Black Paint - Nightmare

[johnmac]

Can anyone advise the best products to use and best methods for cleaning my black Vectra.I know it isn't rocket science,but I tried using the 2 bucket method with microfibre cloths and Meguiars wash and NXT wax,yet most parts of the car appear "cloudy".It takes excessive force to rub it out and even then it isn't great.

[rushy]

Have you tried clay and polishing first before wax?

[david-bell]

does your paint work feel rough when you run your fingers over it ? if so sounds like it needs a good clay with meg quick clay cost about £11 but well worth it and you will be amazed what it takes of the paint work . and should feel like glass to touch afterwards

[johnmac]

Thanks for the replies."Nope" I haven't tried claying.Need to give it ago.A couple of months ago,I spent most of the day,washing,cutting,polishing and waxing.Brought out my stone chips "brilliantly" but maybe the claying is an important thing i've missed out.Today I just went straight to the "wax" without polishing.

Expensive hobby this!!

[rushy]

And dont forget swirl removal on black cars . Us star silver boys dont really get them that bad. Your NXT wax will help with them but its best to get rid of them with something like swirl x

[Robbieben]

Easiest method is to use the Meg's Deep crystal system steps 1,2,and 3. it's available at Halfrauds. It is about as good a finish as you will get unless you want to get really serious about detailing

[rushy]

Thats what I use for the cars first detail along with clay , came up a treat. Alternate between the carnuba stage 3 wax and NXT now. The NXT gives a longer tougher finish but the stage 3 gives a better shine.

[payney]

My favourite subject detailing.
Ive chosen and used many products on my saturn blue vec which isn't far from black.
Now i've come to the conclusion that meguiars product range seem to be the best.
The method and products i use are megs Quickdetailing clay bar this come in a kit and it's very good.
followed by stage 1/2/ stage 1 paint cleaner, stage 2 polish,#21 sealant,then i use meguiars nxt generation tec wax,and finish off with nattys paste wax.
once youv'e done the nxt stage you can either use,nattys all the time or tec wax it's up to you.

The balls in your court,and yes it can be an expensive hobby.

[PIMM]

Black is a great colour when its new, but i have stone chips and is a bit of a pain when cleaning as they all show up.
As the others have said clay is really good and then a good wax after. When you wash the car try and not do it when its sunny, do not use HOT water just warm is fine.

[AndrewTi]

Had an absolute 'mare with this myself on saturday. Car was well overdue a good clean since it's respray, washed it with good quality shampoo, gently dried it and decided it was time for the unpainted parts to get the three stages again.

Spent nearly an hour trying to get rid of the swirls on the passenger door alone. Plenty of polish later it still looked milky so i decided to try the wax out to see if that would do the trick, and it did. Looks really smart! If I could work my camera I'd even put a piccy up.

Still got three stonechips already though!