*** Car Wash / Valet / Detailing Thread ***

Hoping weather stays decent Friday so I can clean the mrs car properly, really need to clean the seats, darn kids.

have bought a decent seat brush thing, autolygm interior shampoo and got the Titan wet and dry vac ready.
 
As above took about two hours to do a full interior sort.
Which is apparently enough to flatten the battery on a 22 plate car.
So it's not on charge. In the plus side, it looks better inside that when we got it new.

Ran out of energy /time to do the exterior.
 
Manbatius said:
As above took about two hours to do a full interior sort.
Which is apparently enough to flatten the battery on a 22 plate car.
So it's not on charge. In the plus side, it looks better inside that when we got it new.

Ran out of energy /time to do the exterior.
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Unlike last weekend, some decent weather this weekend. Might do my car too tomorrow. Now that we're going into autumn, got to use these small windows of good weather opportunities before the heavens open.
 
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Manbatius said:
Hoping weather stays decent Friday so I can clean the mrs car properly, really need to clean the seats, darn kids.

have bought a decent seat brush thing, autolygm interior shampoo and got the Titan wet and dry vac ready.
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I've given up on keeping mine clean (outside). The farmer is out cutting up the fields and ploughing all around us and up and down the road with wagons etc. The dust is crazy. You come out next day and the car is covered. I clean the glass daily but even that is hard if it is sunny, for example.
 
Did my first ever collinite beadcoat over the weekend.

This stuff is simply amazing.

Did my usual 2 stage polish using chemical guys orange pad/meg 105 followed by a chemical guys green pad/chemical guys v36.

Then put the beadcoat on. Says it lasts 6 months but even if I apply it once every 3 months it only takes 30 mins to apply all over the car. Really happy with the product.

9e0wLbJ.jpeg


2rLikWg.jpeg
 
adam cool dude said:
Did my first ever collinite beadcoat over the weekend.

This stuff is simply amazing.

Did my usual 2 stage polish using chemical guys orange pad/meg 105 followed by a chemical guys green pad/chemical guys v36.

Then put the beadcoat on. Says it lasts 6 months but even if I apply it once every 3 months it only takes 30 mins to apply all over the car. Really happy with the product.

9e0wLbJ.jpeg


2rLikWg.jpeg
Click to expand...
Looks great. I've been using Collinite Insulator Speed Wax last couple of washes. Paired with the Gyeon Wet Coat, it works really well, and both products take no time at all to apply which makes me happy lol. :) I might take a look at this beadcoat. Ta
 
adam cool dude said:
Did my first ever collinite beadcoat over the weekend.

This stuff is simply amazing.

Did my usual 2 stage polish using chemical guys orange pad/meg 105 followed by a chemical guys green pad/chemical guys v36.

Then put the beadcoat on. Says it lasts 6 months but even if I apply it once every 3 months it only takes 30 mins to apply all over the car. Really happy with the product.
Click to expand...

I used this on my recently delivered Cupra Born VZ. Collinite is so easy to apply and the finish is superb. Not the cheapest on the market but for ease of use its excellent.
 
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MrRockliffe said:
What are your budget expectations/requirements?


Machine polishing and ceramic coating has a HUGE variance in quality of output.
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Car was brand new in March of this year. Had the ceramic coating (if that's what you can call it) from Mercedes. Once clean you can see poor application in certain areas.

I'd like a good machine polish to remove and minor swirl marks and to then apply a more robust ceramic coating which will improve appearance and durability of the paintwork
 
My car is going in to BMW to have some codes read tomorrow

I selected "no" for the complimentary car wash, as i have not done a proper outside detail on it in about 4 months, but it has some dirt on the car, I dont want them getting there mits and rubbing it in

I bet they still do it though


I selected no last time and they still washed it
 
magicroundabout said:
Car was brand new in March of this year. Had the ceramic coating (if that's what you can call it) from Mercedes. Once clean you can see poor application in certain areas.

I'd like a good machine polish to remove and minor swirl marks and to then apply a more robust ceramic coating which will improve appearance and durability of the paintwork
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Okay cool, so just a couple of things which will help you:

1. The Merc one will probably be autoglym or Williams type thing. More of a sealant than a ceramic coating.

It still MIGHT be a Gtechniq one, but if it is it’s their basic one.


Different ceramics offer different things, but to the best of my knowledge, none of them will improve the appearance of a car - they “lock in” the finish you achieve with the correction part.

Hence, finding someone who can paint correct to the level you want is key.


A good indicator is the lighting they use, as without it they’re effectively working blind - you can’t correct defects you can’t see.



Here’s a really good video to give you an indication of the lighting a good detailer will have:



Things of note:

1. It isn’t diffused lighting - large diffused panels mask imperfections, which is why it’s used for photography and videography.

2. He has strip lighting along the sides of the vehicle - strip lights allow you to better see defects because of the contrast edges between light and dark.

3. The room isn’t overly bright - too bright makes it impossible to have contrast edges.

4. He uses a small light for spot checks.

5. The combination of different types of light, with different white points allows him to see more defects.

6. He can raise the car up to eye level, again making it easier to see defects.




Kelly, the detailer in the above video, is mega. Undoubtedly the best in the UK and probably top 3 in the world. He’s been painting and detailing for many years, and actually understands the science behind it.


For context, he’d probably be in the region of 2-3k (car size dependent) for the work you’re looking for.



If you want any more info to help narrow down what you’re looking for, give me a PM and happy to walk you through it in more detail over the phone :-)
 
DJMK4 said:
My car is going in to BMW to have some codes read tomorrow

I selected "no" for the complimentary car wash, as i have not done a proper outside detail on it in about 4 months, but it has some dirt on the car, I dont want them getting there mits and rubbing it in

I bet they still do it though


I selected no last time and they still washed it
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I put a “do not wash” in a few places in the car, inc dash, and mention it at the service desk. They’ve never washed mine :)


Give that a go
 
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