I got my metallic black 2002 MP5 in early December 2003. Since then I haven't really had much time to wash and care for it like I would in the summer. Slush, sand, salt, -30 temps and metre snowfalls make it hard. Just once a week I take to a high pressure spray wash.

That said, wondering if there are any good care tips out there? A prefered wax, wash soap? Prefered sponges and chamois? I know Mazda has thier own line of stuff, is it Any Good?

My MP5 has a few scratches mostly just light and on the bonnet (bloody cats!)...any tips to get them out?

It also has a nasty GASH on the bumper below the driver side headlight. And some light scratches around it. Any tips to minimise the gash and to get the scratches out?

I want to sharpen the car up as best as possible. This is the first time I've had a really nice looking car and want to show it off. My old Neon, K-Car and Escort just didn't have the right flare. I am thinking some nice Mazda after-sale accessories. And maybe some lightly tinted windows.

This is a great little forum. Glad I found it!

Jay

 

you're gonna get a bunch of different responses on this topic. me personally, to dry the car i use microfiber towels. reason being b/c they don't leave swirl marks and are hella easy to use when drying up the car.

these are some of the products i use...

-meguiars quik detailer mist & wipe
-meguiars gold glass clearcoat wax
-meguiars quik wax

 

I always use a clay bar!!! it will remove all the impuritys out of the paint and all the little rust spots from brake dust that get all over the car. it is the best aftermarket goodie for you paint..

Tom

 

Personally i prefer zymol wax

 

ok, heres a wax way better than zymol, its called zaino bros.
This wax has a better shine than zymol and this wax makes the car look even deeper and richer with each application. It's not like other waxes. The more coats you put on, the better it looks. Also, i have found a very good way to touch up paint. on a day when it is 60-70 outside, you wash your car with dishwasher soap to remove all wax. Then you take the touch up paint and a cloth and as you apply the touch up paint, you wipe it off with the SOFEST CLOTH you have. Then you repeat it until it becomes too small to touch up. Anyways, it worked on my dad's IS300 and it is not noticable at all any more.
Anyways, zaino bros. wax is a 3-4 step process. You first apply their first wax as a starter. Let it sit for 30-60 mins, then you remove it and apply their next wax. After you get the starter wax on, you just keep adding zaino bros. 5 or 6. I have done about 3 coats since i hav gotten it and it is amazing. My friend has a benz and he has put on a coat every week and his is the truly most beautiful shine i have ever seen. I have used zymol in the past and this is in another league. You have to special order this stuff online.
heres teh link
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

 

o yea, its also got anti static properties, which means that no dust will cling to it. Face it, we tried putting on some side panels to protect the car and masking tape wouldnt even stick to it. Literally, my friend tried and after he put it on, it just fell off the car. I had a similar experience. My friends thought it would b funny to stick a bumper sticker on my car. Guess what, they were surprised. When i came out, it had already fallen off the car. They were like, wtf did u use man? This stuff is unbelievably awesome

 

u may want to go here to find out what others say.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...e=TESTIMONIALS

 

zaino is the shizzle...

 

That was the idea. Get different ideas.

 

....I used to sell detail supply's, is that Zaino stuff is as good as you guys claim?

Which products of there do you recommend?

Speedbump.

PS. I just might get some.....

 

Maguires spray and wipe is awesome for small detailing after a wash....really shines the car up and requires MUCH less effort than traditonal waxing.

Also, clay bar is the only way to go when you're serious about cleaning your car. I would recommned taking it to a detail shop and having them do it while showing you how it's done....it's not as easy as some think. I've seen some shotty work in the past.

 

zaino beats meguires ne day. Its just if u hav the time to do all the layers. It can a while if u take ur time. After the first time, it becomes like normal waxing. ZAINO BEATS ALL!!!