week or two after I got the car I discovered an amateur carshow was being thrown at Christopher Newport University. I bought some crappy Advance Auto Parts stuff and Mothers Clay Bar kit (great kit I must add) and went to work. I took the car to the carshow and entered it simply because it was $5 and a perfect parking spot right in the middle of the action. Well, turns out my car drew a lot of attention (wasn`t the only MR2.. my cousin`s MR2 was three cars down) and was just barely beat out for 3rd place in the Import Mild division by a bone stock brand new AMG Mercedes (it seemed to have less dirt in the engine bay than mine - doh!).

Carshows all of a sudden started facinating me. I have the cleanest MR2 in the entire area, and I want to show it off. Sure enough, I collect a nice sum of money (graduation) and get the news that another amateur carshow is coming up (Aug 6). Now I`m a VERY careful and selective shopper. In fact, I haven`t bought anything new for myself in years. But now I want to spend. I am very happy with the mild quality mods I`ve purchased in the last few days, and I`m very much looking forward to everything coming in.

My dilemma now is what to get in terms of wax, cleaners, MF products, etc. I want to stroll up into the parkinglot and turn heads. I want people screaming WOW when they see how clean my 12 year old car is. I`ve heard RAVE reviews of Zaino`s products and would love to try their products out. I`ve been researching mainly via ProperAutoCare.com`s articles for weeks, and tonight I`ve finally wrapped up everything I want. Final price tag? ~$200. My question for you all is should I press submit and order $200 worth of supplies, or is some of this just hype that I`ve fallen into? I`d also like to know what alternatives I have in the Autopia store that compare and compete with the listed properautocare items below (received a discount code from Autopia with my registration tonight). Any replies and suggestions are highly appreciated.

Zaino Store:

Zaino Total Protection Show Car Kit - $84.70

Z-3 Show Car Polish for Regular Paint - $14.95 - Not included in kit. I`ll have to sell the Z-2.

Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal - $19.95 - Sounds great! Hype?

ProperAutoCare Store:

Best Microfiber Towel Kit - $39.95

BLACKFIRE Wheel & Tire Kit - $21.95 - Love the gloss-but-not-too-much-gloss look

Invisible Glass Cleaner (Aerosol) - $5.50

303 Aerospace Cleaner: 32oz 303 Aerospace Cleaner Spray - $14.95 - For Engine Detailing (Been suggested Simple Green?)

Thanks!

Jim Bird

**Lowejackson** · 07-17-2005, 05:01 AM

Welcome to Autopia.

I would also download the Autopia book as a great reference guide. In terms of Zaino, it is a great range of products but there are a large amount of alternatives for example, Klasse, Poorboys etc etc.

It is very easy to spend a lot of money very quickly on the final products to be applied to the paint, I am sure you know the real difference with shine comes from the prep of the paint. Get this stage right and some cheap Turtle Wax would look great.

BTW, you can never have enough MF towels

**Xyxyll** · 07-19-2005, 04:25 PM

Thanks Lowejackson! Your comments are highly appreciated.

**JeffM** · 07-19-2005, 04:32 PM

Your car looks really good, whats the condition of the paint with regards to swirls and scratches?

**Xyxyll** · 07-19-2005, 06:08 PM

No scratches, VERY minimal to no swirl marks. Only imperfections are really a few small rock chips on the front bumper and hood and one or two tiny spots where there`s wrong year touch-up paint on it (took me weeks to discover). Biggest surprise to me is that there`s no clearcoat on this paint.

**Xyxyll** · 07-19-2005, 08:17 PM

Any other suggestions? 17 days till the show and counting.

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 08:47 PM

If your paint is OEM , you can get a paint pen from expressPaint.com or paintScatch.com . Another good option is Langka . Since the other paint in the knicks is the wrong color , maybe a sanding pen or q-tip + some reducer to remove it and prep it ( you will need degreaser such as transtar or one available on paint pen sites )

Touch those up , leave set a few days after knick is filled properly then wet sand level with 1500 wet/dry and a small wood block and then 2000 . I don`t think wet sand is necessary with Langka .

Then rub the 2000 grit out marks out with 3m for dark cars and use the degreaser again on the touched up areas to remove the fillers from the dark car rubbing compound .

Any other 3m compounds only come in large bottles is why I recommend that one . Also you can do it by hand if so desired ( with more elbow grease )

Then follow those areas with your Z5 and a terry pad or yellow pad <<

Dress the rubber trim to prevent staining , let it soak in - wipe excess .

Now wash your car with Dawn and dry completely . Dry and re-apply water based protectant or Lexol to your black parts with a sponge or rag .

For your swirl marks , you need to completely remove them for the Zaino to be 100% effective , not just fill n hide them .

For this you need an orbital , not porter cable really .

Use Sonus sfx-2 http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-420.html and the Sonus pad or other white polishing pad to remove the swirls . Look at it from different angles , when swirls are removed move onto your claying .

Lastly Sonus sfx-3 http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-430.html .

Do it by hand or by machine as instructions on page using their pad / applicator or a final blue pad .

Go over car once more with Sfx-3 by hand with a microfiber , using a different fine microfiber to remove it .

Wash your car with a good car wash such as Sonus http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-500.html

dry with a blower if you have one , then follow these instructions for " the perfect dry " http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5120

Finish your work with a sealer such as Klasse SG http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/kus-kls-gla.html

Let the sealer set up a day or two , then wash car again .

I know it seems like a wasted step , but your not really washing the sealer or polish stage off , just getting the excess oils off maybe in prep for the Zaino .

Skip the entire Dawn step for the Zaino ONLY IF your paint is done as above and polished and sealed properly before Zaino .

Once dried do your Zaino routine . People might say not to apply a sealer glaze before Zaino , but as you can see in this link http://detailcity.com/showthread.php?t=8811 that a proper prep is all that you need for a SUPER zaino job .

He used all-in-one Klasse though , which I wouldnt do ..

2-3 coats per one ounce of Z3 + Zfx drops , wait a day or so , then 2 or 3 more coats .

Be careful to follow zaino instructions to a T . Keep it as thin as possible mostly

Of course the above for removing swirls is so your car is show quality , you could always do the old cheap hide n fill

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 08:54 PM

Also there is a coupon for autopia members for 10% off I believe - look around to find it

**imported_Sullybob** · 07-19-2005, 08:55 PM

Read the ebook. Then you will have a good foundation to start. It will explain how to remove those swirls.

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 09:03 PM

Also if the swirls are REALLY light , you can skip the sfx-1 step altogether . Just use sfx-2 with a yellow compounding pad , then repeat with a white polishing pad

**Xyxyll** · 07-19-2005, 09:04 PM

Wow! Great posts! Thanks!

Originally Posted by papi_jay

Also if the swirls are REALLY light , you can skip the sfx-1 step altogether . Just use sfx-2 with a yellow compounding pad , then repeat with a white polishing pad

You never mentioned using SFX-1 in the first post. Would you suggest still using SFX-3 after the SFX-2?

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 10:06 PM

I did mention SFX-1 at 1st , then went back and edited my post after I realized you said very minimal light swirls . I just did it quickly so I guess that`s why there is no edit note .

Yes I still recommend the sfx2 for light swirl removal and the sfx3 for polish and Klasse SG for final seal . Honestly , you could just use Klasse AIO , but since you would have fresh paint with the knick touch ups , that might not be so good as AIO is a cleaner / glaze .

If you let teh paint chips set up properly though about a week to fully harden and be a little more gentle on those areas , then just a good app of Klasse AIO + a white foam polishing pad SHOULD remove them just fine . Then use a second application of Klasse AIO with a black foam finishing pad and let sit overnight

Come back , apply a 3rd cloat of AIO with a blue foam pad and wipe off with your finest microfiber by hand section by section and proceed to wash after a day or two with the Sonus Wash and dry with the perfect drying technique and apply Zaino skipping washing with Dawn .

REALLY rub the 1st 2 coats of Zaino in . Save you time and money just using one product + the wash with varying pads to varying stages ..

Great item for washing here http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-dwmitt.html

Maybe see how many of the products from properautoCare are replaceable by autopia products at similar price for an all in one order and one shipping price ?

**Xyxyll** · 07-19-2005, 10:10 PM

Thanks. I don`t mind ordering the Klasse SG over the AIO. This is great advice. I`m really looking forward to the final product. You can bet pictures will be up!

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 10:23 PM

Maybe see how many of the products from properautoCare are replaceable by autopia products at similar price for an all in one order and one cheaper shipping price ?

I honestly do think the AIO instead of sfx-2 + sfx-3 + klasse SG would be a better solution for you , just used with proper pads for each stage . http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/kus-kla-10.html

1 product sounds much more suitable than 3 for just your car

Do you have a porter Cable ?

Great item for washing here http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-dwmitt.html

Instead of microfiber kit

http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/mf-tropical-6.html for glass and sfx-2 or AIO 1st stage removal and tires / wheels + http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/meg-x-2020.html for 2nd AI stage or sfx-3 application and removal + http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-dwa-2.html for whatever and http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/mf-cbt.html to remove final stage of AIO and Zaino .

303 cleaner http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/303-30553.html ( simple green and foaming gunk do work to take CRUD off also ) do engine 1st of course if dirty

Use http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/303inwiwata.html + distilled water to keep windshield cleaner longer

For your rims and tires http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-730-8.html + http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-110.html

Also consider http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/kla-vlrp.html for all yoru weatherstripping and interior cleaning / protecting

**papi_jay** · 07-19-2005, 10:44 PM

By the way , the reason I recommended the Sonus wash is that it enhances the Klasse Acrylic sealant without stripping it .

The Zaino wash in your kit is for AFTER you Zaino the car to protect it .

Zaino has no problem going over acrylic sealants , just a good pre-wash to remove excess is all thats needed .

If your car ever sees winter though , you might want to skip the aio step before your 1st pre-winter wash for extra durability and longevity of the Zaino coating