Product suggestions for unpainted jeep hardtop

[Problemchild]

Just picked up a gladiator and since we weren't actually sure we were going to find a good deal I hadn't preresearched products. Already a bird had bombed the top and left a mark, and it is as cleaned within hours. I have spent a few years not worrying about detailing products, I sold my show car mustang convertible and my daily is painted with a rattle can lol. Back in the day on the stang, I did mostly meg's products. Clay, paint cleaner, polish, gold class wax. I used to top NXT with gc on another car. Now they're 3m and I'm looking forward at maybe griots or chemical guys for paint care (need a good suggestion for the paint on the JT too, we work in the oil fields in south Texas and the dust is a whole new level there). But right now I need something that will protect the hard top and fender flares (also unpainted). I think the bird bomb mark is visible in the attached photo. Help me protect the new jeep!!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Problemchild,

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I was in England at Waxstock and then teaching some classes with Kelly Harris and then had a delay getting back to the USA. Good to be back home and back to work.

Here's your picture,

To be honest - I have not worked on one of these Jeep tops that have the dull, flat textured surface for some time and now don't remember what I used. My guess is a quality AIO would be a good product to test and and if it works - stick with it. If it were me, and I've used the brands you've mentioned, I would go with 3D SPEED. It uses great abrasive technology and works on pretty much darned near everything I've ever used it on.

I don't trust any products from CG that use abrasive technology - this means I would not use nor do I trust any compounds, polishes or aios (the product that use abrasive technology). In my life - I've answered a lot of questions from people on how to REMOVE micro-marring after using CG abrasive products and this is a sign to me they use crap for abrasive technology.

Griot's "BOSS" products use very good abrasive technology - I would have to test any other product they sell that uses abrasive technology before recommending it. I was not impressed with their Complete Compound or Complete Polish.


FWIW

I was still at Meguiar's when 3M bought them. In a meeting Gary Gunderson told everyone that 3M wasn't going to make any changes, I think he said,

If it ain't broke don't fix it

And a few years later, it was inevitable, they started fixing Meguiar's. Now the one thing that made the company unique is lost forever. I also wrote the concept paper for NXT Tech Wax. It was page 31 in this report I wrote for all the old upper management team at Meguair's back in 2003 called,

The Zaino Case Study


Someday I'll share the entire story.

One thing for sure - you can't go wrong with 3D products. I could have joined pretty much any company you can name when I left the geek and I purposefully chose 3D because I really like their products and just as important - the owner and the team he's assembled are genuinely nice people that treat you with respect - like family. Good products and good people.

You can trust any products with the 3D label are actually MADE by 3d - not some blender companies product with a marketing label slapped onto the bottle.

 

[Problemchild]

I remember that. I followed you around since the megs days but kind of fell out of detailing when I didn't have anything to really worry about. Just did a paint cleaner, polish and collenite for wax on the daily until I got my rattle can jeep. And now we added the JT and need to get a new process all over again, since it won't be the old megs version. I'll have to read up on 3d and see what's good for my situation. The fender flares and hard plastic are terrible for staining and fading. I know it'll happen (it's a jeep) but I'd like to prevent it being within days of getting it .

This was my stang, electricgreen. When I finally sold it, the new owner couldn't believe it was the original soft top because it was like new.

 

[Mike Phillips]

I'll have to read up on 3d and see what's good for my situation. The fender flares and hard plastic are terrible for staining and fading. I know it'll happen (it's a jeep) but I'd like to prevent it being within days of getting it .

If you're not going to go with a ceramic coating - then I suggest keeping it simple Simon.

3D Pink Car Wash Soap - cleans great - rinses fully without leaving any film behind.
3D SPEED for anything smooth on the outside - best damn AIO on planet Earth.
3D Bead It Up - Use this after SPEED and in-between normal washing and drying - freaking amazing product.

For any exterior or engine compartment plastic trim - get this - use it often and plastic will always look good.

3D Trim Care

This was my stang, electricgreen. When I finally sold it, the new owner couldn't believe it was the original soft top because it was like new.


View attachment 962

Frequent or at least regular car care keeps a car looking new. It's only when we neglect the car over time do things go bad - like exterior plastic trim.


Meguiar's was a good run for me, no regrets. Sad the company lost it's soul when Barry sold it to 3M.

The geek was a good run until Bob McKee sold it - lost it's soul too - pure straight-up marketing company now. I should have left the day Bob McKee came into my office to tell me he sold Autogeek and with it he sold me and my contract. In hindsight I should have left like Nick Rutter did.