I searched the forums, but only came up with conflicting views on this!
I'm getting ready to detail my car for the first time since I bought her 6 months ago. I know, long time, but I havn't really driven her. The guy I bought it from said that it was detailed, which is probably true, but that first night I drove it home, it started pouring. Anyway, now it is time to fully detail it, and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and use Dawn to strip everything and start from new?
It's black, with lots of scratches and swirls, that I will take care of. I'm leaning towards just stripping and starting with a clean slate.
Any other opinions please?
Thanks!
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1999 GT-ACT Stage 2 Clutch, BBK Cold Air Intake, BBK Strut Tower Brace, Steeda Tri-Ax, Straight Pipes from cats back 1999 Ford Explorer XLT-K&N Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster 50 Series SUV Muffler
You're right. This has been debated so much across the internet by pro's and weekend warriors. Here's my 2 cents. Just wash it with regular car wash and use a paint cleaner or a polish. Both with strip the wax off and you'll be starting out with a clean slate. Meg Deep Crystal step 1 is a cheap but effective paint cleaner. A good polish will also get you started in the right direction- obsessivedetail light polish or Optimum Polish.
Dont forget to claybar
A PC (porter cable 7424/7336 dual acion polisher) will make that swirl removal alot easier combined with the right product and right pad combo.
And for the sake of SVTBill please dont forget the wheel wells. (He'll get a kick outta that)
Posts: 1953
Joined: 9/24/2006 From: Wake Forest, NC Status: offline
My opinion: Your car is no where near dirty enough to need it. The only car I've used Dawn on was my 10 year old GT that I don't think had ever been hand washed before I bought it, and that was before a bit wash down doing everything else. A 6 month old car certainly doesn't need it. In my opinion, Dawn should only be used for major work. For your situation, clay will strip the wax just fine, as well as removing all the other crap embedded in the paint.
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^ Not my car, but what mine will look like 2008 BMW E92 335i - Waiting for a boat - Ordered 4/17/08 2003 Mustang Cobra - SOLD! 1997 Mustang GT
Posts: 1953
Joined: 9/24/2006 From: Wake Forest, NC Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Cooter
AJ that sure is one beautiful BMW you have there. Sorry to be off topic but everytime i see your sig i think damn, thats badass
Haha, thanks, if only mine could actually get here so I my sig could actually be a picture of my own. Still sitting in Bremerhaven waiting for a damn boat.
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^ Not my car, but what mine will look like 2008 BMW E92 335i - Waiting for a boat - Ordered 4/17/08 2003 Mustang Cobra - SOLD! 1997 Mustang GT
i think that clay and paint cleaner will take all of the wax off. especially if you dont even know the last time it was waxed, so its probably getting a little worn. then just hit it with a good polish to get rid of the swirls then wax/seal it.
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1994 Mustang GT, just a few minor appearance mods, engine mostly stock (for now)
i'll surely be doing this tomorrow. so no dawn! awesome!
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1999 GT-ACT Stage 2 Clutch, BBK Cold Air Intake, BBK Strut Tower Brace, Steeda Tri-Ax, Straight Pipes from cats back 1999 Ford Explorer XLT-K&N Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster 50 Series SUV Muffler
Posts: 106
Joined: 4/25/2008 From: KS, USA Status: offline
Dawn is pretty harsh for a car, I wouldn't want to use it unless there was an actual reason to. And even then I'd start out with regular car wash then decide afterward if it needed it or not. Washing and claying should be more than enough for most people.
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Dawn dish soap? - 
Still sitting in Bremerhaven waiting for a damn boat.
