Well it’s about time! I’ve been testing this system out for a few months now, and whole system has been working the bugs out for a few years- a testament to development process that a top notch company goes through. Meguiar’s has been tweaking the system, removing the variables, making every possible oops a refinement. While this is not the holy grail of detailing, this is a great system for the improving the results of every detailer.
While working at SEMA I got to work with the system and while there is a learning curve to this, its not a steep one. I got to work with the system at SEMA with none other than Kevin Brown, a top notch detailer, but more importantly a “detailing scientist”… he seeks to really understand the why and how of detailing. I learned a bunch from that experience.
When I got home my box of supplies showed up, and within a few days winter came in hard and detailing dropped to a stop. My testing consisted of many hoods and single panels over the months to this point in time. I tested it, compared it, and tried to find its flaws, its benefits, and report back. Meguiar’s allowed us to be frank, honest, and I hope my review will be educational to you. Think about it, this was a big risk to have people testing it before the release that are NOT EMPLOYED BY MEGUIAR’S, they wanted some of the most experienced and full of candor people testing………….and many are writing about the testing right here on Detailed Image!
The system introduces detailers to two new liquids and two new pads. The liquids are 300 compound and 301 finishing wax. The pads are a microfiber material firmly bonded (I tried to soak the pads in harsh detergents to see if they would delaminate) to two different densities of foam backing, a red colored one for compounding (higher density) and a black for finishing (less dense). I had three sized of pad a 6″, 5″ and spot 3″ pad to test. The liquids are from the same family of SMAT media in the 105 and 205 compounds, they are different colors; red for compound and grey for finishing wax. The compound is very similar to 105, in my experience it doesn’t quite cut as “fast” as 105, but no dusting and longer working time. I tested 105 and 300 in a side by side test trying to control all the variables as possible and while I could not photograph the differences I found that on most paints, 105 finished a bit better……..enough to dismiss 300? Nope. I like 300, but 105 for me seems to finish a bit better and the paint is more ready for the second polishing step. The 301 finishing wax is a polish and a wax all in one. It removes any haze or faint holograms left behind from the 300. It lays down a pretty durable wax too. I was able to visit a few touchless car washes which have pretty strong detergents to see how durable it was. While it diminished after about 6 harsh washes (one a week) it was still protecting, now this was also during a Utah winter with the salt slurry on the paint. I was able to remove it with Chemicals guys citrus wash in a pretty high ratio. Personally I like 205 better, because I like to use other waxes based on my clients needs. I foresee that there will be clients that 301 will be a perfect fit so I’ll keep it around in my bag of tricks. Over all the system is going to be a great tool for the weekend warrior to speed the process up with good results. The downside for the weekend warrior is that now you won’t need all weekend to polish out the cars, you can get to the honey dos! Thanks Meguiar’s!
This was a hammered black hood
At this point I’ve just used Megs 300, a bit of haze but easily cleaned by Megs 301
here is the side by side of 300 and 105, as you can seek its nearly impossible to photograph the differences.
Some pretty visible scratches on the paint, were removed with the two liquids.
Cheers,
GREG