New here: how to clean my ride? 05 Altima SER

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eddieg

New member
Hello everyone, newbie here, so go easy on the acronyms (though I know where to look for their meaning now).



Here's my ride: '05 Nissan Altima '05 SE R in Code Red!



With winter tires/rims on:



sentrasersidemblem1.jpg




and much better, when I first got it! (stock rims and stock 18"s) [click for larger version]









Pics taken w/ a Canon EOS 10D, but I didnt have this detailing forum in mind! Also, for the car enthusiasts, my car isn't stock anymore, I debadged the dealer badge, added an intake, and added an se r license plate frame at the front, and side emblems.



So here's my overall questions for you experts:



Any special products/wax given the color? I don't think it is metallic -- i.e. I don't see flakes in it. I actually already got a scratch, got the touch up paint and have been filling it up slowly. I was shipped the red paint and clear coat, nothing else.



Any general products good for the fact that I just bought it? (Jan 05). I had the dealers do their "super duper waxing/protectant" thing, fwiw.



I admit, I sometimes take it to machine car washes. Only the good ones around Boston (Cambridge, Waltham, Belmont...) but still, I confess, I must because I dont always have access to a place where i can hose and do it all. But I'm going to try to do that as much as I can!



Finally, here's one more specific I really want your opinion on:



The stock rims are "18" x 8.0" Forged aluminum-alloy wheels". They even seem, but I am a newb when it comes to this, to have a clear coat, or something. I already chipped a tiny tiny little bit of it, and it looks just like a car chip, as if theres a paint coat or something that got scratched and bunched up.

Here's a link to a store selling them, for a bit more details.



I am most interested in knowing care tips for this sort of rim. Can I go ahead and get that Michelin 1,2,3 step kit? Any rim cleaners I must avoid? One of my wheels has a lot of tar/grime/something in the inside, and I really want to clean that up.



Thank you!!!!!!!
 
Many wheels these days are indeed clear coated, and many people use the same products on them that you would use on your paint. For example, I have seen people that coat them with Klasse All In One and Klasse Sealant Glaze on top of that, or use specialized products such as Poorboy's Wheel Sealant. The best way to find out what you want to know is to spend some time on here doing searches and reading. There are so many threads with questions just like yours on what to use to get results, and there are just too many combos out there to name one way to do it. As for the dealer doing detail work on your car, I think most people on here would cringe at that. Just imagine the condition of their pads and washing devices that they use. They often do more damage than good. I really like the Altima SE-R, best of luck!



Edit: Avoid tunnel washes!!!
 
On a red car like that, I'd suggest going for a glaze/LSP combination. I'd start with a base of the Mezerna glaze (forgot what its called, but I love the stuff), followed by FMJ/Collinite in the winter and FK1 Pink wax in the summer. Or, if you want to spend the money, try Souveran over glaze. It'll look amazing, but its not cheap.



I'd try to keep away from the automatic car washes if possible, but if not, the glaze will help to hide minor swirls. Also, if you go to one of the DIY car washes, AVOID THE BRUSH. I cannot stress that enough, I used to goto the DIY and use the brush a lot before I got into professional detailing, and it took me forever (and powergloss, too) to get rid of all the swirls I created over the years.



Lastly, If you can afford it, get a PC (or cyclo, if you can) and plan on buffing the car out every couple of months with a light SMR. If you don't have the time/money to do this, try to find a professional to buff it out on a semi-regular basis. If you're interested in having it professionally buffed, PM me.



-Tim
 
So if my wheels are clear coated and you suggest using the same stuff I'd use on my paint, can I still use brake dust repellant, for example? Like Michelin's... would that be before or after using stuff like that Sealant Glaze?



Tim - thanks for the details. I will try to avoid auto car washes now. There is a coinop wash place not too far, so I may go back to those. Thanks for the advice on their brush. I'll also remember you're not too far -- can you do something like if I go for a day up to portland, you can take the car in in the morning and detail it? :)
 
eddieg said:
So if my wheels are clear coated and you suggest using the same stuff I'd use on my paint, can I still use brake dust repellant, for example? Like Michelin's... would that be before or after using stuff like that Sealant Glaze?
Click to expand...



There is a good review in the detailling product discussion section about those michelin's product (I'm too lazy to give you the link, look for yourself :D ). The dust repellent have to be apply on a weekly basic (or every other week is acceptable). Therefore, you apply it over the sealant (wich is done every couple of months).



About those car wash. Myself I only use the pressure wash DIY during winter time to remove the salt and dirt on the car. For summer time I dont use them cause they dont really clean enough and leave and layer of dirt on the paint. So this is useless.
 
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