I'll admit, most of these company's self touting "steps to a great finish" are long on hype and short on results but for the money, I don't think you can beat Meguiar's. I've used Meguiar's for years on several vehicles and I'm never anything short of amazed at the results. Pepper inspired me to put another coat on last night.. SWEET!

PepperKay just finished this and I'd love to know how his turned out...

------------------
kjw & the
PNUTMNM

Blaming Guns for Columbine is like blaming spoons for Rosy O'Donnel

This is what I use, too - and I gotta say, "this stuff is like buttah." Props to a great product!

Step one, once or twice a year or so. Step two every now and again to freshen things up. Step three just about every other wash.

------------------
01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

To quote my grandpappy ...

"It's slicker than deer guts on a glass doorknob" ...

Man oh man, except for the 2 small pits in the hood, it just about took everything off in the way of crud and swirls ...

I found that Step 1 was the hardest, 2 less so and 3 not so bad ...

'Mr. Gecko' shines like nobody's business ... I find myself going out a few times, turning on the garage lights and just admiring it ...

Aces to this product ...

And rain is forecast for tomorrow (:

------------------
Pepper Kay
Inventor of the kerosene powered telegraph key ...

Yeah Toto, you're not in San Diego anymore.

------------------
Eric Konarske & Lara, my X
'01 Solar Yellow XE 3 Pk. 4x4

I've been reading these posts about Meguiar's three-step process. I recently bought the wax (Meguiar's), but I didn't see any kind of three-step process at Wal-mart. Where can I get it? How much is it? Is it in three separate packages or is it in one entire package? And what are the three steps? I know one of them is actually waxing and buffing. Sorry for all of the questions. Thanks for the help fellas!!! I'm all about making my X shine after getting it all dirtied up...

------------------
2000 Yellow SE 4x4 5 Speed

"Never judge a person's horsepower by his exhaust."

The three step process comes in different bottles about $5 each. I just bought some at auto zone but they didn't have the first step. I used the other two anyway and the results were great, I can only imagine what all three steps could do.

------------------
X-Terra Owner in August
Current: 1990 Pathfinder SE

I am with PNUT on this. Ever since he steered me to way of Meguiar's I have been a the good side of the shine. 3 steps rule.

------------------
You can't be hurt by sex on the television unless you fall off.

http://www.gpxo.org

Pep Boys carries all 3 steps. Not sure offhand about the price, but it's in line with the rest of them. There are 3 separate bottles, so you can buy 1 or all 3.



------------------
2001 XE-3pk Auto
Just Blue 4x4

Hank -
To finish off your vehicle after a wash or wax, try 'final inspection' or 'quick detailer' for an extra level of shine.

If you need more information about Meguiars products, just stop by their web site.
http://www.meguiars.com

You can even request a 'paint care prescription' based on you and your X's requirements. There is also an 800 number or e-mail access for any special questions.

As appearance mudderator I do want to say that there are many good products out there. There are also some that are not so good. The only way to really find out is to try them - heck, I've even formulated some carnuaba wax for my own use.
The bottom line - see what works for you and your particular vehicle. There is no single product that is perfect for everyone.

dave and Xtoy - just keep lookin'



------------------

Hank-Thanks for asking!

Dave, do you have a list of products to stay away from? I already put armour all at the top but I'm not sure which waxes do more harm than good.

Pnut & pepper...Thanks again, I'm headin'for pep boys ASAP

------------------
'01 silver Ice XE 4x2 3PAK

I use the Meguiars Gold CLass liquid about every other wash or so, and sometimes I add an extra coat of Hi-Tech Yellow #26 (which is like straight carnuba). It's a pain to rub the #26 off, but it leaves a great shine and protection in addition to the Gold Class. I love the Gold Class because it takes hardly any elbow grease to get it off.

------------------
01 SE 4x4
Silver Ice

Thank you fellas!!! I'll pick some up soon...

------------------
2000 Yellow SE 4x4 5 Speed

"Never judge a person's horsepower by his exhaust."

Just to answer the question of "what are the three steps?"

- Step one is the strongest of the three. It will clean off oxidation, surface contamination, generally most all things.
- Step two is the polish. It contains no wax and is a pure polish formula. This is what gives you the shine, and further reduces or eliminates swirls.
- Step three is the wax and contains no polish or cleaning ingredients. This is what protects the shine you achieved with step two.

All of these products are clearcoat safe and will not harm the finish whatsoever. Still, I'd use Step One sparingly. Step Two and Step Three can be used as often as you have the energy for - especially the latter.

------------------
01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

... A little bit of info... The bottles
are labeled 1, 2, and 3... That way, dumbass'
like me, know the proper sequence... So
look for the numbers... It totally helps!

- Damn, is this mic on? Testing 1-2 1-2

------------------
Xterra 2001 SE 4x2
Air Butchie Productions
Is that an Xterra in your pocket or are you just glad to see me!!

Actually, I use the Swirl Remover from the "Mirror Finish line, the #9 Polish, and the Gold Class Wax. And between washes and waxes, I use the instant detail.

Now...just need to find either Back to Black or Vinylex....

------------------

Used it today, can't wait for the rain to see how it stands up

------------------
Michael
01 GoldRush SE

If you used it today it will rain tomorrow. Murphy's law...

------------------
01 Solar Yellow SE 4x4 Auto
Guy's Xterra Pics

Meguiar's saved my paint! A true story:

Myself and two buddies went trail hunting today, one in a Jeep and the other in a Pathfinder. Both were fairly used so they didn't mind if anything happened, but mine is barely a month old and of course I still treat it like a baby.

We took one turn onto a very narrow trail, all the surrounding bush heavily overgrown and very uninviting. But my friends pushed on, and what was I going to do, wimp out?

I followed as carefully as I could, but no amount of praying would stop the endless scraping and scratching of the bushes, twigs, leaves and whatever else against my freshly Meguiar waxed paint. When we finally emerged onto a wider trail, the damage was obvious.

Scrapes from bumper to bumper, top to bottom. My heart sunk.

When I got home I washed off all the dust and mud ... I didn't even need to use soap and mitt, everything just fell off like magic.

The scrapes?

Very minimal! The wax held up!

I shouldn't have any problem using the three steps to fix things up, thanks Meguiar!

------------------
'01 Silver 5 speed V6 XE

Nice, superjens - glad to hear!

I had the same experience after freshly applying some good ol' fashioned "Jersey Pinstriping" at the 'Barrens.

Wax on, wax off. Now you see the scratches, now you don't.

The only thing that got really any "damage" was those "rain deflectors" from Nissan, which I'm thinking more and more are just ass. They don't reduce wind noise - if anything, they increase it. They hardly keep the rain out, and even make it worse at the very bottom of the front window pieces...

------------------
01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

Ok yall convinced me I bought the meguiars 3 step and I am planning on applying it as soon as the forecaster says no more rain for the week.

I am eager to see how vader looks with a new coat.

------------------
'01 super black XE 4x4
name: VADER

Big weekend. Gonna install the grill guard. While I'm at it I'm gonna do the 3-step for the first time. Can't wait. Course with my luck it'll rain again. But the weatherman says sunny skies! (Where have we heard that before?)

------------------
'01 Super Black
V-6 XE 4X2

Yup, I have been using the Mirror Finish line for years now. It is Meguiar's "Professional" line #4 Heavy cut cleaner for the major surface defects #2 Fine cut cleaner for minor defects #7 Show car glaze to polish it up and finally #26 Hi-Tech Yellow wax. And I do quick touch ups between waxes with Meguiar's Quick wax...NEVER disappointed.

------------------
Kevin
00' Super Black SE 5 speed
superblackxterra.tripod.com

Geez how many steps is that the meguiars 3 step already sounds like a whole heck of a lot. Now you are talkin all these numbers and stuff. Damn if I did all that I would be afraid to get it dirty or offroad.

------------------
'01 super black XE 4x4
name: VADER

Nah, don't get fazed by all the numbers and steps, just remember that the final outcome is worth it. And as for being afraid to take it offroad, it should give you better confidence -- the mud and dust just drip off when you take a hose to it.

------------------
'01 Silver 5 speed V6 XE

No the regular meguiar's 3 step is just that 3 steps what I do is different.The stuff I use is their high end stuff


------------------
Kevin
00' Super Black SE 5 speed
superblackxterra.tripod.com