Suggestions on system for 02 Boxster Dark Green, Light Haze, Daily Driver

[ancosta]

Just picked up 02 Boxter with dark metallic green clearcoat, 27k miles.



My system on prior white 944 was clay bar, M105 to remove heavy oxidation followed by DG105, repeat clay bar & DG105 1x/yr.



This is a daily driver and I'm looking to correct light hazing due to abrasives, etc. I can throw about 8 hours into the exterior max so I need to be aware of time.



I was planning to use this sytem: clay bar, M205 via white Lake foam pad, DG105 via grey Lake foam pad, both via Porter 7424, followed by some type of caranuba wax.



In the spring I'd expect to follow up with clay bar, DG105 and caranuba.



I toyed with the idea of adding a glaze to the process or perhaps DG601.



Looking for suggestions/challenges to this system given intent is to produce a car that would look stellar to the layman's eye (e.g. >80% perfect) without over investing given car it's a driver that will get chipped, dinged, etc.



TIA,

Andrew

 

[ltebow34]

944 paint is different because of clear on the Boxter. Wash and clay then 105 and 205 for your correction, IPA to get polish oil off, then you can use 105 and carnauba to protect. 601 can be used also on grey pad before 105, work with some pressure and it can mechanically clean in prep for 105. You can also mix them-small amount you gonna use- to save a step. Then top with carnauba. DG products are great and very easy, will give long last protection. If you are driving this in winter, you might only do 205 then seal up. Save heavy correction for spring in case it get marred over winter.. If storing after prep, then you dont need more clay, only a wash and a top up on wax if you want in spring

 

[gigondaz]

If your Boxster has factory-paint, then it probably has the very soft Porsche clearcoat.

In any case, you can't just M105 (even with a PC 7424) and go straight to LSP (DG105), cos if the clearcoat is really THAT soft, you might experience hazing.

1. M105 will leave lots of "un-seen yet" swirls and haze on soft clears, and needs to be refined further with at least 1 more step.

2. M105 leaves behind an oil film covering those M105 swirls. So, if you apply DG105 immediately after, it wont bond properly. It's best to IPA first. But after IPA, you'll see those M105 swirls.



Reco:

I assume you intend to use only M105, M205 and your DG products, and you only hv a PC 7424.

If the hazing is not that bad, perhaps you can try...



More elaborate method with your PC7424.

M105 with orange pad, M205 with Megs yellow pad, M205 with Megs finishing pad.......LSP



Less elaborate method with PC 7424.

M105 with orange pad, M205 with Megs yellow pad.......LSP



..or if you wanna cover up as much swirls/haze as possible

Megs Swirl X + Megs NXT + a durable LSP.



The fastest way I can imagine is:

Megs NXT (leave overnite to cure) + Carnauba (since I assume you hv some carnauba with you).

This'll cover up lots of moderate hazing, but it's a "quick and dirty" method.

 

[ancosta]

As it would turn out I'm going with:



Meguiars 205 on a white pad followed by

3 parts DG 111 to 1 part 601 on a grey pad



And will probably hit it with some DG Aqua Wax a month of so from now and every month thereafter as a cleanup.



I called DG and they said a lot of people are using the 3:1 ratio of the 111 and 601 which will speed things up. I figure if I do a wash/dry, clay, mask trim with painter's tape and then use the products, I should be able to get it done in about 6 hours total. It's going to look 100x better and I chose to err on the side of less aggressive as to conserve my paint mils and I can always go more aggressive in the spring...but it's a daily driver so even this is going a bit deep.



When I called Auto Geek they steered me to a Wolfgang product and an optimum product. It was significantly more money and I had such good luck with the DG105 product I'm sticking with DG for now.

 

[ancosta]

Results from the detail:



It pretty much worked like I expected. I ran the 205 using white pad, applying at 4000 and high pressure, then bumping up to 5000 and light pressure. I then do a second application applying at 4000 and running at 6000 with little to no pressure. The 205 was pretty low dust and it also did not ball up on me like the 105 did. It seemed to have a long working time.



I followed up with the DG 111/601 3:1 mix applying at 3000 and buffing it in at 5000. This mix was great in that it went on thin and it came off without any streaks or smears using a MF towel.



The paint still shoes some hazing for sure. It also has many correctable scratches on it. I am not sure if I could have used a more aggressive pad and the 205, or more likely the 105 on a white pad. I will consider doing that in the spring. I do not want to take down too much of the clearcoat and it looks good given the front of the car has its share of stone chips up front. The best thing about the 205 is that it really made the paint "pop" the car went from being dark green to emerald green almost and the DG gave it a wet look almost like glaze would.



For a daily driver I am very satisfied with the look, we'll see on the durability of the protectant. I plan to use some DG Aqua Wax on it for my next car wash. Hopefully Aqua Wax or similar can help this car stay in good shape until next april or so, when it can get cleaned up nice.



Here's some pics:

View the Slideshow: 2002 Porsche Boxster | http://andrewcosta.com