Bought the wife a 04 black element ex. It snowed today and it is pretty nasty. This weekend it is going to be 60's and sunny. So this weekend is devoted to cleaning the E. Car has swirls and a few scratces. Would love to get them out and clean it up really good. Was wondering what system everyone used. I really don't have time to order any cleaner off line so I will be using whatever I find at the autozone. Any product suggestions would be great! Thanks

I like to use mothers products (red bottle). Their carnuba cleaner wax takes out most swirls and surface scratches pretty easily. Then I usually add a layer of their pure carnuba wax

I might also add a layer of the pure carnuba on the headlight lens. Did that on my 93' MB 300E for many years and the lights never got oxidized.

I used their soap also before, but went to meguiars for that cus it was cheaper and I got the same results..

I always wash from top to bottom to reduce swirls(I figure there are larger dirt particles on the bottom of the car that might stay in my wash mitt and may cause small scratches as i wash other parts, so i do it last)

If my car gets really dirty which rarely happens, I change out the bucket of soap water 2 to 3 times during the wash, again to help reduce any dirt particles that can scratch or cause swirls to the car.

Once I rinse, I just let the hose flow without putting my thumb or spray attachment on it (makes the water roll off the paint quicker in my opinion)

I dry with a chamois, that I constantly rinse in between wipes to remove any loose dirt that may accumulate from spots that i might have missed with the soap
In between washes, Meguiars Quick Detailer, the black bottle, works great!!!!!!!!!!

This is just my method that i find works, Ive read other threads, and people have other good ways that work also. (This method worked very well on my last car which was BLACK, and over 10 years old, it still looks shiny!, I still have it!)

Where did you get your chamois? What brand you use?

First of all, I am so dang excited that you live in Chattanooga, I have waited for this day. I am in Ooltewah, TN

Anyways, I like Mothers also but IMO I have had better results with Meguiars.
I use Meguiars products for everything on the Element except for the panels and for those I use Mother Back to Black, it really makes the panels look good.

I use Micro Fiber towels to dry my cars but if you go this route be sure to get top quality Micro Fiber. I have only been able to find it online.

If you can find one at the auto store, a California Water Blade is my best friend. It makes drying the Element so easy.

Other than that I don’t do anything special.

Oh, If you have swirls use Meguiars Clay Bar and then the SwirlX.

I use the Mr. Clean AutoDry wash system - worked great for my MINI Cooper for 3 years, and now my E. Great wash, and spot-free drying with no wiping at all. For the plastic panels - 303 AeroSpace Protectant which I like over some of the other products, as it both cleans and protects - so the panels can be a little grungy and the 303 will both take off the grunge, and add the deep black back. :smile:

Bought the wife a 04 black element ex.

Nobody said it so I will, Congratulations and welcome to the site!

I have been on a Black Magic products kick this past year for wax, plastic cleaners, and protectants. Mothers is great stuff for swirls, agreed. Also the California Water Bade I cannot recommend enough!!! Makes the drying a snap. The Meguiars Gold wash soap I use all the time. Have tried the Mr. Clean water-softening AutoDry system. I have too hard of water here to make it work, still get hard water patterns if I let it dry on the surface.

Where did you get your chamois? What brand you use?

i got mine at autozone, i cant remember what brand cus ive had it for a while, but I do recommend to replace it if it starts to become to dirty or starts to deteriorate

I use a combo or Turtle Wax Ice Products such as the Liquid Clay bar, Meguiares Ultimate Products, and Stoner Car Care Products. They Work Wonders.
www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=1
www.moreshine.com

303 is any awesome product...highly recommend it. Also, Check out autogeek.com they have every cleaning product you need and at a really good price

i just bought a bunch of stuff... cuz the plastic is super tought to keep clean but i discover for that the mothers trim and bumper stuff works good....and then i was sooo incredibly amazed i just discover the eagle one stuff i think its called...ill get back to you...but anyway i had a cat climb on my hood and it took the scratches right out and it make it so smooth it looks like i just washed my car everyday....goin on the sixth day and its still super smooth...it looks like it just came from the factory. and its not too expensive either...i bought it at an auto shop.