I have NBP and why is it so hard to keep clean?!? I've had a silver prelude before which was easy to keep clean, but now with black it seems like my car attracts dirt like crazy and doesn't look clean. Anyone have any tips on keeping it clean? I was thinking of getting one of those mop thingy for my car. Does anyone know what I'm talking about and have any tips?

Also while cleaning my car I've also noticed 5 chips in the paint!! It sticks out like a sore thumb on NBP. Couple on my hood and few on the passenger side door. I went ahead and bought one of those pen touch-up paint. Any tips on how to apply it? Does Acura just use cheap paint?!

Love the car, but can't deal with all this stress. I've had this car for little over a month and looks like i've had my car over a year with the chips and scratches in the paint.

Thanks for any tips you guys can give me.

 

Black is black...looks bitchen...pain in the ass to keep clean. My black RL is the same way...just shows every little spec of filth.

I also got 2 small chips (I frequent roads also traveled by tons of gravel trucks) on the front and ended up putting on the "free" nose mask I got as part of my negotiation.

For touch up paint I've always just applied it a tiny bit at a time, or feathered one of those paper matches (they tend to not leave "brush" strokes). It really depends on how big the chips are. If they're too big (like bigger than 1/8") I don't do it myself as I'm paranoid of f-ing it up worse.

 

older cars used lead in the paint and made it stronger and less pronged to chips. the newer paint i do admit is softer and chips easier. nothing you can do about that. you can consider getting a clear bra but i think it looks tacky. some people say its invisible but don't get fooled by the internet pics. if you see if in person you will see it. when you are using the touch up paint apply it using a very small point, like a tooth pick for example. clean the surface so no dirt or dust is around. tab the chip with the paint and let the paint fill the hole. very thin coats. depending on how deep the chip is you will have to do this several times. the chip should not stick out so much. depending on how experienced you are with compounding you can compound the chip flush with the paint and then repolish it. there was a post on how to do this. i am not that good(too afraid) to compound so usually filling in the chip is good enough for me, i can hardly tell.

 

Its simple, just don't ever expect it to look clean. :p

Black sucks like that, it looks so great after you wash it but horrible the next day.

One of those california duster things can help keep the dust off of it, but any dirt, grime, bird crap, mud, etc. can scratch the paint and ruin the duster.

Your best bet is to always keep the hose and towels handy.

 

I use the duster and it's pretty handy for things like pollen but still have to wash minimally once, typically twice a week cause of all the "June Gloom" SoCal drizzle...just enough to get the car wet so every spec of filth sticks.

 

one thing i've noticed is that the dirt/chips/scratches don't look as bad at night

 

What else do you have to do on the weekends?

This is my first black car and I have to admit that it does require some work to keep it clean. The reward, however, is greater than any of my previous cars after the NBP is cleaned. Couple of Zaino coats and you'll thank yourself for picking the NBP. Hard to keep clean, but just a bad-a$$ ride when it shines.

As for scratches and dings, I really haven't found any solutions yet. I have a door ding just aft of front left tire and a slight smudge / scratch on my right rear that will be polished out this weekend. I did invest in a bra and like the inital look, but I envision hassle so I'll probably only have it on for long trips. So, I'll just have to stay far behind any trucks and drive really, really fast so that the dust won't have time to settle on my car.

 

This is also my first black car and I agree its a real pain to keep clean. Just like everyone said when it is clean the looks alone will be worth the time it took. You may want to invest in a car cover and a California duster. Please avoid those carwashes. You will regret taking it there, from swirls to small scratches.

 

Few things in life top a clean black car....

....few things in life suck more than constantly cleaning your black car!!

It is a give and take relationship!!

 

You need to worship at the temple of Zaino.

I got my NBP and when it is clean, there is NOTHING like it. I was just in the garage yesterday staring at her.

Again, Zaino, Zaino, Zaino.

There are plenty of posts on how to do this (all letters...Z18, Z2, Z6, chant, Z2, ooooouuuummmm....ZZZ)...but it works.

Once all that preliminary junk is done, a little Z6 (spray bottle) and a nice cotton towel made by Tibetian Monks in the USA, etc...

Well...anyway, spray on some Z6 and wipe...three minutes every evening to keep your baby looking way better than any of those Anthritice cars (whateverthehell that color is).

 

like he said ^^^^^^ lots and lots of Z
oh and wash early and often lol

 

i heard Zaino was a dust magnet. my last car was black and it stayed clean for about a couple of hours, then dust would get on it. i do love the look of a dark colored car. when it shines its real nice. i have a silver car and it hides the dust alot better.

 

I ljust received my black on black TL. My friends think I am crazy but I enjoy detailing my car. Washed once a week ..waxed every 2 months(have to due to the elevation in Denver co) The California Duster mop works great for me. If it does not rain or sno you can dust it off every morning or nightime and the car looks nice. I have used black wax to kinda cover up thise chips cause regular wax will highlight the chip on a black car. Black cars are really a pain to keep clean, but when they are clean they ROCK!! Good luck

 

I've had three black vehicles (no more!) which was fine when I was single. Now that I have a full family, hobbies and interests, there is no time for a black vehicle anymore.

What I did to keep my black vehicles clean: washed on Friday and Monday evenings kept in garage with car cover, believe it or not this does works!

As far as Zaino goes, "it helps repell dust" not the other way around like someone incorrectly stated.

Mike Smeezy, Zaino Master and Author of "Zaino for Dummies"

 

I've had three black vehicles (no more!) which was fine when I was single. Now that I have a full family, hobbies and interests, there is no time for a black vehicle anymore.

What I did to keep my black vehicles clean: washed on Friday and Monday evenings kept in garage with car cover, believe it or not this does works!

As far as Zaino goes, "it helps repell dust" not the other way around like someone incorrectly stated.

Mike Smeezy, Zaino Master and Author of "Zaino for Dummies"

 

NBP is tough to keep clean...no doubt....but regarding the chips....I have the clear bra...and tell me....what would you rather see on your car - a thin almost invisible line across your hood or 50 ugly chips in the nose and bumper? You be the judge. For me..the clear bra is the best invention ever to protect the beauty of your ride.

 

Where did you get your clear bra and how much $$. I'm in Southern MA and interested.

 

The mop thingy you were talking about is the California Duster. Stay away from that thing. You can't clean it easily, and it caused my paint to spider web. And red lint gets everywhere. I think it scratches the paint, because I think its made of polyester.

Anyways, I have good luck getting the dust off with my non-synthetic MicroFiber towel. And I can toss that in the wash after a couple times. When I drive the car in the rain, I dry it off with the leafblower when I get home. Most of the dirt is usually in suspension in the water, so removing the water prevents dirt from getting on the car. I've made it through a few rainstorms, and the car looked like I never drove it the next day

 

The dirt definitely shows on NBP, but it's not unmanageable. I drive about 500 miles a week and garage the car at night. I'm washing once a week and go over it with the California duster if it's picked up a lot of dust. Haven't seen any scratches from the duster, but I'll keep an eye on it. I wax it with NXT and used the spray wax last weekend for the first time. It hasn't picked up as much dust this week - some dust but still looks good after 4 days and 300 miles. Too early to give the NXT any credit for that, but it is easy to use and looks great.

 

Yea go buy 500 dollars worth of zaino, spend 3 months applying 25 different product 3 coats @ a time, and itll still be dirty the next day.


ABP + S100 > *

 

I included my clear bra in the original deal I made for the car so it would be pretty tough to tell you how much I paid for it. I had it done at Inskip Acura in Warwick, RI...they did a great job. I'm sure they have an outside contractor come in to install it...mine is the "Roadblock" clear bra. My guess is that you can get it installed anywhere from 600+