Here are some pics of the car after a thorough washing , claying, polishing and waxing. I found some new scratches but how hard is it to do that on a Black car? LOL!!

There are a couple with my beautiful model who wanted to be in every picture.




Another Run down spot shot. This was the next day after driving a couple hundred miles the day before. The Plate on the front took a beating from the bugs, and the tire shine wore off, but what do you do?



This is fresh after I was done..



Then you see My Glaring new scratch I found. 1 of 6 New ones



Now my Model..........

 

oh, and before the rants begin, I had actually just washed the car when I took the picture of the bumper. I hadn't done anything else yet. I immediately cleaned off those water spots, I just didn't take another picture.

 

Nice. Gotta clay and wax my car soon too!

 

cool what kind of camera? what product did you use?

 

Thank you! My Camera is a Fuji Film S5100. I am still trying to get the hang of this photography thing. I used all Meguiar's Cleaning products, from the soap, to the Clay, to the Cleaner Wax, to the MF Towels, to the Swirl remover, to the Polish, and the Detailer's wax. I didn't even get to the inside because I had to be at a party later on that afternoon. Oh, and the Tire shine (which doesn't really last that long) was also Meguiar's.

 

Nice pics. I have been using some products from griots garage for about 3 years of polishes they make and clay. they sell a orbital polisher and the polish is good stuff. makes your car look like it was just painted. they have a sealant that I have been using on our farm tractors that last longer than way and you would be amazed at how it keeps paint from fading.

 

nice pics

 

Thanks Guys! After my son is born in July, I can maybe start Modding. I want to get a drop and a camber kit to start. (Well, after I tint the windows first of course) The rides on here are something else. Thanks for stopping by to peek at my "Stock" TL.

Billinohio, I think that I saw a link somewhere on the forums about the products you are referring too. the Tractor is what brought it back to my mind. I always wanted to try that stuff. I may have to look in to Griot's Garage.

 

Looks good, its enjoyable when you do it yourself

 

It is. This is one of the ways that I relax on the weekends. There is just something gratifying about it.

 

x2... car looks good! should be gettin my shine on soon also... and cute model.. probably confused as to why shes standing in front of the car lol

 

We were at a park when I took those shots. She saw me pull out the camera and she ran in front of the car to take pictures and would not move. It was quite hilarious.

 

looks great! i spent all day sunday doing the same minus the clay.. even polished my wheels

 

Looks great. Especially for a black car. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the front plate. Then again I don't like ANY plate on the front of a TL. hahah Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks Zac! I threw a little wax on my wheels too.

ChrisQ,

I don't really like the plate either, but my wife bought it for my 1st Gen TL and I never got it on and she just complained about that. (I even broke the brackets on the bumper to make sure that it wouldn't go on) I had no excuse on this car, though. She even asked me about putting on that plate before i got the car off of the lot. I am just waiting until it gets all crudded up (is that a word?) and then I can take it off. After it comes off, I am removing the entire mounting bracket.

 

Looks great!!

 

I clay the complete car (I mean every inch of it) every spring. It takes me about 5hrs to do that. I get every spec of everything out of the paint. I then apply a cleaner wax and two coats of regular wax (Wizards). That gives the car a remarkable glow and smoothness. I then go over the car weekly with the clay bar to remove a spec here and there. The mist and shine and clay bar are always in my trunk.

A clay bar is still the best way to get contaminates out of your paint. Its alot harder with dark colors because you really have to look to see every spec (that is where having a white car helps) but it gives you an outstanding base to wax over. As anal as I am its a good thing I do not have a black car - it would drive me absolutly crazy.

 

I am right there with you. I am getting really anal about it. I am now the jerk (along with another jerk in my office who drives an e320) who parks away from everyone in the very back of the office parking lot. We make sure that there are at least two spaces between us too. That other jerk also happens to be an avid car enthusiast and he used to do national car shows so I am really getting to learn some serious tricks to detailing my car. If I can't have one of the most modded TL-S's right now, I will strive to have one of the cleanest!

 

Nice n clean son. My fiance has a cousin in Snelville, I was out there a few mnths back, I could have looked u up.

 

Hey that would have been good. Fa Sho'. Try this on for size, My wife has a cousin who lives in Houston. We are planning on going out there next year for a family reunion (most of her family is in San Antonio) We should definitely do something. I will be looking for a way to disappear.

 

i would take that front plate off asap man- the bracket will scratch the bumper more and more the longer it is on there. I got mine at 110k with a front plate and my bumper was beyond repair when i removed it. You can use that as an excuse for your wife too Hang the plate up on a wall somewhere so its still getting some love. If you decide to keep it on at least put something soft between the bracket and the paint so it wont rub it off

 

^^^ and you can put the plate in the front window

 

Good Ideas fellas. I will try this and let you know.