As some of you know I changed my fender and gas tank door and I'm also going to be changing my front bumper. The paint matches the rest of the car pretty well, but not perfect because I didn't have the $ to color match. I need to restore the color on the rest of the car to match the new stuff (especially the hood). What's the best wax to do this? I need something I can get from AutoZone.

 

That's tough. If you picked up other panels that were the same paint code and they look different then odds are that they have faded differently than your car. Not sure you'll be able to do it with anything from autozone. Best way to do that would be to use a buffer. You could try a light compound or cleaner/polish combo.

With metallic paint it's always a crap shoot. Best of luck!

 

I do have a buffer and my paint is metallic. Can anyone help tell me what kind of stuff I'll have to use?

 

I highly recommend Optimum compound followed up with the Optimum polish. Follow that with a good glaze and then wax it. That should bring it back to original. I have a 93 Mustang that was heavily oxidized and I was able to get it to an insane mirror finish using this. I'd use an orange pad with the compound and then switch to a white or orange with the polish.

 

Can I get that stuff at AutoZone? Is it really that good? Any pix?

 

Can't get that at Autozone unfortunately, but you can order it on-line easy enough. The results are incredible. I can't post pics right now because of my post count. I'll put some up when I can. If you're looking for good machine polishes try a smaller auto parts store like a NAPA or CarQuest. They will typically carry a 3M line which is a quality product or some of the Meguiar's machine polishes which work decent.

 

Anyone know of something I can pick up at AutoZone?

 

Bump. Anybody know of anything?

 

Anyone?

 

Can no one help?

 

Like I said, if you go to Autozone look for either a good cleaner wax or fine polish. Stick with either Mother's or Meguiars.

 

You think clay bar would help? Then fine polish then cleaner wax?

 

A clay bar will help if you have contaimenants on the paint. Best way to check is if you wash your car and then rub your hand across the paint. If you can feel bumps, then it's time to clay bar. If it's smooth then you can just work with the cleaner and polish. You'll want to use the cleaner wax first, then the polish, then go with a pure carnuba wax on top of that.

The cleaner wax will do just that, clean the surface and remove the oxidation. The polish will help to fill in fine scratches and other paint marring. The wax after that will protect the surface. Should be able to get all that stuff at the zone.

 

Alright cool that all sounds good to me. You sure do know your stuff man.

 

Years and years of trial and error and much $$ spent on different products man. I'm sure it will definitely help, but I don't know if you'll be able to get it perfect. It's tough to match those metallics. Good luck and post some before and after pics. If you have other questions post back or shoot me a pm.

 

Ok I know it won't be perfect, I just want it to be better then what it is. Thanx for all your help I'll probably be picking up the supplies today.

 

try wash, clay bar, polish and max and see how it goes

 

Thats exactly what I'm gonna do.

 

Here's a pick of my Mustang after I detailed it. This was heavily oxidized when I bought it...one reason why I got it cheap.

 

Wow that looks really good. How long did it take you to get it to look like that?

 

It was probably a good 6 or 7 hours with the machine. First I clay bar'd it, then I used a light compound, then a polish, then a machine glaze, then a paint sealant, then carnuba over the top. The one thing I kick my but for is not taking a before shot. The paint was pretty bad though. If it had a decent finish it would probably be about 1/2 the time.

 

Man 6 or 7 hours with the machine? Boy I sure hope it doesn't take me that long. I'm definitely gonna clay bar, cleaner wax, polish, then wax. I don't think I need the glaze and paint sealant.

 

It shouldn't take you that long. I had a LOT of scratches that I worked on to get out which was a good amount of the time. I used a very light compound so I wouldn't burn through the paint so I was just taking a little bit at a time. Here's another shot of the hood from a different angle. I was blown away by the amount of depth I could get out of it.

 

Yeah man thats nuts. What compound did you use?

 

I used Optimum Compound. I haven't seen it in stores, only on-line. I worked with a detailer on another forum that gave me boat load of advice on getting started and how to work with the different products and what to get. All of it worked awesome. I'm taking some time off from work in the next few weeks and I'm going to detail the Maxima I just picked up. It's a 01 and it's dark green. A ton of swirls and minor scratches in it and I'll definitely be starting a before and after thread. I missed that the last time around.

 

Ok definitely start 1. And I'll look up that compound and see if I can get it other then online.

 

Here's a list of distributors other than on-line: http://www.optimumcarcare.com/distributor/

 

How exactly does that website work?

 

I assume that it gives you a list of distributors by region. Probably contact one that's local and they should be able to sell to you.

 

Oh ok I'll mess around with it.

 

Did you start yet? Any luck? I started the detail on mine and got a thread up with the first pics. It's going to be a lot of work on this, I bet probably a solid 6 hours to get it right: http://forums.maxima.org/detailing/5...ml#post6718934

 

I'm gonna start tomorrow after I put the new bumper on. I did buy the supplies though. This is what I bought:
Meguiar's smooth surface clay kit, deep crystal carnauba wax, deep crystal polish, and deep crystal paint cleaner. Thats all the stuff I need right?

 

Right on. Use the clay bar first, then the cleaner, then the polish, then wax.

 

Yupp will do tomorrow and I'll update this thread with pix. Your detail is coming along well in your thread, I can't wait to see the end result of that.

 

Now what kind of bonnet should I use for the cleaner, polish, and wax? Cotton terry or microfiber? I know for the wax I should use cotton terry.

 

Actually for the cleaner and polish I would use the cotton terry and then microfiber for the wax. To be honest, I wouldn't expect the results to be too much different between the two, but the cotten terry will probably have a little bit more cut which will work better with the cleaner and polish. I use foam pads with mine so I don't have a ton of experience with those bonnets.

 

Ok but uh now I ran into a problem. I can't change the damn bumper. I'm so confused on removing the headlights. Thats the only thing keeping me from changing the bumper.

 

Got the shop manual?

Update: Here's a link I found on-line for ya: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/2001/BT.pdf

Sorry it's another forum, but the link is to the secion of the manual you need.

 

I do have the Haynes manual, but it didn't help at all. Oh and thats for a 2001, I got a '96 I'm trying to fix. This is the link: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/1996/BT.pdf

 

D'oh! So you mean not everyone has a 2001 Maxima? Sorry man, at least you found it.