Detailing your CTS

[SoCalCTS08]

I was going to post this in the detailing forum but wanted advice specific to CTS's 08 and up. Had my CTS about a month and absolutely love this car. I would really appreciate anyones input on what they use in detailing their car.

I tend to use armor all on interiors and the plastic parts on the outside of the car. Is this advisible for our dashes and the plastic "non painted chrome" parts of our grille's?

Also with the chrome painted parts I've read applying wax to it to protect from the elements. Anyone do this? I just used windex.

Anything other recomendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[928S]

I would really appreciate anyones input on what they use in detailing their car.

SoCaLCTS08, here's a shortlist of products that I use and recommend for reasonable cost, convenience (local or online availability), best performance, and durability:

MEGUIAR'S Clay Bar, Quick Detailer (lube), and ZAINO Z-2 Pro Polymer for exterior - paint, chrome, headlights, taillights, and high-polished wheels.
303 AEROSPACE PROTECTANT for interior - steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, plastic-coated leather seats, and exterior - roof antenna.
SCOTCH GARD Carpet Protector and a vacuum cleaner for interior - custom carpet floor mats and factory carpeting; and, as needed, 303 CLEANER and SPOT REMOVER for stubborn stains.

Happy detailing . . . with whatever products you choose!

[Zymurgy]

I second the recommendation to use 303 Aerospace Protectant for the interior. For the exterior, use one of the polymers such as Zaino or Rejex. They last much longer than any wax product and as 928S said, they can be used on paint, chrome, plastic headlight and taillight lenses, polished/chrome wheels, even glass. The first thing to do is wash the exterior with blue Dawn (it will remove any wax and prepare the car for the next step). Next, use a clay bar (with lubricant) to remove impurities embedded in the paint. You will be amazed how much the clay bar picks up from a freshly washed car. After the clay bar, another washing with blue Dawn to remove the lubricant used with the clay bar. Now you are ready to apply the polymer.

[SoCalCTS08]

I've been using meguires nxt 2.0. I heard that is good for black cars. Also it leaves behind no white reidue and gives a good shine. Would Zaino do a better job? I might give that a try.

[Bandit1]

Interior:
I use Aerospace 303 Vinyl Cleaner and Aerospace 303 Protectant on the dash, doors, kick panels, door sills, etc.; I use Plexus Plastic Cleaner on the console, gauge cluster, Nav screen, etc.; and I use Zaino Z-9 and Z-10 on the leather. Microfiber towels/cloths with all. To clean the vents and remove dust, I use Pledge All Purpose and Swifter 360, detail brush, and Q-tips. To spot clean the carpet and/or the fabric interior top panel, and A & B pillars, I use Resolve. For the interior window tint, I use Plexus Plastic Cleaner.

Exterior:
Long time Zaino user. Both cars are daily drivers.
(1) Wash with Dawn Ultra detergent and rinse well (first time only).
(2) Clay with Z-18 clay bar and a spray bottle with mixture of Z-7 and water.
(3) Rinse often and sponge wash and dry.
(4) Apply Z-AIO, let cure, and buff off.
(6) Wipe down with Z-6.
(7) Apply Z-2 or Z-5 mixed with ZFX (1 to 2 coats), let cure, and buff off.
(8) Apply Z-CS and stand back and watch the magic.
(9) Apply Z-16 to the tires
(10) Apply Aerospace 303 Protectant to the lower front & rear valance, front air dam, and windshield wiper valance.
(11) Apply Rejex to the wheels, let cure, and buff off.
(12) Apply your favorite metal polish to the exhaust tips, let cure, and buff off.

Note: You can clay the glass to remove contaminants too. Use Stoner's Glass cleaner and finish off with Z-6 (except windshield). Reduces smears and cling. In between details, wash with Z-7, dry and apply Z-6.

Hope this helps.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...y-cts-any.html (Getting Ready to Detail my CTS Any Tips?)

[GMFAN]

I've been using meguires nxt 2.0. I heard that is good for black cars. Also it leaves behind no white reidue and gives a good shine. Would Zaino do a better job? I might give that a try.

You can drive yourself crazy special ordering a myriad of products and spending hours upon hours, even days, trying to get that perfect finish. I've seen display cars at shows side by side where one owner had several buckets of specialty products and the other owner just used a good quality, clear coat safe, off the shelf product and honestly, they looked equally as good. NXT 2.0 is a fine product.

Just keep your ride washed and waxed regularly and you'll spend a lot more time behind the wheel riding IN it, instead of spending hours working ON it.

[JackB]

What do you guys do with the inside area of the wheels? I had not thought much about it until I realized that brake dust had built up. I was surprised at how easily the dust was removed with just a little rubbing and access is not too bad from in between the spokes. On the other hand that section of the wheel does not look all that bad with black brake dust as opposed to the silver when cleaned up. What do you think? Is it worth the effort?
On a side note, a while back a guy posted about what he felt was a soft clear coat finish and most folks, including myself, just brushed it off. Now that I have washed my new CTS a few times [white diamond] I also have noticed that the paint feels soft and things like leaf particles seem to stick to it more. Still looks great but found this interesting and I have been washing my own cars for about 50 years.

[rchern]

I have one piece of advice that I can give you. Try and keep the brushed aluminum wheels clean in the winter if you live in a snowy state. On the car I had last winter I parked across the street from a construction site so every day the car was coated with dirt every day so I'd have to wash it every day to keep it clean, then it would snow and then for the next few days the roads would be covered with either snow or salt so I just hardly ever got to clean the car as much as I wanted. That spring when I got to really give it a good cleaning the wheels were really pitted. That was my third caddy with brushed aluminum wheels and I never had wheels get like that until the winter when I couldn't clean the car because it would be filthy the next day because of either dirt or snow. So everyone can tell you what to use to treat your car, but I can tell you if you do nothing else try to keep the salt off of those wheels or you're going to be sick when you see them come springtime.

[Bandit1]

What do you guys do with the inside area of the wheels? I had not thought much about it until I realized that brake dust had built up. I was surprised at how easily the dust was removed with just a little rubbing and access is not too bad from in between the spokes. On the other hand that section of the wheel does not look all that bad with black brake dust as opposed to the silver when cleaned up. What do you think? Is it worth the effort?
On a side note, a while back a guy posted about what he felt was a soft clear coat finish and most folks, including myself, just brushed it off. Now that I have washed my new CTS a few times [white diamond] I also have noticed that the paint feels soft and things like leaf particles seem to stick to it more. Still looks great but found this interesting and I have been washing my own cars for about 50 years.

Recommend Rejex for your wheels.

[Bandit1]

I've been using meguires nxt 2.0. I heard that is good for black cars. Also it leaves behind no white reidue and gives a good shine. Would Zaino do a better job? I might give that a try.

NXT 2 is a good product by Meguiars. However, I have seen better results on dark colored cars with Zaino Z-5 with long lasting protection.

[Musicman]

Meguiar's nxt 2.0 works well on my Radiant Bronze 2008. Great shine and easy to use.