Is there a certain way to dry your car?
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From: North Jersey
2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
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From: Oklahoma City
2015 AMG C63 S
Get a 'big blue' waffle weave micro fiber towel.
Instructions for drying black car.
Step #1. Spread out and place on black car.
Step #2. Blot water off; never ever ever under any circumstances move the towel over the surface of the car. Just blot the towel on and off the surface of the car.
Alternate Step #2. Skip physical drying and use an electric leaf blower from the top down.
Step #3. If you absolutely must move the towel ... because you're special or something? ... only do so in straight lines; this will at least minimize the visibility of the eventual tiny scratches you'll put in the clear coat that will be visibile in bright light.
Step #4. Take to a referred detailer ... or do yourself ... each spring to have the car machine polished.
Step #5. After a few years of doing this dance, vow to never under any circumstances no matter what, buy a black car again.
Instructions for drying light colored car.
Step #1. Do whatever gets it done ... you'll never see the swirls except under mega harsh/bright light and even then only fleetingly. So have at it.
Instructions for drying black car.
Step #1. Spread out and place on black car.
Step #2. Blot water off; never ever ever under any circumstances move the towel over the surface of the car. Just blot the towel on and off the surface of the car.
Alternate Step #2. Skip physical drying and use an electric leaf blower from the top down.
Step #3. If you absolutely must move the towel ... because you're special or something? ... only do so in straight lines; this will at least minimize the visibility of the eventual tiny scratches you'll put in the clear coat that will be visibile in bright light.
Step #4. Take to a referred detailer ... or do yourself ... each spring to have the car machine polished.
Step #5. After a few years of doing this dance, vow to never under any circumstances no matter what, buy a black car again.
Instructions for drying light colored car.
Step #1. Do whatever gets it done ... you'll never see the swirls except under mega harsh/bright light and even then only fleetingly. So have at it.
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LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
keep studyin for them exams, hope u got a spelling book
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LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
The goal is to always keep your car in great condition so that each time you come back from wherever you're going you can dust off the dust on your car, then use a waterless wash like Poorboy's Spray and Wash (http://www.poorboysworld.com/spray-wipe.htm) like I mentioned earlier. Use a quick detailer after that to keep the shine. But if it rains, bird poops on your car etc... you'll need to wash the car and not just dust it. If you're serious about detailing there are some really good resources on how to properly wash, polish, glaze/seal, and top off your car. It's not for everyone because it takes alot of time and you personally want to take pride in keeping your car in pristine condition. I'll be switching from using Klasse to Menzerna now that i've switched to MB.
Old thread of my just detailed M3 using Klasse polish and sealant glaze:
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ghlight=klasse
Here's a pic of the hood:
Here's some sites with good tutorials and info on detailing.
http://autogeek.net/detailingtips.html
http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/
http://www.autogeekonline.net/
http://detailcity.org/
Old thread of my just detailed M3 using Klasse polish and sealant glaze:
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ghlight=klasse
Here's a pic of the hood:
Here's some sites with good tutorials and info on detailing.
http://autogeek.net/detailingtips.html
http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/
http://www.autogeekonline.net/
http://detailcity.org/
I assume you spray quick detailer first then wipe off the dust to avoid scratches?? can you please explain better, thanks!
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From: North Jersey
2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
can you please explain in better detail your dust off after you get back method??? if there is dust on a dry car, just wiping it off without water will for sure create swirls or small scratched in the clear coat from the dust particles you are draggin on your paint, CORRECT?????
I assume you spray quick detailer first then wipe off the dust to avoid scratches?? can you please explain better, thanks!
I assume you spray quick detailer first then wipe off the dust to avoid scratches?? can you please explain better, thanks!
The ideal situation is you wash and detail the car, apply several coat of glaze/sealant. I use at least 3 coats each spread 24 hours apart so the glaze chemically bonds to the clear coat. Now i'm good for at least 6 months without really needing to glaze again until 6 months later. So, i go out and come back from wherever, I dust the car off with the duster. If there are places where there a bit of buildup I use the Poorboy's Spray and Wipe on the area, then follow up with a quick detailer. In the winter, it's harder to keep clean but I typically rinse the car off after a drive if there's rain or snow/salt then follow up with some spray and wipe in the garage. Just to get by winter. Spring and summer are easier. I detailed the M3 every 2-3 weeks, but they're quick sessions since I did them often. Check those links I posted, tons of info like this on there.
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Avoiding scratches
<<MB using the nano particle ceramic polish is better than BMW or any Japanese car, but you will still get swirls on occasion.>>
Nano particle refers to the clear coat paint, not polish.
The experts will tell you never to use cotton towels and never rub the dirt off dry which seems unbelievable but somebody was advocating such a thing. After four years of fighting "swirls" on my Obsidian Black C320 I discovered random orbital buffers and Micro fiber drying towels ( I now have two) from Griot's Garage and cut down my swirl removal polishing sessions by half to perhaps four times per year. I use the "towels" only one time and then into the washer.
So far, at two months, my Barolo Red C300 has no swirls so it looks like the advertised advantages of nano-particle clear coat seem to be working.
Nano particle refers to the clear coat paint, not polish.
The experts will tell you never to use cotton towels and never rub the dirt off dry which seems unbelievable but somebody was advocating such a thing. After four years of fighting "swirls" on my Obsidian Black C320 I discovered random orbital buffers and Micro fiber drying towels ( I now have two) from Griot's Garage and cut down my swirl removal polishing sessions by half to perhaps four times per year. I use the "towels" only one time and then into the washer.
So far, at two months, my Barolo Red C300 has no swirls so it looks like the advertised advantages of nano-particle clear coat seem to be working.
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
<<MB using the nano particle ceramic polish is better than BMW or any Japanese car, but you will still get swirls on occasion.>>
Nano particle refers to the clear coat paint, not polish.
The experts will tell you never to use cotton towels and never rub the dirt off dry which seems unbelievable but somebody was advocating such a thing. After four years of fighting "swirls" on my Obsidian Black C320 I discovered random orbital buffers and Micro fiber drying towels ( I now have two) from Griot's Garage and cut down my swirl removal polishing sessions by half to perhaps four times per year. I use the "towels" only one time and then into the washer.
So far, at two months, my Barolo Red C300 has no swirls so it looks like the advertised advantages of nano-particle clear coat seem to be working.
Nano particle refers to the clear coat paint, not polish.
The experts will tell you never to use cotton towels and never rub the dirt off dry which seems unbelievable but somebody was advocating such a thing. After four years of fighting "swirls" on my Obsidian Black C320 I discovered random orbital buffers and Micro fiber drying towels ( I now have two) from Griot's Garage and cut down my swirl removal polishing sessions by half to perhaps four times per year. I use the "towels" only one time and then into the washer.
So far, at two months, my Barolo Red C300 has no swirls so it looks like the advertised advantages of nano-particle clear coat seem to be working.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with 100% high quailty terry towel (no nylon stitching or tags and not those towels you get from target/walmart). I wonder what those experts were using before microfiber came out??
In either case, the important thing to remember is to use clean towels and folding the sides as you go along (something I find hard to do with the micros)
You will pick up dirt as you dry, so fold often.
Last edited by webada; Dec 13, 2007 at 11:17 AM.
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2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: North Jersey
2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
There is absolutely nothing wrong with 100% high quailty terry towel (no nylon stitching or tags and not those towels you get from target/walmart). I wonder what those experts were using before microfiber came out??
In either case, the important thing to remember is to use clean towels and folding the sides as you go along (something I find hard to do with the micros)
You will pick up dirt as you dry, so fold often.
In either case, the important thing to remember is to use clean towels and folding the sides as you go along (something I find hard to do with the micros)
You will pick up dirt as you dry, so fold often.
Here's a good thread over at autopia about terrycloth towels http://autopia.org/forum/car-detaili...ght=terrycloth
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C180K 2011 COMAND, AMG, Dynamic Xenon, Business Pack, H&K Audio and +
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
http://www.zainostore.com/
IMHO, best stuff out there. The z2 is unreal stuff. no abrasive whatsoever, perfect for a new car finish.
Granted, klass is easier to use but zainos smells like strawberry!
Here are some before/after pix of what you can do with a DA with some Z5 on a long neglected black bmw (notorious for tough finish).... one pass. Zaino is probably not the best product for this job (needs something stronger, like meguiars 83 or even 5) but I was experimenting...
IMHO, best stuff out there. The z2 is unreal stuff. no abrasive whatsoever, perfect for a new car finish.
Granted, klass is easier to use but zainos smells like strawberry!
Here are some before/after pix of what you can do with a DA with some Z5 on a long neglected black bmw (notorious for tough finish).... one pass. Zaino is probably not the best product for this job (needs something stronger, like meguiars 83 or even 5) but I was experimenting...
Last edited by webada; Dec 14, 2007 at 10:18 AM.
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From: North Jersey
2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
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From: Kirkland, WA
c300
Surprised to see that a microfiber towel will add swirl marks if you move the towel
Zaino and the swirls are gone, check it out at Zaino.com.
Actually, in a way, if your goal is just not to see the swirls then it's pretty great so I take that back. However, if your goal is to not get swirls in the first place it's useless.
My experience with it was that it didn't hold up to rain as well as a good traditional clay with polishing. But I'm in the PacNW ... we get lots and lots of rain.
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
Actually, in a way, if your goal is just not to see the swirls then it's pretty great so I take that back. However, if your goal is to not get swirls in the first place it's useless.
My experience with it was that it didn't hold up to rain as well as a good traditional clay with polishing. But I'm in the PacNW ... we get lots and lots of rain.
but I can't help questioning your reasoning....clay will remove surface containmant, polishing (I assuming you mean the traditional polishing) will remove swirls, not protect the surface from it. The only protectant in the process is sometype of "sealant" or fillers such as pure wax or stuff like zaino, klasse and too many others to be named.
polishing in traditional detailing means applying mild abrasive to "flatten" the clearcoat around the surface to even out the swirls....... while some polish will contain oils to "revitalize" clearcoat by no means it lays a protection.
So which might give an impression of lasting longer but in reality it is just takes longer to create new swirls... while sealants will fall off faster and old swirls are back!
gosh, i might just regret opening up this can of worms......
Last edited by webada; Dec 14, 2007 at 01:53 PM.
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c300SpP1
take your car to Prontowash. Better quality, no waiting, at the same time, save the earth. check locations @ www.prontowash.com. I like mine and always take my benz there. Love the results. Shinier than regular car wash with no water drips everywhere. Great Idea!
i should get me one of those then! luv trying out new stuff, especially bubblegum?!
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From: North Jersey
2008 C300 4Matic Sport 2007 Acura MDX
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From: Kirkland, WA
c300
I really hate to turn this into but I can't help questioning your reasoning....
clay will remove surface containmant, polishing (I assuming you mean the traditional polishing) will remove swirls, not protect the surface from it. The only protectant in the process is sometype of "sealant" or fillers such as pure wax or stuff like zaino, klasse and too many others to be named.
polishing in traditional detailing means applying mild abrasive to "flatten" the clearcoat around the surface to even out the swirls....... while some polish will contain oils to "revitalize" clearcoat by no means it lays a protection.
So which might give an impression of lasting longer but in reality it is just takes longer to create new swirls... while sealants will fall off faster and old swirls are back!
gosh, i might just regret opening up this can of worms......
but I can't help questioning your reasoning....clay will remove surface containmant, polishing (I assuming you mean the traditional polishing) will remove swirls, not protect the surface from it. The only protectant in the process is sometype of "sealant" or fillers such as pure wax or stuff like zaino, klasse and too many others to be named.
polishing in traditional detailing means applying mild abrasive to "flatten" the clearcoat around the surface to even out the swirls....... while some polish will contain oils to "revitalize" clearcoat by no means it lays a protection.
So which might give an impression of lasting longer but in reality it is just takes longer to create new swirls... while sealants will fall off faster and old swirls are back!
gosh, i might just regret opening up this can of worms......
But maybe it's the part of the country I'm in.
california water blade
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X3 and 2012 C coming soon
The water blade is good. Chamois leave streaks because of the natural oils.
The first step is take the spray nozzle off of the hose after rinsing the car. Then start at the roof and let a smooth stream of water pull the smaller water pools and drops off in sheets. Then use the blade and finish up with a soft silk-edged cotton towel. Meguiar's make really nice ones. They have a high pile and a waffle version. Both are really good. Also, using fabric softener in your towels = streaks in your paint. Another member also said this, but do not let your towels pick up dirt, sand or any small particles of anything. Don't take your car to a hand wash. You don't know how they clean their towels.
The first step is take the spray nozzle off of the hose after rinsing the car. Then start at the roof and let a smooth stream of water pull the smaller water pools and drops off in sheets. Then use the blade and finish up with a soft silk-edged cotton towel. Meguiar's make really nice ones. They have a high pile and a waffle version. Both are really good. Also, using fabric softener in your towels = streaks in your paint. Another member also said this, but do not let your towels pick up dirt, sand or any small particles of anything. Don't take your car to a hand wash. You don't know how they clean their towels.
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From: San Diego, CA
2008 BMW 335i Coupe (Six-speed Manual)
I usually rinse the soap w/ a very small stream of water; this makes drying a lot easier. I use microfiber towels to dry the car. I have one for initial drying and another for the second go around. I ALWAYS wash my towels after a car wash. It's very important your tools are clean.
Swirl marks are usually made by dirt particles in towels when drying or whatever. If you want to be really neat, you can write your name or something.
Swirl marks are usually made by dirt particles in towels when drying or whatever. If you want to be really neat, you can write your name or something.
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
<<Lol I never knew it scratches the car? I do have my car machine polished about once a month. All this for just black tho... I might go get it painted 'flat' Black for that overly agressive look lol. Plus no scratchs/swirls/watermark glare.>>
Tsk tsk. You have it washed and have it polished monthly.
How is it being a trust fund baby, anyhow?
Tsk tsk. You have it washed and have it polished monthly.
How is it being a trust fund baby, anyhow?
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Pronto??
<<take your car to Prontowash. Better quality, no waiting, at the same time, save the earth. check locations >>
I see the closest location to me is in Walnut Creek Ca, about a day and a half from here.
Guess not.
I see the closest location to me is in Walnut Creek Ca, about a day and a half from here.
Guess not.
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Car washes? Hell no.
<<I almost had a seizure when I saw he was washing the car with a big brush with bristles... kind of like the kind you use to scrub a bathtub. >>
In a weak moment during bad weather, I asked for the free "courtesy wash" (for my '01 Obsidian Black C320) at MY DEALER which is supposedly "touchless" except that one of their trained apes used a long handled brush across the roof here and there and across the trunk before it went into the tunnel. Since they didn't dry it (thank God) I didn't examine it until I got it home into the garage.
I spent 12+ hours with my RO buffer but was unable to get the worst marks out. And, yes, they heard about it.
Certain types of cars are OK in car washes. Owned MBs and Porsches are not on that list. Lease cars, who cares.
In a weak moment during bad weather, I asked for the free "courtesy wash" (for my '01 Obsidian Black C320) at MY DEALER which is supposedly "touchless" except that one of their trained apes used a long handled brush across the roof here and there and across the trunk before it went into the tunnel. Since they didn't dry it (thank God) I didn't examine it until I got it home into the garage.
I spent 12+ hours with my RO buffer but was unable to get the worst marks out. And, yes, they heard about it.
Certain types of cars are OK in car washes. Owned MBs and Porsches are not on that list. Lease cars, who cares.
