Detailed car--still looks like crap.

[FoxBodyGT]

I washed, clay bar'd, polished, buffed, waxed it and still looks no better.

I don't know. When I bought this car, I saw that it had a cheap-o repaint on the red. It was faded a little, but no big deal----so I thought. I washed it once and it ended up drying in the sun and left water spots. these freakin things won't come out for nothing.

I did all of the above and the car looks no better than it did before. Those spots will not even come out. Hell, the residue from the clay bar spray (instant detail spray) is still on there. I don't know what to do--seems like the paint is soaking up all of the bad stuff and repelling all of the good stuff.

Not happy at all. :damnit:

Any suggestions.

 

[zincyellow03]

Time for a new paint job?

 

[wytstang]

Unfortuantly it sounds like your paint is shoot. You can try to consult with a local detailer and get there opinion. It would be cheaper to pay a good detailer to fix it than having to repaint the car. Pay them to do a fender and see if it makes a difference.

 

[LILBLKSNAKE]

Is it possible that you waxed over the water spots and "trapped" them on the fiinish?

Try autobodydepot.net for professional products.

If you have access to a buffer, I usually start with a nice foam pad and the following procedure...

Dawn detergent wash (wash entire car twice to remove wax and silicones)
Leaf blower dry
Towel dry

There are different steps here depending on the condition of the paint, but from your description I would go as follows...

3m Trizact scratch and swirl remover
3m Polishing pad Machine Glaze
3m Hand glaze

Then top it off with a good PURE carnauba wax (no cleaners)

The Trizact is a mild compound and removes alot of suface imperfections. The glazes do a good job of filling and hiding any remaining imperfections.

 

[spree]

Did you polish it by hand? What products did you use?

 

[redmustanggt]

I know most of the time a clay bar would take out most of the water spots and with everything elese you did the car should look real good. Sounds like the paint might be shot and its time for a new paint job.

 

[RickyB]

what are the exact products and what did you used to apply them?...and in what steps did you do it?

 

[detailman94]

I own my own detail shop and use Carbrite products. They make a product called surface clarifier. It is made for water spots. So what I suggest is to call around and see if a local detail shop uses carbrite. If you dont have any luck that way I will try to get a # for a local distributor. let me know what happens.

 

[MyEarsHurt]

There is a whole forum over at meguiars, you may want to check it out. There are a lot of products that could probably help you out beyond the clay bar. Good luck man.

 

[90_Red_LX]

Use some Poorboys SSR 2.5 or SSR 3 on a dual action polisher. Your gonna have to "cut" the dead paint out. Or some time with Turtle wax rubbing compound (the strong stuff.) It cut right through my waterspots and faded paint. Made it really shine. Under flourescent lighting it may leave swirl marks. In the sunlight I can't see any at all. Nothing SSR can't take care of in just a little bit.