How I Restored My Trail-Worn Jeep’s Former Glory, and the Products That Helped It Get There
After about 15 years of sitting in the intense desert sun of Moab, Utah, my 2006 Jeep Wrangler lost its luster. Meguiar’s products helped bring her back.
My beloved 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited originally belonged to my Uncle, who bought it and built it specifically to take on California’s famed Rubicon Trail. Then he moved to Moab, Utah, and he never left. All 131,000 miles on the odometer were collected off-road, and because of that, the paint, well… Let’s just say it’s certainly seen better days.
My poor Jeep came to me in bad shape last year. The clear coat was peeling off on the hood and fenders, and there was a spot on the driver’s rear quarter panel that had no clear coat on it at all. My Uncle loved his Jeep, but it was meant to get dirty and be beaten up, so paint care was moved to the back burner.
I told a few folks at Meguiar’s my story over a video call, and they were very eager to help me revive what they called “the legendary LJ.” They sent me a waterless wash and wax, a clay bar, a new compound they developed, and an experimental trim piece restorer. After I finished, even my Uncle said, “It looks better than it did when I bought it.”
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Meguiar’s sent me these products in exchange for our honest review. All opinions and impressions are my own.
First, We Had to Get the Paint Ready
Because the paint was in such bad shape when I got it, my husband and I decided we’d start from the beginning. The worst parts were the hood and the fenders, so, begrudgingly, we sectioned off the parts of the hood and fenders with the worst damage with painter’s tape and plastic, sanded them down, primed, painted, and put on some clear coat.
After gently sanding down the new edges from the clear coat layer, we let it cure, and came back the next day. A small part of the rear quarter panel on the driver’s side was missing clear coat entirely, so we repeated the above process and added some clear coat.
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Then Came a Washing and Soft Top Treatment
Having a soft top makes washing a Jeep a little more tricky unless you plan on washing and treating the top. Meguiar’s didn’t send me the convertible top cleaner–because I already had it handy–but I rinsed it off with a hose, and used the cleaner and a gentle brush to work the cleaner into the material.
While that soaked, I used the Meguiar’s ceramic car wash on the rest of the Jeep. I hosed it all off, treated the soft top to deepen the black and provide some UV protection, since it spends a majority of its time outside. Once it dried, it shone beautifully—and about two shades darker than it was before.
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After That, I Tried Using the Clay Bar, Compound, and Wax
Meguiar’s sent me the Ultimate Compound and a clay bar kit to try. After drying thoroughly and making sure there was no debris on the paint, I used to clay bar over the paint to remove anything bonded to the paint, like tree sap or tar, especially since our street had been resurfaced. It took a while for me to get the hang of it, but once I figured out a rhythm, it was pretty easy.
After claying, I decided to try the Ultimate Compound to help remove any deeper imperfections–and there were a lot of them–like water spots, fine scratches, and swirl marks. This was the product that blew my husband’s mind. He’s repainted a few cars in his time, and he’s always used a standard polish before waxing. This, he said, was much better.
He was a little skeptical, but when both saw how easy it was to apply and how shiny, smooth, and vibrant the red paint was, we eagerly got to work on the rest of the exterior using his power polisher. We had the Ultimate Liquid Wax in our arsenal, and after we went over the paint with a microfiber towel to break up the compound dust, we put on a thick layer of wax to seal and protect the paint.
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The Fender Trim Needed Some Serious Help
If you look up pictures of a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited brand-new, the fenders were a deep, glossy black. Mine were so faded, they almost looked white. My husband and I tried using heavy-duty trim restoration products with black dye, and it barely helped. The trim piece over the wheel well on the rear driver’s side was the only one that seemed to have improved. The others didn’t take very kindly to the treatment. The folks with Meguiar’s said the same thing as my husband during our consultation call: “Those might be beyond saving.”
So, they sent me their Heavy Duty Trim Restoration Kit. They told me not to expect a miracle, so I was careful. They were right – it didn’t fix the trim, but it did help even out the damage caused by the dye-laden product to the trim. I did, though, appreciate the fact that it has UV protection, so at least I knew that they wouldn’t get worse while I saved up to replace them. When I do replace them, though, I will be using the Ultimate Black trim treatment to keep them protected (and glossy).
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Then We Got to Work on the Interior
My Uncle was a big fan of removing the top of the windows, so it was hard to tell that the interior was black. Instead, it appeared to be a deep, matte brown. There was dust in every possible nook and cranny, crevice, and even on the gauges. It was everywhere. Every time we thought we had finally vacuumed it all out, we’d find more.
After a few days, we started using the interior cleaner the company sent us on microfiber towels and used small, soft brushes to get it into the gaps. Within a few swipes, it looked brand-new. It also helped give me peace of mind, since it provides UV protection and helps hydrate the material, so it’s less likely to crack (the fact that it hasn’t by now is a miracle). In a few short minutes, she looked (almost) as good as news.
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Then, I Took A Step Back to Take Her In
![My Jeep In All Her [Now Restored] Glory](https://agirlsguidetocars.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_1161-788x525.jpg "How I Restored My Trail-Worn Jeep’s Former Glory, and the Products That Helped It Get There 8")
This was no easy task, take it from me. My Jeep’s paint was basically screaming at me the second I pulled it into my driveway. Thanks to Meguiar’s (and a lot less elbow grease than I expected), my Jeep looks like it belongs in a museum. The trim will be replaced, because at this point, even Jesus can’t save it—but I was genuinely shocked by how well the paint responded to everything Meguiar’s sent me.
I’m particularly excited for the waterless wash and wax. Now I can wash it and protect the paint without getting the soft top wet. With how well this experiment went, I can’t wait to use them on the rest of our old girls. If you haven’t yet, this is your friendly reminder to wash and wax your car at least twice a year. And don’t be afraid to detail it every once and a while. You’d be amazed by how fun it could be.
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