Steps correct for Gunmetal color car?

J

JLui83

New member
So I'm fairly new to the REAL detailing of cars.



I've just washed with ONR... and wax with Meguiars Cleaner wax by hand....



But just starting to read up on polishing and sealants and such. I have a 2009 Honda Civic Si sedan thats the Polish Metal Metallic color. A nice gunmetal color. I know asking which products to use on this forum is all personal preference but am I in the right direction?





1) ONR Wash

2) Meguiars Deep Crystal polish

3) Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze

4) Meguiars NXT Tech Wax - (From what I've read this is a sealant and wax)



This is for my personal vehicle, I am by no means running a professional business or anything just want to keep my new car looking good.



Thanks in advance!
 
JLui83 said:
So I'm fairly new to the REAL detailing of cars.



I've just washed with ONR... and wax with Meguiars Cleaner wax by hand....



But just starting to read up on polishing and sealants and such. I have a 2009 Honda Civic Si sedan thats the Polish Metal Metallic color. A nice gunmetal color...
Click to expand...



The short answer is that the color doesn't matter; 99.9% of everything is color-independent and merely a matter of doing the right prep. That said....OK, I get where you're coming from and I'll try to *not* give you the usual spiel about how you need to go nuts with this stuff to get decent results.





I know asking which products to use on this forum is all personal preference but am I in the right direction?





1) ONR Wash

2) Meguiars Deep Crystal polish

3) Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze

4) Meguiars NXT Tech Wax - (From what I've read this is a sealant and wax)



[/QUOTE]



The Deep Crystal Step #2 Polish and the Meg's #7 are almost identical products and they're not what I'd do. Note that both are functionally nonabrasive/non-cleaning and are to be used *after* doing some other prep. It's that "other prep" that I think you should concentrate on, especially to get the results you're after on that color.



Nothing wrong with the NXT, though I'd probably use Collinite myself instead due to it's better durability.



So..instead of the DC#2/#7, I suggest you use something closer to the cleaner-wax you're using now, only something more potent.



Some all-in-one product, or a light hand-use-friendly polish would be my choice. OTC that'd probably be Meguiar's Color-X, but I'm no authority on OTC products. Even the Meguiar's Deep Crystal Step #1 Cleaner might work OK (if you wanted to try the DC steps #1 and #2 and then top with wax I wouldn't argue.. well, not too much ;) ).



I'd probably order some Zaino AIO or some Prime Strong. I'd top that with Collinite, but the NXT oughta work OK too. Don't worry about the NXT cleaning off whatever the preceding products leave behind; people overstate NXT's cleaning ability.
 
Awesome. Thanks for your input. I have some #7 Show car Glaze almost the whole bottle full thats why I figured I'd use it before the tech wax. :-)



Thanks
 
JLui83 said:
.. I have some #7 Show car Glaze almost the whole bottle full thats why I figured I'd use it before the tech wax.
Click to expand...



OK, just use some kind of paint cleaner or mildly abrasive polish first. Then the #7 and NXT. I'd *not* go with Color-X in this case as it's kinda a potent cleaner wax and you need a cleaner without the wax for use before the #7.



Eh...no need to get nuts about this stuff. See what you can find OTC- Meguiar's makes a scad of stuff these days. Even just using the DC#1 first would be a nice step up from the cleaner wax/regular wax combo (which I don't disparage in the least, that combo works fine for what it is, but I *think* you need to ramp things up just a little).
 
JLui83 said:
So..



#1) ONR wash

#2) Cleaner wax

#3) #7

#4) NXT 2.0



??
Click to expand...



Not quite. I would not use #7 after the cleaner wax because the stuff #7 leaves behind would just sit on the wax that the cleaner wax leaves behind (as opposed to being in direct contact with the paint).



Replace the cleaner wax with a pre-wax cleaner that does *NOT* leave anything behind. Something like the Deep Crystal Step #1 Cleaner.



Or just skip the #7 and do cleaner wax then NXT. My point is that I would't sandwich the #7 in between the cleaner wax and the NXT.
 
JLui83 said:
I have a 2009 Honda Civic Si sedan thats the Polish Metal Metallic color.
Click to expand...



Since its polish metal you have to correct first, then wash after. And don't forget to use tire gel on your interior, and leather cleaner on the exterior.



j/k, someone had to make the jokes.



Accumulator is on the right track. I can personally vouch that NXT looks great on metallic silvery/gray type cars, it really brings out the flake in them and in many cases tends to darken them some.



Mothers also makes a nice OTC paint cleaner, and from what I hear the TW ICE liquid claybar is more or less a chemical paint cleaner as well.
 
I would like to add a step BEFORE the cleaner wax... Clay the vehicle if you have access to clay. Meguiar's has a very good kit widely available at most Walmarts.



Claying the vehicle may make the cleaner wax application go a little smoother/easier.



NXT on metallics really does make it pop. I use it almost exclusively on my wife's Graphite Gray Pearl IS SportCross.



Good luck,

Mike
 
Awesome!



I just didn't think I needed to clay just yet... but I guess it would be a good time to do a FULL detail before the winter...



1) ONR Wash

2) Clay with ONR as liquid

3) Cleaner Wax

4) NXT 2.0



That should get the Polish Metal Metallic POP ! :-)



How often do you guys do this whole process on your cars? I figured I'd do this 2-3 times a year or so... and every other time just wash and NXT when needed...
 
Hhhhhmm... 2009 Civic Si...



I would wax that car every week if it were my only vehicle! :)



All kidding aside, I would probably do your regimen about every 3 months. It may get tough to do in the winter time depending on your location. At the very least, I would perform a pre-winter detail, a good "refresh" detail mid-winter (wash, clay, wax) and then your full regimen come spring time.



Good luck,

Mike
 
Ahhh thank you sir. :-)



Love this site!!! haha



I definitely plan on doing the full process before winter.. Maybe within the next few weeks I will take a Sat or Sun to get it done..



hehe I know I know... its only a Honda civic.. but i got it brand new so I want to keep it looking good. Definitely not a Maserati or Benz or anything..
 
I'd redo the NXT whenever any characteristic (beading, slickness, whatever) changes, and that's gonna be fairly often ;)



Redo the cleaner wax when just doing the NXT fails to give the desired result.
 
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