Details on Detailing
 

Last Spring I had my Cobra detailed by a shop that came highly recommended. The owner of the shop did my black Cobra, and while I was there his son was there admiring my Cobra. When I returned later it was finished and it looked great, but as time went on I kept finding globs of wax and missed spots. Now want to properly clean it up.

To add insult to injury, about two weeks after i had my Cobra detailed some guy walks up to me as I pulled into the local Starbucks and starts telling me how awesome my Cobra is. THEN, he told me he recently saw me racing up the Bay Ave on-ramp from Capitola, WIDE-OPEN, and what a thrill it was to see. "Nah, couldn't have been me." I said, because it couldn't have been. But he insisted that MY Cobra was the one he saw and added, "You had an older guy with you---he had a mustache."

:mad::mad::mad: Fuuuu... The detail shop was near Bay Ave. and it appears the owner let his son joy ride my Cobra while he himself rode shotgun. Though, I cannot prove it---I didn't have a GPS system then---the timing and the location is too uncanny to dismiss.:mad::mad::mad:

Anyhow, since I don't want to take my Cobra THERE anymore, and I've lost confidence in people respecting my ride. I'll be doing my own detailing.

Can anyone provide some advice on how to remove the streaks of crusty dry wax I find in the lines of the hood and the trunk? I was thinking of using Meguiar's Quick Detail and a clay bar, and lots of patience. Gentle polishing, perhaps?

Any suggestions on detailing?

DD

Wow. I have a friend that is a prominent CEO of a big company and was guest speaker at a huge banquet at the Century Hotel in LA. He gave his nice Porsche Turbo to the valet and went in to have dinner. After dinner, he realized he had forgotten his speech in the car. Went down to valet service and it took a long time for them to "find" his car. When they did, he noticed it had almost 40 new miles on it!:eek: Hotel claimed that they have nothing to do with the valets. Nice!

As far as detailing, Griot's Garage has some great stuff for wax removal, polishing and anything you need.....

Car Care Products, Detailing Supplies, Auto Accessories - Griot's Garage 800-345-5789

I haven't used the Griot's wax remover but as far as retail products go they have a strong following. So if this is wax in a trunk seal channel or something like that, and the paint is rough and not wet sanded, I use a wax and grease remover like 3M 08984, or Blackfire spray cleaner. If it's wet sanding slurry, I use a green scrub kitchen sponge. It takes some work to get slurry off if it's really set in. You can always do a test spot with what you have.

Have started using Zaino products and have been impressed with them. Not sure I see using all their products, but have used the daily driver package and the 2 quick detail products along with their towels. Great product that works great.

I have had good luck with these guys. Top notch products and a lot of good "how to" information on their website:

Car Care Specialties - Quality Car Care Products

The Meguires detailing forum has tons or tips and how to's for all various detailing requirements. Along with what has been suggested above, I am sure that you will be right.

That does not however solve your car having experienced a 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' joyride.

Call Larry at carcareonline.com. Very informative and has tested all the products he sells. Will probably recommend P21S paint polish and P21S carnauba wax. Griots also has good products but the P21S products easier to use by hand.

Bella, says to use PPG "Wax and Grease Remover", it is formulated to specifically remove everything but the paint. She would be willing to help anyone that would like any help (760)428-2177.

Griot's wax remover.

For a new coat that looks unbeatable and is easy to apply, go with Zaino.

One advantage of after market EFI - I have a second map with a hidden switch that limits revs to 2000 and seriously retards ignition from 1000 to 2000 revs for just such occasions. no wheel spins or joy riding.

Lessons learned sometimes can be painful some very costly. Worst yet is damage that really hurts. It happened to me once letting someone try one of my Harleys. That person slammed into the side of a parked car and took off running left me with the bill for everything.

First of all I never leave my car anywhere alone - always there with it. Second, if I had to leave it I would never leave the keys - they will have to push it around.

The PPG wax and grease remover is the best to get the dried out wax and wet sanding residue out. Works well but still requires elbow grease. On black paint the best that I have used and trust me I have used them all (Zaino, included ) is Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant but that is not your only step.
Black paint is not a color but a part time job. You will have small scratches and fine swirl marks that need to be removed before you put on the final sealant. The best product that I have ever used is a product called Menzerna used with a random orbital buffer. I used it on my Black SL65 and the finish was better than the ones on the showroom floor. Do a search on Autopia.org for the how to use advice. Autopia is a great place for detailing advice and the participants are true detail fanatics.

I'm also very impressed with Zaino - good stuff and easy to use. Hardest part is figuring out their product line, as it is extensive - they cater to the show car crowd and you really don't need all that stuff. They also have the softest, borderless microfiber towels imaginable. Ask for product advice if you want to go that way.

Kevin

You might take a look at a German product called KLASSE...it is certainly
one of the best.

Agreed about black cars...every time, I swear I won't get another one. And yet....

Thanks, guys. I lot of stuff to look into here. My Cobra is my third black car (in series, not parallel), and so I knew what I was getting into when I had it painted black. Next to a polished aluminum body, dripping-wet looking black is the best.

Regarding "Ferris": I thought the owner of a reputable shop would respect his customer's car. I guess I was wrong.

I thought Griot's had a product made just for black painted cars...might want to check.

I would have went back and kicked their arse. And then sued them. :LOL:

I know a guy, who knows a guy too. :)

Finally, there is Bob at Auto Concierge. I haven't used him, but according to all the Porsche and Ferrari folks, he's the best detailer around and you pay for it too.

I've seen that pic or similar before. What was the name of the shop? And where are they located? If I recall and it's the same shop I am thinking of, they do good mechanical work as well.