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Washed my car for the 1st time...uh oh

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Old Jul 28, 2005 | 11:35 PM
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Washed my car for the 1st time...uh oh

Hey guys. I just spent about 1.5 hours washing my car today with my bro. Just couldn't get the car clean on the lower parts, even with the microfiber cloths. After lots of rubbing, i ended up making some scratches on the car's sides.

Here's a pic.

It's not very deep, but i'd still like to get it out. Anyone have a suggestion?

Btw, was the black sticky stuff at the bottom behind the wheel tar? Thanks.
Attached Thumbnails Washed my car for the 1st time...uh oh-dsc02686.jpg   Washed my car for the 1st time...uh oh-dsc02691.jpg  
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 06:32 AM
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Meguiars SratchX will remove them 100% - no problems.
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 11:44 AM
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Thanks a lot for the response. Can anyone confirm this/give another suggestion?

Last edited by dchou; Jul 29, 2005 at 11:48 AM.
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by dchou
Thanks a lot for the response. Can anyone confirm this/give another suggestion?
Menzerna polishes with a Porter cable.
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 02:26 PM
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Can you explain what this is? How does it work and what are you experiences with it?

Also, anyone have tips for clean microfiber washmits? My car hadn't been washed in weeks so when i used the the mits, they got caked with tar and dirt. How can I get them clean? Thanks.
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 04:22 PM
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Old Jul 29, 2005 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by dchou
Can you explain what this is? How does it work and what are you experiences with it?

Also, anyone have tips for clean microfiber washmits? My car hadn't been washed in weeks so when i used the the mits, they got caked with tar and dirt. How can I get them clean? Thanks.
Menzerna polishes are a German made product that contain extremely fine aluminum oxide particles and remove not cover scratches and swirls. These polishes are one of the few that work on the new ceramiclear paints that Mercedes is putting on the mewer cars. I have 2 cars that have the ceramiclear paint a 2004 silver CL55 and a 2005 black SL55. While the silver car does not require the time that the black one does it will still get swirls or fine scratches in the paint whereas the black one is a constant maitenance project. I have tried other products and they don' do a damn thing for the paint. These products are the only ones that will remove the surface imperfections. On bad scratches such as the ones that you showed I would start with the Intensive polish followed by the final Polish and then top with a good sealant or carnuba wax. I am now using the professional line of Menzerna polishes that are labeled PO85RD and PO106FF. These are not truly necessary but do give a higher shine than the normal polishes.

When I clean my microfiber products I use woolite on a gentle cycle in the washing machine, use 2 rinse cycles and am sure to put in about a cup of vinegar in the final rinse cycle. I dry them on low heat in the dryer.
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Old Jul 31, 2005 | 09:28 AM
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I usually just take out those black spots, tar or whatever it is, by gently rubbing them with my finger nail. This sounds bad but your nails arent really that sharp. I think some people would say this would scratch the paint but I have noticed any light scratches, although on a black car maybe they would show up but i doubt it.
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Old Jul 31, 2005 | 09:38 AM
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Thanks a lot for all of your responses.
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Old Jul 31, 2005 | 11:23 PM
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i agree with meguiars scratchx even though i think it may be too strong of a product. the mezerna may be good but i haven't heard of it/used it. and since you said it was german, you may have to have it shipped to you. what i like about meguiars is that most of the products that you need can be found at a local autozone/pepboys. for the scratchx, apply the product onto a foam pad or a microfiber cloth and work it in the affected area but only in small areas. of about 5x5 inches. if the scrates are deep, then make sure to apply a good amount of pressure.

i am surprised that you took 1.5 hours just to wash a car. was it extremely dirty? what you should have done was gone around the car with the hose and hosed off most of the dirt and grime. next time , make sure your cloth you use to clean is clean. to clean your microfiber cloths, put it into your washing machine and do a normal wash, ( doesn't matter if water is cold or hot ) with only soap and not any fabric softener. next time, just wipe slowly and stay away from stiff brushes. if the grime doesn't come off, just keep working at it but don't press down too hard. if you would like to visit a website for detailing help, visit www.meguiarsonline.com/forums. LnkPrkSoldier recommended you
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by LnkPrkSoldier
i agree with meguiars scratchx even though i think it may be too strong of a product. the mezerna may be good but i haven't heard of it/used it. and since you said it was german, you may have to have it shipped to you. what i like about meguiars is that most of the products that you need can be found at a local autozone/pepboys. for the scratchx, apply the product onto a foam pad or a microfiber cloth and work it in the affected area but only in small areas. of about 5x5 inches. if the scrates are deep, then make sure to apply a good amount of pressure.

i am surprised that you took 1.5 hours just to wash a car. was it extremely dirty? what you should have done was gone around the car with the hose and hosed off most of the dirt and grime. next time , make sure your cloth you use to clean is clean. to clean your microfiber cloths, put it into your washing machine and do a normal wash, ( doesn't matter if water is cold or hot ) with only soap and not any fabric softener. next time, just wipe slowly and stay away from stiff brushes. if the grime doesn't come off, just keep working at it but don't press down too hard. if you would like to visit a website for detailing help, visit www.meguiarsonline.com/forums. LnkPrkSoldier recommended you
Menzerna can be purchased in the US. If he does have the new ceramiclear paint, Sratch X will do nothing but mar the finish. I tried on my SL55 3M swirl remover for dark cars and rubbing compound and was not able to even budge a scratch on the finish. The Menzerna used with a machine did remove it quite nicely.

One step you should consider in washing your micro fibers is to risnse with vinegar. This restores the softness to the fabric.

If you really want a good un biased explanation of any detailing subject go to www.autopia.org. These rae a bunch of obsessed detailers and you can get any question answered ad nauseom.
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by lkirchner
One step you should consider in washing your micro fibers is to risnse with vinegar. This restores the softness to the fabric.
Good point, lk. Just how long should this rinse-with-vinegar process take?
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 02:02 PM
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Scratch X, followed up with a good wax like NXT will do wonders.
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Old Aug 3, 2005 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by MBE55AMG
Good point, lk. Just how long should this rinse-with-vinegar process take?
One rinse cycle in the washer.
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Old Aug 3, 2005 | 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by LnkPrkSoldier
i agree with meguiars scratchx even though i think it may be too strong of a product. the mezerna may be good but i haven't heard of it/used it. and since you said it was german, you may have to have it shipped to you. what i like about meguiars is that most of the products that you need can be found at a local autozone/pepboys. for the scratchx, apply the product onto a foam pad or a microfiber cloth and work it in the affected area but only in small areas. of about 5x5 inches. if the scrates are deep, then make sure to apply a good amount of pressure.

i am surprised that you took 1.5 hours just to wash a car. was it extremely dirty? what you should have done was gone around the car with the hose and hosed off most of the dirt and grime. next time , make sure your cloth you use to clean is clean. to clean your microfiber cloths, put it into your washing machine and do a normal wash, ( doesn't matter if water is cold or hot ) with only soap and not any fabric softener. next time, just wipe slowly and stay away from stiff brushes. if the grime doesn't come off, just keep working at it but don't press down too hard. if you would like to visit a website for detailing help, visit www.meguiarsonline.com/forums. LnkPrkSoldier recommended you
Nope, not extremely dirty. Actually, it was quite clean, just the rims were giving me trouble. Plus, i'm a perfectionist so i had to get everything right.
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Old Aug 4, 2005 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by dchou
Nope, not extremely dirty. Actually, it was quite clean, just the rims were giving me trouble. Plus, i'm a perfectionist so i had to get everything right.
yea thats how i am, i spent about an hour on my front bumper alone yesterday.... then again, i didn't even know it was painted , so it went through much pain and gunk. today is the rear bumper and if its not too hot, then the side skirts. and i myself do think that scratchx will work. apply to a clean terry cloth and rub vigorously. that may have been your problem ( LK ) you need to apply a good amount of pressure , but do not use the product with a buffer. It is true that i haven't used that product on that paint so I am not sure 100% that it will work. i can just wish you the best of luck. In addition, autopia.org is a great website. The reason which i recommend Meguiars is because i learned almost all my detailing information that i know from meguiarsonline.com/forums and meguiars products are easier to find in my area opposed to other products. Good luck with removing those scratches and I'll try that wash with the vinegar... how much vinegar should be applied??i have about 15 microfiber cloths
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Old Aug 6, 2005 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by LnkPrkSoldier
yea thats how i am, i spent about an hour on my front bumper alone yesterday.... then again, i didn't even know it was painted , so it went through much pain and gunk. today is the rear bumper and if its not too hot, then the side skirts. and i myself do think that scratchx will work. apply to a clean terry cloth and rub vigorously. that may have been your problem ( LK ) you need to apply a good amount of pressure , but do not use the product with a buffer. It is true that i haven't used that product on that paint so I am not sure 100% that it will work. i can just wish you the best of luck. In addition, autopia.org is a great website. The reason which i recommend Meguiars is because i learned almost all my detailing information that i know from meguiarsonline.com/forums and meguiars products are easier to find in my area opposed to other products. Good luck with removing those scratches and I'll try that wash with the vinegar... how much vinegar should be applied??i have about 15 microfiber cloths
One cup per load will do it.

The new paint is a real pain. The "normal products" do not work well with the ceramaiclear paint.
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Old Aug 9, 2005 | 10:56 PM
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well yea... theres no such thing as paint that can't get scratched. they only differ paints in the amount of hardness. sure it will be more difficult to get a scratch on that paint ( as that is probably why they chose that paint ) but to fix the errors in the paint is more difficult.
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