So, my best friend's car has never been detailed before. He also works a lot of hours and the remaining time he has, he spends it with his family. So, basically, he doesn't have time to wash his car other than going to those gas station car washes which does more damage to the car paint than cleaning it. He left it at my place for 2 weeks. The whole detailing process took me more than 50 hours to finish the car. There were millions of scratches, including 2 long deep scratches on the roof of the car which I was not able to remove (I only have a PC, still not comfortable using a rotary). Unfortunately, I didn't take good before and after pics. Here is the process I used (if the links to the websites I purchased the products from is not in accordance with the forum rules, please let me know and I will remove them): Wheels, Wheel Wells and Tires Sprayed wheels with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/sonax-fulleffect-wheelcleaner.aspx]Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner on wheels[/URL] and agitated with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberboarshairwheelbrush.aspx]Uber Boar's Hair Wheel Brush[/URL] and then with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/swissvax-wheelbrush.aspx]Swissvax Wheel Brush[/URL]. Wheels were hozed off with water. Sprayed wheels with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/p21s-wheelcleanergelformula.aspx]P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel Formula[/URL], let it wait for 30 minutes and agitated with the brushes above. Wheels were hozed off with water. Sprayed wheels with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-greenwheelcleaner.aspx]Adam's Green Wheel Cleaner[/URL] and scrubbed with a sponge. Wheels were hozed off with water. Sprayed tires and wheel wells with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-allpurposecleaner16oz1gallon.aspx]Adam's All Purpose Cleaner[/URL] and agitated with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberwheelwellandfenderbrush.aspx]Uber Wheel Well and Fender Brush[/URL]. Wheels were hozed off with water. Engine Used an air blower to get rid of all the leaves. Sprayed Engine with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/p21s-totalautowashallpurposedegreaser.aspx]P21S Total Auto Wash All Purpose Degreaser[/URL] and agitated with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberboarshairwheelbrush.aspx]Uber Boar's Hair Wheel Brush[/URL]. Engine was hosed off with water and dried with an air blower and old towels. Trunk Used an air blower to get rid of all the leaves. Sprayed all jambs and metal with P21S Total Auto Wash All Purpose Degreaser and used an old towel to wipe out all the grime. Carpet was vaccuumed. Sprayed carpet with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/wg5200.html]Wolfgang Carpet & Upholstery Restorer[/URL] and agitated with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/natural-tampico-upholstery-carpet-scrub-brush.html]Natural Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush[/URL]. Sprayed [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-plasticvinylcleanerplastik-reiniger.aspx]1Z einszett Plastic Deep Cleaner[/URL] on [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/ubersmalldressingapplicatorpad.aspx]Uber Small Dressing Applicator Pad[/URL] and cleaned all vinyl. Vinyl was dressed with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-supervrt.aspx]Adam's VRT[/URL]. Sprayed [URL="http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemical-Guys-M31/Sofast-Odor-Eater-P190/16-oz-S1/]Chemical Guys Sofast Odor Eater[/URL]. Exterior Car Wash Sprayed the bumper, hood, mirrors and windshield with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-anti-insektpre-cleanerbugandtarremover.aspx]1Z einszett Anti-Insekt Bug + Tar Remover[/URL] and waited for 5 minutes before rinsing the car. Used a pressure washer with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-foam-cannon-hp.html]Wolfgang Foam Cannon HP[/URL]. Used 2 oz of [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/foam-gun-soap.html]DP Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo[/URL] and mixed it with water. Waited for 5 minutes and then the car was rinsed off Used the pressure washer/foam cannon again and this time washed the car with [URL="http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-83-adams-professional-wash-pad.aspx]Adam's Professional Wash Pad[/URL]. Car rinsed off again and dried with [URL="http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-106-adams-great-white-drying-towel.aspx]Adam's Great White Drying Towel[/URL]. Used P21S Total Auto Wash All Purpose Degreaser to clean the gas cap. Claying Clayed the car with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/dp720.html]DP Universal Detailing Clay[/URL] and [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/pinclaylub.html]Pinnacle Clay Lubricant[/URL]. Had to do another round of claying, this time with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/ultra-fine-poly-clay.html]Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay[/URL] and the above lubricant. Compounding, Polishing Used [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/thenewportercable7424xp.aspx]Porter Cable 7424XP[/URL] with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberyellowpad55inchcuttingcompoundingpad.aspx]Uber Yellow Pad 5.5 inch cutting compounding pad[/URL], and applied [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/meguiarsm105ultracutcompound.aspx]Meguiar's M105 Ultra Cut Compound[/URL]. [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/menzerna-polishes-compounds-intensivepolishpo91e.aspx]Menzerna Intensive Polish PO91E[/URL] was applied with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberorangepad55inchmediumpolishpad.aspx]Uber Orange Pad 5.5 inch medium polish pad[/URL] [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-final-polish.html]Menzerna Final Finish ( Final Polish )PO 85U[/URL] was applied with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberbluepad55inchfinalpolishpad.aspx]Uber Blue Pad 5.5 inch final polish pad[/URL] All these were used on the headlights also. [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/dp515.html]DP High Performance Glass Restorer[/URL] was applied with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/ubergreenpad55inchpolishpad.aspx]Uber Green Pad 5.5 inch polish pad[/URL] to remove all water spots, etching and pollution film from all exterior glass. Second Exterior Car Wash To remove all the white dust that resulted from compounding and polishing, car was pressure washed again like above, rinsed off and then handwashed using Adam's Professional Wash Pad and [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-perlsshampoo.aspx]1Z einszett Perls Shampoo[/URL]. Applying Glaze, Sealant and Wax [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/menzerna-polishes-compounds-finishingglazepo115c.aspx]Menzerna Finishing Glaze PO115C[/URL] was applied with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberblackpad55inchwaxsealantpad.aspx]Uber Black Pad 5.5 inch wax/sealant pad[/URL] [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/menzerna-powerlock-polymersealant.aspx]Menzerna Power Lock Sealant[/URL] was applied with Uber Black Pad 5.5 inch wax/sealant pad. Waited for 45 minutes and then wiped the sealant off. Sealed all headlights with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/plastik-surface-sealant.html]Wolfgang Plastik Surface Sealant[/URL]. Car was left for 24 hours so that the sealant would cure. Applied [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/sonax-premiumclasscarnaubawax.aspx]SONAX Premium Class Carnauba Wax[/URL]. Glass Glass was cleaned with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-glasscleaner.aspx]Adam's Glass Cleaner[/URL] using [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-mircofibertowels-microfiberglasstowels.aspx]Uber Microfiber Glass Towels[/URL]. Glass and mirrors were sealed with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adams-glasssealant.aspx]Adam's Glass Sealant[/URL] using a Microfiber Applicator Pad. Used [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/lussoglasspolish.aspx]Lusso Glass Polish[/URL] to achieve maximum shine. Wipers were treated using [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/303wiptreat.html]303 Wiper Treatment[/URL]. Added [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/p21s-washbooster.aspx]P21S Windshield Washer Booster[/URL] to the regular windshield fluid. Inerior Carpets were vaccuumed. Sprayed the headliners [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-carpetandupholsterycleaner.aspx]Adam's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner[/URL], agitaged with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/natural-horse-hair-interior-upholstery-brush.html]Natural Horse Hair Interior Upholstery Brush[/URL]. Sprayed all carpets with Wolfgang Carpet & Upholstery Restorer and agitated with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/aqsocabr1.html]Aqua Soft Carpet Brus[/URL] (used with the Porter Cable). For stubborn stains, [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/303Products-cleanerandspotremover32oz.aspx]303 Cleaner & Spot Remover[/URL] was used. Agitated with Natural Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush. Sprayed 1Z einszett Plastic Deep Cleaner on an Uber Small Dressing Applicator Pad and cleaned all leather and vinyl. Door jambs were cleaned with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-waterlesswash16oz.aspx]Adam's Waterless Wash[/URL]. Window and door rubber seals were treated with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-gummipflegestiftrubbercarestick.aspx]1Z einszett Gummi Pflege Stift Rubber Care Stick[/URL]. To remove the smell of the dog, [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/clairgefoair.html]Clean Air Genie Fogging Air Freshener[/URL] was used. Glass was cleaned with [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/dia-perfect-vision-pump.html]Diamondite Perfect Vision Glass Cleaner[/URL] using Uber Microfiber Glass Towels[/URL]. Leather was conditioned using [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-leathercare.aspx]1Z einszett Leather Care Lederpflege[/URL] (applied with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberrednotchedapplicatorpad.aspx]Uber Red Notched Applicator Pad[/URL]. Applied [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/optimum-carcare-protectantplus17oz1gallon.aspx]Optimum Protectant Plus[/URL] using [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/uberbluelargedressingapplicatorpad.aspx]Uber Blue Large Dressing Applicator Pad[/URL] on all leather and vinyl surfaces. Applied [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-cockpitpremium.aspx]1Z einszett Cockpit Premium[/URL] using an Uber Small Dressing Applicator Pad on the wooden trim and radio/AC console. Used Lusso Glass Polish to achieve maximum shine. Wheels, Wheel Wells and Tires Sprayed the wheel wells with [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-invisibleundercarriagespray.aspx]Adam's Invisible Undercarriage Spray[/URL] and wiped with an old towel. Applied [URL="http://www.autogeek.net/wheelwax.html]Wheel Wax[/URL] using a Microfiber Applicator pad on the wheels, waited for 10 mins and buffed them with a Microfiber Towel. Used [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zeinszett-vinyl-rubbercareprotectant.aspx]1Z einszett Vinyl Rubber Care and Protectant[/URL] to dress the tires. Multiple coats were applied (on different days) to restore the tires. Also used it on all exterior trim. Waited 24 hours and applied another coat of Wheel Wax. Engine Used Adam's VRT to dress the engine. Also used [URL="http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolishes-inandoutspray.aspx]Adam's In & Out Spray[/URL] on hard to reach areas. Before Pics: After Pics:
So, my questions are: Any unnecessary steps I did? What could I have done better? Any better products out there? Would a rotary polisher have removed the deep scratches? Thanks everyone for your feedback. Yasser
I believe that you could have skipped using Menzerna Intensive Polish as Megs 105 can finish down well enough with a DA where any marring or haze left over could easily be taken care of by your finishing polish. Other than that, there is no arguing the results which are great!
