civicfreak84

Alright I have an 02 ex coupe eternal blue.

I have bought dunno how many different types of waxes polish,etc!

My car when it is clean shines! but I want it to shine like if it is a pure mirror. I have tried zymol, meguirs, turtle wax, eagle one, and in conclusion they all do the same finish on my car though I don't notice a difference. I will wax half of my hood or polish it to see the difference and it looks the same.

What is the problem here? Me? Or is the car fine and it will shine the same?

EManEX

Your car is blue and it will never be like a mirror. All those products a fine products and if you compare the shine between them it will be about the same. The difference will come in how long they last.

BTW Pay more attention where you post stuff up. There's a section for this type of questions.

civicfreak84

Thanks for your response.

I apologize for posting in the wrong place, next time I will make sure it goes in the right place. Detaililng is the thread?

civicfreak84

wow thanks!

lucky_topher

i know i'm new here, but i will go ahead and post up that i can offer an additional (not necessarily better or worse, but definitely informative) opinion on detailing

i detail many cars here in texas and use a different product (and have used many more)... and have pictures of my quality and work as well i.e.

http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/camaro/trop15.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/camaro/trop8.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/camaro/trop7.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/camaro/trop10.jpg

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

My silver car shines alot after using meguiar's #7 show car glaze before waxing.

civicfreak84

Dude I must say you have skill. Congrats on that. I have realized though that cars that come with solid color paints, non metallics will shine more than metallic paints like my eternal blue.

lucky_topher

it's not that a solid color necessarily has more shine... but will generally provide more 'depth'.... and the darker colors (black/navy/dark green/dark maroon/etc) will have more of a 'mirror' look... this is not to say you can't make a metallic or light color look amazing.. i've done many silver/white/red/yellow/etc cars that can be made to look exceptional... the thing you're going to be looking for most is going to be depth... find a product that enhances the gloss and depth by allowing layering of additional coats... this is not going to be a wax, but instead a polish... preferably a synthetic polymer... the meguiars nxt is their newest polymer polish, but has a horrid durability rating.. i would recommend either zaino (www.zainostore.com) or tropicare (www.tropi-care.com) as both are shown to have exceptional properties, durability, depth, gloss, and ease of application... also, be sure to only use microfiber cloths to prevent (or reduce, really) unnecessary scratches and swirlmarks...

Pharoh

iTrader: (8)

Moved to Detailing section

lucky_topher

also, non-dark colors can notice their depth better from an angle than straight on...

here are some pics of my roommate's red transam after we did that... btw, the black camaro is a 2000 w/ 84k miles, the red one is 2000 w/ 65k miles...

http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/new2/redt1.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/new2/redt2.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/new2/redt3.jpg
http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/new2/redt4.jpg

lucky_topher

thanks heheh mine was a 'bet/dare' type situation.. they figured a whiteboy wouldn't get that ... i love the laughs/points/stares i get

albs

Civicfreak,

Can you give more detail in the processes you've tried? Like:

Wash
Clay
Polish with XX product
Glaze with XX
Wax with XX

The key to a good shine is in the preparation of the paint. Claying, compounding and polishing are all key steps into getting a great shine. It's easy to get a new car to shine, but once a car starts to get a little older, oxidation, spider-webbing, swirls, paint contamination, etc. all starts to set in. As our 7th gen's get older, it'll take more than just wax to keep 'um shiny.

I see you've tried a lot of consumer-level products. Maybe you should look into higher-end products like Zaino, Klasse, Blackfire, Platinum, Poorboy's and 1Z (Einzett).

If you are really serious into detailing, consider getting a Porter Cable 7424 Random
Orbiter Polisher. It's easier to use, and pretty safe. It's not a circular or rotary polisher, it's random orbiter, so it jiggles and doesn't produce the heat that can burn paint. It can do a lot of things that a rotary can, but it takes a little longer. Expect to pay about $200.00 for the 7424 and a good set of pads.
It'll cost you an additional $50 - $100 for a good starter kit of products. Clay, Polish, Wax/Sealant.
A good set of microfiber cloths will set you back another $50 -$100.

Knowledge is power. Start reading the serious detailing forums and learn from the fanatics.
http://www.autopia.org/forums/index.php
http://forums.roadfly.org/forums/detailing/

http://autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

civicfreak84

Thanks. Ok I apolgize for not listing here goes.

1. I typicall wash the car, with good circular and upward motion to remove excess dirt etc.

2. I dry with the absorber

3. Following that I will polish and then wax using the products I mentioned(one polish and one wax not all of them at the same time)

4. most people tellme that because my paint is metallic it will shine naturally and wax, polishes won't make it shine much more

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

Try the glaze I told you about. It works and you only have to do it once a year. Then use a long-lasting wax like KIT.

albs

I hit the post button before I finished.

Read the FAQ's on the Roadfly and Autopia sites above. You'll learn a lot, and probably turn into a fanatic too. Check out their sponsors for a good starting point.
Notice which products are mentioned a lot. Many of them aren't readily available from your local auto-parts store like the products you mentioned in your post above.

A lot of products will have their strong and weak points. You'll have to find out what you are looking for to make a good decision. A few examples:
Collinite Wax - Longest lasting carnauba, but a b**** to remove.
Pinnacle Souveran - Maybe the best looking wax out there, but $60.00 a can. It's a show car wax. Many people go with P21S as an alternative. It's cheaper and almost as good.
Klasse AIO & SG - Great Durability, famous shine. SG a little picky to go on. No fillers for swirls & spiderwebbing. Not a lot of "depth" (in my opinion). Can be topped with carnauba for some "depth".

Here's another vendor with some How-To's:
http://www.properautocare.com

If you're really serious about detailing your car, you'll spend the money on the products, and spend the time to learn the products and techniques necessary for a great shine.

civicfreak84

Thanks guys, thanks albs and gearbox

albs

A few tips:
1) Clay your car. You'll probably be surprised at how much stuff claying will pick up. Your car is about 1-1/2 -> 2 years old, it had a lot of time to pick up things that claying and polishing wont remove.
2) Don't wax until you get the finish that you desire. Wax is mainly a protectant. Proper compounding and polishing should give you the mirror finish you want.
3) Be patient. I still don't have the finish I want. I've spent > $700.00 on products, and even after an 8 hour detailing job on the exterior, I'm still not satisfied!

civicfreak84

Yeah I have been patient. I have notice that this meguirs thing that I had bought a couple of days ago brings some shine, but I haven't clayed the car. what do you recommened that is a good clay bar that I could find online that I could purchase.

civicfreak84

and what is the process for claying?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

Use a piece of clay and lube to remove fine particles on the paint. You wash the car, then clay, then wash again. It's like a deep cleaning. Then you can add polish/glaze, and then finally the wax. Wax really won't do anything to make the paint different. It just protects what's underneath.

albs

Again refer to the sites above:
Some clay how-to's:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...1443882&page=1
http://autopia-carcare.com/inf-clay.html
http://www.properautocare.com/rempainconov.html

A start:
http://autopia-carcare.com/inf-perfect.html

bobbyd

iTrader: (3)

I am guessing you polish by hand? If you want that really nice mirror like shine you are goign to have to get the paint perfect first. It will be a pain by hand. I use a polisher, not a cheap orbital, but a good polisher to do all of my work. Don't listen to those people that tell you metalic won't shine more. It does not even make sense. What I recommend is polishing the paint until all scratches, swirls, and blemishes are gone. Before you start to polish go over the car with a good clay bar. I recommend Mother's, ClayMagic, or Poorboy's. Once you have the paint polished to perfection then I would top it with a good Carnuba wax.

p.s. What are you using to wash your car with?

lucky_topher

this is why i love browsing multiple forums... correcting mis-information...
a few things to cover... you talk about a "mirror-like shine"... "mirror-like" and "shine" are two different properties.. only non-metallic colors can provide a mirror-like look, darker providing the best "mirror" effect. a good shine is achievable on practically any car.... metallic cars will not appear to be mirrors, but will have a depth to it.. it won't look flat, but instead look like there are layers upon layers of clearcoat... my recommendation would be to wash the car, clay it, then apply a swirlcutter of some sort until you are satisfied with the minimal amount of swirls (this is best done with a power buffer, not by hand), then apply a few layers of regular polish... do NOT (repeat this 100 times) put carnuba wax on top of polish... for the claybar i would recommend either the tropi-care brand or claymagic brand and for your types of polish, either zaino (www.zainostore.com) or tropi-care (www.tropi-care.com) ... both products have been proven in tests to provide the best durability, shine, gloss, depth, and more, than any other polish or wax (www.gurureports.com)

bobbyd

iTrader: (3)

I guess you have not seen my car huh? My car would be considered mirror finish in my book and it is metallic. Actualy, the "metallic" we are referring to is actually a base coat with metallic pearl in the clear. You can see my car here: http://www.danase.com/images/bob_closeup_small.jpg The factory paint is not a heavy metallic it is just very minor.

lucky_topher

i have seen that picture.. that is not a 'metallic' black... with a metallic color you won't achieve a mirror finish on it... that's not to say gloss/depth/shine isn't possible, but a mirror isn't gonna happen.. you will not get detail like that from a metallic paint...

and yes, that looks good as do any well maintained black cars

bobbyd

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, like I said these are not metallic but just pearl. I am sure that is what he meant when he said metallic earlier.

civicfreak84

Thanks to both of you.

The way I wash my car is with a car soap that I purchase at Discount Auto Parts. At the time I don't know the name.

I usually will wash it and it will be spanking clean and shiny, I just thought I could get more shine from it.

I have never done the clay bar, I will though. You just apply that lub after you have washed your car on the clay bar and bar and bar etc! correct? then wash again. I will attempt to do that this weekend. I think that might make a difference, then after I will wax or do you guys recommend polish first? then wax or not even worry about the wax?

You know I always thought that the wax was to shine and protect, but it really is to protect more than shine right?

Thanks again everyone

lucky_topher

correct, wax is more for protecting, polish is more to shine, but fortunately many new polishes have extreme durability, some which rival some of the best waxes, and are easier to apply (i.e. less elbow grease)

for the claybar, just lube each area as you're claying.. you need the car to be pretty much drenching wet while you do it... i have actually clayed my car in the rain before since it provided a constant lube on the car ... you just don't want the clay to start 'sticking' against the car.. it should slide just like an icecube does across your linoleum kitchen floor... if it's not doing that, your'e doing it wrong.. it will make more sense as you try it.. rule of thumb: you can't use too much lube

Mistro

I know i gotta start spending more time detailing my car. It turns 1 year on the 25th but all this time ive been using "touchless" automatic car washes. I just made sure that i always took the "ultimate" wash (highest .. whatever it may be called) one. The carwashes i went through had clear coat pretectents but no wax (obviously). However the car looks great after one year. Although it has minor impurities that only a clay bar can remove and some water spots occasionally after each wash on the back bumper (hard to reach spot for most dryers) it looks pretty good: (yes i know the headlights aren't cleared )



and this is with no wax or polish and just automatic touchless washes since it came out of the dealer (quite dirty when it did i may add).

Oh and no swirl marks either and the paint dosn't look sand blasted ... yet

I should start washing it by hand but i don't have the facilities to do it. I live in an apartment and most of my freinds that have houses are water freaks and don't even turn on the taps unless they absolutely positively have to. So theres no way im going to be able to wash it there. And those self server park and clean car washes are ok but the soap brushes are usually filled with dirt that can scratch and theres no way i could do a full auto detail there with all those people waiting

albs

Mistro,

It sounds like you are a candidate for Quick & Easy Wash (QEW)

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showth...threadid=32078

I haven't used it, but it seems very popular on the Autopia forums. You can post any questions there. I'm skeptical, but most people that use it, love it. I don't know much more than there is in the FAQ above, so I can only point you to the Autopia forums for help.