Car Care and Detailing Dreams

[kse101]

@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

Hmm Deal.. i am coming on Sunday to see this and will bring some small gift for you as well.. hopefully ahmed bhai will also join us So fog lamps and good quality HID's in them for 7000.. hmmmm
Well yours white city, so HID really looks good in them.. Because i had HID's in my White old Alto.. Meri grey city per white lights .. hmmm souchtay hain is per.. :S

[wingtwister]

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

sorry to hear that bro..... i would suggest u to take temporary measure ASAP else the dust will spoil the whole light

[wingtwister]

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 aboard ..... i think ur washing frequency is high, u may revisit ur washing requirement.... well its just a suggestion rest u r the best judge of ur machine

[accord7362]

Oh Oh Kashif Bahi , Sad to C the hole ,

So whats the plan gona repair? or new 1 ?

[jayb]

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...

Thanks a lot Mistero! JazakAllah

I didn't know a lot of these details especially the 4 fold method. And yes, I was applying A LOT wax on the bodywork. I will now try to work with a minimal amount of it inshAllah.

Can you please explain what you mean by detailer session as you mention in point number 9..? And can you please shed some more light on surface preparation? I mean shouldn't a non abrasive wash etc prep the car's paint?

And how can I distinguish between wax swirls and paint swirls? My car's almost one month old now and it's silver in colour.

[vague_one]

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

Sir....mujay to detailing ati hi nahin.....mujay iss saray ka aik aik bhej dain! (A)

[Nomi929]

oh oh kashif bahi , sad to c the hole

:d

[thekonsultant]

@KSE101

Most welcome...see you when i see you..

I had grey VITZ 2006 - PUSH START BUTTON - before this white city..and had HIDs in that as well. Use 8000K HID bulbs as it just give a lightest blue shade of light. 1000k is purplish so nooooooooo good at all.

@Wingtwister - -

Brother - Scotch Tape treatment was done instantly i came back home. I was not sure if i can find scotch tape at home so i bought it on my way just to treat her a.s.a.p to avoid the dust and water.

@ Accord7362

Aamir bhai... will go for the new one and as KSE suggested, will sell this one for some cash and hide that cash in my wallet

Also Amir bhai... there is some offer at honda for new bumbers... they take the old one install the new one. do check them at city sales if you havn't got yours repaired yet.

[kse101]

Sir....mujay to detailing ati hi nahin.....mujay iss saray ka aik aik bhej dain! (A)

lo ji... bhai aaadhi duniya pagal hogai detailing k peechay, apko deakh deakh kar.. loog apni beegamo say paisay bacha bacha kar detailing ki cheezay khareedtay hain..aur ap kehtay hain k apko detailing nai aati

[vague_one]

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

ooooooooooooooh! bad ma man! bad!

[munawar01]

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.

Very true, that's why my ride it late (will deliver in March, booked in start of Sep).. Did your friend say something about new Civic :), i mean whats new in Civic 2012 model..

[vague_one]

I was about to post some extreme stuff........stopped seeing this.....loo kar lo gal! Sir MashAllah....cleaning is outclass...cant wait to see the finals! I`ll post later on now!

[vague_one]

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

Good stuff ma man! Good stuff! Allah naseeb karay janab!

[vague_one]

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!

Sir, Welcome to the thread.......its always nice to have new faces coming in....you have been catered to by the thread mates I see.....MashAllah very helpful lot they are....please do comeback with any queries that you have! Oh an happy detailing !

[vague_one]

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...

Appreciate your reply sir........always a treat to read you!

[vague_one]

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

JazakAllah my man! Glad you see your back in action.....waiting for pics !

[Mistero]

@jayb...will reply later...as I am finally going home from work now...dimagh ko thora reboot bhee kar lon

[munawar01]

yar munawar bhai
appreciate for your confidence and truly speaking i also did same first time , i read whole thread and then choose products , bought and applied on car but now i belive expert openion better and reduce risks to spoil car paint...

bhai jan ultimate compound is with heavy cut ability and detailing rule is first use less abrasive products and if u not satisfy than go gradualy for more abrasive one..

bhai gee kyia kheyal hai first just use any swril/ secratch remover instead of this ultimate compound ? if its work than mubarik ho otherwise go for polishing ( polishing still less abrasive than compound )

dont feel hesitation to ask as many questions as our dr v1 sb feel more happy:) unke sath reh reh ker ab tu ham jese shagirdoon ko be iss ki aadadt ho gye hai

Ahmed bhai i just see this message after detailing :P, actually my cultus is 2005 model and i believe first time its going through detailing. Also there are some deep scratches on it. I visit Dubai autos and UC was not available there so i bought Polishing Compound.
I washed/shampoo, then applied polishing compound on complete car (it took lot of time, i need to cover a small area then wipe it with cotton towel before product get dry) after doing compound, surface was in much better condition (it was clear and smooth).
Then i applied wax with overlap pattern, it was also difficult for me (I need much more practice)
But at the end i am very satisfy with this magic :).

In morning I need to do following
Apply ultimate quick detailer
Interior
Glass Cleaner
and then few snaps to share

P.S. Polishing Compound and Scratch X 2.0, each rs 1450

[Sharabhi]

done some detailing on this sunday picture are from Nokia E52 camera so use only speed shampoo and after that turtle ice paste wax.

[ahmad_yar]

umair bhai gee no fight of toyota honda, infact i am honda fan, just due to funds constraints going for rolla, yes also due to wadi and khuli. inshallha will go for black colour but for civic definatly will go for grey col i really love this shade and dont worry in grey colour will also bring out lot of shine and depth inshallha:).

amir bhai working in oil industry and one month he spend in angolla and one month in pakistan, sure his home town is pakistan and his family/kids staying here ( angolla wali bevi!!!:S wel i am not sure so pooch ker batoon ga un se )

ok i will check price of sony dsc-wx7 in bangkok city as well as bangkok duty free at airport and e-mail you ( pm me ur e-mail id)

most welcome on any sat/sun, in rest working days now a days i back home 8:30 pm no suigas for industries now a days so sats off and rest working days time upto 7 to 7:30 pm