Paint correction: now or later?

zts1986 · 07-22-2019, 07:36 AM

I bought my car new back in March. At this point, I have some swirl marks from towels and one small stain in the clear coat from some bird crap (I travel frequently and the car is stored outside). I've always taken care of my cars, but the old fashioned way: wash and hand/hard wax. I've read a lot over the past few months and know the full process that I want to go through to detail my car.

The dilemma: I plan on driving this car through the upcoming winter, which means that I'll want to run it through the car wash frequently during winter time. I've started to become anti-car wash because I can feel on the paint what it does to any protective coatings on it. That, and any marks it may make during the process.

Should I wait until next spring to do my full detail, including paint correction? Feels like a mistake to do it this summer, and then again next summer from a winter of abuse. There's only a limited amount of clear coat.

DougCBJ · 07-22-2019, 02:49 PM

If you don't plan to properly maintain the car, and use correct washing technique, there's really no point in ever doing a paint correction, it'll just be wasted time.

Glen e · 07-22-2019, 03:11 PM

Find a touchless carwash and wash it the way this winter, then when it’s nice next spring, do the full deal…If you want to clean it off and put a wax on it first , put on a coat on collinite 845, the stuff is indestructible for the winter.

KirkH · 07-22-2019, 03:20 PM

If it were my car, and it was bothering me, I’d go ahead and polish it. Theres plenty of clear coat. Now if you are wet sanding, thats a different story. Especially the bird dropping etchings. Thats not coming out without polishing and it might even take wet sanding.

SSport16 · 07-23-2019, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirkH

If it were my car, and it was bothering me, I’d go ahead and polish it. Theres plenty of clear coat. Now if you are wet sanding, thats a different story. Especially the bird dropping etchings. Thats not coming out without polishing and it might even take wet sanding.

Yeah bird etchings suck! They are a PITA to get out sometimes.

zts1986 · 07-24-2019, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougCBJ

If you don't plan to properly maintain the car, and use correct washing technique, there's really no point in ever doing a paint correction, it'll just be wasted time.

Very helpful. My post and other posts in this forum clearly point towards me not giving a **** about the car.

zts1986 · 07-24-2019, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirkH

If it were my car, and it was bothering me, I’d go ahead and polish it. Theres plenty of clear coat. Now if you are wet sanding, thats a different story. Especially the bird dropping etchings. Thats not coming out without polishing and it might even take wet sanding.

Yeah, I want to avoid wet sanding. I'm thinking that I should be good with a polish at this point, but seeing as I only plan to drive it through one winter comes my dilemma.

Decisions, decisions...

zts1986 · 07-24-2019, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen e

Find a touchless carwash and wash it the way this winter, then when it’s nice next spring, do the full deal…If you want to clean it off and put a wax on it first , put on a coat on collinite 845, the stuff is indestructible for the winter.

That is the most likely plan.

indyz · 07-24-2019, 03:29 PM

If you really dont want to expend too much effort, ceramic coating (once a year or two) and touchless car wash is the way to go.

You can do the ceramic coating yourself, if you are so inclined, after proper paint correction (maybe by a pro). Might be cheaper that way than a full ceramic coating package from a pro.

If money is no object, get it all done by a pro and do touchless washes.

EJR8402 · 07-25-2019, 12:59 PM

If it were my car I'd wait until fall and do a full correction before winter hits. At the very least I would correct the bird marks. One thing you may want to pay attention to in the future is your wash methods: do you use the 2-bucket method? What kind of sponge/wash mit do you use? Quality of drying towels?

07-22-2019, 07:36 AM	#1
zts1986 Account Suspended Drives: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2.0T Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 330	Paint correction: now or later? I bought my car new back in March. At this point, I have some swirl marks from towels and one small stain in the clear coat from some bird crap (I travel frequently and the car is stored outside). I've always taken care of my cars, but the old fashioned way: wash and hand/hard wax. I've read a lot over the past few months and know the full process that I want to go through to detail my car. The dilemma: I plan on driving this car through the upcoming winter, which means that I'll want to run it through the car wash frequently during winter time. I've started to become anti-car wash because I can feel on the paint what it does to any protective coatings on it. That, and any marks it may make during the process. Should I wait until next spring to do my full detail, including paint correction? Feels like a mistake to do it this summer, and then again next summer from a winter of abuse. There's only a limited amount of clear coat.

07-22-2019, 03:11 PM	#3
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	Find a touchless carwash and wash it the way this winter, then when it’s nice next spring, do the full deal…If you want to clean it off and put a wax on it first , put on a coat on collinite 845, the stuff is indestructible for the winter. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

07-22-2019, 03:20 PM	#4
KirkH Drives: 2016 2SS M6 Mosaic Blk Met-SOLD Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: KY Posts: 2,934	If it were my car, and it was bothering me, I’d go ahead and polish it. Theres plenty of clear coat. Now if you are wet sanding, thats a different story. Especially the bird dropping etchings. Thats not coming out without polishing and it might even take wet sanding. __________________ Official Detailer of CamaroFest 8 & 9 https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...st-8-pics.html https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=521655&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=547470&page=1 https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=527474 No one on Earth has detailed more Camaros. http://KirkTheDetailer.com

07-22-2019, 02:49 PM	#2
DougCBJ Drives: 2016 Blue 2SS Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 612	If you don't plan to properly maintain the car, and use correct washing technique, there's really no point in ever doing a paint correction, it'll just be wasted time.

07-24-2019, 03:29 PM	#9
indyz Drives: 2SS, CT-R, LC500 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: FLorida Posts: 534	If you really dont want to expend too much effort, ceramic coating (once a year or two) and touchless car wash is the way to go. You can do the ceramic coating yourself, if you are so inclined, after proper paint correction (maybe by a pro). Might be cheaper that way than a full ceramic coating package from a pro. If money is no object, get it all done by a pro and do touchless washes.

07-25-2019, 12:59 PM	#10
EJR8402 Drives: 2019 Red Hot 1SS "Scarlett" Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 194	If it were my car I'd wait until fall and do a full correction before winter hits. At the very least I would correct the bird marks. One thing you may want to pay attention to in the future is your wash methods: do you use the 2-bucket method? What kind of sponge/wash mit do you use? Quality of drying towels?

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