Ted K

Restorer in with the 3M IHG. I do this twice, then straight hand glaze twice, and then continue with P21S GEPC and wax (I won't go into which wax as you and I have covered this; hehehehe). Repeating the 3M IHG often will help get more of the fillers into the imperfections. I then will let it sit for a week, and might redo certain sections if they still aren't to my liking, and they will improve further.<ul><li><a href="http://www.carcareonline.com/p21_polish_10417.html">P21S Multi Surface Finish Restorer</a></li></ul>

AlanL

I always assumed that the fillers would fill what they could in a single pass.

The step you describe with the Multi Surface Finish Restorer sounds like a mildly abrasive one to actually remove a little of the scratched surface. The IHG would act as a lubricant in that case and I would agree that you would want to follow that step with another application of the straight IHG afterwards.

mpwolf

I do this once every three months. I wash every week (at least I try to), substituting the Dawn listed below with P21S Bodywork Shampoo. Once a month, I apply an additional coat of P21S wax.

Most of these products were purchased from <a href="http://www.autodetail.com">Autodetail.com</a>. I can't say enough about them. They are very helpful on the phone, speedy with shipping and have great prices. Make sure you sign up for the 10% car club discount (AudiWorld.com is a club in their book).

I purchased the Eiman Fabrik, S100, Viper MF products and the polishing pads from <a href="http://www.properautocare.com">Proper Auto Care</a>, another quality shop. They have a great selection of products, but their prices on some products aren't as good as Autodetail.com and their shipping prices are steep. Still a good shop though.

I purchased the Vac 'n Blow and OXO brushes from <a href="http://www.ajprindle.com">A. J. Prindle</a>. They had a huge 30% off sale when I bought this stuff so I got the Vac 'n Blow for about $60 less then anywhere else. They also ship very quickly. Not a great selection of detailing sutff (they are more and accessory store), if they have what you want, I highly recommend them too.

Finally, I purchased the Porter-Cable 7424 RO polisher from <a href="http://www.coastaltool.com">Coastal Tool</a>. Excellet shop. Fantastic prices and great customer support. They even include the 6" counterweight and Velcro pad with the polisher. If you get the polisher, you'll see why these are invaluable. Another highly recommended shop.

Now on to the routine:

First off I start with this stuff:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/detailing_supplies_s.jpg">

Some things in the picture aren't listed in my routine below, here's why:

<b>1.</b> California Water Blade - I don't use it anymore, didn't like it. The cotton towels work the best.
<b>2.</b> Green bristle brush - Replaced with with an OXO Good Grips Wheel Brush, which is easier to use.
<b>3.</b> Red handle wheel brush - Replaced with OXO Good Grips Wheel Brush, again, easier to use.
<b>4.</b> Eagle One Tire Swipes - Replaced with terry rags. These may be good for applying gel dressings (e.g., Meguiar's Endurance) but since I use Vinylex on my tires, I've found the rags work better.
<b>5.</b> P21S Drying Towel - Not bad, but my car usually has enough wax on it that the water just sheets off. Thus a quick once over with a white cotton towel is all I need to do.
<b>6.</b> Mothers Metal Polish (small red can) - Actually, I like this product, I just ran out. I'm now using Eagle One wadding, and I think I like the Mother's better. I'll probably go back to it after the wadding is gone.
<b>7.</b> Clay Magic &amp; Meguiar's Quick Detailer spray - I really like the Clay Magic. When I bought the car, there was some sort of film on the back of the car P21S TAW, 3M IHG, Dawn, etc. couldn't touch it. The Clay Magic took it right off. I don't mention it below because I keep the car clean enough that it's not necessary. However, I will use it again in the future if I need to. The Meguiar's spray works well with the Clay Magic, but I wouldn't get it for that purpose. I had some left over and that's why I used it. Just use some Dawn diluted with water (that's what the red handled spray bottle in the background is for).

The products I do use get applied as such:

<b>Wheels:</b>

<b>1.</b> Spray P21S Wheel Cleaner onto cool wheels.
<b>2.</b> Let it sit for a second and scrub tires with OXO Good Grips tire brush, clean wheels with OXO Good Grips wheel brush.

(Steps 3, 4 and 5 are done after washing the body)

<b>3.</b> Dry with white cotton terry towels (AutoZone).
<b>4.</b> Spray wheels with S100 Detail+Wax, buff with white cotton terry towels.
<b>5.</b> Dress tires with Lexol Vinylex &amp; Lexol terry applicator.

<b>Body:</b>

<b>1.</b> Wash w/ Dawn &amp; sheepskin wash mitt (2 mitts, one for the upper body and one for the rocker panels). Start at the top and work your way down. Switch to the second mit when you do the rocker panels (below the doors) and underneath because it will get all black with oil/tar/grit. I also have 2 5-gallon buckets, one for clean soapy water and one for rinse water. Make sure to keep the whole car wet during the wash process, otherwise you will get water spots.
<b>2.</b> Sheet water off with light flow from hose. Dry remaining surface with 100% cotton towel (white Egyptian cotton Feldcrest/Canon from Wal-Mart &amp; Pinnacle Koala-soft from PAC).
<b>3.</b> Blow dry air dam, body seams and mirrors with Vac 'n Blow Blower attachment.
<b>4.</b> Tape off rubber seals (doors and windows) with painters masking tape (Home Depot). This will prevent the glaze from caking on the seals. It's a real bitch to get off otherwise.
<b>5.</b> Apply 3M IHG with a Zymol Terry Applicator (by hand) or 3M IMG with a PAC White Foam Pad (with PC 7424). Apply in a circular motion by hand (THIS IS THE ONLY PRODUCT YOU APPLY IN A CIRCULAR MOTION, EVERYTHING ELSE IS FRONT TO BACK) or front to back with the PC 7424. If I used the machine, I'll go back over the difficult to reach areas (door handles, grill surround, rear plate area) by hand using the 3M IHG and a Zymol Terry applicator.
<b>6.</b> Remove 3M IH/MG with yosteve.com MF towels (these are the best MF towels I've used).
<b>7.</b> Apply P21S GEPC with a PAC MF Applicator (by hand) or P21S GEPC with a PAC Gray Foam Pad (with PC 7424). Apply front to back. Again, if I've used the PC 7424, I'll go over the hard to reach areas by hand with the P21S GEPC and a PAC MF Applicator.
<b>8.</b> Remove P21S GEPC with yosteve.com MF towels.
<b>9.</b> Apply P21S Wax with the included gray foam applicator. Apply front to back. Some people use the polisher (PC 7424) to apply the wax. I've found that the P21S goes on so easily that there is no reason not to do it by hand. Plus, using your hand for this final step lets you inspect every inch of the finish.
<b>10.</b> Remove P21S Wax with yosteve.com MF towels.
<b>11.</b> Clean exterior glass with Stoners Invisible Glass and crumpled up newspaper - I use the WSJ because it's what I get at home, I prefer it to the NY Times, for both cleaning windows and content - or Eiman Fabrik Clear Vison and a Viper MF glass cloth.
<b>12.</b> Clean exterior plastic (lights) with Plexus and a S.M. Arnold MF glass cloth.
<b>13.</b> I do the glass and plastic last because there is always dust from the 3M IH/MG, P21S GEPC and Wax. If I get any glass cleaner or Plexus on the paint, I just give it a quick shot of Eiman Fabrik Clear Pearl and wipe it down with another yosteve.com MF towel.
<b>14.</b> Polish Exhaust tips with Eagle One wadding and a cotton terry towel. (I'll probably switch back to Mother's Mag &amp; Aluminum Polish applied and removed with a cotton terry towel when I finish the wadding)

<b>Interior:</b>

<b>1.</b> Wipe down the interior with a dry S.M. Arnold MF mitt. This thing is marketed as a wash mitt but sucks for that purpose. Use it dry as a killer dust mitt.
<b>2.</b> Vacuum with the Vac 'n Blow, first with the regular (rectangle) attachment, then with the crevice attachment and finally with the brush attachment to get any remaining dust out of the seams and/or vents.
<b>3.</b> Wipe down the interior with 303 Aerospace Protectant and a Lexol terry applicator. Buff with a Viper MF Magic Towel.
<b>4.</b> Clean leather with Lexol Leather Cleaner &amp; Lexol terry applicator.
<b>5.</b> Condition leather with Lexol Leather Conditioner &amp; Lexol terry applicator.
<b>6.</b> Clean interior glass with Eiman Fabrik Clear Vision and Viper MF glass towel. I don't use the Stoner's &amp; newspaper on the interior because the ink comes off on your hands and gets all over.

Stand back and admire the finished product:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_01.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_02.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_03.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_04.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_05.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_06.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26345/p21s_07.jpg">

FourRings

Why do you wash the wheels before the car?

Also, don't your neighbors look at you funny when you're blow drying the car? I know mine do.

I pretty much do the same with a few variations/different products. I also take the wheels off, put the car on jackstands and clean the suspension and undercarriage.

mpwolf

I wash the wheels first because it is near impossible not to get some cleaner overspray on to the car. I'd rather not have it sitting on my clean paint. This way, if it does get on, it's washed off in minutes. And yes, I get some funny looks when I'm blow drying the car.

FourRings

It's not every week that I do the undercarriage/susp. cleaning, maybe every few months.

Ted K

You got it!

Stealth4

nice write up, I do almost the same thing, mostly Ted K's way. Makes black look amazing.

Ted K

Glad to hear it. Nothing beats a dark color when it looks good!!

Ted K

I've never found anything that REALLY cleans and shines the exhaust tips. I've tried mother's mag polish and a rag and been very disappointed. What are you doing to get them really shiny?? Others have talked about sanding them down. Not ready to try that yet, although I may in the spring.