I wonder why there aren’t more threads about car detailing here. Every car forum I’ve seen has a specific section for detailing.

So a couple of days ago I washed my Patriot, using mostly Meguiar’s products. The car had been seating for a whole week at an outdoors parking lot at the airport getting really dirty. It took me two hours to get the whole process done. Products used:

- Meguiar’s gold class shampoo using the 2-bucket method
- Meguiar’s deep pile chenille mitt
- W5 rims cleaner
- Meguiar’s clay and Quick Detailer for lubrication
- Triplewax car wax (budget brand, I had some left over that I wanted to use)
- Meguiar’s gold class endurance tire gel
- Meguiar’s water magnet and other microfiber rugs for drying
- PTFE (Teflon)-based scratch remover for some minor parking scratches. I couldn't clean completely one of them.

I started with with the tires and rims (leaving the tire shine gel for the end), and I then did the rest of the car in parts to avoid quick drying that would’ve left water spots. It was the first time I used a clay bar and I was surprised at the good results, especially to the touch. It makes a difference you can feel rather than see.

I thoroughly enjoy looking after the car and making it look good. Here are some pictures. Let me know how you like them or if you could give some advice.

Befores:

18021803
18041805

Afters:

18071808
18091810
1811

Looks great.

In my case with a 1/2 mile long gravel and mud puddle drive way. Pointless. A clean car and a driveway covered with asphalt is just a dream.

Although, a good coat of high quality wax really helps!

Gosh, I love those side-marker lights!

Looks Awesome!

Wow - that shined up nicely. On the mirrors - are those turn signals? And I like the side markers as well.

That cleaned up well! I like the euro differences!

I need to clay bar mine too, but with final exams and rain, theres no time :(

Clay Bar is a must, even on a new vehicle since metalic dust particles can imbed into your paint even during shipment. I have clay bared all my cars but have not with the Pat yet. Plan to very soon. Did you try the plastic bag over your finger tip before and after? Love that.

Your Pat looks great and very well cared for!

I think I've spotted the elusive heated mirrors...

Just curious, do any of you have a product recommendation for removing scratches? They're not through the paint, but they are through the clear coat. Deep enough to feel them with a finger, but not quite deep enough to bust through to metal. Almost went out and dropped 30 bucks on a clay bar today, but some advise from my brother made me think that wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

Meguiar's gold class wax kicks butt...used to use that stuff on my motorcycle tank, for dark colors.

Tire shine? Yuck. Personal opinion though. Check out your tires in a week or so when that stuff evaporates off the tire....they turn orange.

and I then did the rest of the car in parts to avoid quick drying that would’ve left water spots

Try this stuff...doesn't spot. I've got the same color ride as you and have been washing the car the past couple weeks in pretty much full sunlight. No waterspots...good stuff.
TURTLE WAX ICE (http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1,3)

Just curious, do any of you have a product recommendation for removing scratches? They're not through the paint, but they are through the clear coat. Deep enough to feel them with a finger, but not quite deep enough to bust through to metal.

You could try some Meguair's Scratch -X. The problem with scratches in the clear coat is that the only real way to get rid of them is grind down some of the surrounding clear coat.

This should help but it is a long read;

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=66024

No point in trying to use clay bar to remove scratches. This will only remove the grit from the clear coat and will also remove any excess overspray. You have to be very careful with it as it can ruin the clear if there is not enough lubricant.

This is my old car after washing, claying, polishing and sealing;

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/netideas/Car%20Stuff/DSC00911.jpg

I am hoping to get some good weather so I can do the same to my Jeep :)

Looks great, Europat! I notice orange peel in the last shot, though. Bummer.

I picked up my MK a month ago and have yet to wash it. Weather has sucked and I haven't decided it I'll let automatic car washes touch it. I generally do not for vehicles I purchase. Leases, I don't care. i've got 1/2 mile of dirt road to drive on, so it's pretty much always coverd in mud or dust. It's finally getting warm enough to hook up my garden hose, so maybe soon. When I get to it, I'll take some before/after.

I generally use:

Gold Class shampoo - cheap and effective
Zaino clay bar
S100 Shine Enhancing Paint Cleanser
S100 paste wax
Zaino Z8 (old mix) detailer because I have a case of it.

S100 is identical to P21S, but cheaper and availible @ most Harley Davidson stores. Both products are extremely easy to apply/remove and work very well for a mild polish and protection.

Ash, I also used to own a Mégane, but I don't think it ever looked as good as yours. I didn't care for detailing in those days and I always took the car to automatic carwashes, which obviously took its toll on the paintjob. You posted a very good picture, by the way. Taking good shots of cars has its own technique, I think.

APT, now that you mention it, it does look like orange peel on the last shot. Could you check on your car and see if it has it too?

I have a sample of Meg's NXT car wax that I can't wait to use. Have any of you tried it? It's easy to get lost with so many car care brands. 1inchgroup, thanks for the advice on Turtle Wax Ice car wash, I might buy it when I'm done with my current choice. Gold Class car wash can achieve spectacular results by itself, without even claying or waxing when you need a quick detail.

Ash, I also used to own a Mégane, but I don't think it ever looked as good as yours. I didn't care for detailing in those days and I always took the car to automatic carwashes, which obviously took its toll on the paintjob. You posted a very good picture, by the way. Taking good shots of cars has its own technique, I think.

APT, now that you mention it, it does look like orange peel on the last shot. Could you check on your car and see if it has it too?

I have a sample of Meg's NXT car wax that I can't wait to use. Have any of you tried it? It's easy to get lost with so many car care brands. 1inchgroup, thanks for the advice on Turtle Wax Ice car wash, I might buy it when I'm done with my current choice. Gold Class car wash can achieve spectacular results by itself, without even claying or waxing when you need a quick detail.

I have used NXT and it works great and is really easy to use. It goes on rather thin but seems to last as long as any wax i have every used.

NXT is pretty highly rated. It is a sealant, which lasts longer than carnuba wax, like 6mo vs. 3. I used some Gold Class liquid wax once. It lasted 3 days. After the first rain, the gloss was gone. It still protected a little while, but the paint did not reflect like it did at first.

Orange peel is quite common in the US. I've purchased/leased 11 new vehicles in the last 8 years. I'd say at least half of them had significant amounts. Darker colors show it more, as you notice it more in reflections. My Lexus had the best looking paint job :notworthy:, but it was also the softest and chiped the easiest.

My wife just called to ask me if she should take thr MK throiugh a soft cloth car wash. I told her it was fine, so I'll check out the orange peel status tonight. I'd like to get a quick coat of wax on it as it has probably sat on the dealer lot for a year before I bought it. I don't have time for a full detail, but quick detail + SEPC + wax should take under 1h.

Ash, I also used to own a Mégane, but I don't think it ever looked as good as yours. I didn't care for detailing in those days and I always took the car to automatic carwashes, which obviously took its toll on the paintjob. You posted a very good picture, by the way. Taking good shots of cars has its own technique, I think.

APT, now that you mention it, it does look like orange peel on the last shot. Could you check on your car and see if it has it too?

I have a sample of Meg's NXT car wax that I can't wait to use. Have any of you tried it? It's easy to get lost with so many car care brands. 1inchgroup, thanks for the advice on Turtle Wax Ice car wash, I might buy it when I'm done with my current choice. Gold Class car wash can achieve spectacular results by itself, without even claying or waxing when you need a quick detail.

I've got a bottle of NXT, I love it. Good results (has that wet look), and with microfiber towels there is hardly any of that white powder that you usually spend hours chasing down. Applies easy, and comes off just as easily. Still got to put a little elbow grease into it though.

Amazing job EuroPat! Jeep looks smokin.:smiley_thumbs_up:
My Jeep looks like your before pictures.
mmmmm.......when are you free? ;)


Ray

Very good job done there mate.

Tire shine? Yuck. Personal opinion though. Check out your tires in a week or so when that stuff evaporates off the tire....they turn orange.

Very true about Meguiar's Gold Class Endurance Tire Gel. I've used it several times know and it looks really good at first, but then in the long term the tires turn orangeish/brown. For the moment I think it's the only Meguiar's product that I didn't like.

How long does it take to do a full detail on a patriot?

An hour for a thorough exterior wash and drying, working fast. Two hours if you also clay-bar and wax it.

turned out awesome!

An hour for a thorough exterior wash and drying, working fast. Two hours if you also clay-bar and wax it.


I spend on average 3 hours on mine, and thats with no claybar or wax. What can i say, im finicky:D

3 hours just to wash it?! :wow::eek: Post some pictures the next time you detail your Patriot, I'd really like to see the results you get, and I enjoy looking at freshly-detailed cars.

Looks nice mate.:smiley_thumbs_up: