New Car Detail Process

[Ennio335i]

I would like some suggestions on what to do when I recieve my brand new alpine white 335i :getdown . I already know not to let the dealer prep the car. How do you guys go about taking the factory plastics off the exterior of the car. I was planning on buying the zaino total protection show car kit along with some z-8. Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.

[shortspark]

I would like some suggestions on what to do when I recieve my brand new alpine white 335i :getdown . I already know not to let the dealer prep the car. How do you guys go about taking the factory plastics off the exterior of the car. I was planning on buying the zaino total protection show car kit along with some z-8. Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.



Wash with good, high quality shampoo. Clay. Clean well again. Apply one coat of Klasse AIO. Follow up with one coat of Klasse SG. Wait 12 hours (do not drive car) and follow up with another coat of SG. After first wash apply 1 part SG to 3 parts distilled water in a mister bottle - apply this like a QD (wowo). After every wash thereafter, either apply this homebrew formula or any of a number of good toppers such as Menzerna HGAS, Duragloss AW, Wolfgang Sealant Spray, etc. All will do well as toppers over SG. Use dedicated QDs such as Duragloss FCS and Poorboys SW for light touch up cleaning only. Do not use the "toppers" mentioned above on anything but a very clean car, even if the manufacturer calls them "QDs". Follow this and you`re white car is good to go for a very long time.

[Ennio335i]

where do you get klasse products from

[Accumulator]

I would like some suggestions on what to do when I recieve my brand new alpine white 335i... How do you guys go about taking the factory plastics off the exterior of the car. I was planning on buying the zaino total protection show car kit along with some z-8. Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.



You won`t go wrong with the Zaino (or with Klasse or any other commonly recommended approach). I`m generally more of a carnauba guy, but Zaino looks great on whites IMO.



To remove the transit film and its residue, I`d get a gallon of New Car Prep from AUTOINT (http://www.autoint.com/) . It`s made *just* for this type of cleanup and is what the manufacturers recommend. While you won`t use nearly the whole gallon, it`s a good tar remover/etc. solvent to have around. There are countless cheaper approaches that would probably work too, and I`ve used PrepSol to remove the residue from the wrap before, but I`d rather use the right stuff.



Note that I also use the AutoInt "ABC" decontamination system on our new vehicles. It`s finally put a *permanent* end to the recurring rust-blooms caused by rail dust and other ferrous contamination. I used to use clay, but with that approach some of the rust spots would come back, which looks pretty awful on light colored cars.



Overkill? Well...it *is* your brand-new BMW we`re talking about ;)

[Ennio335i]

I was looking on autogeek and klasse sells individual kits. Which kit would you go with and why. Thank You

[Accumulator]

I would`t get any of those kits, I`d have no use for the terry applicators and I`d rather put together exactly what I *do* need. Sorry, I realize that`s not too helpful for somebody who doesn`t already know what they`re after :o



Let`s see...I`d want: Klasse AIO, Klasse SG, two-three MF covered foam applicators for the AIO, two-three foam applicators for the SG, some MFs to buff each off (get *good* ones!).



While you`re shopping at AutoGeek I`d certainly get a foamgun and a BHB if you don`t already have them. [Insert Accumulator`s usual lecture about the wonders of these things here..] Also some WW MFs for drying after a wash and the WW MFs made just for glass work incredibly well, much better than I ever expected.



Note: when applying KSG it should go on so thin that you`ll be basically unable to see it on a white car. I can *barely* see it on silver if I try very hard. Most people use literally ten times more than they need and then complain about streaking and difficult buffing. Think of it as bonding to the paint at the molecular level. A small container of KSG oughta last many years.



But I`d still give some serious thought to the Zaino, and note that I don`t use it and I *do* use (and like) Klasse.

[Ennio335i]

Are all the foam guns as good as the next one. I see 3 different ones on autogeek. Should i go with the quart or half gallon gun

[BigAl3]

get plenty of microfiber towels, one can never have enough!

[Accumulator]

Are all the foam guns as good as the next one. I see 3 different ones on autogeek. Should i go with the quart or half gallon gun



Hmm..I haven`t seen all three....between the quart and the larger bottle, I like the small bottle. Less chance I`ll bump the car with it using my wash method, where the gun gets pretty close to the vehicle.

[Ennio335i]

The three foam guns look all the same i was just wondering if there is any difference between them. The brands are autogeek pinnacle and wolfgang

[imported_j3ffff]

^They are all the same, just with a different label.

[Ennio335i]

you guys have any suggestions on clay bars

[Accumulator]

you guys have any suggestions on clay bars



I like the Sonus ones, gray for initial clean up, green for maintaining. But a *lot* of people like ClayMagic too.



I`d avoid Mother`s/Griot`s, I find the Sonus ones utterly superior (side-by-side comparison).



And yeah, all the varous foamguns are made by Gilmour (sp?), the people who make hose fittings/etc.

[Egleone6]

After all said and done, these are the pics after doing a thorough polish.



http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail003.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail003.jpg) http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail007.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail007.jpg) http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail009.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail009.jpg) http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail011.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail011.jpg) http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail012.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail012.jpg) http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/th_Altima_Detail014.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/Egleone6/Detail/Altima_Detail014.jpg)