Hey everyone,

So, I guess I just got carried away while repairing a scratch on the rear bumper and decided to polish / seal / wax the entire car, haha. I used the Mothers 3 step system (shown below). The car was purchased in the Spring and is a 2007 Pilot EX-L AWD, Dark Cherry Pearl. The paint (to touch) was real rough. You definitely couldn't even slide your hand over it without it sticking. I was pretty happy afterwards, especially with how well it reflects now...not bad for applying by hand, IMO. I can't wait for my UDM to really get into this, haha.

HERE'S THE PRODUCTS I USED:



OH, here's what I had to deal with, I couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I kept getting all these black specs everywhere? I finally saw ALL of these dead gnats everywhere...you can't really tell in this picture, but they were terrible, everytime I'd apply the product, by the time I'd go to buff it off there were all these dead gnats smeared under it





See the TL in there






I just liked the reflection of the front of the house in this one...


Another reflection (I like how you can see the blue in my watch, even with the Dark Cherry Pearl paint):

 

wanna clean mine next? I pay in beer.....

 

Wow, nice job man

 

Haha, ok...I take it that the plane ticket to Dallas is also provided (and back)

Thanks man, I appreciate it...especially after the time I put into it by hand, haha. Oh and I assume from the username, you've got a 97 Black CL, right? I just sold my 97 White 3.0 CL the other day...still loved the car.

 

haha i planned on having my private jet pick you up

 

^^^

Haha, alright then, it's a deal!

 

yeeaaa....but one problem.....i just remembered i dont have a private jet....but i do however have BEER!

 

Under Aged Beer Consumption Alert.

 

Nice job Steve!! Wait till you try that new stuff!!

 

looks great!

 

Carnuba is great, but the durability of it is no good in my book. Overall looks great though!

 

Thanks Pat - oh yeah I can't wait for the UDM to arrive! Right about when I was halfway through Stage 2 of doing this SUV by hand I was thinking...how am I not using an automatic machine, haha.

Yeah, I can't say I agree from personal experience, because I haven't used anything else, but from what I read I tend to agree with you. Either way though, it looks a hell of a lot better now than before I did it...so anything was an improvement, IMO. I just couldn't believe it came from the dealer that way...or got that way after only 6 months

 

nice job

 

^^^

Thanks cl-baller201 - just seeing your username makes me miss my CL I kept the CL for about a month after buying the TL in August, then decided to sell it.

 

Great job .. don't mind the carnuba comment ,, if its used as a topper ove a sealant your fine .. one thing you can do to set it off tho is get a can of No-Touch or the likes tire dressing and spray the wheel well liners... will make them look nice and finish off the job.

All in all .. looks great!!!

 

^^^

Thanks Jesstzn! I didn't even think of using the tire dressing for the wheel weel liners - great idea

 

tire dressing reminds me of salad

 

Very Nice detail. I wish I had half of those skills. Next time your in NJ make sure you look me up I also pay in Beer.. and well I might let you have some of my grey goose too.

 

Hey Evader, thanks I appreciate the comments. Although, I must point out that I don't have near the skills as some of the people on this board! But, it was those people on this board that provided me with much of what I know today. I actually just got my UDM in the mail yesterday! So, once I get set up with some new polish / sealant that I've been researching I'm going to tackle the swirls on my Dad's red Toyota Solara.

Oh, and once I get good with the UDM I'll stop by for some beer & grey goose I'm actually in NJ every now and then for business, because I have two clients out there.

 

no fair...grey goose

 

^ Don't worry. Goose is about all I drink so I have plenty for everyone. You just have to come detail the NBP and I'll give you a bottle for your work! Can someone PM me with some good detailing/Wash instructions and maybe a list of beginner products to use? Yes, Yes, I know thread hijack lol and I've got a lot of useful tips through search. Maybe I just don't use the right brand towels or whatever but I always seem to leave the car looking more dirty than when I originally started. I always use microfiber towels and still doesn't do me any good. Maybe I should trying applying the wash with my barehands and I'll get better results. I've never used a clay bar bc I'm just afraid I'll F** up the paint and it will cost me an arm and a leg in the end. I'm going to an Acura meet this weekend, maybe I'll have to try a different method on saturday morning

 

Ah, jacking my thread - I see how it is. No, it's all good, that's how we all learn, here are some tips I can give you...

For the drying part, use a Waffle Weave MF towel - here are some from ExcelDetail.com that people on here seem to like, and Pat is one of our vendors here on AZ. I've been using these from Autopia which I really like. One tip though, which I found out the long way...wash them before use in your wash machine, light detergent, NO SOFTNER! Then tumble dry low or air dry. You will avoid getting fuzz all over your car in the drying process if you wash prior to the first use.

The most important part I can tell you about drying - before you dry, take your nozzle off the hoze and let the water run free from the hose, run it over all panels off the car, you should notice that it quickly 'pools up' and runs off the car, leaving you with much less water to dry, compared to if you 'sprinkled' it with the nozzle. This helps tremendously.

Regarding washing; some like a sheepskin mit, others a microfiber. I'm personally using this one, also from Autopia which I got as a kit with the towels (and it also came with some Sonus soap, which is OK, not bad, but I like P21S better).

Lastly, the clay bar. This isn't necessary if you're just going to do a wash. If you plan to wash, polish, seal/wax - then yes. You will actually do more damage by washing and claying and not going any further, you need to polish / seal to protect your car's finish. If you do decide to do it, it's not difficult at all - in fact, I think we were all apprehensive at first, haha. Just the name / sound of it makes you afraid. It's really easy, you just spray the lubricant (a quick detailer) and kneed the clay into a ball, eventually making a flat disc, half dollar like formation (start with half the bar in case you drop it on the ground, if you do drop it - throw it out). Do about 6 inch passes at a time, spray the QD first, then glide the clay across the section you sprayed, up & down, then left to right a few passes, then move to the next section. There shouldn't be any resistance, if there is, use more QD.

Hope this helps and good luck to you! You will be obssessed in no time and waiting for packages in the mail of your online orders or spending way too much money on all of this, haha!

 

Nice job. I like the color of the Pilot a lot.

 

look at steve go! nice tips!

I have a new addition to my washing force, I found some grout sponges at home depot. made in greece $1.97, has a very soft feel and holds a lot of water. I cut the one in half so I could use it in more smaller locations.