newb with a lot of questions *56k watch out

[ryanmsom]

hi!! :)





i have been lurking here for a while now but i really need some expert advice. so far the ohio winter hasn`t been very good to my car :(



around christmas i let my girlfriend drive my car (first and last time) to the mall by herself. not only did she manage to plow into a snow drift (don`t ask) but also parked in a bad spot. now i have a ding the size of an elephant`s butthole on my drivers side door. it`s all the way down to the metal. :(



my bumper is also scratched up badly, but only in the middle from the license plate up. something tells me my regular meg`s 3 step isn`t gonna fix this. i`m nearly out anyway and i just bought a porter cable 7424 (hasn`t arrived yet). here`s some pics of my car and the damage:







http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/amish_terrorist/DSCF0832.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/amish_terrorist/1.jpg

now known as the good side!!



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/amish_terrorist/scratch2.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/amish_terrorist/DSCF0834.jpg



:(



is my bumper fixable with the pc? some of the scratching doesn`t show up in the pic but it is very lightly scratched all over the place. i might have my door professionally fixed as i have never attempted a ding that bad and i want it to look flawless.



i am also seeking advice on a new combination to use. 3 step is ok but after finding this forum i know there is a lot better stuff to use. the car is sort of a strange color called dark bronzemist... looks darker at night but almost golden in direct sunlight. anyone have a combo suggestion for a newb with a pc? from what i`ve seen klasse and poorboys make good stuff.





edit: there is also some light scratching in places on the rest of the car

[MaThGr82]

I would say ssr2.5, ssr1.0 then AIO should take the scuffing off your front bumper. Try using just the 1.0 first and if that is not enough, then move up to the 2.5.



The light scratching on the rest of your car might or might not be able to be taken out with the AIO with the PC set on 4 or 5.

[ryanmsom]

93 views and only 1 reply :[

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Good lookin ride, open your wallet!

LMAO.....Now that Autopia has you hooked, the fun begins....If at first you dont succeed, open your wallet and find a new product! Thers a ton of items at the Autopia store, take a peek when you have some time....Theres also many reviews of products available thru the search tab.

What products are you currently using, just the Deep Crystal line?

Did you order products along with the PC, polishes, sealants, etc....??

[ryanmsom]

Thanks for the advice I will have to browse the store but i`m not really sure what to buy. The pc is on the way but I have not ordered pads for it yet. What should I get? I was using just the normal meg`s 3 step, sometimes claying before. I`ve been applying it with foam pads and removing it with some good microfiber towels. The only other products I have left right now are meg`s quick shine and tire gel. I also use meg`s leather wipes. I`m kind of happy with the results but I`d like to try a completely different combo now that I have the pc. So basically I`m starting from scratch again. Anyone have a suggestion?

[Eliot Ness]

You can order a good set of pads and backing plate from Excel Detail. Start with the Pad/Plate kit for $29.99:



http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=&pd=97914&pg=14145



Then add something like two green pads (polishing), a yellow pad (med cut), and an orange (light cut/polishing) pad. All seven pads and backing plate will only run about $60, but youâ€â„¢ll have a nice range of pads to use and an extra one of the most used pads if you switch to a different product during a detail. Between the kit and the extra pads you`ll have:

1- Yellow Medium Cutting pad

1- Orange (light cut/polish) pad

2- Green polish pads

2- Blue Light Polishing pads

1- Gray finishing pads

1- 5" Backing Plate



You can adjust the number of pads depending of the products you`re going to use, but you won`t beat $60 for a pad kit like that!



For a polish combo to remove your paint defects a good starting point is Poorboy`s SSR2.5 and SSR1. Another good combo would be Meg`s #83 and #80.



http://www.premiumautocare.com/posuswre.html



http://www.premiumautocare.com/meguiars.html



As for a wax or sealer just look around at what others are using in the "Click and Brag" forum, there are a ton of products out there, and the only "right" one is what looks and performs best for you. HTH

[ryanmsom]

after some reading on here i`m thinking about trying this combo..



1) clay

2) aio

3) ssr 1 -> ssr2.5 -> ssr1 (might only do this on my bumper)

4) upp

5) pinnacle paste glaz



does this sound like a good combo or is it going to be to hard on my paint? i have a pc but should i use it to apply/remove each step? also is ssr1 strong enough to take care of the light scratching on my car or should i just get ssr2 and ssr2.5??





sorry for the million questions

[MaThGr82]

2.5 might be required but 1.0 should be able to take out most of all your problem areas.



Also, use the AIO after the ssr`s and before the upp.



Basically just switch your step 2 and 3

[ryanmsom]

ok so now i have:



1) clay

2) ssr 1 -> ssr2.5 -> ssr1 (might only do this on my bumper)

3) aio

4) upp

5) pinnacle signature series



also switched paste glaz for signature series being that i have metallic paint. i can`t wait to get this thing into the garage



is there any chance i can fix that ding myself or should i take it to a pro?

[Thomas Dekany]

The paint looks very nice. Sorry about the damages.



But don`t you think that maybe you should change your username?

[ryanmsom]

here`s another pic of the damage:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/amish_terrorist/scratch1.jpg

[ryanmsom]

But don`t you think that maybe you should change your username?



according to the admins i have to... so yes it will be changed soon :]

[audipower]

Here`s a good link to fixing scratches from the great people at autopia.

http://autopia.org/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=27&c=16

Remember a clean paint is the way to shine.

I suggest

Clay

Sonus Paint Cleaner

if needed Sonus SFX Polishes

Klasse AIO

Klasse SG

P21S

After years these are my weapons for now.

[ryanmsom]

thanks for the great info guys i`m probably gonna wait until next month when spring break starts... that way i will have an entire week to take my time and get it right. i think i am going to use my old cavalier as my test rat for learning to use the pc. hopefully all goes well but i am still hesitant about fixing the ding but don`t want to pay 100 bucks for a shop to fix it. my ding would most likely require primer first correct?

[qwik5o]

Whats wrong with the username?