For you black V owners. I just got a 05 black V with a lot of poor washing/waxing with swirl marks to prove.

I know the process of dove wash, clay bar, wash, swirl wax, cleaner wax, sealer wax. But seeking more advice and prefer a product i could do all in the same day.

1.) for the tan leather, what have you found that works best to keep it looking clean and protected from dirt/stains.

2.) what do you use for dash/console? i dont want high shine or grime or build up.

3.) what is the best swirl remover wax you have used?

4.) whats the best cleaner wax you suggest?

5.) whats the best finish wax? i read a lot about NXT or Zainos.

6.) if i use NXT or Zainos, do i need a cleaner wax? or just do swirl wax and sealer?

7.) WHEELS! for the cts v stock wheels, do i use a wax or a cleaner?

8.) whats the best product you found to keep the tan carpet/floor boards clean and protected?

9) what do you use to clean the navi screen? i have seen some used CTS with horrible looking screens... i dont want that!

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for all your help guys/gals,
Jason

to remove swirls i say don't go with a wax that hides it... use a polish first, then apply the wax on top... also use an orbital.

personally i use griots and have been very happy with the results :)

Lots of threads on the Griots and Orbital.
It works, but it's way more than one day to do it.

Work the paint with the orbital and Griots #3 until all the swirls are gone.
If you have some stubborn swirls, then hit them w/ #2, untill you squash them, and then go back to #3.
Takes lots of time & patience (like 5 -15 passes per panel).

Griots has a small orbital, and I'm planning to get it, as there are lots of small panels sections where the normal orbital can't fit.

Orbital is the key, as I found hand polishing just adds more swirls.

Paging Jon...

Griot's here too. I have to say, though, I really don't like the orbital. I hate the fact that you have to keep the button (slide forward) pushed manually the entire time instead of a simple on/off switch. It got pretty annoying to me. Also (this is almost surely operator error on my part here), that stuff was a major PIA to get off my car. I Dawn-washed it, clayed it (that stuff is awesome), #3 polish, then waxed it. The polish and wax were both a serious PIA. It literally took me about 10 minutes per panel (fender, each door, trunk lid, roof, etc. etc.) just to get the stuff OFF once I applied it w/the orbital. My guess is I was using too much, which is HIGHLY possible, but still it was a pain. It took me about 7 hours to do all this...just this, no windows, no interior, no engine, etc.
Another testament to me using too much product is that I went through about 3/4 bottle of Speed Shine during the claying, etc. FYI
Moral of this long, boring post? Just use a VERY little and see how it goes. The video and manual are good, though.

I just ordered a lot from Griots and will be doing mine next weekend. Hoping for some good Pacific North West Sunsine.

I use Poorboys 2.5 and a Porter Cable orbital to get rid of deep swirls. Follow that with a polish (Z-PC Zaino or Menzerna FF106) on a white pad, followed by FF106 on a gray pad. Wipe off the car with rubbing alcohol to remove the oils from the polish and then finish with Z-2 Pro Zaino and/or carnuba wax.

Mike

Griot's here too. I have to say, though, I really don't like the orbital. I hate the fact that you have to keep the button (slide forward) pushed manually the entire time instead of a simple on/off switch. It got pretty annoying to me. Also (this is almost surely operator error on my part here), that stuff was a major PIA to get off my car. I Dawn-washed it, clayed it (that stuff is awesome), #3 polish, then waxed it. The polish and wax were both a serious PIA. It literally took me about 10 minutes per panel (fender, each door, trunk lid, roof, etc. etc.) just to get the stuff OFF once I applied it w/the orbital. My guess is I was using too much, which is HIGHLY possible, but still it was a pain. It took me about 7 hours to do all this...just this, no windows, no interior, no engine, etc.
Another testament to me using too much product is that I went through about 3/4 bottle of Speed Shine during the claying, etc. FYI
Moral of this long, boring post? Just use a VERY little and see how it goes. The video and manual are good, though.

Something must be wrong with your Orbital, because my Griot's orbital has an on/off switch that you don't have to hold.

You're definitely using too much product if it's that hard to get off- try just a dime sized dab in the middle of the pad. Spread it around the panel with the buffer off, then turn on and wprk it around until it's almost disappeared. The rest should wipe off easily.

I think i have read enough post on wax at this point to make a good decision. What about the other questions i asked, mainly, what you use for interior detail and the wheels.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Here is a good read when you get a chance.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2965

For interior I like to use Eagle One Nano Protectant. It works good on leather and vinyl. I will use a leather lotion once every couple of months and use the Eagle One every other time I wash the car. Does not give a wet look but does darken the color good. As for the NAV screen I use a window cleaner that is safe on tinted windows. Something without amonia in it. Spray it on a micro fiber and wipe it down. Use the NXT on the wheels, they are painted just like the car.

Something must be wrong with your Orbital, because my Griot's orbital has an on/off switch that you don't have to hold.

You're definitely using too much product if it's that hard to get off- try just a dime sized dab in the middle of the pad. Spread it around the panel with the buffer off, then turn on and wprk it around until it's almost disappeared. The rest should wipe off easily.+1...

I recommend Zaino, I'm sure if Jon read this thead he would also. Much easier than buffing and polishing and waxing even if you're using an orbital.

1. wash with dawn.
2. clay bar (not as hard as it seems).
3. wash again, but with Zaino supplied soap.
4. apply Z5 to whole car (i do it in the sun!) then wipe off by hand
5. apply Z6.
6. apply Z2 to whole car, then wipe by hand
7. apply Z6
8. apply last coat of Z2 then wipe by hand
9. apply Z6.

Sounds like alot of work but the swirl marks are all gone and the shine is unreal. Even when the car is dirty it'll still shine (hard to explain that but if you do it you'll understand what I mean). Look for a thread titled 'Zaino'd her up' that I posted and look at Jon's car. It's unreal.

Oh yeah, for the nav screen I use the same cleaner I use on my LCD television. I get it from Circuit City or Best Buy, it's made by Monster.

I have black interior so I don't know how to help you with keeping the tan looking clean. I do use Meguire's leather conditioner though.

Haven't firured out what to use on the dash yet.

I recommend Zaino, I'm sure if Jon read this thead he would also. Much easier than buffing and polishing and waxing even if you're using an orbital.
1. wash with dawn.
2. clay bar (not as hard as it seems).
3. wash again, but with Zaino supplied soap.
4. apply Z5 to whole car (i do it in the sun!) then wipe off by hand
5. apply Z6.
6. apply Z2 to whole car, then wipe by hand
7. apply Z6
8. apply last coat of Z2 then wipe by hand
9. apply Z6.

Sounds like alot of work but the swirl marks are all gone and the shine is unreal. Even when the car is dirty it'll still shine (hard to explain that but if you do it you'll understand what I mean). Look for a thread titled 'Zaino'd her up' that I posted and look at Jon's car. It's unreal.


Hell yeah! Just make sure you add the activator, at a minimum on the first coat. I use a power buffer to apply the initial Z5 coat, and then for any additional coats, I do it by hand and also use Z2. I have been using Zaino now for about 5 years on all my cars. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.

Lots of threads on the Griots and Orbital.
It works, but it's way more than one day to do it.

Work the paint with the orbital and Griots #3 until all the swirls are gone.
If you have some stubborn swirls, then hit them w/ #2, untill you squash them, and then go back to #3.
Takes lots of time & patience (like 5 -15 passes per panel).

Griots has a small orbital, and I'm planning to get it, as there are lots of small panels sections where the normal orbital can't fit.

Orbital is the key, as I found hand polishing just adds more swirls.

YUP, except you can definately do it on one day, it just will take most of the day. See below.

Something must be wrong with your Orbital, because my Griot's orbital has an on/off switch that you don't have to hold.


Same here.

BTW, I just did my car yesterday. I wax it up once a year if it needs it or not. :thepan:. It took about 6 hours, however I didn't do the tires/rims, beacause I'm mounting up new rubber today, and will wash my stockers while they are off the car as it's 10000% easier, when they are off the car.

I did:

1) Dawn the whole car, washing out the sponge frequently and swapping water a few times (you may not need to do that swap part if you car is realatively clean)

2) Griot's clay bar luberd with speed shine. Car is SOOOO smooth after wards.

3) Griot's #3 Polish, usning the Griot's orbital. Wipe off. I had a bit of oxidation on the hood, and #3 took it right off. My buddy has a black viper with siwrl marks, and he did a quick round of #3, followed by #4, and all the swirl marks were gone.

4) Zaino Z5. Last time I did my car I used Griot's best of show wax, which is carnuba based, and almost wrenched my shoulder out trying to get it back off the car. Zaino is SOOOO easy to use. Wipe, on, wipe off.

5) Zaino Z6. Spray on a tiny bit, wipe it smooth. DAMN it smells good :D

6) Zaino Z2.

7) Zaino Z6.

8) Zaino Z2.

9) Zaino Z6.

The zaino part took my about 1.5 hours. The devil is in the prep. Washing clay bar and polishing takes a while, bit it's where you get your results.

My car looks fine for a 70k mi daily driver that only gets the full monty wax job once a year.

-Chris

I recommend Zaino, I'm sure if Jon read this thead he would also. Much easier than buffing and polishing and waxing even if you're using an orbital.

1. wash with dawn.
2. clay bar (not as hard as it seems).
3. wash again, but with Zaino supplied soap.
4. apply Z5 to whole car (i do it in the sun!) then wipe off by hand
5. apply Z6.
6. apply Z2 to whole car, then wipe by hand
7. apply Z6
8. apply last coat of Z2 then wipe by hand
9. apply Z6.
Griot's makes it easy. Your encyclopedia you typed up there doesn't sound so simple.

Use Z00 for your dash...

Griot's makes it easy. Your encyclopedia you typed up there doesn't sound so simple.

Use Z00 for your dash...

Use both like me. Best of both worlds.

I still plan to give the griots paint sealer a try though. I think it would be perfect for my situation.

-Chris

I am also a Griots whore and my orbital has an on switch so no issues with that.

For the interior i use Griots interior cleaner and plastic cleaner. I have the tan interior but I dont have any dirty markings to get clean and I dont carry kids in my car so its stays clean.

As for the floormats the first "mod" I made to this car was black Lloyds V mats. The black mats look great with the black dash and door trim and they dont show nearly the dirt of the worn tan ones that were in it when I bought it plus they are a lot nicer than the others.

I have chromed stockers so I cant help on the rims.