Need help w/ daily driver

[Playr]

So I may need some help from the great folks on this board. I have a white 2005 Toyota Camry that I have neglected (my bad) and therefore has lost its shine. I mean, it gets washed every two weeks but the paint just isn’t popping after washing and going over it with quik detailer. It has light oxidation. What compound(s) would you recommend I use to correct the problem? This is what I have (currently own):

Meg’s G110v1 DA
Meg’s W8006 pads
Meg’s W9006 pads
And what I believe are CCS orange pads
Meg’s mild clay
M09
M80
M83
PRC D151
NTX Wax

And what looks like older Ultimate compound and Ultimate polish (it has Nos 1 and 2 on the bottles respectively).

Honestly, I have not at this point done anything to correct the paint. I wanted to get some input on how to attack the problem before I attempt. I was thinking of buying some MFDA pads and compound and/or maybe some M105. Is this wise? Or should I first try what I have? Part of my confusion is according to Meguiar’s Pro products catalog, M02 and M105 are the only true compounds suitable for DA usage where as M09, M80, and M83 are “polishes” keeping the 5-step process in mind. Is this accurate? Anyway, if someone can set me straight that would be great.

I currently don’t have pix of the car but I can add some if needed.

TIA

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

Hmm.. I dont recall a UC/UP with 1 and 2 on it?

Do you see any swirls, scratches, etc, or is it just dirt/dull?

[Playr]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

It's kinda so dull it's hard to see swirls. So, yes, mostly dull.

I'll see if I take a pic of those bottle once I get home. Maybe Mike from Meg's can put an era to those products. Pretty sure it was kind of step 1 "do this 1st" then step 2 deal.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

It sounds like you have some old Deep Crystal Step 1 Paint Cleaner (now discontinued) and Deep Crystal Step 2 Polish (still being made, but the "Step 2" has been dropped from the name).

Given what you have on hand, we'd suggest the following plan of attack:

Wash and dry the car
Clay it
Then do a test spot with D151 and either a W8006 pad or an orange CCS pad. Right next to that test spot do another with M80 Speed Glaze and an identical pad. Both test spots should be done at speed 5 on your DA with an equal number of passes. You should only change one thing when doing side by side test spots, so change just the liquid and use the same type of pad for both.

Either of these two liquids will do a very nice job of clearing out the embedded dirt and brightening up the white paint, but which of the two will do the better job of removing any sort of below surface defects that might be present will be determined by your test spots. After that, the use of a dedicated polish like the DC Step 2 you have is optional and up to your discretion.

[Playr]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

It sounds like you have some old Deep Crystal Step 1 Paint Cleaner (now discontinued) and Deep Crystal Step 2 Polish (still being made, but the "Step 2" has been dropped from the name).

Yep, awesome, that sounds like it! Just curious, how does my older Deep Crystal Step 1 Paint Cleaner compare to UC?

Given what you have on hand, we'd suggest the following plan of attack:

Wash and dry the car
Clay it
Then do a test spot with D151 and either a W8006 pad or an orange CCS pad. Right next to that test spot do another with M80 Speed Glaze and an identical pad. Both test spots should be done at speed 5 on your DA with an equal number of passes. You should only change one thing when doing side by side test spots, so change just the liquid and use the same type of pad for both.

Either of these two liquids will do a very nice job of clearing out the embedded dirt and brightening up the white paint, but which of the two will do the better job of removing any sort of below surface defects that might be present will be determined by your test spots. After that, the use of a dedicated polish like the DC Step 2 you have is optional and up to your discretion.

Sounds great! I now have something to do this weekend.

Thanks folks!!

[Scott's 62]

+1 for D151 clean the paint and protect. In one step

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

Yeah, it is often just as well to get things cleaned up some the first time ,and see what you are actually dealing with, if it needs any more after, etc.

[imz4n]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

I am not sure where in So Cal you are come down to a TNOG if it does not turn out the way you think it should.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

Just curious, how does my older Deep Crystal Step 1 Paint Cleaner compare to UC?

There isn't much to compare between the two, really. DC Step 1 is a very mild chemical paint cleaner. It will do a great job removing some light embedded dirt to help brighten things up a bit, but that's about all. UC is actually a SMAT abrasive compound that is directly derived from our M105 Ultra Cut Compound. It's not an old school "rocks in bottle" type of compound, but rather a very high end abrasive with great cutting power but the ability to leave a very clear finish at the same time.

[Playr]

Re: Need help w/ daily driver

Thanks Mike!!

I am not sure where in So Cal you are come down to a TNOG if it does not turn out the way you think it should.

Yeah, I'm in south east L.A. county (near 605 and 5). I'll keep that in mind. I hope to take a crack at this this weekend.