Detailing & Polishing your VZ

CHDSV6 · #1 09-10-2007, 08:14 PM

I've noticed after some searching that there is not a lot of information about detailing in this forum. I'm not having a dig or anything but up here in NQ we seem to have a lot of beautiful cars that aren't really cared for properly. Don't know what it is like elsewhere, but I thought I'd post up some info on how I keep my machine. It's an SV6 in Black (Phantom Black I think is the correct name)

Also note I'm not trying to plug any products or anything, this is just what I have found to work well on the VZ after months of researching & experimentation.

Products I use most commonly;

Swissvax Pneu OR Meguiars Hot Shine Tyre Spray (2nd pref.)
Johnson & Johnsons Baby Shampoo
Meguiars Lambswool wash mitt (the more expensive one of the two Megs has)
Autoglym Interior Shampoo
Aerospace 303 Protectant
3M Perfect-It III Detailing Clay
Autoglym Fast Glass

HAND POLISING / WAXING
Autoglym Paint Renovator
Autoglym Deep Crystal Polish
Swissvax Cleaner Fluid
Swissvax Saphir Wax or Meguiars Cleaner Wax

MACHINE POLISHING / WAXING
Pinnacle XMT Fine/Ultra Fine Polishes
Aquawax

This is about all you need to keep your ride in pristine condition. Most products can be purchased at your local Supercheap / Autobarn etc. But the Swissvax and Pinnacle brands can be purchased online.

Ill get around to writing a full article about the procedure for each product when I can, and if someone has anything to add about what works good on Leather in the VZ, please do (I have burgundy cloth in my VZ).

Below are some comparison photos taken off my bonnet taken in the early days of correcting the marks in my paint. Note the reflections around the sun.

Before

After

kzh_lim · #2 09-10-2007, 11:58 PM

thats a clean-looking surface u've got there mate....its hard to keep the black surface shiny though...i have a black sv6 myself and it really sucks when it rains...

Ronaldw · #3 10-10-2007, 10:35 AM

In the manual Holden say that polishing is not necessary but I just use a standard Polish the green type once a year and I find it satisfactory, my car is Silver but if you do it more often I can't see that it would hurt your paint.

CHDSV6 · #4 10-10-2007, 01:52 PM

Your absolutely right Ronaldw - paint "shouldn't" ever need to be polished. But most of us use a crappy sponge and poor quality chamois' etc on our cars. Everytime you wash you are actually making microscopic scratches in the paint. On a silver car it won't show so badly (go put your car in the sun and have a look at the reflections around the sun) the darker the car gets the harder it is to hide these marks.

The best thing you can do is keep your car washed properly using a quality wash mitt and a gentle shampoo such as baby shampoo. Many of the commercial wash solutions such as Armorall have heavy detergents in them that strip the wax/nutrients from your paint. Keep the wax up to your car as much as you can, even though it's time consuming you'll end up making it easier to maintain in the long run.

kzh_lim - I know how you feel! the best and quickest defence against the rain is a product called Duragloss Aquawax. It's a spray carnauba wax sealant and I apply it almost every time I wash. It takes about 5 minutes for the whole car, and dosen't leave white residues on trims etc. Watch the rain try and stick to your paint after an application of this stuff - water and dust simply rolls off!

Duragloss Aquawax can be brought from Waxit for $16.95 for 650ml(here)

A quality microfibre cloth is the Detailing Ultra Soft Towel - Grey. also available for $12.95 at Waxit (here)

Autoglym products can also be brought at your Holden dealership from the spare parts / merchandise department although they are probably a tad more expensive there.

LS1Chubby · #5 15-10-2007, 12:42 PM

so what product did you use to get rid of those squirrel scratches?

CHDSV6 · #6 15-10-2007, 01:32 PM

Removing the swirl marks was a combination of products, the previous owner had not taken good care of the car as it was a company car, so I had my work cut out for me when I bought it.

The entire procedure is as follows -

Wash the car,
Clay (3M Clay, as listed previously) the car to remove imperfections.
2nd wash, rinse & chamois dry
clean door jambs, bonnet and boot sills and fuel filler recess.
Machine polish - Pinnacle XMT Fine Cut over entire car
Machine polish - Pinnacle XMT Ultra Fine Cut over entire car to restore shine
Wash car to remove polish compound and chamois dry
Apply Swissvax cleaner fluid to prepare surface for waxing
Apply Swissvax Saphir Wax & Buff off
Apply Duragloss Aquawax as final sealant

This whole process takes the best part of a day, but once the car has been prepared correctly it takes minimal care to keep it in this condition. Washing with a good mitt and clean water and waxing every few weeks is sufficient.

Also, if you are considering a machine polish, DON'T get those polish/buff machines from supercheap/autobarn etc. They are not up to the task, and will do more harm than good. Invest in (or borrow) a decent Random Orbital Sander such as a GMC RO150 from Bunnings for about $140 and fit it out with a good pad. Lambswool pads will make more marks so avoid these- they are used for panel beating type jobs or heavy paint correction and are not suitable for correcting light swirls in paint. Buy a quality Foam pad such as a light/medium cut Meguairs pad. I use CCS pads from Waxit, although these are quite expensive if you are on a budget. XMT Products are intended for use with a machineso if you want to hand polish, use the meguiars foam applicator pads with Autoglym Deep Crystal Polish, and work the product in lines, not circles one panel at a time.

TIP - to remove polish/wax residue from your plastic or rubber trim is to simply rub them off with a soft pencil eraser. Works 90% of the time.

Just for interest, below is a comparison on my SV6 taken last week (3 days after washing). It rained just before I left for work, and as you can see less than 20 minutes at 60-80kmh is plenty to get the rain to sheet off with minimal water spots remaining. This is with an application of Aquawax.

Cousin Slow Poke · #7 15-10-2007, 03:09 PM

OK, who wants to come to Canberra and do the whole process on my car? Cause i CBF!!! lol

Will pay!

CHDSV6 · #8 15-10-2007, 06:52 PM

I'd be more than happy to! Something tells me you're probably not willing to pay for me to come all that way though...!

Fortunately "down south" there is a lot more (and better standards) of automotive detailing than we have up here in Townsville. I would find a reputable detailer in your area and have them put in the hard yards for you and then all you have to do is keep it clean. Make sure you specifically tell them what you want - generally they won't correct swirls, holograms, etc. unless you ask or unless they specialise in paint correction. Be prepared to pay anywhere between $100 ~ $400 depending on the level of treatment.

Scooter79 · #9 15-10-2007, 10:13 PM

CHDSV6, nice work mate

Have I seen you on detail paradise before? My favourite product would have to be Meguiars #80 speed Glaze. Difficult to get in Australia. All the good Meguiars stuff don't get distributed here

Late one night travelling from Sydney to the south coast is was windy as hell. I hit a small branch on the hwy and left a scratch on the front quarter panel. Using the GMC, a white polishing pad and $80 that scratch is now completely gone. No way would that have been fixed by hand polishing. I did the whole car while I was at it. Washed, clayed, #80 and a Megs synthetic sealant and the car becomes a mirror. I'll wash it again this week and put another coat of sealant on and get some photos.

CHDSV6 · #10 16-10-2007, 07:38 AM

Hi Scooter, I thought I recognised the name from DP - I'm under chd86 over there...

It's amazing what you can acheive with some good tools and a bit of practise - I've only been detailing my car since about April and I think it's safe to say I'm an addict. I thought I'd like to bring something a bit different to the JC forum as mechanical stuff, etc. isn't really my calling. When I first started looking in to detailing I watched a lot of videos on the net about detailing, but most were demo/promo videos from meguiars and featured a lot of products we can't get here, as you said. Luckily there are plenty of great alternatives!

When I posted this up under "Detailing an Polishing your VZ" I hoped it would become much broader and have information for all models of Commodore. The process I have used on mine is by no means an exact or perfect formula and isn't specific to the VZ, I just haven't got any info on doing other models. If you or anyone else has anything to add for other cars please do, and maybe we can get a fairly complete article going that applies to all Commodores.

Scooter79 · #11 16-10-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHDSV6

....When I posted this up under "Detailing an Polishing your VZ" I hoped it would become much broader and have information for all models of Commodore. The process I have used on mine is by no means an exact or perfect formula and isn't specific to the VZ, I just haven't got any info on doing other models. If you or anyone else has anything to add for other cars please do, and maybe we can get a fairly complete article going that applies to all Commodores.

There's already the sticky in the general section titled 'detailing tips and tricks' and over 270 posts. We could try get another one happening on this forum but your going to get the same knobs making silly comments like "I polish with a tea towel and some kitten" or "Just take it to the local car wash and scrub with the broom" You're never going to turn those people around and you're better off getting info from a dedicated detailing forum/website and then apply those guidelines to any VB through to the VE. We could spend time sifting through the detailing thread and deleting any crap posts if the moderators would let us because there are some really good posts hidden in there.

CHDSV6 · #12 17-10-2007, 07:37 AM

Thanks Scooter, I hadn't seen the detailing sticky over there. I'll have a good read and see what it's like. I know some people don't give a damn about keeping their car in good condition - but at least there's imformation here and places like DP for those that do.

IPCOlsenVZ · #13 21-10-2007, 06:21 PM

Good to see some of the DP guys here!!

chd, awesome beading happening... keep it up. My old girl got the p21 treatment a couple of weeks ago, really happy with it.

Scooter, your comments:
"I polish with a tea towel and some kitten" or "Just take it to the local car wash and scrub with the broom"

GOLD!!!

It’s so true, sometimes u just have to give up on some people.

Anywho... great input guys.