Polishing a used/older vehicle

[Chandne]

First post here, so please bear with me. I am no expert. I am buying a friend's 2009 silver Mercedes GL450. The paint looks fine from a distance but all they have done is basically run the vehicle through car washes, so it is pretty ignored. It has mostly been garaged. Anyway, my thought was to hand-wash and clay bar it well. after that, I was going to use Klasse All-in-One polish with a polisher and go over it well. After a couple of days, I intend to seal it with Klasse Sealant or something similar.

So that is my current plan. Is there something else I should do for the paint? I have never used a more aggressive polish than Klasse. I just want to make it look glossy and also keep the clear coat/paint protected. It will be garaged. Thanks for any advice.

Next, is there something I can use to make the water bead off the windshield at speed? That should also help with snow. I plan on cleaning the leather with the Leatherique two-step thing, and using Poor Boy matte finish on the rest of the plastic interior.

 

[Mike Phillips]

The Klasse AIO is a chemical only cleaner. It will clean the top surface of the paint but will do nothing to remove any other defects.

Here's my advice - get yourself a 32 ounce bottle of 3D SPEED and after claying the paint - go nuts on it with the 3D SPEED.

It's super safe and will undo years even decades of damage.

Plus you can use it with any tool, even by hand. It's also very easy to wipe-off and zero dusting.

I put this together to show you the cost and the cost savings.

3D SPEED - 8 ounce - $17.99 - $2.25 per ounce

3D SPEED - 16 ounce - $24.99 - $1.56 per ounce

3D SPEED - 32 ounce - $39.99 - $1.25 per ounce


3D SPEED is VERY popular for a good reason - it's a great AIO.

 

[Chandne]

Thanks Mike. Any recommendation on which pads I should get? I have a 6" Griot's orbital polisher. I need to get several pads and am not sure which ones to get. After the 3D speed step, I also need to put on some sealant. Any recommendation on which pads to get for that?

 

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks Mike. Any recommendation on which pads I should get? I have a 6" Griot's orbital polisher. I need to get several pads and am not sure which ones to get.

Which size backing plate do you have? This tool originally came with a 6" backing plate, for the last 10 years or so I've been showing it and recommending owners to purchase and swap to the 5" backing plate. Smaller backing plate means smaller diameter pad which usually maximizes pad rotation.


Pad Rotation
And in case there's any confusion - when using a free spinning random orbital polisher for paint correction you NEED pad rotation. If the pad isn't rotating it's also not oscillating and you need both actions to remove paint and thus level the surface.

After the 3D speed step, I also need to put on some sealant. Any recommendation on which pads to get for that?

Now that I'm the Global Director of Training for 3D Products International LLC - don't be surprised that I recommend a 3D product. I know people can be cynical, (not saying you are just people and Internet folks in specific), but let me preface my recommendation with this,

When I quick Autogeek - I had a LOT of job offers. A lot. Most of the big names ini this industry in all dimensions, pads, tools, products, etc. in the U.S.A. and Internationally. When making my choice of which team I wanted to join the list was very short. 2 of the most important criteria were,

1: I had to love their products.

2: They had to be a manufacturer.


Both criteria are important to me.


1: Love = Trust
When I'm detailing someone else's toy, or daily driver, I MUST trust the products I'm using. The word trust is another word for love in the context I'm writing. I don't know about other instructors in this industry - but I actually detail cars and then share full write-ups documenting the process. I don't actually see other instructors doing this but then I also don't look.

When I teach car or boat detailing - I don't teach or show products I don't love and trust. After 11 years at Meguiar's and 11 years at Autogeek I have a lot of experience using other brands besides 3D and there are a lot of good brands made by actual manufacturers. What I found the last few years at Autogeek was anytime I was detailing cars professionally, that is for money, I bypassed the hundreds of brands I could have chosen and consistently used products from 3D. It was more instinct than choice. I instinctively return to products that perform as advertised and work consistently no matter what the project.


2: The real-deal
The must manufacture their own products meaning the company OWNS and OPERATES their own manufacturing plant with their own paid employees. After working and seeing what goes on behind the curtain, I simply make a personal choice to work with the real-deal and 3D is the real-deal.


So here's what I recommend and I LOVE this combo. In fact, the last 3 cars I detailed I used this combo.

SPEED then POXY.


Here's a little blurb I wrote about POXY - this is also on the 3DProducts.com store site as I've re-written all the copy for 3DProducts.com


3D POXY

3D POXY falls into the category waxes called, show car waxes or finishing waxes. The reason for this is because it’s pure protection. There are not chemical cleaners or abrasives like you find in AIO type products. This is a dedicated product for protecting the paint will adding a deep, wet, high gloss shine that slick and slippery to the touch like we all love. Because it has no cleaners or abrasives and thus no ability to remove paint defects like swirls, scratches, oxidation, and water spots, it should ONLY be used on pant that is already in new or excellent condition. This includes brand new cars fresh off the dealership’s showroom floor or immediately after the paint on any vehicles has been professionally cleaned and polished.

3D on the outside of the bottle means you can trust the product on the inside of the bottle.


What is it?

3D POXY is a non-cleaning, hybrid sealant/wax. This means it’s’ a blended paint protection product made from both man-made synthetic protection ingredients fused with naturally occurring fossilized Montan Wax. It contains zero abrasives or chemical cleaners and for this reason should only be used on paint that is clean and smooth to the touch like brand new vehicles or paint that has been recently corrected.

Montan Wax is a naturally occurring bituminous wax found in brown or lignite coal deposits. It is hard, non-toxic, and highly resistant to decomposition. In simpler terms, it doesn’t break-down as easy as other wax ingredient options commonly used in the car care industry. When used as an ingredient in automotive waxes it imparts a scuff-resistance, high water repellency and a super high gloss shine.

Because Montan Wax both impermeable and also proven to be highly chemical resistant, it excels as just one of the protection ingredients used in 3D POXY to protect your car’s paint. Another favorable characteristic is that Montan Wax offers excellent heat-resistance, making it a great choice for use in outdoor environments where your vehicle is exposed to direct sunlight over extended periods of time.

3D POXY offers fast application by hand or machine and after fully drying, (about 15 to 20 minutes), wipe-off is super easy. This is a great choice for large items like high-end RVs and also brand-new trucks, suvs and cars. The resulting finish is slick and slippery to the touch, this helps to decrease risk of marring and also makes drying faster and safer.
What does it do? - Seals the surface of your car’s paint with a long lasting, high gloss, scuff-resistant, chemical resistant, water-resistant and heat-resistant layer of protection.


When do you use it?

On paint that is in new and/or excellent condition. This includes cars that are brand new when the paint is still smooth to the touch without any below surface paint defects like swirls, scratches, water spots or oxidation.

3D POXY] is also an excellent topper for additional protection, longevity, gloss, and shine after first using 3D SPEED to correct neglected paint on older cars.


Why use 3D POXY over other options?

3D POXY provides excellent paint protection, longevity plus gloss, depth, and shine in a single, easy to use liquid form that can be applied by hand or machine. Because this is a BLENDED product you get the features and benefits of multiple paint protection ingredients. Waxes and sealants that are singular, that is the protection aspect is based upon a single ingredient or substance can only offer limited features and benefits.

The biggest enemy to automotive clearcoats are chemical attack followed by marring followed by water spotting due to all the contamination in all water sources including city water, well water and rainwater.

3D POXY is highly chemical resistant, mar-resistant and water-resistant. Besides how it excels past the competition when it comes to protecting your car’s paint, it’s also super easy to apply and like 3D SPEED – super easy to wipe-off.

The gloss and shine are exceptional but what people really love is how3D POXY leaves your car’s paint feeling super slick and slippery to the touch. And this makes washing faster, easier, and safer.

• Hybrid blend of synthetic & Montan wax.
• Superior chemical and high heat resistance.
• Longer lasting protection than traditional waxes.
• Fast application by hand or machine with effortless wipe-off.
• Non-staining formula will not stain plastic trim.
• Zero-dusting, streak-free no smear crystal clear results.
• Perfect Topper for 3D SPEED.
• For brand new cars, trucks suvs, rvs, motorcycles, boats, and aircraft
• Green technology, Earth friendly, biodegradable, Prop 65 and V.O.C. compliant.

Documenting my professional work

Here's the last 4 cars I've detailed and used POXY as my topper. I used SPEED and/or 505 for the paint correction on these cars also. And this is what I mean by walking the talk. I teach car detailing for a living and I back-up what I teach in the real world. I'm not the kind of guy that likes to take how-to advice from people that don't actually do the thing they're yacking about. And in the Internet world - there's a lot of talkers.


1961 Chrysler New Yorker Original Single Stage Paint restored by Mike Phillips

1961 Chrysler New Yorker

1973 MGB GT - Single Stage Paint Correction using 3D Products by Mike Phillips

1973 MGB GT

1968 Chevelle - Remove water spots and holograms - detailed by Mike Phillips with 3D Products

1968 Chevelle

1966 Batmobile Remove Swirls - Extreme Detailing Makeover with 3DProducts.com


Nate Truman's 1966 Batmobile - detailed by 3D

3D POXY
I put this together to show you the cost and the cost savings.

3D POXY -- 8 ounce - $15.99 - $2.00 per ounce

3D POXY - 16 ounce - $21.99 - $1.38 per ounce

3D POXY - 32 ounce - $34.99 - .91 cents per ounce


Besides 3D POXY - after using and removing the 3D SPEED you could top with any quality non-cleaning wax or sealant.

 

[Mike Phillips]

This is a large SUV

Maybe wash, dry and clay and tackle the roof the first day and then tackle the rest the next day.

When I do large trucks and suvs - after washing, drying and claying I knock out the roof with the complete process so I can be done with it.


Also - now that you own this tall SUV - in order to wash it and also buff it you're going to need some type of work platform that is tall enough to reach the roof and also be safe to stand on.

Something like this might work.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Werner-Aluminum-Work-Platform-225lb-Load-Capacity/1002981294

 

[Chandne]

Sorry for the delay. We are having some wildfire scares. I do have the polisher with the 6" backing plate but also a 5" backing plate. I'll get the 3D products you mention and that platform looks fantastic. I have a Lowe's near me. I can get the smaller pads but I THINK I need Orange pads (Lake Country) so maybe 4 of those and two Green pads for more of the next sealant step. I'm not 100% sure but am thinking this way.

Your finished work looks absolutely stunning! I love it!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Sorry for the delay. We are having some wildfire scares. I do have the polisher with the 6" backing plate but also a 5" backing plate. I'll get the 3D products you mention and that platform looks fantastic. I have a Lowe's near me. I can get the smaller pads but I THINK I need Orange pads (Lake Country) so maybe 4 of those and two Green pads for more of the next sealant step. I'm not 100% sure but am thinking this way.

Your finished work looks absolutely stunning! I love it!

Lake Country orange foam cutting pads a time-proven, quality pad.

 

[GTO]

First post here, so please bear with me. I am no expert. I am buying a friend's 2009 silver Mercedes GL450. The paint looks fine from a distance but all they have done is basically run the vehicle through car washes, so it is pretty ignored. It has mostly been garaged. Anyway, my thought was to hand-wash and clay bar it well. after that, I was going to use Klasse All-in-One polish with a polisher and go over it well. After a couple of days, I intend to seal it with Klasse Sealant or something similar.

So that is my current plan. Is there something else I should do for the paint? I have never used a more aggressive polish than Klasse. I just want to make it look glossy and also keep the clear coat/paint protected. It will be garaged. Thanks for any advice.

Next, is there something I can use to make the water bead off the windshield at speed? That should also help with snow. I plan on cleaning the leather with the Leatherique two-step thing, and using Poor Boy matte finish on the rest of the plastic interior.

If I may jump in. If possible, get a Clay Mitt or Clay Towel instead of just a Clay bar. They cost more but, they’re so much easier to use and can be rinsed and reused.
I think Mike would agree.

 

[Mike Phillips]

If I may jump in. If possible, get a Clay Mitt or Clay Towel instead of just a Clay bar. They cost more but, they’re so much easier to use and can be rinsed and reused.

I think Mike would agree.

I do agree but with an exception.

I like the polymerized rubber clay substitutes, they are definitely a great value compared to disposable clay.

That said, for soft paints, I prefer a fine grade clay - just to be on the safe side.

Now here's the deal...

NORMALLY when do you find out if a car has hard or soft paint?

Answer: When you do a Test Spot.


Problem: If you use a clay towel during the washing step, or even a clay pad during the washing step - this means you have NOT done a Test Spot yet.

If the car in question has soft paint and you use a clay substitute to mechanically decontaminate the paint during the washing step - you risk marring the paint. If the paint is in the hard to medium range - you'll be okay.

 

[Strive]

so maybe 4 of those and two Green pads for more of the next sealant step.

Maybe 4 green pads if you can? You don't want to be stuck using pads with a lot of product in/on them. (Alternatively, use 2 pads but put in the time/effort to make sure they are properly cleaned as you go along)