First 90 days advice?

ahuimanu

Generally pleased with the clear bra. I do have some minor pitting on the windshield though, so the "bounce up" theory has some merit. No scratches on the paint, but I've already had some very minor scratches and pitting on the windshield. Bummer.

I did a thorough clay bar/polish/wax ASAP after getting it home from the clear bra application.

ahuimanu

Since I am new, and since I asked a question to learn, I reflected on this aspect of your input and did more research.

This video suggests that pre-cutting is the norm now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5vP...D52AF54166C886

the guy in the video doesn't seem like an amateur to me.

RN SHARK

Personally, I don't do the clear bra. I figure the price of a front end re-spray and a clear bra are about equal. I've already had my front bumper and hood repainted when I bought mine used. As a bonus, now my bumper actually matches the rest of the car. Hahaha. I like to detail my cars, to get the most depth out of my paint, and I just don't think a car covered in plastic would do it for me.
People talk about "protecting the paint", but for what? For whom? If it is for you, I'd rather wash and polish paint than plastic. And I won't get crap/clay stuck to the edge of the wrap, making the line more obvious. If you wrap it for resale value, then wouldn't it make sense to remove the clear bra just before selling the car or trading it in? Yet no one does that. And after 5-10 years it will be so hard to remove, most likely etching the underlying paint in the process, that you'll have to get a re-spray anyway. Not to mention fading. My 1994 240SX had some clear bra on it that was cloudy, cracked from years on the car, was terrible to remove, and now that section of the paint looks worse than the rest of the car.
Anyway, it's all personal choice. Clear bra just isn't for me. I like real paint, the feel, and the finish I can get out of it.
P.S. I also replaced the windshield with an OEM Nissan one when I repainted my front end when I bought my car. Probably need another one as track days don't help.

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ahuimanu

Well, as the great William Joel once said:

"You may be right
I may be crazy
…
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right"

Uxi

Had the same questions, so thanks for the thread. I was going to do first wash on Saturday but all my older stuff was rather nasty so getting dirtier. Want to make that Pearl White gleam. Might have a detailer do the first cleaning, clay, and wax and then maintain it myself.

cautupwitdm

The amount of money you pay a good detailer could get you all or most of the supplies to be able to do it yourself and you'll know it's done right if you follow junkman's simple and effective methods.

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Uxi

Good idea. And helps you learn your car and appreciate the beautiful curves of the Z, as well. Is Meguiars stuff considered good? I'm combing the FAQ.

JARblue

Meguiar's is not bad. It's where I started, but I have moved on to other more expensive products for various reasons. But it's not so much the products as it is the technique. See Junkman's videos - there are tons on his channel on YouTube as well as linked on this forum.

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Uxi

I'm interested in spending as long as the quality there. Probably start with meguiars and upgrade as I go. What would you recommend and/or what's the best for Pearl White?

JARblue

I recommend you do some more research in the detailing section. Every question you have has been asked and answered many times over.

Junkman will tell you The Rag Company has the best prices on the best quality towels, so check out his comments on that. As for products, I decided that I like supporting our forum sponsors. But websites like autogeek and detailersdomain have a huge variety of products. Meguiar's is not a bad starting place. I mainly used them when I started out because I could find products on short notice in stock at local auto stores. But now I keep a decent enough detailing arsenal that I don't need stuff last minute. I still have a couple of Meguiar's products but that's mostly because I use them infrequently enough I have needed to replace the original bottles I bought.

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madwi

Be sure to check with your local auto body supply store. They usually carry very good products on hand such as 3m and meg's professional line. It wont be the internets boutique flavor of the month product though, if that matters to you.
Pearl white is like all paint. proper prep and it will look great when all detailed.

Limeybastard

First 90 days? I think thats a myth fella. The paint is already cured fully when it came out of the oven.

Only time I ever applied this, was after market paint work.

madwi