Meg's 105 & 205

JaredPointer

COME AT ME BRO
I am thinking (very seriously) about getting my hands on a Flex. Since I am going to be on a spending spree anyway, I thought about getting some Meg's 105 & 205 to go along with it. After visiting a couple other sites and trying to sort through page after page of stuff not related to the polish in a thread with the polish title in it's name, I just decided to come back over here and ask of you guys who have used it.

What do you think of them? I only do a few cars a year. How aggressive is the 105? What could I expect the 205 to correct? This is the kind of info I am looking for, so if anyone has used these polishes could comment, I would really appreciate it. :inspector:
 
The short version: 105 is probably the best compound available right now. It really is a "game changer". It cuts very quickly, can have a lot of cut if you want it to and leaves a great finish previously unattainable with a compound. Some will go to LSP after. I don't, but that's up to you. You can use it with a wool pad and do some heavy correction, or with a white pad and use it as a medium polish. I use and love the original version that worked much quicker, but the new "DA" version is more user friendly and has more of a working time.

205: Is supposed to be very good with a DA, which will work for you. It's nothing special on a rotary as you have to follow it with something, defeating it's "purpose".

The SMAT (Super Micro Abrasive Technology) that is used in these polishes is great. They use non-diminishing abrasives that don't break down like conventional polishes. You work it until you achieve your desired results and stop. You don't have to make sure that you break the polish down completely, like conventional polishes. It also allows you to use the product with multiple pad and pressure combos making them very versatile.

I will add more later.

Summary: BUY THEM! I can guarantee that you will love 105, and from what I have heard from DA users, you will love the 205 as well. These two products used with a DA should be all you will need for paint correction. Meguiars has outdone themselves on these two.

Troy should be along shortly. He just recently tried 105 after we convinced him at DF.

Added:

For reference, I use the rotary. Like I said before, I use the original version of 105. It will literally cut and finish in two passes! I'm talking 8-12 seconds. A lot of people complained about this, because it is so different than a conventional polish that you spread around and then work. With 105, you "hit the ground running". Set the rotary to your work speed (1500rpm for me) pick the bead up, pass pass, done! It will flash before you can work it if you try to spread it first. A lot of people were mixing other products in with it to extend the working time. I never understood this. I want to achieve the same results in less time. Why would I want to polish longer than I need to? The new "DA" version has a longer working time to accomodate the "complainers"! :D It also has a little less cut. It's rated the same, but it's not. The other cool thing about 105 is that it finishes clear, literally. Like there is nothing left on the paint. Also, if you didn't achieve the results that you needed, you can either add a little more product and continue, or you can spritz with some water and keep working. Like I mentioned before, the versatility of 105 is incredible.

Not to make your head spin, but there are also Kevin Brown methods of using 105 with a rotary and a DA. He is writing up a VERY detailed paper with lots of photos to describe it (DA version). A lot of very good detailers have been using the process and getting equal or superior results compared to using a rotary.

From what I gather, 205 really shines when used with a DA. It is adjustable like the 105, depending on the pad/pressure combo used. The gloss is supposed to be very good as well. I know you will be using a DA, but it doesn't work as well with a rotary, which is strange considering the line was designed for pros that use rotaries. It works, you just have to follow it with something. Multiple "big name" detailers that are VERY good with a rotary have all told me the same thing too, so it's not just my opinion. A lot of guys are getting great results with PCs as well JP, so you may not "have" to buy a Flex. The SMAT has really changed the game. The impressive thing is that they have some other goodies coming that will be even more impressive.

Let me know if you have any more questions JP.
 
Thanks, your short review sounds encouraging. I am really on the fence about it - I have put off the Flex for a long time. Just not sure I need it, but it seems like it would be nice to have. And the Meg's polishes really have me interested. :) One minute I am gung-ho ready, the next i am telling myself that I would be foolish to buy it.
 
I think Eric pretty much nailed it on the head. Pad choice and amount of pressure applied will very the aggressiveness of both M105 and M205.

I have use M205 quite a bit with my Flex and it does work very well. M105/M205 make an awesome one/two combo. It does seem that with some paints M205 does not finish off quite as well as UF or other similar jewelling polishes, but it is very easy to use and is a great follow up to M105. It could be just a matter of dialing in the technique on that particular paint too. As of right now I will test a spot after M205 and see if it can be improved with something less aggressive. It also comes down to the customer too, and whether or not they are willing to pay for the final jewelling step. If not, you should be more than fine leaving it at M205. Also be sure to use the new Meguiars 2.0 W9207 finishing pad with the M205, it was said other pads may not work as well.

Hope this helps,
Rasky
 
Yeah, what they said.:D

The 105 makes short work of tough clears. It finishes down pretty darn good but, like Eric, I am going back with a final polish to finish.

As Joyride stated once, "The FLEX is the Ferrari of dual action polishers." and I will have to say the 105 is the Ferrari of compounds right now too. So you are making some good choices.:bigups

Now you just need the Ferrari to go with them.:D
 
Yeah, what they said.:D

The 105 makes short work of tough clears. It finishes down pretty darn good but, like Eric, I am going back with a final polish to finish.

I just used 105/205 for the first time Saturday with a PC.... Wow! I am impressed. I was using it on a C5 Vette, which is known for "hard" clearcoat.

It cut those swirls like butter!!!!

And the 105 does leave a nice finish... Very little hazing. In fact, to the untrained eye, it could almost pass for the final polishing!

But........the 205 puts the final shine on and the two products are wonderful together!!!

Highly recommended!:bigups
 
Thanks, your short review sounds encouraging. I am really on the fence about it - I have put off the Flex for a long time. Just not sure I need it, but it seems like it would be nice to have. And the Meg's polishes really have me interested. :) One minute I am gung-ho ready, the next i am telling myself that I would be foolish to buy it.

I'm giving serious consideration on the Flex too. I'm still on the fence between the Flex and the rotary.
 
My .02 Cents.

Right now I am on a break from doing a truck for my old man - Don't worry I will post up pics. With the Same pad on either machine. I used a rotary and flex, and came with the same results. Finish great. It does work quick. And I could go straight to LSP if i wanted to. I didn't see anymore cut with the rotary then the flex with 105. So unless you need the cut of a wool pad, go with the flex, more versatile and don't have to worry about burn through.
 
My .02 Cents.

Right now I am on a break from doing a truck for my old man - Don't worry I will post up pics. With the Same pad on either machine. I used a rotary and flex, and came with the same results. Finish great. It does work quick. And I could go straight to LSP if i wanted to. I didn't see anymore cut with the rotary then the flex with 105. So unless you need the cut of a wool pad, go with the flex, more versatile and don't have to worry about burn through.

I will have to disagree a little with this statement. It is true the FLEX will not burn paint as easy as the rotary but if it has the same cutting power than why wouldn't you have the same chance of burning through? I think the FLEX will cut great especially with the 105 but it doesn't have the same cutting power as the rotary. It may have given you the same results on that particular finish but that doesn't mean they were cutting equal. You were probably just taking off more than you needed to with the rotary-105 combo or you were spending more time with the FLEX.

Your main point is true though. In most situations the FLEX will do the job nicely and without the learning curve and risk of the rotary.

:cheers:
 
Good info - keep it coming. Anyone who wants to try and sell me on a Flex please feel free. Yes, I have read reviews good and bad, it's just hard to bit the bullet on a $300 machine I may not use a whole lot of the time.
 
Good info - keep it coming. Anyone who wants to try and sell me on a Flex please feel free. Yes, I have read reviews good and bad, it's just hard to bit the bullet on a $300 machine I may not use a whole lot of the time.

I love mine as I said. 3-4 times faster than the pc. More powerfull, less vibration (as long as you get pad on center). Even though it rotates, it doesn't sling much.
It's pretty much obsoleted my pc. (but i still do use it)
What else you want to know?
 
Ive been using 3m's 06085 perfect it compound. It's supposed to be the latest and greatest. Anyone know how it compares to the meg's 105? I use a dw 849 and white wool. I like the compound but i want same results with less time.
 
I've been using the 105/205 combo for quite some time now and I can almost always please the client finishing down with the 205. Someone said earlier in the thread that 105 looks LSP ready and I find this to be true, but I have run across many autos that even after the 205 I still felt I could get jeweled further; in this case I always reach for the UF and get great results. I detailed an NSX this weekend and the 205 looked good, but the UF finished off the soft clear even better. These 3 polishes work well for me, and 75% of the time the 205 finishes off just fine with the right pad and turning down the RPM's
 
I've been using the 105/205 combo for quite some time now and I can almost always please the client finishing down with the 205. Someone said earlier in the thread that 105 looks LSP ready and I find this to be true, but I have run across many autos that even after the 205 I still felt I could get jeweled further; in this case I always reach for the UF and get great results. I detailed an NSX this weekend and the 205 looked good, but the UF finished off the soft clear even better. These 3 polishes work well for me, and 75% of the time the 205 finishes off just fine with the right pad and turning down the RPM's

I have also found the same thing on a few paints now.

M205 definitely acts different on some vehicles. For instance the truck I just got done with last night finished down perfectly on the rotary, yet it micro marred like crazy with the Flex 3401 using the same pad I used with the rotary. I tested a few spots with UF and PO85RD after M205 and saw no improvement in the finish.

So yeah, I definitely have some other finishing poishes on hand for those touchy paints. :bigups


Rasky
 
how do these compare with the optimum line? im used to the opt compound and polish, getting great results using the opt compund with a light wool pad then follow with a finish pad and opt polish. sometimes follow again with the opt polish with a pc for some darker colors if needed.
 
I have also found the same thing on a few paints now.

M205 definitely acts different on some vehicles. For instance the truck I just got done with last night finished down perfectly on the rotary, yet it micro marred like crazy with the Flex 3401 using the same pad I used with the rotary. I tested a few spots with UF and PO85RD after M205 and saw no improvement in the finish.

So yeah, I definitely have some other finishing poishes on hand for those touchy paints. :bigups


Rasky
Very surprised that the UF or the PO85RD wasn't able to finish out liked you wanted
 
Very surprised that the UF or the PO85RD wasn't able to finish out liked you wanted


I think they finished fine Adam. He was just saying that they didn't improve on the finish that he had from 205. It just goes to show, that different people get different results.
 
I think they finished fine Adam. He was just saying that they didn't improve on the finish that he had from 205. It just goes to show, that different people get different results.

Yep.

I have also had paints where I could not get M205 to finish perfectly on the rotary or DA.
 
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