Help on a basic 4-6 month detailing kit

[gtnissanfan]

I just got a Protege5 (Laser Blue) and I want to get some quality detailing stuff for it (see pics here). I wash my cars about every 1-2 weeks depending on how they look. In the past I've used the cheap Zymol Cleaner Wax (I love the smell) and it seems to work pretty well, but doesn't last very long. Also, it stains the trim and I don't like that (the Protege5 has lots of black plastic on the roof).

The Protege5 paint seems to be in good condition overall. There are a few nicks on the front bumper from road debris, but no major swirl marks that I can see. I would like to be able to do a full wash/clay/wash/wax no more than 3 times a year. I've been looking at Autopia's How-To's and I've come up with the following order:

The Perfect Shine Drying Towel
Sonus Ultimate Detailing Towels (2-pack)
Sonus Der Wunder Applicator (2-pack)
Klasse Car Wax & Clay Bundle (Klasse AIO + clay + lube + buffing towels)

I already have buckets and a good wash mitt. I need the drying towel because I've been using a chamois-covered sponge for more than a year and it's not working very well anymore (dried out). I want the detailing towels for wax removal and interior cleaning (dash, windows, etc). I need some new wax applicators, so I chose the Sonus brand. Finally, I've heard very good things about claying a car before waxing. Also, Klasse All-In-One seems to have a great reputation. From Autopia's website, it claims AIO can work up to 6 months and will not stain vinyl or rubber.

I'm not looking for a show-car shine, as the Protege5 is a daily driver. I just want something that will be relatively easy to apply, protect the paint for a long time, and not be too expensive. I also like how water/rain beads up on a nicely waxed car. Am I on the right track? My current subtotal is $53, and it will take some justification to spend much more than this.

The short version:
1) Will the Sonus Ultimate Detailing Towels be good general-purpose towels (wax removal, window cleaning, dash cleaning, touch-ups)?
2) Will wash-clay-wash-dry-Klasse be a good 4-6 month detailing for a daily driver?
3) Is Klasse easy to apply?
4) Is Klasse really non-staining?
5) Will Klasse protect the stock alloy wheels also?

Thanks for reading this relatively long post. I welcome anyone's thoughts and opinions.

 

[Mr Detailer]

The short version:
1) Will the Sonus Ultimate Detailing Towels be good general-purpose towels (wax removal, window cleaning, dash cleaning, touch-ups)?
2) Will wash-clay-wash-dry-Klasse be a good 4-6 month detailing for a daily driver?
3) Is Klasse easy to apply?
4) Is Klasse really non-staining?
5) Will Klasse protect the stock alloy wheels also?

1) Yes. But you will definitely need more than 2 towels. You'll likely need 2 for the claying step alone.

2) No. AIO will not last you 6 months, despite the manufacturer claim. You need to top it with a sealant and/or wax for 6 months protection. Klasse Sealant Glaze is an example, but it can be a PITA to use for beginners, because they're usually tempted to apply it too thick. I'd recommend FourStar Ultimate Paint Protection...it's about as easy to use as you can imagine.

3) Yes, AIO is pretty easy to use. Apply it very thin with a dampened applicator and it will come off with ease.

4) Yes. I intentionally use AIO on my trim.

5) Yes, but again, it won't last all that long, so you'll be much better off applying a sealant to the wheels also.


Sonus microfiber products are overpriced, IMO. I'd get your microfiber (MF) stuff from www.exceldetail.com instead. Here's a list I came up with for you:

Drying towel:
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=29280&pd=133820

Polishing towels ($2.80 cheaper or $4.50 cheaper):
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=29279&pd=95550&recview=11
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=29279&pd=208076&recview=1
The Supremes are great towels, but the Elites are just beautiful. I got one a couple weeks ago, and couldn't hold myself back from ordering 6 more last week!

Wash mitt:
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=30057&pd=138546&recview=11
You should have two separate mitts so you can use one for wheels and one for the paint/glass, so you might be interested in the sale on 3 mitts...
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=30057&pd=138546&recview=11

Paint Sealant:
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=37056&pd=97957
You could also get the spray version, or better yet, get both, apply the liquid sealant, and every month or so just wipe a quick coat of the spray on after a wash. That way it'll always be well-protected and slicker 'n s***.
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=37056&pd=266863

There's also a wax I'd highly recommend if you want to use a wax, especially if you're looking for one that smells great.
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=37056&pd=266863

And lastly, you need to dress your tires to make the car look its best, so here's what I use (though I buy it in gallons now lol):
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=44434&pd=276861&recview=11

I would still get the AIO from Autopia or autogeek.net though.

 

[gtnissanfan]

stuff

Wow, thanks for the great reply/answers. It seems you're the go-to-guy for detailing questions, and I appreciate the effort in getting all those links together for a stranger.

In order to save some money, I would like to keep the stuff I already have on hand and only get the stuff I don't have. I already have a relatively new cotton chenille mitt for the car and an old sheepskin mitt for the wheels, so that's taken care of. Also I have a spray bottle of 303 Aerospace Protectant for my tires and I really like the way it looks.

In response to your suggested list, I didn't see an applicator for the AIO or sealant, so I found a microfiber applicator for $3 on the website. I found a smaller multi-pack of Yellow Supreme polishing towels. Also, you accidentally linked to the 4star UPP spray twice, which wax did you mean? Either way, the list is getting dreadfully closer to $100 than $50, so I think I'll leave the wax off and see if I'm satisfied with AIO + 4star UPP spray.

Updated Order:
Drying Towel-- Excel Monterey Waffle Weave Drying Towel $10.50
Polishing Towels-- 7 for 6 Yellow Supreme (microfiber polishing) deal (7pack) $15
Applicators-- 5.5 in. Excel Microfiber Finger Applicator (2pack) $3
Paint Prep-- Klasse & Clay Bundle (AIO + clay + lube + applicator + 2buffing towels) $29
Paint Sealant-- Four Star UPP spray $15

subTotal = $72.50

If my wife freaks at the total (after shipping costs) I might think about an absolute minimum order w/o the sealant or applicators (the bundle includes one for the AIO), and fewer polishing towels. Am I missing anything?

 

[MP05]

I just ordered my stuff last night....

I bought the same applicator pads and I bought the yellow foam pads for the polishing. For the polish I bought the Poorboy's SSR2.5 and SSR2. For the wax I bought the Natty's paste wax. I also got a couple of towels just to start me off with. I just wish the stuff would hurry up and get here.

Mr. Detailer: what is the amount of the wax I should put on the applicator at a time? I hope that makes sence.

 

[Mr Detailer]

This is the wax I meant to link to:
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=exceldetail&ct=44434&pd=220119

Remember that you will need more than one applicator. I have tons of applicators for many different uses. Foam apps for tire dressings, waxes/sealants, paint cleaners, and other stuff, but MF apps for trim restorer, plastic protectants, headlight polishing, and interior protectants for leather/plastics/vinyl. All have a couple of their own applicators of course.

MP05 - just take a couple swipes of wax on the applicator, and you've got enough to do a whole panel. It will look like nothing, but it is plenty. You can also spray a small mist of QD on the applicator first to ensure that no dry part of the pad is rubbing on the paint while waxing. If you want, you can spin the applicator on the wax rather than swiping it, to ensure that the entire applicator surface has wax on it.

 

[MP05]

Thanks for the advice. I should hopefully have everything by Monday. I will post up some pics when I get it all done.

 

[gtnissanfan]

So I finally stopped changing my mind and ordered some products last night. While I really appreciate the suggestions, Mr. Detailer, I wanted to minimize my shipping costs by getting everything from the same place. If I ever need any more MF towels, I'll use your suggested link. Since Autopia had the Klasse AIO + clay bundle that I really wanted, I got everything from them:

Klasse AIO + clay bundle $28.95
Sonus Der Wunder Applicators (2pack) $3.49
The Perfect Shine Drying Towel $10.99
Sonus Ultimate Detailing Towels (2pack) $10.00
OXO Good Grips Car Duster $19.99
Sonus Detailing Spritz 8oz $free

I used the "autopia" coupon code for 10% off everything. My total was just over $80. Since most of the items are reuseable, the order had a high enough WAF (wife approval factor).

Now I just need to print off the detailing articles for reference this weekend when I take on my first in-depth detailing. If everything comes out well, I'll post pictures here.

 

[Mr Detailer]

I'm telling you, you'll need more than 2 MF towels. You'll use them both during the clay step.

 

[gtnissanfan]

I'm telling you, you'll need more than 2 MF towels. You'll use them both during the clay step.

Even with the 2 Blue Perl towels included in the Klasse bundle?

 

[Mr Detailer]

During a typical full exterior detailing session (clay/polish/sealant) I'll usually go through 6-8 MF towels. Add more if I need to QD between steps, or if the car needs multiple passes with the polish, or if the paint is excessively contaminated.

 

[gtnissanfan]

Since I'm skipping the sealant for now (I want to see how well AIO works all by itself) I hope that 4 towels will do the job. If I run out, I can hop in my other car and grab some Vroom MF towels at Target. The Autopia forums have good things to say about the gray ones.