Suggestions for First Detail of New Car

2

27k4D5b

New member
Hi, I just picked up a new 4Runner in Blizzard Pearl. I have a few questions about which products/processes I should use for the first detail. My goal is to preserve and protect the paint.

I've dabbled in a bit of detailing before (a long while ago) and my thoughts on what I should first do were: a) wash with dish-washing detergent, b) claybar process, c) wax, d) sealant. The wax and sealant would be Meguiars #20 and #26. I'm open to any product suggestions.

Second, there's a paint chip on the read of the vehicle that needs to be deal with. The dealer handed me off some paint chip repair stuff upon discovery but I'm going to hold off on using it until I have the opinion of a few others.

Here's some pictures of the vehicle and the paint chip:
IMG_0456.JPG

IMG_0457.JPG

IMG_0461.JPG

IMG_0462.JPG
 
wash
clay
polish
seal
cure
re-seal
cure
wax

The 2nd coat of sealer for some will make sure of coverage, for me it does that and adds a little something.

As far as the chip goes, it's in a spot that will get alot of handling and scratches. You may want to wait till there is more to do, or go ahead and touch it up now. Just get some blob remover to level it out.
 
If I'm looking right the chip is on the body line, it would be hard to sand and fill if you don't do this regularly. You will notice a difference once it is touched up. However it will be a lot less noticeable to touch it up spraying it.
Just need to know how comfortable you are in touch up and time you can dedicate. Understand that metallic flake acts differently sprayed vs. brushed.
This may not help but hope it may explain something.
 
Ronkh said:
wash
clay
polish
seal
cure
re-seal
cure
wax

The 2nd coat of sealer for some will make sure of coverage, for me it does that and adds a little something.
Click to expand...
Do you need to polish a new car? Which products would you use for these steps?
 
27k4D5b said:
Do you need to polish a new car? Which products would you use for these steps?
Click to expand...

Do you have to? NO

Should you, YES

For the same reason you clay the cay. It gets rid of the contaminents and garbage. Doing both will give you the best possible surface on which to lay down the LSP of your liking.

Poorboys Pro Polish or similiar should do what you want. It's a chemical polish and pad dependant if you're using a polisher. If not it will still do what it's supposed to since it is chemical and not mechanical.
 
Addition:

If you have the optional installed dealer swirls, you will need a polishing machine ssuch as the PC or flex. + pads
 
Before you do anything, you should definitely check first to see if you need to clay and polish. I know it's highly unlikely, but your new truck might not anything more than a good wash and wax.
When I first bought my 08' IS350(Starfire Pearl. Color looks similar to yours), I checked the surface for smoothness and swirls, surprisingly, the surface was neither rough nor did it have any swirls. Since that time, I've only had to clay the car once and I've had to do a few spot polishing to eliminate scratches, but other than weekly washes and monthly wax/sealant jobs, everythings been perfect. As I said before, it's highly unlikely, but it wouldn't hurt to check first.

For the chip, I had a similar situation with my wife's 07' Accord. There was a chip on the top of the trunk. It was around the same size as your. I mentioned it to the salesperson and they just went ahead and repainted the entire trunk. You could try and get your dealership to do the same thing. Other than that, I would just fill it in with touch up paint, but metallic paints are very hard to match up with.
 
I'd let the chip go. It's not very noticeable at all, and once you get a tag (and possibly a tag frame) on the vehicle, it will be that much less noticeable. For something that small, you have a lot of room to make it worse if you start trying to touch and sand on that body crease.

Congrats on the car. I really like the look of the new 4Runners.
 
Thanks for the replies. Another question: what kind of wash mitts/microfiber towels does everyone use, and where do you get them?

I ran my hand across the paint of the car and it feels like glass.
 
27k4D5b said:
Thanks for the replies. Another question: what kind of wash mitts/microfiber towels does everyone use, and where do you get them?

I ran my hand across the paint of the car and it feels like glass.
Click to expand...

I just use a microfiber wash mitt I picked up from Walmart. I've gotten my microfiber towels from various places: Autogeek, Costco, Sam's. I recently found out the towels from Sam's were scratching the finish, so I've relegated them to the wheels/miscellaneous duties.

If your paint "feels like glass" (I'm assuming smooth glass!), you probably don't need to clay. Do you know if your paint has any swirls? You can check by either pulling your truck out in the bright sun and checking or shine an intense concentrated beam of light on one of the panels to see.
 
27k4D5b said:
Thanks for the replies. Another question: what kind of wash mitts/microfiber towels does everyone use, and where do you get them?

I ran my hand across the paint of the car and it feels like glass.
Click to expand...

Go to Poorboys World and get his Chenille Microfiber Wash Mitt
 
27k4D5b said:
Thanks for the replies. Another question: what kind of wash mitts/microfiber towels does everyone use, and where do you get them?

I ran my hand across the paint of the car and it feels like glass.
Click to expand...

put a baggie on your hand and run the paint
 
JaredPointer said:
I'd let the chip go. It's not very noticeable at all, and once you get a tag (and possibly a tag frame) on the vehicle, it will be that much less noticeable. For something that small, you have a lot of room to make it worse if you start trying to touch and sand on that body crease.Congrats on the car. I really like the look of the new 4Runners.
Click to expand...

+1
 
What's the difference between the Meguiar's mirror glaze polishes, #5 and #7 and how do they compare to the poorboy's pro polish?
 
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