Let's see your detailed Mazda!

[Mr Detailer]

Please list the process you took during your detailing, and then post the pictures.

Wash/Dry
Mothers clay w/ car soap + water as lube
Poorboy's SSR2.5 (polish) applied via PC 7424
Poorboy's SSR2 (polish) applied via PC 7424
Klasse All-In-One (paint cleaner) applied via PC 7424
FourStar Ultimate Paint Protection (sealant) applied (2 layers)
Meguiars #16 Professional Paste Wax by hand

Clearkote Vanilla Moose on glass
303 Wiper Treatment on wipers
Klasse AIO + Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant x2 on wheels
Poorboy's Natural Look on tires
Poorboy's Trim Restorer on trim
Meguiars PlastX on headlights/taillights

Mothers mag/alum polish by hand on engine bay metal. Applied with terry towels.
Meguiars NXT Tech Protectant on plastic/rubber

 

[InFeXIoN]

Theres mine

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123616213

 

[brealmp3]

autobell, or kids charity carwashes. but if need be i'll hit the quater squirt and use that brush that everyone scrubs their tires with all over my car.

but really i have a detail guy around here and i take care of him on phones, so he will wash, wax, buff and polish my car when needed for $40. and he does a damn great job.

 

[Mr Detailer]

Hmm would you happen to know how to delete my duplicate thread?

I like your wheels!

 

[BradC]

McGuier's Soft soap gel w/wash mitt
Dried w/california water blade
waxed w/mothers carnuba wax
micro fibers
spitting monkey on the tires...

 

[Mr Detailer]

mmmm titanium gray...

 

[MSP#735]

a very, very un-detailed list of my every week process:

Materials Used:
Rain-X Car soap/Cloth Wash Mit/Bug spunge/Tire brush
Meguires Spray Wax/NXT
2001 Tire Gloss/Armor-All
Stoner Invisiable Glass
California Water Blade
Microfiber towels/Shop Towels


Process:
rinse with JUST water throughly
wash rims (ENTIRE rim, width too) and tires (hose out the fender wells while im there)
use bug sponge for front grill and headlights
rinse out bucket and use fresh water and soap

wash roof, rear window, windshield and trunk area, rinse
wash passenger side (windows, doors, 1/4 panels, side skirts), rinse
wash driver side ("...........")
wash hood, several times, rinse several times
re-wash front bumper and headlights, rinse
wash rear bumper and muffler (entire muffler), rinse

wet dry (with water hose minus the nozzle, for maximum sheeting action)
California Water Blade entire car
go back with a microfiber towel and spot dry
open doors, wipe entire door jam down (under the door also)
pop the trunk, gas cap and hood and wipe those areas down
prop hood open and use a shop towel and wipe down the engine bay (everything i can possibly reach with my hand)
wipe down rims and tires with shop towel

use separate towel for glass and use Stoner Invisiable Glass and clean outside and inside windows

use 2001 for the engine bay on everything that is black plastic or rubber

Meguires Spray Wax entire car
Meguires NXT Wax entire car

sit back and enjoy the luster...(cheers)

 

[MSP#735]

a few more results pics...

(cheers)

 

[Mr Detailer]

Put some NXT on that muffler tip too. I put sealant on my tip. I makes it much easier to clean in the future.

 

[MSP#735]

is it not clean enough for ya????

Put some NXT on that muffler tip too. I put sealant on my tip. I makes it much easier to clean in the future.

 

[Mr Detailer]

lol...things are rarely clean enough for me.

If you put some NXT on it, make sure to set aside a separate applicator pad for that. You don't want to get muffler soot on it and wipe that s*** back on your paint.

 

[MyZmZm]

Do either of you - Brad, Detailer, or MSP - want to come do my car??

Full wash/clean:
rinse
wash w/zaino car wash, changing water as necessary (seperate sponge for wheels and car)
rinse
claybar
wash w/zaino car wash
rinse
wipe dry (need to get one of those California Water Blades - used one for the first time the other day)
open doors and clean all door sills, etc
Zaino Z5 or Z2 polish - 1-2 layers
Zaino detail spray in between and after polish
Put the shades on and admire the beauty

In between full washes:
same as above, but without the zaino polish


Since I've just got the MSP rims for my car, what's the best thing to use on them as far as a good cleaner/polish?

 

[Brian MP5T]

Clean In And Out!

 

[BradC]

Do either of you - Brad, Detailer, or MSP - want to come do my car??

Sure, you're covering airfare and compensating, right???

Since I've just got the MSP rims for my car, what's the best thing to use on them as far as a good cleaner/polish?

Are you taking them off for the winter? What I do is every winter once the snowies go on, take the Racing Harts out on a warm day (or wait till spring) and clean them good and wax them. It makes it much easier to clean the rest of the year.

Get a bottle of wheel cleaner (I like Meguiar's "Hot Wheels"

and soak the wheels (front and back) with it. Use a brush and get all of the old grime off, then wash with soap and water and dry very well. After that, wax them like you would your car. It makes it much easier the rest of the year to clean them, all you will need is a wheel brush and some soapy water. After the tire dressing goes on, I then go back over the wheels with a terry or microfiber and get any grime leftover off...

 

[MyZmZm]

For the next 5 months, I will be riding on 15" steelies - there's no way I'm going to risk the RH's to the salt and gravel of winter. I'll have to pick up some of the Meguire's. Would you use the Zaino on the rims, or would you suggest something else?

Also, because the rims were bought used (still in very good condition though), there are a few minor 'scuff marks' on them - just slight imperfections in the paint, no chips or rash or anything like that - what would I use to polish them up nicely, and then clean/wax from that point on?

As for the airfare/compensation bit... Just call it a business trip and right it off!

 

[BradC]

For the next 5 months, I will be riding on 15" steelies - there's no way I'm going to risk the RH's to the salt and gravel of winter. I'll have to pick up some of the Meguire's. Would you use the Zaino on the rims, or would you suggest something else?

Whatever wax you use on the car is fine. Since Zanio is one of the best, I'm sure it'll do fine!

Also, because the rims were bought used (still in very good condition though), there are a few minor 'scuff marks' on them - just slight imperfections in the paint, no chips or rash or anything like that - what would I use to polish them up nicely, and then clean/wax from that point on?

If the scuff/scratch is deep enough to catch a fingernail on it, it most likley won't come completely out. Try a rubbing/buffing compound made for clear coats (make sure it says for clear coat, much less aggressive and won't trash the wheels). I found a bottle of this stuff one time called "Safe Cut" by "The Wax Shop", it is fabulous.

I used it on my old car(it was white), and it pulled all the dirt out of little scratches, etc...made the paint look great!

As for the airfare/compensation bit... Just call it a business trip and right it off!

Hmm...now that sounds like an idea! You at least going to buy me a beer? (cheers)

 

[MyZmZm]

If the scuff/scratch is deep enough to catch a fingernail on it, it most likley won't come completely out. Try a rubbing/buffing compound made for clear coats (make sure it says for clear coat, much less aggressive and won't trash the wheels).

Nothing like that - almost like slightly hazed or somewhat dull patches; scuffed is too strong a word. Nothing serious by any means, just small imperfections I'd like to get rid of before they go on the car in spring. And because they're the gunmetal rims, it's a little more noticeable (when you look closely) than it would be if they were the silver ones.

I know there are things I'm not doing right, or could do better/differently when cleaning the car - I'd love to have someone who knows what their doing show me how to do things properly. Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone around here who's work/quality I respect and is top-notch, and that would be willing to take the time to show me.

Hmm...now that sounds like an idea! You at least going to buy me a beer? (cheers)

Absolutely! I'll buy you several if you like, and guided tours to the mountains, etc, aren't out of the question. We can even discuss your preferred method of compensation at this time. j/k

 

[BradC]

Nothing like that - almost like slightly hazed or somewhat dull patches; scuffed is too strong a word. Nothing serious by any means, just small imperfections I'd like to get rid of before they go on the car in spring. And because they're the gunmetal rims, it's a little more noticeable (when you look closely) than it would be if they were the silver ones.

Well if they aren' too bad, try that safe cut stuff. It looks like a cheesy product (I never would have bought it, but we had a damaged bottle at the parts store I worked at when I was in school), but it works great.

I know there are things I'm not doing right, or could do better/differently when cleaning the car - I'd love to have someone who knows what their doing show me how to do things properly. Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone around here who's work/quality I respect and is top-notch, and that would be willing to take the time to show me..

A good detail job is just that, details. Little things like washing the jams and wiping down the door sills, gaps in panels, etc. makes all the difference. Make sure you use car soap (no dish liquid) and wash top to bottom and rinse before any soap dries.

If you want, I can write a long-winded list of things I like to do, but most are common sense.

Absolutely! I'll buy you several if you like, and guided tours to the mountains, etc, aren't out of the question. We can even discuss your preferred method of compensation at this time. j/k

Now we're talking! (thumb) Seriously though, the mountain tour sounds nice!

 

[Mr Detailer]

Zaino will work fine for protecting the wheels. Just make sure you clean the wheels VERY well first. The better they are cleaned first, the longer the Zaino will last on the wheels. If all goes well, the brake dust will wipe right off with plain car soap, front or backside.

Any light polish should work for those "scuffs" or hazing. Unfortunately, most so-called "polishes" at the local stores are not polishes at all. The product manufacturers use the incorrect terms all the time. Actually, Zaino is not a polish either. They only recently came out with an actual polish, called Z-PC.

I'd be happy to work on your car, and show you how it's done, but you have to drive here.

You could always join http://autopia.org and see if someone is around your area. I know a few people from Canada, but I'm not sure where they are in relation to you.

 

[Mr Detailer]

With sealed wheels, this is how easy they are to clean.

2 months worth of brake dust:

10 seconds later, after just a simple wipe with my wash mitt and car soap + water...

And I don't know how dirty the wheels are, but if I ever encounter stubborn brake dust, I use P21S Wheel Cleaner. It's a pH-neutral cleaner that is guaranteed never to harm ANY type of wheel. Some wheel cleaners are made for specific types of wheels (and can harm other types), but they don't always tell you that.
It can tackle some nasty brake dust with a little agitation. These wheels took me about 7-8 minutes each.