Since the temps are rapidly dropping here in Michigan, I decided that it was time to get my car prepped for winter. As always, I apologize for only having a cell phone to take pictures. Also, there is a lack of before pictures as my car is generally pretty clean.

Process:
Wash with NXT shampoo using 2BM and foam gun.
Dry with WW drying towel.
Clay using Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit.
M26 via Meguiar's foam applicator pad.

So I started off by soaking the car with NXT via Gilmour Foam Gun, and let it dwell for 5 minutes.



Then I went ahead and used a grout sponge from Lowes to wash the car with the 2BM. All of the soap was then rinsed. Here you can see some of the water still sheeting from using the flooding method.



The car was then dried with a blue WW towel.



After it was dry, I backed it into the garage for claying and inspecting the paint surface. Here are two pics to show you what I was working with, to which I came to the conclusion that I would only use M26 after I clayed.





Windows like to be clayed, too!



After M26 pics, as well as tires dressed with hot shine:














Again, sorry for the picture quality. I really need to invest in a digital camera....maybe for Christmas.

Thoughts?

 

What is winter?

 

looks really good man, good detail

 

Thanks. I don't have the skills you have, but I do ok for AVOIDING swirl marks to begin with. In spring it will probably get some polish (M205 or Swirl Remover 2.0) if needed. I didn't take interior pics because it still looks new.

 

205 is the **** man, youll love it

 

Yeah everyone seems to love the 105/205 combo. I'll probably pick some up over the winter for my spring time detail. I must also note that I have found M26 to last about as long as a lot of the sealants that I've tried, and I prefer the look of it as well.

 

Looks good ! I did my pre-winter prep this weekend only to have a random dog decide my passenger door was for clawing and now I've got some odd scratches that disappear in the direct sunlight but show up in my garage with soft light (they almost show up as swirls)??

I'm going to be correcting that only and going for the final prep since it's warmer this week than normal; I'm going to see how the Turbo Wax holds up in the winter months since it did very well in the summer; beyond that not looking forward to the snow....and salt....and dumb drivers who can't drive in snow .

 

You know if you want to add alittle more protection to your car try Meguiar's ultimate detailer. It a great product. you should try it. It makes the water just keeps on sheeting of the paint.

 

man i need to do this 4 my car... but black is so hard for me ( a high school student, living in the country) to keep clean lol, but i try..

 

looks good but I missed the "winter prep". I do this all year long?

 

I dont even wash my car....haha it will probably be stored with bug guts all over the front.

 

As in a fresh coat just before winter. I detail my car usually in March or April, Again in July, then again in October or November.