Thoroughly underwhelmed by results

[Stitch]

I have a mid-blue coloured Elise and over the last couple of weeks have spent a bit of time tidying it up - this has included replacing the nose badge (which had faded badly) repainting wire mesh grills that had rusted and giving the car the following cleaning regime:

Wash with AG shampoo

Claybar with Bilt clay

Wash with AG shampoo

Polish with AG SRP

Finish with AG EGP

Used car then re-washed and applied a second layer of EGP.

After this the paintwork is smooth, shiny and water beads on it.

By as the title to the thread says - I am completely underwhelmed with the results - don't think the car looks any better than previous regime of a meguiers wash followed by megs wax.

I am not prepared to bin all the AG stuff and go out and replace the lot, but the car is sat under cover in the garage with a fresh layer of EGP - is there a further step that I can take to achieve a deep shine?

I see comments about Red Mist and paste or solid-ish caranuba (spelling?) waxes and wondered if something like this as a final step would improve things?

Any help/advice much appreciated

[mneame]

Most of the end look of the car is down to the prep. First off you don't need to clay and polish every time you clean the car. By doing this you're removing any layers of protective lsp. All the products you have though are capable of giving good results. They're not my favourite items and I wouldn't say to someone to go out and specifically buy them. But as you already have them then carry on until they run out.

Try the following:

Usual rinse,
Foam (if you have the kit to do it),
Rinse,
Light foam,
Wash 2bm,
Rinse,
Dry,
Clay,
Foam,
Rinse,
Dry,
Polih AG SRP,
Finish with AG EGP.

Then the following time you wash the car (min of 24 hours after the above)-

Rinse,
Foam,
Rinse,
Light foam,
Wash 2bm,
Rinse,
Dry,
Layer of AG EGP.

I'd recommend that you do this for the first 3 weeks to build up a few protective layers. Then after that knock the AG EGP step on the head for a period of 6 - 8 weeks, then put another layer on every 6 - 8 weeks depending on how many miles the car does. You may not need extra layers if the car doesn't get a chance to get the product worn off - out in wet weather, high temps, very low temps, high miles etc. Once a year then clay the car and polish if needed or desired.

If this still doesn't give the results you're after simply replace the AG EGP with something like Dodo Blue Velvet, Purple Haze or the Daddy - Super Natural. These will give the desired results without fail.

[belleair302]

To really make paintwoprk gain wetness or a depth of shine you need two different products. One is a glaze....it offer no protection whatsoever but does add wetness and top this off with two coats of a decent high carnauba content wax. Now you will begin to see what is possible.

[mneame]

belleair302 said:

To really make paintwoprk gain wetness or a depth of shine you need two different products. One is a glaze....it offer no protection whatsoever but does add wetness and top this off with two coats of a decent high carnauba content wax. Now you will begin to see what is possible.

I disagree, only slightly. Glazes are a cheats way of getting little extra wetness The best way to get the depth and wetness is to get as swirl and rids free paint surface as possible then a good carnuba wax. All these are without glazes and only 1 layer of Dodo after correction:

[Stitch]

thanks for the responses.

Sorry wasn't clear - done one cycle where I have clayed the car then SRP and EGP and the only time after that (car hasn't been out much!) I washed and then EGP'd.

[mneame]

Stitch said:

thanks for the responses.

Sorry wasn't clear - done one cycle where I have clayed the car then SRP and EGP and the only time after that (car hasn't been out much!) I washed and then EGP'd.

Have you got any pictures of the results? It should have quite a good look to it.

[LordGrover]

mneame said:

74.jpg[/IMG]

Not got around to the glass or wheels yet then?

Only joshing - good work that man.

[JulianHJ]

I clayed for the first time on Wednesday and was not too impressed with the results. My method was:

rinse
foam (not proper foam, only my Karcher)
rinse
2BM with AG shampoo
rinse
dry
BH clay
rinse
AG SRP
AG EGP

Will wash again and EGP in a couple of days.

Edited by JulianHJ on Saturday 4th July 09:08

[mneame]

LordGrover said:

mneame said:

74.jpg[/IMG]

Not got around to the glass or wheels yet then?

Only joshing - good work that man.

lol.

i always leave the windows right until the last minute. the wheels had been "treated" to a home refurb. Patches had been sprayed silver and the whole lot lacquered. yup even the dirt!

[mneame]

JulianHJ said:

I clayed for the first time on Wednesday and was not too impressed with the results. My method was:

rinse
foam (not proper foam, only my Karcher)
rinse
2BM with AG shampoo
rinse
dry
BH clay
rinse
AG SRP
AG EGP

Will wash again and EGP in a couple of days.

Edited by JulianHJ on Saturday 4th July 09:08

Impressed with the clay results or the finish from the egp?