My mom's car is a 02 lapis blue 911, and I have the honors or detailing it sometime in the near future. I want to get the most depth out of the paint that I can. Any recommendations on what I should use?

This is the color of the car (but not the car itself) http://www.speedway-motors.com/images/po/specials/p9212/p9212.jpg

i have oriental blue metallic and i use Blackfire and it is absolutely amazing for a deep infinite pool shine.

P21S or S100.

Another vote for P21S and many of the fine Zaino Brothers Inc. products available to you.

S100 is the best wax out there for the money hands down. The only wax that will give you an arguably better shine of that paint is Souveran... but at 60 bucks a tub I'd say its a bit overpriced :rolleyes:

BUT, wax is not the only thing that detemines how the car will shine... in fact is probably one of the lesser factors which only really comes to play when the paint is in nearly flawless condition. How is the paint now? If its in good condition I'd recommend some S100 Shine Enhancing Cleanser. Its available at Harley Dealers like the S100 paste wax and its about 9 bucks a bottle.... it does great things on paint in good condition. If the paint needs a little bit of help I'd say Meguiar's Swirl Free polish would be a good next step. Judging from the age of the car, anything more abrasive than that shouldn' tbe necessary.

Originally posted by Kyle K.
S100 is the best wax out there for the money hands down. The only wax that will give you an arguably better shine of that paint is Souveran... but at 60 bucks a tub I'd say its a bit overpriced :rolleyes:


Agreed, but then again, they're probally putting souveran liquid wax over top of the paste wax so it's more like $90 per....

P21S and S100 are the same shiet right?

Originally posted by ducky
P21S and S100 are the same shiet right?

Same product, different labeling.

Here's the scoop on the car: for the most part the paint is flawless. But there are some bad horizontal scratches just above the targa badge and under the retractable spoiler. Those will need to come out. The hood is also very cloudy. I'm not exactly sure why, it was there before I ever got to it. I believe my mom tried to apply some Meguire's show car glaze to it and failed. I'm going to have to take that out, so I will need some mild polish, and something more abrasive for those scratches I'm sure. Besides that, the paint is very smooth and clean. The shine is healthy, but I know it could be much deeper. I plan on using klasse on the car, both AIO and SG. I'm going to order some P21S to put over that to help her shine even more. If Ben would ever get back to me on this, I could get a better list of what to use. But I guess he doesn’t want to help me. Oh well.

Lauren, are you going to use a Porter Cable tool to do the buffing job to get the scratces out and to eliminate the bad buff job the ol' Moms tried? I thought you mentioned in the past that you planned to start your own detailing business, and if so, this is a valuable tool for that industry.

I'd also recommend the 3M products for the swirl removing and cleaner wax stuff. A lot cheaper than some of the other stuff out there, but works really well. Then use Zaino, or another synthetic sealant brand, after the buffing gig is done.

On another note: Mmmmmmmmmmmm... Lapis blue.

Ben is overrated. (Can a person be overrated? :dunno) He should stick to photography. :D

Like I said before you should definately stop by a Harley shop and pick up some S100 wax (EXACT same thing as P21S but cheaper). Now here's where Ben and I are going to disagree. I'm going to say that Klasse SG for a So Cal (and I'm assuming garaged) car is unnecessary, especially since it can be such a bitch to apply. To remove those scratches you should try something along the lines of Meguair's Swirl Free Polish or Dual Action Cleaner Polish depending on how bad they are. Always start with the least abrasive product and work your way to more abrasive.

So, my recommendation for the car would be...

Step 1) wash
2) clay (only if it needs it) and wash again
3) DACP or Swirl Free on the PC
4) Klasse AIO
5) S100 wax

Yeah, Synthetic boy there and I keep disagreeing over the use of AIO. He swears by it, I swear at it...especially with SG - I just don't have the patience or time to let it sit for 2.5 hours before I buff it off...I can clean the inside of a mini-van and still have time to wait!

Given the car's in good shape except for hood and trunk. Here's what I'd do...

Use FI-II (I think you picked it up already) or rubbing compound on those scratches if they're deep enough to feel with your fingernail...Use it only in the area of the scratch, do not do the entire trunk with it. If it's not that deep, try SMR (I'm pretty sure you've got that in your arsenal already as well).

Get S100 Shine Enhancing Cleaner or P21S Gloss Enhancing Paint Cleaner (before you go, I'm just a poor HS student, it's $9 at HD) and use that on all the other areas as well as what you just buffed out. If the cloudyness of the hood is just from #7, SEC should take it off. If not, try SMR then DACP if necessary.

Hit it with S100/P21S wax and you should be set. On a Targa, shouldn't take you more than 2 hrs to do the outside. Quick Detail the car jambs and insides of the doors and Mama might let you take her out for a drive...:evil2

Holy shit, talk about a tough crowd!

OK basically here's my recommendation. Since you bitched and moaned so much for my help I suggest you follow it...

1) Dawn wash.
2) Clay.
3) Meguiar's Scratch-X on the deep scratches.
4) Meguiar's DACP or 3M FI-II Machine Polish.
5) 3M SMR for Dark Cars.
6) Klasse All-In-One.
7) Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze. Leave it overnight, buff it off in the morning.
8) S100.

That would make that car look perfect, and with the SG you'd have an awesome, lasting shine.

Damn, if your mom lets you bring it down to San Diego I'll even help you out with it...the things we do for a Porsche...

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
Holy shit, talk about a tough crowd!

Damn, if your mom lets you bring it down to San Diego I'll even help you out with it...the things we do for a Porsche...

Don't you mean the things you'll do in a Porsche :evil2

Lauren, if you use Ben's process and can't get to it in the morning to buff the SG off before Mom see's it, Skip the SG step, go straight to S100. Remember you wanna wow mom, now have her go out the next morning and go "What has my daughter done to my car! Wait until I wake her up, ground her, and make her fix it!"

Ben's just pretty much hit why I hate SG on the head. If you're doing someone else's car, you don't want to have to revisit it (and have them go what is that white haze on my car), and if you've got to wait to buff it off (even 2.5 hrs), you're wasting your time when you can be making more $$ somewhere.

Oops, forgot to add the "clay" step. It's fixed now.

Hal, that's why I like to keep customer's cars for at least two days when I do a serious detail like that. I know no one is going to have to drive it and it can stay clean and safe in my garage that night.

Ben... don't you think DACP or FI-II on the whole car for a good paint job is a little bit much? Clearcoat is a good thing... I know I want mine to last. :D

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
Hal, that's why I like to keep customer's cars for at least two days when I do a serious detail like that. I know no one is going to have to drive it and it can stay clean and safe in my garage that night.

I'm thinking it must be nice to have the car for 2+ days...most people here don't want to give up their cars that long. You're lucky to get it for a morning or afternoon. My standard detail (inside and out) takes about 3-4hrs for most cars. The devil in me says that I don't want to keep the customer's car that long because if anything happens to it, it's your responsibility (shortest exposure is best) - also if you're going to more than one car per day.......

Kyle - yeah I agree DACP or FI-II on the entire car is too much. That's why I think she needs to see what's causing the clouding on the hood. Least agressive product first right?:clap:

Yeah.... how the hell do you get paid to hang on to somebody's car for 2 days?

And Hal, I can't even get close to doing 2 full details per day. If I'm using my PC at all, its usually one job per day with maybe a wash squeezed in. :dunno I'm a lazy bastard though. :buttrock

Originally posted by Kyle K.
Yeah.... how the hell do you get paid to hang on to somebody's car for 2 days?

And Hal, I can't even get close to doing 2 full details per day. If I'm using my PC at all, its usually one job per day with maybe a wash squeezed in. :dunno I'm a lazy bastard though. :buttrock

Work quicker! Seriously, as you work different cars, you get a better feel for what works. As long as claying isn't involved (and who has to clay every car when most customers don't understand it), wash, swirl removal and/or shine/buff, wax, QD jambs, vac, leather clean, 303 wipedown of dash surfaces, stoners on windows takes me about 4 hrs on a sedan. If I have to do a SUV or Minivan....that goes out the window. Exterior on a minivan takes 3 hrs....way to much area to cover.

Alright, in my arsenal as you refer to it, I have quite a bit of goodies. PC polisher, FI-II machine polish, PI-II fine cut compound, meguier's swirl remover, and a whole bunch of miscellaneous goodies. I just ordered some P21S to add to the cabinet too.

It couldn't hurt to clay the car, but the car doesn't need it, except perhaps on the hazy hood. I was going to be lazy and just dawn wash it to get rid of the wax, then polish out scratches with the FI-II (are you use I won't need the fine cut compound? The scratches aren't pretty. Looks like someone rubbed against the car when it was dirty or something.) and hit the hood with I don't know what. I'll make sure, but I'm 90% sure that there are no swirls on the car (lucky girl, eh?) but I'll make sure, if so, I'll use my Meguire's stuff there. Then, AIO and I'll most likely skip the SG just because my mom can't bare the idea of leaving her car for that long. She'd have to drive the E38, poor thing.

Ben, I gave you the chance to come up here to help me. I’m not putting added miles on the Porsche so you can help me when you can just as easily drive your ass up here to help me out. Remind me this Ben:who was it who drove forty minutes out of the way to pick up your goddamned wheels, then drove them two hours in Memorial Day traffic to bring them down to you? You owe me big time, I’m not delivering you a high powered sports coupe so you can take it out for a joy ride when your done watching me detail it.

Originally posted by little740girl
It couldn't hurt to clay the car, but the car doesn't need it, except perhaps on the hazy hood. I was going to be lazy and just dawn wash it to get rid of the wax, then polish out scratches with the FI-II (are you use I won't need the fine cut compound? The scratches aren't pretty. Looks like someone rubbed against the car when it was dirty or something.) and hit the hood with I don't know what. I'll make sure, but I'm 90% sure that there are no swirls on the car (lucky girl, eh?) but I'll make sure, if so, I'll use my Meguire's stuff there. Then, AIO and I'll most likely skip the SG just because my mom can't bare the idea of leaving her car for that long. She'd have to drive the E38, poor thing.


Unless the car absolutely needs it, don't bother claying the car. Waste of good time and it usually introduces more microscratches that you have to polish out. Clay isn't going to fix the hazy hood unless it's being caused by materials embedded in the hood itself (not likely).

Rule of thumb is always start with the least aggressive product. If you can polish out the scratches with FI-II, you shouldn't need PI-II. #9 may take them out, but it's a fairly soft polish, I'm thinking if they're fingernail-able, start with FI-II otherwise #9. Yellow pad here.

Start the hood with #9. It's your least abrasive polish. If your P21S gets in before then and you got GEPC, try that instead. Use the white pad and see if it makes any progress.

If you're going to maintain the car (meaning wax her every month or so), I'd only do AIO on the front, back and wheels. Don't use it on horizontal or mostly horizontal surfaces. Reason being synthetics are more durable than waxes. Generally the back and front of the car will get more junk on them than anywhere (bugs and exhaust) else so they'll be washed more. Wheels because of the heat issue. Skipping AIO on the rest of the car will also let your mom (who can't BEAR - bare would be interesting, but then this thread would get moved to OT) get her car back sooner.

Quick tip on S100/P21S: Don't let it haze or dry. Do an area and wipe it off - I generally on an e36 do: Hood, Top, Trunk lid & back, Left side, Rightside, and finally front (just because of the PIA factor of smaller surfaces). Wax and wipe w/ microfiber.

Remember before and after PICS!!!

Originally posted by little740girl
Ben, I gave you the chance to come up here to help me. I’m not putting added miles on the Porsche so you can help me when you can just as easily drive your ass up here to help me out. Remind me this Ben:who was it who drove forty minutes out of the way to pick up your goddamned wheels, then drove them two hours in Memorial Day traffic to bring them down to you? You owe me big time, I’m not delivering you a high powered sports coupe so you can take it out for a joy ride when your done watching me detail it.


:lol: RAWR! :lol:

Damn Ben.... you made somebody pretty mad :biglaughb

Yeah she's been pissed at me a lot lately.

yeah, he sort of abandoned me with the PC and no idea what I was doing to go see a baseball game.

plus, you haven't been very nice to me either. Calling me a bitch and woman isn't a way to get a head with people.

alright, I'm still not positive on what I'm going to do, but I have a pretty good idea.

1. dawn wash
2. FI-11 (hood and back)
3. Meguire's swirl remover (if needed)
4. Klasse AIO (does that deepen the shine?)
5. P21S (should have ordered P100, oh well)

Now, do I apply the P21S by hand? Or can I use the polisher for it?

The lucky thing about a Targa is that there is no roof. I can't imagine that taking me very long.

I've gotten remarkably good at doing a large sedan. I can do the whole clay process on mine in four hours.

P21S is done by hand. I just did a CLK 430 today in about 40 minutes, so it goes pretty quick. And I think you mean you should have gotten S100. I was at the Harley Dealer in Irvine today picking up some Shine Enhancing Cleanser and they had the S100 carnuba for 14.95 a tub. :dunno

Don't worry about it though, the P21S is WELL worth the price.

Yep, you can wax by hand. BUT if you're feeling particularly lazy, you can use the black pad with the PC...It'll use more wax, but it also lets you buff it easier than by hand. Treat it like butter. Use a plastic knife and spread it on the pad....

I don't think AIO will deepen the shine. It WILL add synthetic as a base layer giving you additional protection, but if you're going to wax the car frequently (every month or two), I'd skip it. If you can, goto HD and pick up S100 Shine Enhancing Paint Cleaner $8.95. It'll make more of a difference of the shine than anything else will.

I figure with that process, it should take you about 2 to 2.5 hrs to finish the car including wash/vac.

Originally posted by little740girl
yeah, he sort of abandoned me with the PC and no idea what I was doing to go see a baseball game.

plus, you haven't been very nice to me either. Calling me a bitch and woman isn't a way to get a head with people.

:D

Geebus, do I have to put a smiley with everything I say so that you know I'm joking?! :D :D :D :D :D :D

Better?

And plus it was the Padres vs. the Twins. Who would miss that?!

I know Hal doesn't agree but I really like AIO for it's polishing abilities, so I use it even if I'm not looking to gain the synthetic protection it provides. But really it doesn't protect much at all unless topped with SG.

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
I know Hal doesn't agree but I really like AIO for it's polishing abilities, so I use it even if I'm not looking to gain the synthetic protection it provides. But really it doesn't protect much at all unless topped with SG.

Ok Ben, I've tried AIO. Tell you what...use SEP or GEPC. I'll even paypal you the $9 if you don't like it.

I don't have PayPal :(. But I tell ya what, you can send me a check...

I actually bought a bottle of S100 SEC last week but haven't had a chance to use it. I'm not really sure where it fits into my 3M/Klasse routine...

You can just forget about AIO on your car Ben, its really unnecessary for people who maintain their cars. S100 lasts a good 2 months no sweat. Replace the AIO with the SEC and you'll keep the mild polishing abilities, save a lot of time and money, and get a better shine. :cool:

Originally posted by Ben Carufel

And plus it was the Padres vs. the Twins. Who would miss that?!


I missed it, remember? I was working on my car.

Originally posted by little740girl
I missed it, remember? I was working on my car.

Yeah, I know, you missed a great game! It went to the 11th inning! Pads almost won!

Anyways I went again on Sunday so I got to see them win that day. At least I saw the Padres' only win this season! :laugh

Jesus... save the money from one of those horrible baseball tickets and buy yourself another jar of S100. It'll be good for you.

I didn't pay for either ticket :).

Both of the tickets were $27 a pop, too.