She's BACK!
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Massachusetts, USA
Anyway, a body shop quoted $150 to polish and clearcoat both headlights. I'm leaning toward having them do it. More expensive than a kit, but they'll do a better job and it will likely last longer with the professionally-applied clearcoat.
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 351
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From: Fort Wayne, IN
You've a history with cars, so IDK how much of this is good advice or things you already know or know better. Anyway...
After bug & tar for the big stuff, next up would be to claybar the surface. For lubricant with the claybar you can use soapy water, or just buy a cheap exterior detailing spray. If this is your first time using clay, no worries, there are a bazillion youtube videos on its use and it's not rocket science. Work your way top-down, because the lower section of the car is going to be the worse. If you start down low, you'll just eat up your supply of clay, and clay is kind of expensive.
Don't expect to do the entire car in one sitting, because that's just not realistic. Take your time, one panel at a time. Keep notes about which parts of the car you've completed and have yet to do. The other thing about taking notes is you can record where the scratches, chips and dings are, if you're going to address those in addition to the finish. However, don't take too long with the clay, because you're going to want to seal and polish afterwards. You might want to seal and polish each section after you clay, instead of planning on a whole-car approach.
Also, clay the glass. You'll see what I mean (no pun, LOL).
Same for your wheels, but that's probably going to feel hopeless. Painted, clear-coated aluminum wheels are something you have to keep up with every year, otherwise the damage to the finish just gets out of hand. If they're really bad, you might want to network for a local powdercoater, and pony up for a beautiful new finish. Or just get some new wheels... the sport 18s are kind of meh.
Headlight lenses look pretty good as is, which is kind of surprising. Was the car parked indoors over the years?
As for your exhaust tips... metal polish applied with 4-naught (0000) steel wool. Honest, 0000 steel wool. But only your tips, nothing else!
After bug & tar for the big stuff, next up would be to claybar the surface. For lubricant with the claybar you can use soapy water, or just buy a cheap exterior detailing spray. If this is your first time using clay, no worries, there are a bazillion youtube videos on its use and it's not rocket science. Work your way top-down, because the lower section of the car is going to be the worse. If you start down low, you'll just eat up your supply of clay, and clay is kind of expensive.
Don't expect to do the entire car in one sitting, because that's just not realistic. Take your time, one panel at a time. Keep notes about which parts of the car you've completed and have yet to do. The other thing about taking notes is you can record where the scratches, chips and dings are, if you're going to address those in addition to the finish. However, don't take too long with the clay, because you're going to want to seal and polish afterwards. You might want to seal and polish each section after you clay, instead of planning on a whole-car approach.
Also, clay the glass. You'll see what I mean (no pun, LOL).
Same for your wheels, but that's probably going to feel hopeless. Painted, clear-coated aluminum wheels are something you have to keep up with every year, otherwise the damage to the finish just gets out of hand. If they're really bad, you might want to network for a local powdercoater, and pony up for a beautiful new finish. Or just get some new wheels... the sport 18s are kind of meh.
Headlight lenses look pretty good as is, which is kind of surprising. Was the car parked indoors over the years?
As for your exhaust tips... metal polish applied with 4-naught (0000) steel wool. Honest, 0000 steel wool. But only your tips, nothing else!
I'll be doing the same thing with my sedan this spring. I put a ceramic coating on the car to protect it through winter, but it's only supposed to last 6 months or so, and with the abuse winter does to your paint I'm sure it will be long gone by the time I get to clay barring the car lol
Good tip for the exhaust tips (pun intended lol) When I had my exhaust done, I had black double wall tips put on so I didn't have to worry about polishing the tips all the time. I just put the same ceramic coating on them as I did the car and they come clean nice and easy.
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mjnoles1
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Jul 24, 2015 03:21 PM