Black Car Detailing Advice

H

hambonez711

New member
So much information on this site I hardly know how to get through it all.

Anyway, I have a new black car, with minor swirls from the dealership(swirls seen only in halogen light).



What is your opinions on the steps(including products used) to pretty much get the car looking like a show piece and ridding the swirls forever.



Im picking up the PC today.



-Thanks



Nick
 
Nick,



As a fellow black car owner (even worse, a black Suburban), my advice is: BUY A SILVER or WHITE CAR!!!! Just kidding. Actually, I'll give you the process that I used to get my '99 Suburban looking like new.



1) Wash the car with Dawn



2) Clayed the car (Clay Magic clay....just a personal preference)



3) Using a PC7424 and a white pad, I applied 3M's Perfect-It III. Start slow (maybe 3-3.5) and work the product in really good. Then bump the speed up to 5 and work it until it's almost all gone, then bump it to 6 just for about 30 seconds. Wipe off any remaining residue with a microfiber cloth.



4) Repeat step 3 with P21S GEPC (Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser). Of course, switch to a clean white pad! :)



5) Apply a coat of P21S Carnauba wax by hand, and buff off with a clean microfiber cloth.



Now, keep in mind that there are SEVERAL ways to get your black car in the condition you like. You can go the synthetic route, but I chose the carnauba route. The gloss looks deeper on the vehicle, and given that my Suburban is garage kept (driven by my wife, and not really that often!), durability wasn't the issue. Besides, P21S Carnauba is so easy to apply that I typically apply a coat of it every month!



HTH,



DavidM
 
Nick,



Yep, I agree with David. That would have work well on my Black Dodge 1500.



Maguiar's DACP might be enough to get the swirls out and then apply Meguiar's #26 (carnauba wax) or Medallion Premium Paint Protection (sealant). I use the PC to both apply and remove the wax or sealant as well as to apply and remove the polish.



Tom :cool:
 
thanks for the info thus far



this is what i have in my arsenal of supplies for now.



3M IMPERIAL HAND GLAZE 05990

3M SWIRL MARK REMOVER FOR DARK CARS 37009

EAGLE ONE WET PASTE WAX

Z5

Z2

Z1

MEGUIARS SCRATCH X

MEGUIARS #9 SWIRL REMOVER

MEGUIARS GOLD CLASS LIQUID CAR WAX

MEGUIARS DEEP CRYSTAL SYSTEM POLISH

AUTOPIA CLAY BAR SYSTEM

AND A PC ON THE WAY

and tons of microfiber towls



any suggestions with using what i have already? Im always trying out new products bc i never get the results im looking for. but i think its been my technique..plus i always did everything by hand.



thanks for the suggestions thus far...



-Nick
 
i must emphasize that what im looking for is to make the swirls i see under the halogen lights disappear if possible...i hate being at the race track at night and seeing those swirls under the lights..drives me crazy!!!!!! LOL
 
SMR (for dark cars), your new PC, with a white (or orange pad, is just the ticket!



When you apply a topper (your choice), try application, and removal, in straight lines...



Then you'll know if it is your work that introduces the 'micro marring'.



Good Luck

Jim
 
I have a black Audi and a black Acura MDX and had the same problems as you. I took 2 different routes and both worked well, but it depends on the condition of your car.



On the new MDX, I used SMR for Dark Cars to remove swirls, Klasse AIO to clean and lay down a layer of protection, then ended up with 3 layers of Platinum UPP. I don't know if I needed 3 layers, but it worked great. Car really glows and cleans up real easy. I didn't like the plasticky look of Zaino, but the Platinum I found to be a nice product that darkened the paint a bit and makes the car, well, glow.



On the 97 Audi A8, I had scratches as well as swirls and couldn't get the dang things out with SMR, so I got some 3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound, put on a wool pad and went at it. At first, it dulled the finish, but then I took the yellow pad and went the SMR route, cranked up to 6. At this point, you could apply the wax, but what I found really made a difference was hand rubbing the Aud with S100 Paint Cleanser. Maybe it was in my head, but I saw a difference. I then tried out Poorboy's EX, a sealant with Carnuba. I applied layer 1, and was happy, but followed up with 2 more and now the car is just a dark, deep, and shiny. I am so impressed with this combo, in the last 2 weeks I did the same SMR, S100 SEPC, Poorboys combo on my neighbors Black VW Turbo Beetle, another dark green BMW X5, and finally a British Racing Green Jaguar XJ8. All turned out great and I couldn't be happier.



In your case, I would try the SMR, the IHG and then top with the Eagle One. However, if your swirls include scratches, I think you may be challenged getting them out with the PC and SMR.



Good luck.



Sam
 
i have to say that Im glad to see that there are true car detailing fanatics ..or I should say just car crazy fanatics, like myself out there and we have a website to bounce car detailing ideas from.....very cool..



anyway..il go the SMG , IHG route with a couple coats of Gold CLass...i really dont like the pastes(like eagle one)....but ill see what i can do with this combo first.



But first ill dawn her and then rub the areas I see with hard water spots down with white distilled vinegar...just to get her perfect.



it will be a long weekend indeed. But she is worth it.



-Nick
 
I've found SMR with a PC really isnt THAT effective, its a little mild and the PC doesnt get it hot enough.



When your buffing, if the SMR doesnt do it, try some DACP or the 3M equivalent.

It wont hurt the paint and cuts just a little deeper, usually enough to take out swirls and light scratches (Jngrbrd took out a load of brush scratches from a guys hunting truck with DACP this morning ... I guess we shoulda took photos .. oops.)





Worth bearing in mind if its the 'perfect' look your after.



I like the AIO/UPP route for topping also, but that really is down to the individual.
 
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