Both my mustangs are black and I was wondering how to keep the paint nice and shiny. After awhile, the paint goes flat. Waxing brings back the shine but it doesn't last long before it goes flat again. It's mostly the roof area the goes flat.
If I went to an auto detailer, would the stuff they use, whatever that may be, last longer?
Do they just need buffed and waxed really good or what?

 

You can have the car buffed for a couple smackaroos at a body shop...

 

you need to polish the car as well as wax it.....brings out the color!

 

i like the meguiars 3 step stuff. it is a cleaner, then a polish, then a carnuba wax. it takes a while to get it all done, but it works great.

 

I use this, It's Awsome http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

 

The reason why the car looses its shine so fast is because of all the wax you have on it. Wax looks awesome at first, until you let the vehicle sit in the sun. Then the wax melts and discolors. It will also pick up dirt and other dust and impregnate that dirt into the wax. The best way to solve this is to leave it to the professionals. A body shop or, prefferably a car detail shop should be able to do this for about 150-175 for a black car.
If you dont have that much sitting around with no other good use, buy a gallon can of laquer thinner. Using a clean rag, wipe down the entire car. You should see that the rag will get a yellow color to it- this is the old wax. Continue wiping down the car until the rag comes out clean. Be carefull not to use this on stickers or some plastics- laquer thinner can "eat" these. Also, try the laquer thinner on a hidden spot first. Factory paint WILL NOT BE HARMED by laquer thinner, or most paints used by body shops. As long as the paint isnt laquer based, you will be fine using it. I work at a detail shop and use laquer thinner on cars on a daily basis- anyone who says that the laquer thinner will strip the paint off every car is on crack. Anyways, after you've removed the old wax, go and buy a clay bar, made by Wizards or some other company (i think meguiars might have one now too). Also buy a cheap bottle of liquid car wax and a spray can of wax. Dont buy the thick liquid wax- i mean stuff that runs like water. If you cant find that, use a bottle of cheap glass cleaner. Use the liquid wax, or glass cleaner to lubricate the clay bar, and wipe down the entire car, remembering to fold and rework the clay often. Oh yeah, make sure to do all of this in the shade. Then, after the entire car is wiped down with the clay bar, use the aerosol spray wax to wax the car. Wipe down with a microfiber or other cloth. Dont use a really heavy coat- thats what makes the car look so bad after a few days. A thin coat of wax isnt as able to pick up the large particles of dirt and debris, but will protect the finish.

 

brando5.0 posted that same idea in a thread about a month or so ago and everyone else said do NOT use laquer thinner on your paint. i say just wash once a week or after every rain or so and wax every 6 weeks or so. if its been a while since last wax get meguires 3 step: polish, shine, and wax. ive used it before and it works really well.

 

Hey-Your right- I posted to use laquer thinner before,and I'm posting it again. The reason why everyone was against me because nobody has heard of these ways. I just read an article in Popular mechanics saying that laquer thinner is fine, as well as old carcraft magazines. There isnt anything wrong with using it. Why would i lie? I use it all the time. Like i said, the only times you will have problems are if you have some cheap aftermarket laquer based paint,which is very uncommon.

 

Laquer thinner is fine. If you really wanna screw your paint up give me a call ill toss some bologna on it. (please make sure car is securly placed in direct sunlight for desired effect)


Now back on topic I use wd40 and wipe the etire car in it. It will also remve evrything as laquer thinner will. After above said step wax with a high quality wax






















Then call me cause I have some extra bologna

 

WTF is up with all of you guys against laquer thinner? Have you ever tried it?Do you even know about the makeup of automotive paint?If you dont believe me, then try it in a hidden spot. I can just about guarantee it that it wont hurt anything. You can buy commercial wax strippers for about 4 bucks a can, and they are essentially the same thing. Dont rip on a method until you try it. You can think whatever you want, but I use it all the time, WITHOUT any problems. Just because you heard it from someone that they dont think it works, and that it is laquer thinner, you get it stuck in your head that it is bad. Take a couple of minutes and try it. I bet it wont harm the paint.