Two Step Paint Correction to remove swirls

[MustangMental]

Hey community looking for some advice. I bought a used mustang back in April and it was a showroom car so kept very well and clean. For me, it's my daily driver and not kept in a garage. I noticed I've been getting swirls, I'm assuming from the automatic car wash I take it too (yea I know didn't research before hand) and recently got a quote from a detailing company that recommended a 2 step paint correction for around $1,100. I'm wondering how this will hold up with a car kept as a daily driver, I won't take it to the automatic car wash any more either wash it by hand at a station or go to the touchless car wash. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Here are some pictures of the car, you cant see the swirls unless its sunny out excluding the nite pony black top of the car but it drives me nuts.

Thank you
MM

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[Bear376]

Shop around. I had a very good shop detail mine and put a ceramic coating with a 5+ year warranty for under $1000. The hardest thing is to find a shop that deserves a good reputation. I would check who is recommended by your area Mustang clubs, especially MCA associated ones. If the best shop has a lot of detailers, see if you can find who is the best. Often, a recommendation for those shops, will come with “and make sure X or Y does your car”. And check the results in various different lights. You would be amazed at how things will look different in daylight ar different times.

 

[Skye]

I'm including @DFB5.0 . He could offer some guidance.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/fo...vering-washing-waxing-detailing-repairing.78/

 

[DFB5.0]

Unfortunately, its just part of the deal with black or dark coloured cars. However, no matter the colour, even with careful washing technique you do risk causing swirls each and every time the car is touched (washed). The key is to minimise it where possible -

- Use high quality soaps
- Use the two-bucket method, or as I do, the one bucket and foam cannon method
- Use a blower to remove the bulk of water after the wash
- Use high quality towels
- Have the car waxed/coated to help reject dirt/dust/bugs/road film

As for the $1100 price, I would assume that includes a ceramic coating as well? Just remember it takes many, many hours to do a two-step paint correction. Frankly, if you are going to use drive-through car washes, you are wasting your money in my opinion. Also be mindful that "touchless" car washes use heavy duty chemicals to do the job, which will speed up the decline of the rubber and black plastic trims.

 

[D/\rK•650]

If that price does not include ceramic coating it is to much in my opinion. But definitely good for ceramic with correction for 1100.

 

[Skye]

Being a darker hue, flaws will show much easier. So, there's that.

Can you clean the car by hand at home? If so, great. There's a lot of reference materials in the link I provided above, both in product and technique. I wash mine at home with three buckets. One is a dedicated wheel bucket. One is a body wash bucket. Another, body rinse. The separation keeps cross-contamination to a minimum. Different mitts for wheels and body. Different towels for wheels and body. It reads cumbersome, but it is not.

^ That'll keep the car clean. Waxes (short term), sealers (medium term) and coatings (long term) can help protect those surfaces.

Ceramic coating is an option. This will provide you some minor (keyword) scratch protection.

In my area, taking a vehicle to the provider of my choice for a polish and tip-to-tail ceramic coating could approach $3000; this figure depends on the size of the vehicle and how poor the initial surface is. The coating would be expected to last a few years. Annual top ups would be included in that price.

Don't let any of the dollar amounts concern you. All you're doing at this point is gathering information and getting a sense of who (and who not to) take the vehicle to.

Before the polish and possible ceramic coating route, I'd focus on what got you there in the first place. Change your methods, buy some detailing items and work on your routine. When you've got that sorted, seek out some providers in your area. Discuss your goals and what you'd like accomplished.

I'd start by getting three estimates from shops. Some companies do general detailing. Others, ceramic coating, PPF, tint, etc. You'll want someone who has been doing this kind of work often, consistently. Google reviews, BBB information and referrals from people at local car shows can help.

Whatever you do, everything wears and wears out. Abuse from the elements and handling of the vehicle, coatings and surfaces will need touching up over time. You're in a good place. You haven't committed to something yet. You can continue to study the topic while developing your detailings skills.

Edit,

An additional consideration should be PPF. Chips will show more on a darker car than light. For the cost of a full car polish and coating, you'd begin approaching the cost of PPF across the front third of the vehicle. Light polish and PPF front 3rd, then care for the rest yourself. Long-term, this might offer more band for the buck.

 

[MustangMental]

One thing is that I live in an apartment complex without access to a hose. I could set it up to my sink and drop it down 4 floors off my patio or use some type of bug spray canister to fill with water etc. I'm not sure if it includes the ceramic coating I'll have to ask, went to a car show sunday and saw the detail shop I had been communicated and they do come highly recommended, and had them take a look at the car and that's when they quoted me the $1,100. I appreciate all the input from everyone its very helpful!

 

[jbrnigan]

Here's a contrarian view .... It's a DD and you have no garage, no access to convienient hand washing .... you are facing what I'd consider extreme circumstances in trying to keep your Mustang in the "showroom" condition that it was when you got it. The reality will likely be that you can spend a boat load of dough to keep your Mustang looking good, but with diminishing returns. Take a deep breath. Do everything you can to clean it frequently (carwashes), frequent self applied finish protectants, maybe a car cover. Don't fret about "swirls" only visible from a couple of feet away or less. Enjoy the drive. When you wear this one out, get another one (with a garage and water spigot LOL) Spend the money you save on road trrips.

 

[MustangMental]

Here's a contrarian view .... It's a DD and you have no garage, no access to convienient hand washing .... you are facing what I'd consider extreme circumstances in trying to keep your Mustang in the "showroom" condition that it was when you got it. The reality will likely be that you can spend a boat load of dough to keep your Mustang looking good, but with diminishing returns. Take a deep breath. Do everything you can to clean it frequently (carwashes), frequent self applied finish protectants, maybe a car cover. Don't fret about "swirls" only visible from a couple of feet away or less. Enjoy the drive. When you wear this one out, get another one (with a garage and water spigot LOL) Spend the money you save on road trrips.

That's how I've felt about it, save up for a supercharger or a nice sounding procharger

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