2010 MKS
- Thread starter TSS
- Start date
Thanks guys. The grill is holding up beautifully, absolutely no issues at all. I kind of was half-expecting problems with all of the abuse a front-end normally takes. The clear bra, including the grill, after I had the grill painted was one of the best decisions I ever made. And, I Actually bought it certified from a Lincoln dealer in in February 2012. It was built in July, 2009 and went into service in September, 2009. So 8 years on the road in September. I've got my Ford top tier extended warranty good until 125,000 miles or August, 2019, so I'm probably going to hang on to it until then. It still makes me smile when I drive it.
Well, as you know, black is the most difficult. My color is fairly easy. Not as easy as my other two vehicles which are white.
In any event, I have tried so many different products through the years, and I know everybody has their own loyalties and favorites. Currently, I use a clay bar on the areas I think I need it (plus the windsheild) , but not necessarily the entire car. And my current choice of polish/way is a Griot's product. It is a one step cleaner, polish, and paint sealant. Usually a product like that, that tries to do too much at once, fails. In this case though, it works for me. After a harsh Michigan winter, the water still beaded it up like it should and the car came through the winter unscathed again.
I used to use Zaino products...... A multistep process.... I would use their all in one cleaner/wax followed by their Z2 show polish followed by their clear seal.. Honestly, the Griot's is less expensive, and way faster for me. I do the full detailing in November before the winter and then in May before the summer. In between, I wash the car every week either at a no touch drive-through carwash, or a local drive-through hand wash place we are lucky enough to have.
Again, everybody has their loyalties and if you ask each person on this forum, they will probably tell you why they think their products are the best. I just know what works for me. If I had a black car, I might do a little more work (like my former Zaino 3 step regimine).
I also use a clear plastic polish on the taillights and I used Trim Shine, a Stoners product, on any black trim.
In any event, I have tried so many different products through the years, and I know everybody has their own loyalties and favorites. Currently, I use a clay bar on the areas I think I need it (plus the windsheild) , but not necessarily the entire car. And my current choice of polish/way is a Griot's product. It is a one step cleaner, polish, and paint sealant. Usually a product like that, that tries to do too much at once, fails. In this case though, it works for me. After a harsh Michigan winter, the water still beaded it up like it should and the car came through the winter unscathed again.
I used to use Zaino products...... A multistep process.... I would use their all in one cleaner/wax followed by their Z2 show polish followed by their clear seal.. Honestly, the Griot's is less expensive, and way faster for me. I do the full detailing in November before the winter and then in May before the summer. In between, I wash the car every week either at a no touch drive-through carwash, or a local drive-through hand wash place we are lucky enough to have.
Again, everybody has their loyalties and if you ask each person on this forum, they will probably tell you why they think their products are the best. I just know what works for me. If I had a black car, I might do a little more work (like my former Zaino 3 step regimine).
I also use a clear plastic polish on the taillights and I used Trim Shine, a Stoners product, on any black trim.
Car is gorgeous!TSS said:
Do you DD that car? So I am guessing you get the dirt/spray on the side of your car from road grime, and if so how do you clean it thru the winter? Does the wax treatement help it not collect much grime? We get months and months of rain and my black SHO is 1/2 brown in a matter of weeks usually, leaving it that dirty is just not good for it. I do not want to run her thru automated wash, but at the same time, not going to stand out in 40* rain washing her either. Trying to find what others do to stay clean in winter...
I've always had success with Meguiars ultimate line. Very affordable and easy to find. I power wash, two bucket, and microfiber everything, and I still get swirls on the black car. Not as bad as a car wash would screw it up, but they're still there after the winter and it's time to detail again. I always say black cars are by far the best looking cars when clean, but that only last for about 5 minutes.
When I first buy a car and it needs something heavy duty, I hit it with some menzerna fg400 to really clean it up. That stuff is powerful along with some quality pads and a porter cable 7424x. For lighter duty / maintenance, I'll go with the meguiars ultimate line. First compound and then the polish. Sometimes i don't even bother with the compound and go straight to the polish depending on how the car looks. Usually finish it with some wolfgang sealant. That stuff works and it lasts. Meguiars has a quick wax (it's actually a sealant) that you can buy by the gallon from their professional line. It's a nice topper after a car wash while the sealant is still on there. Makes the car really pop too.
When I first buy a car and it needs something heavy duty, I hit it with some menzerna fg400 to really clean it up. That stuff is powerful along with some quality pads and a porter cable 7424x. For lighter duty / maintenance, I'll go with the meguiars ultimate line. First compound and then the polish. Sometimes i don't even bother with the compound and go straight to the polish depending on how the car looks. Usually finish it with some wolfgang sealant. That stuff works and it lasts. Meguiars has a quick wax (it's actually a sealant) that you can buy by the gallon from their professional line. It's a nice topper after a car wash while the sealant is still on there. Makes the car really pop too.
lamrith said:
Try this product. Lasts and protects much longer than a regular carnauba wax does. It's top quality stuff.
http://www.autogeek.net/wg5500.html
This thread is killing me, lol. My newly acquired 2011 MKS is still at the dealership getting a thorough going over then it's off for a full detail. Getting ready to start acquiring parts to upgrade the brakes to PP SHO specs. Trying to decide if I want some brake porn or standard brakes.
Car is gorgeous!pmezo33 said:
Do you DD that car? So I am guessing you get the dirt/spray on the side of your car from road grime, and if so how do you clean it thru the winter? Does the wax treatement help it not collect much grime? We get months and months of rain and my black SHO is 1/2 brown in a matter of weeks usually, leaving it that dirty is just not good for it. I do not want to run her thru automated wash, but at the same time, not going to stand out in 40* rain washing her either. Trying to find what others do to stay clean in winter...
[/quote]the update
lamrith said:
Thanks. Yes it is my daily driver. But on weekends or trips in yucky weather, we usually take the Enclave. I have never ever gone through a regular automated car wash in it. I don't want anything at all touching my cars except a live person with a clean sponge. So when I go through the automated touchless car wash, it cleans off the car but it definitely doesn't look perfect. It's fine for the winter because it only stays clean for a day at most anyway...... and it includes an underbody wash . The other car wash I was talking about is also a drive-through car wash but it's a hand wash and dry, which is actually owned by a friend of mine. It's a pretty incredible setup. You pull in and you can either stay in your car or wait in the waiting room, and in about 15 minutes, your car is all hand washed and hand dried. That's what I do throughout the summer at least once a week and try to do at least twice a month in the winter for a more thorough cleaning than the Touchless Car Wash.
Honestly, I can't stand washing and drying my car anymore. Even when I'm going to wax it, I know the guys at the hand wash tunnel drive through, and I tell them I'm going to be waxing it so they take extra time with it. I've been doing it that way for years with no ill effects on all of our vehicles. It is a thorough top to bottom hand wash done the right way with clean materials. My car is arguably out of place with the Exotic cars (McLaren, AMG, Lambo, Ferrari, etc.) that are there. But they do it right and treat every car that comes through the tunnel wash the same way......even a 2010 MMS.
If I didn't have that quality reasonably priced hand wash option, I would hand wash myself. Still no way, anything other than a person with a clean sponge is touching my car.
pmezo33 said:
Oh trust me, I used do enjoy it a lot. I still love detailing the car and waxing and keeping it looking nice. The actual washing and drying though has just become a tedious task for me. Especially the drying for some reason. I'm not sure how old you are, but as you approach 50, you may find yourself tiring of it or other things that you've been doing for more than three decades. I also helped put myself through school detailing cars, among other things, so maybe I burned out quicker than someone else would on the washing.
I still love doing my own lawn and yard work and stuff around the house and cleaning. So, it's not the labor itself that bothers me, it's just become one of those things I don't like to do anymore.In my spare time that I'm saving by not washing the car myself, I'm learning how to use the collage feature on my phone. So here it is. LOL
I love the way Todd has kept his MKS looking great. I got top dollar for mine because it was immaculate. However, getting top dollar when selling has never been my motivation. I just like having an immaculate vehicle.
My MKS never saw the inside of a car wash. I washed it by hand in the driveway even in the winter. Neighbors probably think I am crazy. Like Todd, drying the car has always been the part I like least. I now use an electric leaf blower to blow most of the water off prior to the drying process and that helps a lot.
My MKS never saw the inside of a car wash. I washed it by hand in the driveway even in the winter. Neighbors probably think I am crazy. Like Todd, drying the car has always been the part I like least. I now use an electric leaf blower to blow most of the water off prior to the drying process and that helps a lot.