Hello there!

My '99 "dirty white" maxima isn't the best candidate for mirror shine but I wanna do what I can do it.

So... all I do is wash my car with some Turtle Wax car wash. that's it.
The stuff I was gonna buy do the Meguiars 3-step system... easier for me heh. If there are other better products than please say so. Ok... so what the hell do I use to wash/polish/wax? I use this gigantic tooth-brush look-a-like thing to wash the car... but i'm pretty sure it's not very good.

oh yea.. I also have this minor dent on the back where I ran into the wall, and I guess the paint from the wall permanently stuck onto the car's paint cause I can't wash it off or bug-and-tar it off. What can I do?

thanks a lot guys!

I am

 

www.bettercarcare.com has a lot of really in-depth articles. Just don't get caught up in thinking that you MUST buy all the expensive, boutique products that they may mention. It's the principles that matter.

Go out and buy a genuine sheepskin washmitt, and get two buckets. Sounds like washing right is your first priority. You'll read about the right method to washing at the site above.

Meguiar's 3 step isn't a bad way to go. Anything more or more effective will require more work for you to make an improvement. Systems like that were designed so that the average driver or budding enthusiast could still use it easily and problem-free and still get better results than using a wax alone. Just remember that Step 1 is the mild abrasive (polish) and Step 2 is a glaze that adds gloss and hides problems. Mother's system is essentially identical.

I recommend using detailing clay first.

Buy a scratch remover product. This might be strong enough to polish off the transferred paint. If you decide to get more "into" detailing your car you can also use this to polish out some of the swirls and scratches in your paintjob.

HTH

 

ahh yes that site seems very helpful thanks.

Yeah I'm thinkin about the Meguiars Scratch X for the messed up parts all over the car.

I think that site pretty much sums lotta stuff up for me.

 

for the paint stuck onto your car from the wall - 3M rubbing compound is great! It worked like a charm on my dad's highlander. You can purchase it at autozone for roughly 6 dollars. Use a nice microfiber towel and rub away. Its sort of like liquid sandpaper, but very fine.

Be sure to wax that section of your car because rubbing compound strips wax like no tomorrow.

As for washing your car, get a good quality wash mit( i purchased a cheap one, it does the job, but the fibers fall apart), get a california water blade(removes all excess water from your vehicle....no water spots and no need to use multiple towels), and get a few good quality microfiber towels.

I primarily use meguiars and black magic products. If you would like to be a real pimp - Klasse is great. I'm not a detailing expert, but if you need any help feel free to email me or instant message me and I'll try to help you as much as possible.

 

I also reccomend 3M rubbing compounds. Also for any scratches or swirl marks, try 3M's swirl mark remover, works extremly well.

 

hmm there seems to be 3 different types of 3M Rubbing Compound. Which one would work best?

is it this thing? http://www.carcrazy.net/find/p/389/mcms.html

 

Definately go with the clay bar after stripping the car with a something like dawn dish detergent. The clay bar is going to remove all of that grime and junk that is stuck in your paint from the years. I use the zaino products from there, but start with with the stripping and clay bar. Then polish the hell out of it.

 

I believe the type most people tend to use right now is the one you have in the link, that is, their Fine Cut Rubbing Compound. It would be the next product you use if you find something milder isn't quite strong enough.

There are actually several 3M compounds of varying strength, but they're either stronger or only available in larger sizes, so I'm not sure if you would even look at those...