Car Care and Detailing Dreams

[kse101]

Alright, so finally some more stuff received yesterday from cousin's abroad. Basically its more like collection of Microfibers stuff

- Zwipes 7-Piece Microfiber Cleaning Kit
Product Details & Reviews: Amazon.com: Zwipes 7-Piece Microfiber Cleaning Kit: Automotive

- Zwipes Microfiber 12-Pack of Cleaning Cloths (Each mf piece cost only 85Rs )
Product Details & Reviews: Amazon.com: Zwipes Microfiber 12-Pack of Cleaning Cloths: Automotive

- Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet Drying Towel (ordered 3 Pieces)
Product Details & Reviews: Amazon.com: Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet Drying Towel: Automotive

- Meguiar's X2020 Supreme Shine Microfiber Cloths (Pack of 3) ordered 2
Product Details & Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009IQZH0

All these products were ordered from Amazon, so same Prices were applied on each product Now next step is to get some good Waxes

[kse101]

Ahmad bhai, as most "Emerging Detailer and Helper" here, i have decided to give you some MF products as gift and token of appreciation Hopefully i will deliver you in a day or two. There are many seniors detailers here, but i think these guru have already 10x more stuff than mine.. so that is why i selected Ahmad yar for this

nomi929 is also lucky who has received few mf as his birthday gift

[jayb]

Salam everyone,

I am absolutely new to the detailing scene. I became interested in detailing after looking at Bad_Cheetah's 5 years old black Civic which still shines as if it has just come out of the showroom MashAllah.

I have recently bought a brand new car (Alhamdulilla) and I was looking for protection of paint rather than restoration.

For this purpose I got myself Turtle's ICE car wash and Turtle's Super Hard Shell Wax. I apply and wipe off the wax by hand using microfiber. However I have noticed that it is extremely difficult to wipe off the Hard Shell Wax. No doubt the shine of the car increases immensely after application of the wax but I soon realized that the car was getting swirl marks.

Now a good wax is supposed to mask the swirls, not increase them. So I talked to Bad_Cheetah about it and he suggested that it was due to the wax that I was getting this problem. To rectify this problem I have just bought Meguiars Stage 3 Deep Crystal Liquid Carnuba Wax.

I was wondering if the experts could guide me as to whether I made the right choice and generally, how should I go about detailing the car? Also if anyone would be kind enough to tell me how often to wax the car as I wash it every alternate day?

Thanks!

[Mistero]

Salam everyone,

I am absolutely new to the detailing scene. I became interested in detailing after looking at Bad_Cheetah's 5 years old black Civic which still shines as if it has just come out of the showroom MashAllah.

I have recently bought a brand new car (Alhamdulilla) and I was looking for protection of paint rather than restoration.

For this purpose I got myself Turtle's ICE car wash and Turtle's Super Hard Shell Wax. I apply and wipe off the wax by hand using microfiber. However I have noticed that it is extremely difficult to wipe off the Hard Shell Wax. No doubt the shine of the car increases immensely after application of the wax but I soon realized that the car was getting swirl marks.

Now a good wax is supposed to mask the swirls, not increase them. So I talked to Bad_Cheetah about it and he suggested that it was due to the wax that I was getting this problem. To rectify this problem I have just bought Meguiars Stage 3 Deep Crystal Liquid Carnuba Wax.

I was wondering if the experts could guide me as to whether I made the right choice and generally, how should I go about detailing the car? Also if anyone would be kind enough to tell me how often to wax the car as I wash it every alternate day?

Thanks!

Welcome to the club...

being new at this you won't be able to avoid putting in some swirls (I said some)...I have done quite a few detailings and every now and then I end up with a few swirls here and there...but this is all part of the process. What is more important is that you stop putting in those swirls which actually penetrate your clear coat and those ugly webbings...and you stop putting in those swirls which are put in due to daily cleaning abuse of the car through an inexperienced person such as jazbatee driver, house servant or service station wala.

if you continue your routine...you'll notice that your newbie swirls are much much less than any other car on the road...and eventually one day...swirls will disappear...jub haath mein skill ajeay ga aur routine fit ho jaey gee...

So don't worry just work on your routine...however, you need to study your routine to check if you are not doing anything wrong...

1. Use a very thin layer of wax...so thin that you should only be able to see it when it hazes...if you can see it while applying...you are applying too much...the thicker the coat the more difficult it is to take off.

2. What MF are you using to buff...is it new and clean, is it washed and fluffy...if not then you'll get swirls.

3. Same applies for MFs used in all stages...are they clean...no two stages are be done with the same MF...for every stage a seperate fresh MF has to be used.

4. Are you using the FOLD method for the MFs...Four folds so that you get eight sides to complete the car...you need to use a fresh side as soon as you feel that one side is dirty or not being that effective. Plus the folds help provide you with distribution of even pressure over the surface of the paint through the cloth

5. how much pressure are you applying on the MF during buffing and later on wipes...your hand should be gliding and not struggling.

6. Are you doing a proper final wipe after that with a fresh cloth...

7. Try using a detailer when you take off wax

8. Are the swirls fresh or were they there before...you didn't prep the surface before hand for wax...so the wax is magnifying the paint of your car including the shine and perhaps you are now seeing (because of the paint now being alive) old swirls which were not visible to your naked eye before (and trust me I have seen swirls in a showroom parked car)

9. Do a detailer session after the wax...detailer also helps mask some of the swirls...

10. Get into surface preperation...so that you can mask all the swirls that are there (new car I would not recommend getting rid of them with an abrasive product) by surface prep I mean get a clear coat safe compound or a glaze or even a non abrasive cleaner...or do a multi coat...now you have two waxes...do a combo...BUT FIRST check your routine so that you do not put any new MAJOR swirls...

11. Last of all..check if the swirls are actually on your car clear coat or are they on the wax layer...

[Mistero]

Sadly i upload the picture of my first ding to City 2010.

A small hole in the tail light... luckily no touching or scratching on bumper or body. Done by a RICSHAW DRIVER. what could i have said to him after looking his condition and thousands of apologies.

Went to City Sales - Kalma Chowk - asked for the tail light.. Rs. 7,800 but not in stock

Ouch

Guys I think Kashif is more worried about availability then the cost...

[JuGnO]

oh man oh man
you get busy for a couple of days and BAM!!! the thread goes so far ahead that you get lost

ok first of all my apologies that i did not reply or post on the thread after coming back to Isloo, just got busy in office. This might show how much effort i put in to come to meet you guys in lahore

OK now about the gathering. Well, simply put, it was really great. Its always so pleasant to meet decent people.
I am really glad that i came and met you guys in person, it really helps to interact now and its always to be among good friends.

Usman, It was really nice to meet you, thanks for arranging the gtg and also so much thanks for arranging pick&drop for me, also much appreciated on helping me purchase the right stuff from the right place.
Aamir, It was really nice to have your company, specially the lunch and tea afterwards.
Junaid, thanks man for your company, and thanks for dropping me off to the bus station. My apologies for getting you late.

All the members who I met on the GTG, it was REALLY great to meet you all. Had a good time.
Its hard to put all the names in and show my gratitude to everyone.

Will be posting some of the pic (if any) that have not been posted so far, by tonight.

Purchased some normal stuff on this visit (many thanks to v1 for helping) and now will be doing detailing work on my car with the new stuff on this weekend.

Aamir bhai, congratulations on the new products
Usman, you should place names to faces in the first post's pic as well.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO MEET YOU ALL

[JuGnO]

oh and give me the skype ID for Karachi meet, i will join in as well from Isloo

[thekonsultant]

@Mistero " Guys I think Kashif is more worried about availability then the cost... "

Brother i was secretly saving money for 2 months out of my pocket money to buy fog lamps and hids for fog lamps. total cost was Rs. 7,000 for that, so i had in my pocket at that time hidden in screct section of my wallet. ( Yes i hide money from my wife - as she gets the whole pay and i get weekly pocket money only ), so i went to the City Sales to get the new tail light, but not available.

@KSE101 thanks heaps for the sugestion, yes i think that will be good idea to deal with it for the time being. Also, i heard about the face lift of city in few months, and i saw in international market the lights are different, so i think i should wait for it and buy the new lights. It should have same fittings as far as i think from the honda's face lifts.

[accord7362]

As this trip I was more busy with Red Lady & experimenting some new stuff & than G2G ,Santro was neglected , this morning at about 8:30 , I decided to give her a spin as I need to get Staff Car ready for Home Minister , get her serviced from service station up 'n' down, inside out.

Reached back home & Ohh Man when I touched her , the skin was full of pimples & rough :(, Clay Bar thee nahee , ohh what to do now , check out the stuff , started with the bonnet did mother's cleaner wax 0zero:( , tried Lime prime 0zero:( ,

As I mentioned earlier mother's scratch remover is too mild for our Khota type paint quality so for scratches I used the khusta of local compound & mother's scratch remover.

I also mention earlier that some time worst quality polish/wax become a very good cleaning agent , so I always keep formula1 (75Rs) wali tube with me & also the tin.

So I started with the wet cleaning/cutting , make a hole on the cap of Pepsi bottle full of water , make a gadi & start doing panel by panel with the Kushta of Mother's scratch remover & F1 polish/wax by hand , rubbing & spraying water & than final wipe off before seal it with Mother's SynWax , Jan nakil gayee :o , but Thanks GOD surface become perfectly smooth, still need to clean/seal roof which I'll do tomorrow & INSHALLAHA will do final coat of Gold Class:)

Starting time 10AM--------- Stop working at 5:30PM

[kse101]

@Mistero " Guys I think Kashif is more worried about availability then the cost... "

Brother i was secretly saving money for 2 months out of my pocket money to buy fog lamps and hids for fog lamps. total cost was Rs. 7,000 for that, so i had in my pocket at that time hidden in screct section of my wallet. ( Yes i hide money from my wife - as she gets the whole pay and i get weekly pocket money only ), so i went to the City Sales to get the new tail light, but not available.

@KSE101 thanks heaps for the sugestion, yes i think that will be good idea to deal with it for the time being. Also, i heard about the face lift of city in few months, and i saw in international market the lights are different, so i think i should wait for it and buy the new lights. It should have same fittings as far as i think from the honda's face lifts.

hmmm yeah just googled the news and found these changes in new honda city 2012...

Well i just called one of my good friend in Honda, according to him, the new model might come here in Late 2012 or early 2013, because currently they are working on civic which was due in 2011.. so now they will launch Civic in this year and Honda City in next year.. but still the dates are not final yet.. Availability of parts from Thailand is still a problem for them due to flood there and that is why Honda's production unit here was partially closed for 30-40 days in November/December.

ohh btw you was saving for Honda's City fog lamps and hids? As far i heard, there are no modified lamps for Honda city.. all modified stuff are for Civic and Corolla's etc.. Please pm me the details if it was for City... Baki yeah shukkar karain k Body bach gai..

[accord7362]

[kse101]

Masha'Allah great reflections amir bhai, well i am hardly 15-20min drive from your home, so mujhay bula liya hota as a helping hand .. Do remember me next time ..
Good luck with santro project, i am sure tomorrow we will have some great depth and more shine in this car

[accord7362]

Thanks bro for the tip.. basically amir bhai gave good tips and i think i should go for a beginner product, specially woh camera liya jai jismai meri zaroorat k mautabik sb features hoon, and us per hath saaf kiya jai.. and then later on zaroorat k mutabik DSLR mai upgrade kiya jai

So Sony DSC-WX7 is good as starter as it has 16.2mp camera, Carl Zeiss lens, Background defocus, 1080 HD video, Exmor R CMOS sensor and much more which you can read HERE

Thanks amir bhai for great find

You are most welcome & nice collection of MF

Masha'Allah great reflections amir bhai, well i am hardly 15-20min drive from your home, so mujhay bula liya hota as a helping hand .. Do remember me next time ..
Good luck with santro project, i am sure tomorrow we will have some great depth and more shine in this car

Oh Oh :o , today I was in need of help , I thought its Thursday, working day anyway I will chk next time.

JAZAKALLHA for offer & appreciation , its 2001 model:( so try to keep it up to mark

[aamirq]

detailed both of my cars today here are the results! 1 is a 2007 altis the other is a 96 civic!

[thekonsultant]

@KSE101 - - yes, you got that right, i also checked the same site for the facelift... and if your resources are true and authentic, then i will try to get the light changes for sure as a year is a long time.

There are fog lamps for CITY ( for current shape ) everywhere in the market. I am getting them installed on SUNDAY, the guy is comming to fit them in. There is a place for fog lamps already in the bumper which is not visible from outside. they have to cut the bumper which is already marked inside. I have called the guy and he will come to my place on Sunday morning 11:00 am sharp (Pakistan Standar Time - So no sharpness in it ) . Come over and see if you like it and you can get it installed in yours as well. I live in Model Town Lahore - M Block

Regards

Kashif

[aamirq]

problem in uploading pictures will upload em later...

[kse101]

You are most welcome & nice collection of MF

Thanks bro

Oh Oh :o , today I was in need of help , I thought its Thursday, working day anyway I will chk next time.

JAZAKALLHA for offer & appreciation , its 2001 model:( so try to keep it up to mark

Lo dasoo, janab, mai bilkul Waila nakkama hoon, mostly at home, so you can call me anytime.. (H) and Masha'Allah 2001 model :o what a clean shiny ride... good job amir bhai..

[wingtwister]

Ahmad bhai, as most "Emerging Detailer and Helper" here, i have decided to give you some MF products as gift and token of appreciation Hopefully i will deliver you in a day or two. There are many seniors detailers here, but i think these guru have already 10x more stuff than mine.. so that is why i selected Ahmad yar for this

nomi929 is also lucky who has received few mf as his birthday gift

generosity is appreciated....

[wingtwister]

[QUOTE=kse101;3185749]Alright, so finally some more stuff received yesterday from cousin's abroad. Basically its more like collection of Microfibers stuff

Coooool stuffff

[margallar]

Sadly i upload the picture of my first ding to City 2010.

A small hole in the tail light... luckily no touching or scratching on bumper or body. Done by a RICSHAW DRIVER. what could i have said to him after looking his condition and thousands of apologies.

Went to City Sales - Kalma Chowk - asked for the tail light.. Rs. 7,800 but not in stock

this hole is pretty much repairable. the guys who repair lights will put a piece of clear plastic there and fill the gap with silicone. after that get a tint on both lights, no one will ever know