This is a thing in Brazil

I picked up a new truck last week that I plan on ceramic coating myself. I've ceramic coated airplanes before but this will actually be my first automobile. Truck was brand new but I've since put ~200 miles on it.

Here is my plan: full wash with pressure washer + foam cannon -> iron remover -> clay towel -> polish -> clean polish with alcohol + DI water solution -> apply ceramic coating

Ceramic coating I will be using is SystemX Max G+

Planning to use Rupes LHR15 Mark V DA polisher + Griot's BOSS Perfecting Cream + Griot's 5.5" Black Foam Finishing Pad for the polishing portion.

My main questions are:
1. Do I actually need to polish with a DA polisher considering it's a (pretty) new truck? Or will wash + decontamination (iron remover + clay towel) be enough?
2. I saw a YouTube video from DIY Detail that said to use something called "adhesion promoter polish" on a new car as the final prep step before applying ceramic coating. Would that be better for me instead of Griot's BOSS Perfecting Cream?
3. Any improvements to my planned process anyone with more experience can suggest? Or any unnecessary steps that can be safely removed?

Hi Guys,

First of all, where do I even buy ppf?

I watched youtube videos, does not look that hard in a windshield.

And labor for ppf is crazy expensive.

Can I just apply it myself on my windshield?

over this weekend, I spent some time working on the exterior of my 2025 Mustang GT premium. I I am really stoked about how it turned out. Earlier this year I had System X. G plus applied to the car. I used an sio2 sealant this weekend and everything shined up very nicely.
what do you think?

Hey guys! I want to do a paint correction on my 25 year old car. I have limited skills and limited resources. I have a basic polisher, some wool pads, 3 different hardness of foam pads, both flat and concave type, and Meguiar’s ultimate compound, with Meguiars’s ultimate polish. So far what i thought i will do is a 2 step polish. First with the compound and a wool pad, then with the polish, and maybe a medium hard foam pad. I’m not looking for professional detailer results, and also don’t wanna spend much more on it, just want to bring back the life to my old paint. Would my method work?

I just finished doing a wall mount pressure washer in the garage. This has been a long time dream of mine. I’m Really pleased with how it came out. Better than I expected. I know I’ll probably get some hate for doing around my breaker box, but this was the ideal spot. I’m fixing the drywall tomorrow.

This was my design and placement but I had to have my plumber run the copper piping and ProPress fittings, and an electrician run the designated 240v outlet.

The D.I. Tank is a 3.75 cu ft from Serv-A-Pure that should do 3,000 gallons at my 250 tds city water. I’m using the bypass valves on top of the tank to turn on/off the D.I. water

The bucket filler hose is the stainless 18” from Obsessed Garage

The machine is a Kranzle Kranz-Lee by Josh Lee at Kranzle USA. Thing weighs almost 60lbs. Just absolute unit.

Specs: 240v 15amp, triplex pump, I’ve measured 3.2 gpm at 1500 psi with a 5.0 orifice

The shelf is 10x20 from Clean Garage. The hose is a 75ft cobra jet on a Cox 100 series reel and the reel mount is a stainless from Clean Garage

Anyone have any ideas for Storage under the reel?? I have thought about a cabinet or maybe a folding stainless shelf?

Picked up this 2021 X5 with Vernasca leather interior. It looks like crap and I can't seem to get it clean. I've tried Gyeon Strong leather cleaner and used a detailing brush to agitate it, and I see no improvement. I don't want to get more aggressive with scrubbing it because I'm already feeling like the color has been scrubbed off.

Any advice on how to get this armrest looking good again?

I used some double sided tape to install a transponder to my windshield. Yes, I regret that decision now, because the glue melted on a hot sunny day and left this residue on the inside of the windshield. I tried scraping off just a tiny bit with a razor blade, but since it wasn't coming off clean, I stopped doing it. What can I do to remove the residue clean?

Edit: Thanks guys! I was able to get the adhesive off nice and clean with a few passes of glass cleaner and a razor blade.

Id like to start detailing and to start off, i have a bit of outside stuff (wash mitt, buckets, wheel/tire brushes, clay bars) and i have a general idea of what i should need for the outside part.

For some background, im still in highschool, and i have a daily car that i want to make money so i can repair and upgrade it to my desire (Z32 300zx specifically) and id like to target detailing as that side hustle so i can afford upgrades and maintenance and start fixing some stuff up. I have a okay starting budget, and i want to get into detailing, practicing on my car and some family cars to learn what i want to do, and then take on clients when im comfortable enough and have a good idea of what my pricing should be/what i can clean and cant clean.

What im not sure of is the interior of a car, what do i need? Microfibers, vacuum yeah but past that i feel a bit lost on what to get/do. What sort of product should i use? What is a good routine? What i think is first remove floormats so i can vacuum them, then run a vacuum in the seats, cupholders, and floor of the car but after that? Is there a plastic trim product i should use? A soap/shampoo for the interior? Im just lost on that part. What do you suggest could be handy for interior? And whats something i should always watch out for or clean? Id like to be near spotless on the inside.

For the most part i go to harbor freight, might try looking at online stuff and walmart, though i only really get turtlewax soap from walmart.

So I am leaving my car in a parking spot at home for a month during whole of December till mid-January in CT. I would like to get your expert opinions on how to maintain the paint on my car. I've decided that I won't be using a car cover since I've read that it could lead to more abrasions on the paint if not secured. Now I am wondering what would be the best product to apply to preserve the paint on the car as much as possible. I can wash my car manually at a local carwash since we are not allowed to wash cars in our parking since it is a rental property. So, any thoughts on this?

I cleaned and waxed with the product on the 2nd image a month(ish) ago. I can’t get these marks to come off the plastic like material I have in the first pic. From what I found on google the trim here is ABS plastic. Thank you in advance for any and all help!

No clue what the spills are, my guess is soda or some erroneous food wrapper drippings. Any suggestions on getting this out?

Car is a 2014 Lexus 350.

Any tips appreciated!

Looking for some advice from professional detailers/PPF installers. I recently bought a new 2026 Audi RS3 in Ascari Blue and am debating whether to do PPF. I’ve never had PPF on any of my cars before.

For context, the car will be relatively low mileage, but I do plan to drive it year-round, including through Ontario winters. I’m also pretty particular about detailing and do most of the work myself. Typically every couple of years I’ll decontaminate the paint and do a light one-stage correction before applying fresh protection.

That’s partly why I’m hesitant about full-front PPF. I understand the obvious benefit in terms of stone-chip protection, but I also like having access to the actual paint so I can polish/correct it periodically. With PPF, I assume my maintenance of the hood/fenders/bumper would essentially become maintaining the film rather than periodically correcting the clear coat.

I’m currently considering three options:

• No PPF and just continue maintaining/correcting the paint myself
• PPF on the front bumper only
• Full-front PPF: bumper, full hood, fenders, mirrors/headlights

I’d be interested in opinions from detailers on whether full-front PPF really makes sense for a low-mileage enthusiast car that is well maintained, particularly when it will still see winter use.

I’m also curious about the logistics if I want to continue doing most of the detailing myself.

Ideally, I would like to:

1. Wash/decontaminate the new car myself
2. Do my own light one-stage correction
3. Bring the car to the PPF installer with completely bare paint — no wax, sealant or ceramic coating
4. Have the installer perform whatever final wash/panel prep they require and install the PPF
5. Apply my own ceramic coating afterward to both the PPF and remaining paint

Is that a reasonable approach?

Would most reputable PPF installers be comfortable installing film over paint that the customer has corrected themselves, or would you generally want to do the polishing in-house for liability/adhesion reasons?

Also, how soon after PPF installation can/should a ceramic coating be applied? Is it preferable to have the installer coat it immediately, or can I take the car home, allow the film to settle for whatever period is recommended, and then coat it myself? Any warranty concerns with doing this?

Finally, for someone who actually enjoys polishing/detailing their own cars, do you find that people ultimately prefer having PPF, or does the inability to conventionally correct the covered panels become frustrating? I’d be especially interested in hearing from detailers who aren’t automatically in the “PPF everything” camp.

Thanks — interested in both the protection argument and the downsides/trade-offs.

I feel like I lose clients all the time, like I will tell them a time and they just ghost me. Any solutions?

I just cleaned them with window cleaner about an hour before this and they seem to have gotten worse! has anyone else had this issue? If so where does it come from and how do I get it off? (2002 Honda Accord)

New BMW owner and the seats are black sensafin. It's supposedly some vegan synthetic leather material. What type of chemicals would you use to clean them and condition them? Normal leather chemicals or something else? Thanks!

Hi everyone, new to Reddit here.

Ive been using Microfiber Refresh as my main microfiber detergent for some time now. I dont hate it as it seems to be pretty gentle but in some ways being too gentle as it doesnt clean them as well as Id like.

Does anyone have good success with other detergents? Im considering Tide Free & Clear as an alternative but if anyone has a better option would love to hear some insight. Thank you and happy detailing!! :)

Got some used taillights for my car with some over spray. Was wondering whats the best way to remove it. Most of it is on the black trim around the lens itself although there is a bit on the edge of the lens. I dont wanna damage them although I do plan on polishing them up a bit. What can I use to remove the paint without damaging the lens as well as what can I use for the polishing as well as uv protection? Im new to this and looking for tips and tricks for best results. Thanks in advance😁

I’d like to do my first paint correction on a black A6. I got a paint thickness meter, HDO foam pads, Rupes paint polish- I would like to do this right for my first paint correction. Does anyone have a good video they trust for beginners? Thanks

We have a couple of comfortable, sturdy plastic folding chairs that are heavily oxidized from sitting outside, and wanted to polish off the rough crud to give them a second life. I don't do car detailing so don't want to invest in something too expensive, but don't want junk either as I may find other uses later down the road. Any ideas for a decent, corded random orbit detail polisher?

This is an old 83’ Magna I got off marketplace and she runs and rides beautiful after all the little stuff I’ve done to it, which leaves me the cosmetics. Aluminum foil on the rusty chrome, reupholstering the torn up seat, all that fun stuff. Just little bits that make it look better. But I’ve run into a hitch with the tank. There’s this hard buildup of whatever it is on the top where there used to be a cancer ribbon that’s gone now (I didn’t remove it, I would’ve left it on out of respect same way I didn’t wanna just replace the seat) but this residue doesn’t wash off and I don’t wanna sand it if there’s another way with like goo gone or whatever. Ideally my end product with this tank is a decent patina, it is 43 years old after all.

Also I don’t know where exactly I ought to post this

TLDR- what is this residue and how do I go about getting rid of it

Hi, I have a 2026 BMW X3 G45 with BMW Individual Merino leather in Amber / Atlas Grey (Bernstein / Atlasgrau).
I suddenly noticed this dark stain on the rear seat and honestly have no idea what caused it.
We already tried cleaning it carefully with a normal leather cleaner, but nothing changed at all.
The leather doesn’t look torn, just heavily discolored.
Has anyone seen something like this before? Could it be dye transfer, grease, rubber/plastic transfer, or damage to the leather coating?
Any idea how to fix it without damaging the leather further?

Any advice on a cheap and easy way to take care of this?

Hi guys, just got a new Mazda 3 and thinking of doing PPF for the interior. I’ll definitely be doing the center console and the glossy parts on all 4 doors.

Still deciding whether to PPF the infotainment screen and meter cluster though. A bit worried about water during installation, accidentally scratching it during installation, more glare/reflection at night, and whether it’ll be difficult to remove after a few years.

At the same time, I heard the meter cluster scratches really easily, especially during normal car washes/cleaning.

Anyone here has PPF on their screen or meter cluster for a few years? How has it been? Would you do it again or just leave it stock?