How a car SHOULD come from the dealer

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 01:16 AM

Well, i've gotten the paint work finished on my new 370, but one thing that hasn't changed in my last 4 new cars is the paint condition in which they have them in.

This was not a full detail. It's what I like to call "knocking the dealer dust off".

I do not have any before pics of the car, I did try to take a few, but with the car being white, the camera wasn't picking up a lot of the scratches that were there.

My list of products used are:

Simple 2 bucket method wash with a microfiber mitt
Clayed using Clay Magic (great stuff by the way)
Washed yet again to get all of the residue off the paint
Flex DA machine polisher (setting on 3.5-4)
Menzerna Super Finish
Uber white pad
Standard micro fiber towels
Finish Kare 1000p high temp paste wax

All I really did was the basic wash, clay, wash, and polish. My goal wasn't to do any major cutting, actually I left a few small scratches here and there, just because later on it will need a full polishing, but the results are quite stunning IMO. The paint looks just pretty good coming from the dealer, a simple 1 minute pass with the Flex and the paint is gleaming and very reflective. Menzerna products are all that I use when it comes to polishing. They stay on the paint for quite a while before breaking down.

The Flex vs. the PC. Junkman and a few others didn't agree with me about using the Flex and feel it was a bit to harsh for a new car. Let me state that i'm sure that guys such as himself and Phil and probably many others on here are pros when it comes to this stuff... let me also state that I am NOT a pro and don't claim to be at all.. I give anyone respect who deserves it and has put a lot of time into what they do for a living.

Personally for me I used the Flex because it has more torque, if you use a PC with a larger pad (6.5 inch) and you put a little pressure down, the pad does not move. The Flex is much more powerful of a machine and gets the job done in half the time... search youtube for Flex vs PC and you'll see what I mean.

My theory is that I am taking off so little product and using one of the lowest cutting pads with the one of the lowest grit polishes possible. The possibility of burning the paint with this combo is pretty much zero unless you are a total moron. Also, a scratch is a scratch and that means that the paint HAS to be taken down evenly to remove the scratch, so whether you are using a Flex with a lighter cutting set-up or a PC with a heavier one.. the result will be the same... but again.. I am at best an amateur with this.. i've done about 15 cars in my life, they all did come out pretty nice, some better than others and I certainly like perfection, but it only goes so far.. at some point you have to just sit back and enjoy your new car!

Anyway, here are pics of the car almost finished from earlier today, sorry about the preaching lol.

Red__Zed · 06-07-2011, 01:16 AM

nicely done

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

nicely done

thanks man... I appreciate it.

jay4500 · 06-07-2011, 01:21 AM

nice , need my car done next.

b1adesofcha0s · 06-07-2011, 01:21 AM

Looks nice and clean! Great job!

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay4500

nice , need my car done next.

lol, i'd help you out but Houston is a bit far from Md

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Looks nice and clean! Great job!

thanks man... and awesome STOCK 1/4 time by the way!

b1adesofcha0s · 06-07-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methodical4u

thanks man... and awesome STOCK 1/4 time by the way!

Thanks

Just noticed you were from MD. There's a group of us here In the MD/NoVa area that meet every Saturday alternating between Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD. You should definitely come check it out some time. More details in this thread:

NOVA: Zs & Coffee - Starbucks every Saturday @ 10AM

Also we're having a bbq on July 9th and you're more than welcome to join us:

http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-...bq-9-july.html

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 12:38 PM

yeah, i'll talk to my Fiancée and see if we can get something worked out

b1adesofcha0s · 06-07-2011, 12:46 PM

Cool, hope to see you soon

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Cool, hope to see you soon

yeah man, I appreciate it.

Methodical4u · 06-07-2011, 10:26 PM

My Fiancee took a few pics tonight when we went out... the night shots look great.

06-07-2011, 01:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Methodical4u A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,393 Drives: 11 370 6mt pw w/sp Rep Power: 16	How a car SHOULD come from the dealer Well, i've gotten the paint work finished on my new 370, but one thing that hasn't changed in my last 4 new cars is the paint condition in which they have them in. This was not a full detail. It's what I like to call "knocking the dealer dust off". I do not have any before pics of the car, I did try to take a few, but with the car being white, the camera wasn't picking up a lot of the scratches that were there. My list of products used are: Simple 2 bucket method wash with a microfiber mitt Clayed using Clay Magic (great stuff by the way) Washed yet again to get all of the residue off the paint Flex DA machine polisher (setting on 3.5-4) Menzerna Super Finish Uber white pad Standard micro fiber towels Finish Kare 1000p high temp paste wax All I really did was the basic wash, clay, wash, and polish. My goal wasn't to do any major cutting, actually I left a few small scratches here and there, just because later on it will need a full polishing, but the results are quite stunning IMO. The paint looks just pretty good coming from the dealer, a simple 1 minute pass with the Flex and the paint is gleaming and very reflective. Menzerna products are all that I use when it comes to polishing. They stay on the paint for quite a while before breaking down. The Flex vs. the PC. Junkman and a few others didn't agree with me about using the Flex and feel it was a bit to harsh for a new car. Let me state that i'm sure that guys such as himself and Phil and probably many others on here are pros when it comes to this stuff... let me also state that I am NOT a pro and don't claim to be at all.. I give anyone respect who deserves it and has put a lot of time into what they do for a living. Personally for me I used the Flex because it has more torque, if you use a PC with a larger pad (6.5 inch) and you put a little pressure down, the pad does not move. The Flex is much more powerful of a machine and gets the job done in half the time... search youtube for Flex vs PC and you'll see what I mean. My theory is that I am taking off so little product and using one of the lowest cutting pads with the one of the lowest grit polishes possible. The possibility of burning the paint with this combo is pretty much zero unless you are a total moron. Also, a scratch is a scratch and that means that the paint HAS to be taken down evenly to remove the scratch, so whether you are using a Flex with a lighter cutting set-up or a PC with a heavier one.. the result will be the same... but again.. I am at best an amateur with this.. i've done about 15 cars in my life, they all did come out pretty nice, some better than others and I certainly like perfection, but it only goes so far.. at some point you have to just sit back and enjoy your new car! Anyway, here are pics of the car almost finished from earlier today, sorry about the preaching lol.

06-07-2011, 01:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
jay4500 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 47 Drives: 2011 nissan 370z sp Rep Power: 14	jay nice , need my car done next.

06-07-2011, 01:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	Looks nice and clean! Great job! __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

06-07-2011, 12:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	Cool, hope to see you soon __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

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06-07-2011, 01:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	nicely done

06-07-2011, 12:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Methodical4u A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,393 Drives: 11 370 6mt pw w/sp Rep Power: 16	yeah, i'll talk to my Fiancée and see if we can get something worked out

06-07-2011, 10:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
Methodical4u A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,393 Drives: 11 370 6mt pw w/sp Rep Power: 16	My Fiancee took a few pics tonight when we went out... the night shots look great.