Newbie With White Car Help.

MC82 · Apr 25, 2007

I need advise on a white car. I just bought a brand new TL and it has the yellow/brown spots all over it. I know I will have to clay the car, but since this will be my first detailing, I need some help.

I have been reading many posts over the last two days, and I find that most posts are for dark colored cars. I am very confused as the best route to go.

I do not have a garage to work in and I will be using my cousins driveway to wash and detail my car. I am trying to get the best look possible with my car. I had Zaino purchase list setup but then I realized that 1. it was way to expensive for a first time 2. It will be a long process with so many products.

I don't think I will be able to detail my car more then 1-2 times a month, so what products should I use to detail my car?

I have read a lot of posts about Meguire having great products so if you need a preference then I would choose them (but i am unsure if they are just as good for white cars)

Here is what I have so far on my new purchase list:

Exterior

Dawn Dish Washing Soap

Meguires Gold Class Shampoo

Clay Magic - The Perfect Finish Kit

Equipment

Genuine Wool Wash Mitt

2 Buckets

Porter Cable

Microfiber towels (costco)

Sonus Ultimate Drying Towel

Blue Perl Microfiber Applicators

Concours Buffing Towel

Grit Guard

Interior

Zaino Z-10 Leather in A Bottle

Zaino Z-9

Windows

Sprayway Glass Cleaner

I know i still need some sort of polish, wax and sealant. Any help and advise would be great. Thanks.

tom p. · Apr 25, 2007

MC, welcome aboard. Just for the record, there are 1000 posts already covering this topic.

What country are you in? Are you looking to purchase locally or mail order?

MC82 · Apr 25, 2007

Thanks Tom.

I am in the US (Seattle) to be exact and I don't mind doing either type of purchases.

I found out about this site yesterday and I am taking delivery of my car today. I have read many posts (and articles) and i did build a list of Zaino products, but after calculating everything and looking at the products in my list, I realized that with my current schedule, I do not have that much time.

Now that my time is running close to Saturday, I would like to get my orders in ASAP so that I can get the products in time for the big day and thus my rush.

I am also doing more searches on white cars and Meguires specifically, but I thought I would post just to get some answers at the same time.

tom p. · Apr 25, 2007

I would be extremely conservative with your early purchases. I see so many here going hog-wild on Day 1 and turning around and selling everything a few weeks later 'cause it's not what they really wanted. So, WTS, do some more reading before buying. Some of the on-line guys get product to you within 1 - 2 days. The good stuff is never far away!

Zaino is likely a safe choice if you won't have the time to be re-applying every 4 - 8 weeks.

imported_Lightman · Apr 25, 2007

MC, a few comments:

Don't bother with the Dawn it's overrated in its ability to strip wax. IMO there are better wash soaps out there, do a search. I like griot's. To save a few bucks and because they are relatively similar, you can get mother's clay at any auto parts store and use generic QD for lube. You will need pads for the PC, do a search there are as many opinions as there are pads, but to start get a couple polishing and finishing pads. I wouldn't get too hung up on brands of towels..get 2 or 3 big waffle weave drying towels (I have some from pakshak and griots that are very similar), and a couple soft mf's for buffing off polishes and lsp's. Any glass cleaner will work, many like stoner's as it doesn't have a harsh smell and is available locally. You shouldn't need to detail your car twice a month, or really even once a month if you don't want to. Almost any sealant will last longer than that. If it were me in my garage on that new tl, what I'd do is clay it, polish with a finishing polish and polish pad, something like OP or menzerna FP2...then finish with your sealant of choice.. Shouldn't be too many steps or kill your wallet. Good luck and congrats on the new ride!

61iwon · Apr 25, 2007

Autopia has a great towel combo on sale right now.

Has drying towels, polishing towels for wax removal & buffing towels.

Good luck

MC82 · Apr 25, 2007

I am not planning on getting a PC just yet. Maybe in the future. (or do I really need to get it now?)

Is there a difference between car wash and car shampoo?

What polish and sealant would you guys recommend? As I am reading more posts, It seems people are recommending Klasse

Lightman, would you not wax the car?

tom p. · Apr 25, 2007

MC, Lightman is suggesting a true sealant as opposed to a wax.

MC82 · Apr 25, 2007

I just realized why lightman mentioned the PC, it was in the price list I was putting together to see what my total will be with it. Apologize for any confusion.

Ok, after going back and forth between Zaino, Klasse and Meguairs, I think I am going to go with these products, please let me know what you think if I am missing anything else.

Wash: Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo

Clay: Clay Magic

Polish: Klasse AIO

Sealant: Klasse SG

Leather Cleaner: Zaino Z-9

Leather Protectant: Zaino - Z-10

Wheels: Eagle One

Also going to purchase the following accessories:

Genuine Wool Wash Mitt - From Autopia

Der Wunder Towel Trio - From Autopia

2 Buckets

Microfiber towels (costco)

Blue Perl Microfiber Applicators - From Autopia

I am just worried that I got through the process and realize I am missing something.

Process I will follow for the exterior:

Wash

Clay

Wash

Polish

Seal

Windows, wheels etc.

Any comments appreciated

tom p. · Apr 25, 2007

I feel the fine tuning is helping. I'd recommend Griot's Leather Conditioner over the two Zaino products, it's superior.

I don't know enough about the Eagle One wheel cleaners. I might suggest trying the Griot's product as it is very gentle while effective. I hope you don't need big wheel cleaning power on a brandy-new ride.

I think your process looks very reasonable. As your skills and comprehension evolve, you can always find new products and techniques by visiting the forum!

Take care.

93AccordLXwhite · Apr 25, 2007

I have a white car and have trouble getting it to 'pop.' Yes, I have searched and read many, many, many posts about white cars but they don't really give me a direction as to where to go product-wise. tom p. if it's not too much trouble, you said you've seen many posts on this topic, do you mind posting links to a few of the better ones you've come across please? It would be a great help, I'm anxious to really use my new pc to make my car shine

Also your recommendation for a LSP?

MC82 · Apr 25, 2007

Thank you very much Tom. I will go ahead and switch the leather conditioner and make the purchase. Appreciate the help.

tom p. · Apr 25, 2007

93AccordLXwhite said:
tom p. if it's not too much trouble, you said you've seen many posts on this topic, do you mind posting links to a few of the better ones you've come across please? It would be a great help, I'm anxious to really use my new pc to make my car shine Also your recommendation for a LSP?

Just search on white cars. I'll try to look tomorrow. ( http://autopia.org/forum/car-detail...make-white-pearl-look-amazing.html#post903396 )

Quick thoughts: Getting the surface polished to perfection seems to be a critical step in getting white to show its best...I am just learning this on my own white car.

I have been very pleased with Werkstatt on white and silver - - it's kind of a crowd-pleaser solution that will satisfy 99% of the population.

I used some new wool polishing tools a couple of weekends ago. Best results I've seen on this pariticular car...I used Presta wool + Presta polishes. I used FK1 Pink Wax buffed out with AquaWax. While it looked good, I don't think it's quite the "perfect" solution...so its back to the drawing board. The surface looked exceptional without any waxes or sealants...I'm not convinced the LSPs did anything to enhance the gloss.

I've got more work to do on adjoining panels on this car. I think I am going to Presta polish and finish up with CG 5050.

imported_The Uncle · Apr 25, 2007

MC82 said:
I just realized why lightman mentioned the PC, it was in the price list I was putting together to see what my total will be with it. Apologize for any confusion.

Ok, after going back and forth between Zaino, Klasse and Meguairs, I think I am going to go with these products, please let me know what you think if I am missing anything else.

Wash: Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo

Clay: Clay Magic

Polish: Klasse AIO

Sealant: Klasse SG

Leather Cleaner: Zaino Z-9

Leather Protectant: Zaino - Z-10

Wheels: Eagle One

Also going to purchase the following accessories:

Genuine Wool Wash Mitt - From Autopia

Der Wunder Towel Trio - From Autopia

2 Buckets

Microfiber towels (costco)

Blue Perl Microfiber Applicators - From Autopia

I am just worried that I got through the process and realize I am missing something.

Process I will follow for the exterior:

Wash

Clay

Wash

Polish

Seal

Windows, wheels etc.

Any comments appreciated

SG is nice for its durability, but I think there are other products that look nicer on light colored cars. I usually use AIO to clean, but then for for Four Star UPP as the LSP. 4* UPP gives a much warmer look than SG, IMO. And, it is a lot easier to use as well.

One product missing there is a tire dressing. My personal favorite is Wolfgang, because it has a very durable matte look. On the interior plastics, I like 303 a lot, although others here seem to like 1Z.

cusepack · Apr 25, 2007

I own a '91 white Honda Accord and one of the best recommendations I received was to use Duragloss #105. I tried it, and WOW, amazing results. I applied it by hand, waited 24 hours for it to cure, then applied a second coat. I then topped with Liquid Souveran and was very pleased with the reflection, depth and wet look.

93AccordLXwhite · Apr 25, 2007

Hey cusepack I have a '93 Accord, gotta love the fourth gen right?

Thanks for the info tom p.!! Looks like I'll be busy once again browsing autogeek.com and autopia for new supplies:2thumbs:

cusepack · Apr 26, 2007

I love my Accord. Really would like to get a new car, but haven't seen the "one" yet. Of course, there are lots of fantastic cars out there, but, what I would like, and what my budget will allow, just means I'm still looking the "one." In the meantime, my Accord continues to be my baby!!

tom p. · Apr 26, 2007

93AccordLXwhite said:
tom p. if it's not too much trouble, you said you've seen many posts on this topic, do you mind posting links to a few of the better ones you've come across please?

usdm · Apr 27, 2007

MC82 said:
I need advise on a white car. I just bought a brand new TL and it has the yellow/brown spots all over it. I know I will have to clay the car, but since this will be my first detailing, I need some help............

.........I know i still need some sort of polish, wax and sealant. Any help and advise would be great. Thanks.

Before you do anything else, I would suggest that you first verify what those brown/ yellow spots are. If it is tar, then they should be relatively easy to remove (clay, lighter fluid, kerosene, prep-sol, or even very good cleaner waxes can do the trick). If however, the spots are rust spots, then you will need more than just a claybar to address that problem. FK1 makes a pretty good paint decontamination system that will rid you of the spots, and ensure they do not come back; someting that clay by itself cannot guarantee.

Newbie With White Car Help.

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I'll figure it out....