My Guard GT - how to prep a new car properly...

Evening folks,
So after 6 months and 20 days since ordering I picked up my Guard metallic GT last Friday. I requested that the car was unwrapped and left so I could prepare it over the weekend. This car makes me smile... a lot!







I've been detailing cars as a hobby for around 5 years properly now and I didn't want to spend £350-£500 on a full new car prep by a detailer, so £150 later with UF to add to my collection I got to work on Saturday at 12.30pm.
I've decided to document my process for all those who like washing their Mustang but are not too sure what's needed to prep the paint properly without marring or swirling. It's lengthly, you have been warned!!!

Step 1
Iron out wheels and paint work. Apply this on a dry car. Leave to react and you'll see purple streaming from the contaminants in the paint. Product used - Gyeon Q2M. Totally forgot to photo this one!

Step 2
Snow foam on a dry car. The snow foam will work better if you leave the spraying until after. Product used: Ultimate Snow Foam




Step 3
Jet wash the car. I use a Nilfisk pressure washer as I'm fed up with Karcher pumps breaking after 12 months.




Step 4
Apply the degreaser. This is trigger sprayed onto the vehicle but ensure you avoid any plastic parts as it will start to bleach if left on too long. Jet wash off. Product used: Surfex HD.



Step 5
Tar & Glue remover. Now the unseen contaminants are removed it's time to get any tar and glue off the paintwork. Spray to lower panels and windows for stickers. Jet wash off. Product used: Gtechniq W7 Tar & Glue.




Step 6
Shampoo. I always wash with a 2 bucket method with grit guards in the bottom. Products used: Poorboys Super Slick Wax (really great shampoo) & Microfibre Madness Sponge (stops swirling like a regular sponge).





Step 7
Once shampoo is jet washed off it's time to clay the car. I was really impressed how little my clay bar discoloured. The previous steps really worked for getting the paint super clean. I chose a soft clay to prevent swirling as I'm not using a machine polisher. Product used: Auto Finesse Soft Clay & Lube (yes it's called Lube :lol



Hardly any muck coming off



Step 8
Detail spray and microfibre buff. Product used: Carlack Fast Detailer.



Mid way progress after clay




Step 9
Panel wipe. Now it's time to get the paint completely free of residue. Product used: G-techniq Panel Wipe.




Step 10
Nano cleanse. Now it's time to apply the final layers. I used to use Werkstatt Prime (truly amazing product) but they are now not in business so I've switched to a very similar product. Apply with a microfibre pad and allow to haze. Buff with a microfibre cloth. Now the paint is ready for a seal. Product used: Carlack Nano




Step 11
Seal. This is applied with a small foam applicator and work panel by panel or you'll need some detail spray to loosen the haze. Product used: Carlack Acylic seal.




Step 12
Carnuba wax. Apply with a foam applicator and buff once hazed. Product used: Blackfire Midnight Sun.




Step 13
Exhaust clean. Product used: Meguiars NXL All Metal Polish.




Now it's time to move to the glass.

Step 14
Spray clean the glass inside and out. Spray and wipe with a microfibre cloth. Product used: KochChemie Speed Glass Cleaner (smells incredible too!)




Step 15
It's time to seal the glass.
Nano polish using a foam applicator and buff with a damp microfibre. Product used: G4 G-techniq





Step 16
Seal the glass. 3 coats of G1 for the windscreen & 1 coat everywhere else. Leave to cure for 15 mins and then use G2 residue remover to buff the G1 off the windows. The windscreen takes some serious arm power so beware! I did this inside the garage away from any rain or dust. Product used: G1 & G2 G-techniq.




By this time is was 9.20pm so I called it a night. Had a celebratory beer and pizza :cheers:

Next morning at 9.30am I was back out to complete the detail. Only the wheels and interior to do

Step 17
Wheels - my rears were covered in overspray from Zeebrugge so needed some serious attention. I thought I'd condense this process into one step as it's quite lengthly.

Here's the really bad overspray.




Wash with my wheel woolie.




Agitate with Swisswax wheel brush. Jet wash off.




Tar & Glue spray and then wash.
Clay bar the wheels (each individual spoke - yes it took about an hour)




Apply prime sealant ( I had some Werkstatt left after all) Buff clear.




Wheel sealant 3 times to each wheel. I use Poorboys Wheel Sealant as it's pink so easier to see once hazed.





Tough coat sealant - I basically used up my old box of product so this Auto Finesse synthetic seal should do the trick to keep the wheels pristine.




Tyre slick - I use Highstyle universal dressing by Autosmart - it's lasted me year so far and is really great value. Can also be used on plastics too but does go glossy so not everywhere.




INTERIOR

Step 18
Spray dashboard, sills, all plastics with microfibre cloth. Agitate into hard to reach areas using Valet Pro brush. Product used: Auto Finesse Total Interior Cleaner.





Step 19
Leather cleanse and balm. Even though the leather is new I still wanted to get it clean and protected so I did a 2 step process. Product used: Raceglaze Cleaner & Balm.






Step 20
Vacuum the car and fit mats.




So at 1.15pm on Sunday I finished the car.
The sun came out earlier this week so managed to snap a glorious representation of Guard too



More progress to follow as my Magnaflow competition has just arrived from Nemesis - cheers Guy!

Side note - there is a small crease in the passenger door and scrape on the mirror - it was done in transit to the dealer. Also a scrape on the front splitter. There are 2 imperfections in the paint. OSF quarter has a dust spec under the lacquer and on the bonnet there is a small piece of colour missing under the clear coat. I'm going to report them to Ford as a concern however they don't appear to have any broken paint. Anyone else had this?

Nice dude, really nice. I plan to do the same and detail at home.

Wow wow wow, superb job and a stunning Mustang ! Love guard and can't wait to see one in the flesh. Congrats
I was thinking of getting mine detailed and I think you have made my mind up.
Can anyone recommend anyone near Hitchin , Herts ?
Enjoy your car , looks superb

Have you driven it yet :lol:

That's a lot of cleaning/detailing and what an array of stuff, as a rough estimate, how much did all that cost?

Some of it I've got, I just let the supermarket car washers get on with it these days, they use nice brushes and sponges, some of the sponges are new!!

What a job mister, nice car as well

Did you pick that up from Lookers in Leeds? I saw a fully wrapped and snickered one last Thursday there that a customer had asked to be left like. Same spec and colour combo

Great post, thanks for that.
Blimey family and friends laugh at me because I wash my car every Saturday without fail. Love to see their faces when it takes me all day Saturday and some of Sunday to do this.
I am seriously considering buying all that product and giving it a go.

How often would you do this btw?

Wow, what an amazing job on a beautiful car!
Too bad you are so far away, I would totally pay you $$$ to do mine on the regular!
:cheers:

Boo stop making my guard less rare

Cracking work lad. Enjoyed that...makes me want to up my game again, almost feel embarassed to say I washed mine in under an hour and a half during the week lol

Congratulations as well. Guard looks stunning...:cheers:

Sod that, too much hard work;)

Lone Survivor said:

Have you driven it yet :lol:

That's a lot of cleaning/detailing and what an array of stuff, as a rough estimate, how much did all that cost?

Some of it I've got, I just let the supermarket car washers get on with it these days, they use nice brushes and sponges, some of the sponges are new!!

What a job mister, nice car as well

Click to expand...

Hi buddy, well I already had things like the Carnuba, snow foam, Carlack complete kit, so I reckon in total about £400 if you were start from scratch. But then my product tends to last me around 2/3 years as I tend to operate an interim wash for the next month, mini detail every 2 months and a full protection once every 6 months.

jord79 said:

Did you pick that up from Lookers in Leeds? I saw a fully wrapped and snickered one last Thursday there that a customer had asked to be left like. Same spec and colour combo

Click to expand...

That was mine! Picked it up Friday. Dealer said he had someone who wanted my car that day so if I don't like it (god knows why) I have buyer waiting!

That is an amazing amount of work, well done and congrats on the new car it looks absolutely stunning! Guard and Saddle is a winning combo. More than 20 stages, I'm using a 2 stage with current car, 1) hand keys to car cleaners, 2) pay them don't suppose you fancy doing mine when it arrives?

stevec said:

Great post, thanks for that.
Blimey family and friends laugh at me because I wash my car every Saturday without fail. Love to see their faces when it takes me all day Saturday and some of Sunday to do this.
I am seriously considering buying all that product and giving it a go.

Click to expand...

Haha it's a common joke in my family, where's Matt this weekend.... oh wait. Washing his car. To be fair I wouldn't wash my car fully every weekend, it would end up swirling too quickly for my liking. I'll give it a jet wash off this weekend only and then get it shampoo'd the following one. If you ever want a hand let me know (if you're local to North Yorkshire!)

stevec said:

How often would you do this btw?

Click to expand...

Hi Steve, so as this is a full prep with multiple layers of coatings applied on brand new paint, I really shouldn't have to go to this extent again, however I will be doing a winter prep in September time as my car lives outside and not in a garage. Winter prep would essentially be the same but probably without the degreaser. May consider an acrylic top coat instead of Carnuba for winter as it's going to last longer.

klumpikat said:

Wow, what an amazing job on a beautiful car!
Too bad you are so far away, I would totally pay you $$$ to do mine on the regular!
:cheers:

Click to expand...

haha cheers Klumpikat! Could get a regular Mustang weekend side business on the go...

GR11M said:

Boo stop making my guard less rare

Click to expand...

shhhhhhhhhh

RobMJ said:

That is an amazing amount of work, well done and congrats on the new car it looks absolutely stunning! Guard and Saddle is a winning combo. More than 20 stages, I'm using a 2 stage with current car, 1) hand keys to car cleaners, 2) pay them don't suppose you fancy doing mine when it arrives?

Click to expand...

haha this is request number 2... pay my fuel from Yorkshire and I'm there! :lol: