Whats up guys.

So I plan to debadge my G37S soon, and of course, before you debadge, you need to wash the car (and just in general to keep clean ). But anyways, what are your guys is method to washing the G? The reason I ask this is because I heard certain car washes can scratch your G.

I bought Meguiars ultimate compound along with Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Plus Paste Wax.

The thing is, I would hand wash my car everytime, but I stay in California and we are in a big drought (as you should all know) right now. I can get a ticket for washing my car....

So i am left with the choices of the other car washes. My second favorite (after hand wash) is the do-it-yourself wash where it has your little station with power hose, brush, and all those options you can pick.
Something like this:


But I heard the brushes WILL scratch your car but I am not sure if this is true. The reason I'm asking is because I heard G37's paint job is not the best... Last thing I want is chipping paint. But I usually end up washing my car likes this (on my old accord, never on my G yet), do the spray wax they provide (labeled clear coat there), and than hand wax it with the Gold Class Paste Wax. Any suggestions?

Another option is the "gas-station carwash", but that is out the picture for me as to me, it is aw aste of money... I don't expect my car to be sparkling clean after it so I just eliminate the choice.

Finally, the last option is to have people clean it for me.. but I rather not. So... The main question is, will the hand-held car wash brush scratch my car or is it safe to use?

 

Yeah, don't use those brushes at the car wash, they've been used hundreds of times w/ all sorts of grimy vehicles, even a small piece of sand in the brush will ruin your clear coat.
Bring your own sponges and bucket. They have those buckets w/ the strainer to let debris sink into the lower water, just fill the bucket w/ rinse water and then spray soap your car and keep a clean sponge ready when your other sponge gets "tired" and just alternate. you'll probably spend twice as much coin but worth it, and for a final rinse use the no spot rinse w/ the softened water for an easier time keeping spots off your G. Hopefully there's some shade to dry the car, otherwise you may be doomed until you can spot detail it in your garage.

 

Alright. What I think I plan to do is, go to the car wash and bring around 10$. It's a minimum 2$ fee for 4 minutes. So what I plan to do I think is bring my own bucket / sponge. Than I put 2$ in for the first 4 mintues to fill up the bucket, rinse car, and apply spray on soap (this should be fine instead of the brush soap right? I plan to have in the bucket car wash soap I bring too just in case, or do you think the spray soap from the car wash is enough and I don't have to bring any extra car soap from my home.

Than I plan to wash the car with the car soap already applied and either a bucket of water or a bucket with water / more car soap brought from home.

After I finish, I'll use another 2$ and than rinse the car. Than Ill use another 2$ to add the clear coat finish / soft rinse the car. Than I'll dry it, than go back into the car station where it is shaded and not so windy, than apply the wax. Ther eason I'm going to do it there is because people say on the ride home (5-10 mins), I'll most likely get dirt on it defeating the whole purpose before waxing. So I'll probably do it there.

Will this foam applicator be fine?


Edit: For the wax, people said the Meguiars Ultimate Wax Paste is better than the Meguiars Carnuaba Gold Class paste Wax. I've read the UW gives more shiny / mirror look while the GC has a "darker" tint?

 

Thats what i plan on doing too. bring a bucket so you can rinse your wash mit and get the dirt off it. you may get kicked out (like i have) but it's the best option. automatic car washes will take all the wax off your car in one wash and scratch the hell out of it too.

 

yee i hope they wont kick me out..... I dont see why they would. This place isn't ran by anyone either. just open 24/7. haha. But I see u in Sac, it be dry as **** out here. I see bussinesses watering their plants and grass but I can get a ticket for washing my car on a certain day of the week..

 

I would skip the "clear coat" and any of those other add-ons at the car wash, they're not very effective and some contain pretty harsh chemicals. I'd just go w/ the wash plan and then wax when you get home. I use the Gold Carnauba and it's been good on my black G but haven't tried the other so ???

 

Alright. And If I have a few minor scratches (not deep) that still show a white mark ish, do I just use the compound than clean, than paste wax than clean?

 

I totally agree. $4 total should cover it.

 

Blnewt is right. I live in Perris, CA in Riverside County. We been hit hard in SoCal, I used those DIY car washes, but only the rinse and soap that comes from the sprayer.
It cost 4 dollars and use mirco fibers towels to dry. I just bought a AR Blue clean AR383 on Amazon (it uses less than 5 gallons to wash your car). I use Zanio to maintain the finish and waterless spray, when I get bug spat or bird doo on it. Yes water restrictions are only gonna get worse in CA, unless we get lucky in late 2015.
Good luck ,bro.

 

Hard to say over the internet, but compound is best applied w/ a random orbit buffer if you have one, like a Porter Cable. You can apply by hand but takes a lot of work, especially if you've got a large area to cover. For a few small areas you can do it by hand. You might want to go three stage if the scratches are a bit deeper. Start w/ Ultimate Compound followed w/ Ultimate Polish and finish up w/ the wax of your choice.
Good Luck, and good luck to all of you on the west coast, drought is no fun

 

Those brushes will scratch your paint. I always recommend Optimum No Rinse car wash and rinse. Good for those who can't use a water hose or live in some type of apartment/condo.

 

i do Optimum no rinse, or rinseless read up on ultima waterless wash.
micro scratching on our paint is just hard to prevent i, just do a 1 step polish sping/fall
the more you touch our paint the more you scratch it, invest in some nice microfiber the forum has a detailing section order it from the sponsor

 

No automated, touch-less LaserWash in your area, OP? Once your car is properly waxed, that kind of car wash would be fine every once in a while. As for prep before wax... go through the LaserWash for the majority of dirt removal, then simply use detail spray (with microfiber towels) on each section of the car before you clay & wax. Eventually, as the years go by, you'll end up with a whole garbage bag full of microfiber towels.

Notice I said "clay & wax". If you've not familiarized yourself with claybar yet, you're in for a happy discovery in car care.

If you go to a manual car wash with a bucket and a mitt, be sure to do it when there's no one is behind you. Nothing worse than waiting to use a bay when some jackazz feel entitled to go through 2 cycles while pulling out the bucket in between.

 

Regular car washes do leave swirl marks, touchless ones tend to use pretty aggressive chemicals which, is OK if you are fine waxing the car more often.

I live in an apartment, so rather than mucking with a hose i use Optimum No Rinse. Fill a bucket, add a few ounces and just wipe down the car. Perfect to take off light soil once a week.

You can also mix it in a higher concentration and put it in a spray bottle to use as a quick detailer for inbetween washes.

 

Been using ONR almost exclusively, the key is to use 2 buckets w "grit guards" which prevents rubbing the car down with a contaminated wash mitt.

Unfortunately my car came with free "swirl mark package" from the dealer when I bought it, so eventually I'll need to bite the bullet and get some paint correction done, but there's less of a motivation now that I no longer have garage parking