*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Oh I see... I didn't even see your location! Sorry...

Finish Kare 1000P is pretty bullet proof, but perhaps isn't the best 'looks' wise.

Are you after durability or best in terms of finish? Can you get Zaino or Clearkote over there?

Here's my silver Megane after Zaino Z2:

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Most suggest you can't get good results from Silver, and that everything looks the same. Generally, sealants look better, as they are more reflective. However, some glazes such as Clearkote's add a nice wetness, which when topped with a suitable wax, gives good results too:

CK Glaze then Zymol Glasur:

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A deeper, glossier look...
 
Still cant get that deep shine though, its the only thing i dont like about my silver car.
 
DiamondMark said:
Still cant get that deep shine though, its the only thing i dont like about my silver car.
Click to expand...

What car is it? Have you ever machine polished it? You'll never get bling like on a darker colour or the right red, but hopefully those pics above show you can obtain decent results... ?
 
Maccy said:
Will pick some up at my next trip to Halfords :)
Click to expand...

If you can, have a crack at AG Vinyl and Rubber Care, I find it lasts much longer than Bumper Care, and even on tires lasts longer than their Tire Dressing. You can also use it on the interior etc. Great product.

EDIT - haha didnt read up, you already have it!!! I dont rate Bumper Care at all to be honest, its just greasy and messy. what you already have lasts much longer for me (i mean before you have to re-apply) But that could be down to the condition of the trim in the first place.
 
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Right I have had a little read of this thread and think I have everything I need to detail my car inside and out. Thing is it comes in at quite a hefty £200 for the lot!!!

Now I can split this over a couple of months by just buying bits and pieces but if I could reduce the overall cost that would be awesome!!!

Here is a list of what I need, please let me know if its ok or what I should replace stuff with (CYC is cleanyourcar website):

Washing
Sonus Sheepskin Wash Mitt - CYC
Meguiar's Hyper Wash - CYC
Sonus Blue Perl Drying Towel - CYC

Claying
Bilt Hamber Soft Autoclay - Amazon

Polishing
Meguiars Even Coat Applicators x 2 - CYC
Autoglym Super Resin Polish - Amazon
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel x 2 - CYC

Waxing
Meguiars #16 Paste Wax - CYC
Foam Wax Applicator - CYC
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel - CYC

Wheels
Chemical Guys Wheel Guard - CYC
Sonus Der Wunder Applicators x 2 - CYC
Trim & Tyre Dressing Applicator - CYC

Sealant
Chemical Guys - Jet Seal 109 - CYC
Foam Wax Applicator - CYC
Sonus DAS Buffing Bonnet x 2 - CYC

Interior/Glass & Exterior Trim
Chemical Guys - New Look Trim Gel - CYC (Can you use on the engine bay?)
CYC Chemical Guys - V.R.P Dressal - CYC
Super-Weave Berry x 2 - Interior Cloth - Planet Polish
Meguiars NXT Glass Cleaner - CYC
Super-Weave Blue x 2 - Glass Cloth - Planet Polish

So any reduction in cost would be greatly welcomed!!! But if this is the good stuff then I'll just have to start saving lol. Oh also is this the right way to wash the outside:

Wet with water
2 bucket wash method
Clay
Polish
Sealant
Wax
 
RussZS said:
What car is it? Have you ever machine polished it? You'll never get bling like on a darker colour or the right red, but hopefully those pics above show you can obtain decent results... ?
Click to expand...

I wasnt saying yours hasnt come out well, it looks excellent.

I just wish there was something you could put on silver to make it look as good as a dark colour.
 
AFK_Matrix said:
Right I have had a little read of this thread and think I have everything I need to detail my car inside and out. Thing is it comes in at quite a hefty £200 for the lot!!!

Now I can split this over a couple of months by just buying bits and pieces but if I could reduce the overall cost that would be awesome!!!

Here is a list of what I need, please let me know if its ok or what I should replace stuff with (CYC is cleanyourcar website):

Washing
Sonus Sheepskin Wash Mitt - CYC
Meguiar's Hyper Wash - CYC
Sonus Blue Perl Drying Towel - CYC

Claying
Bilt Hamber Soft Autoclay - Amazon

Polishing
Meguiars Even Coat Applicators x 2 - CYC
Autoglym Super Resin Polish - Amazon
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel x 2 - CYC

Waxing
Meguiars #16 Paste Wax - CYC
Foam Wax Applicator - CYC
Sonus Der Wunder Polishing Towel - CYC

Wheels
Chemical Guys Wheel Guard - CYC
Sonus Der Wunder Applicators x 2 - CYC
Trim & Tyre Dressing Applicator - CYC

Sealant
Chemical Guys - Jet Seal 109 - CYC
Foam Wax Applicator - CYC
Sonus DAS Buffing Bonnet x 2 - CYC

Interior/Glass & Exterior Trim
Chemical Guys - New Look Trim Gel - CYC (Can you use on the engine bay?)
CYC Chemical Guys - V.R.P Dressal - CYC
Super-Weave Berry x 2 - Interior Cloth - Planet Polish
Meguiars NXT Glass Cleaner - CYC
Super-Weave Blue x 2 - Glass Cloth - Planet Polish

So any reduction in cost would be greatly welcomed!!! But if this is the good stuff then I'll just have to start saving lol. Oh also is this the right way to wash the outside:

Wet with water
2 bucket wash method
Clay
Polish
Sealant
Wax
Click to expand...

My comments would be....

- Which tyre dressing are you using? The NLTG?
- Give the CG Wheel Guard a miss, it's horrible, sloppy stuff. Megs 16 is great on wheels.
- Change VRP for 303 Protectant - MUCH better product
- Why do you need a sealant? Megs 16 is fine on its own after SRP
- Change Megs NXT Glass Cleaner to Stoner Invisible Glass
- Why are you buying Planet Polish MF's? They are nothing special, just get some more from CYC, save on postage.
- I'm not a fan of the Sonus Drying Towels, but they do the job...
 
Kappa said:
If you can, have a crack at AG Vinyl and Rubber Care, I find it lasts much longer than Bumper Care, and even on tires lasts longer than their Tire Dressing. You can also use it on the interior etc. Great product.

EDIT - haha didnt read up, you already have it!!! I dont rate Bumper Care at all to be honest, its just greasy and messy. what you already have lasts much longer for me (i mean before you have to re-apply) But that could be down to the condition of the trim in the first place.
Click to expand...

I used AGVRC normally, but didnt find it much use for restoring extremely faded trim at all, which AGBC was excellent for. I guess with all these things you just need to try them and see what works best for you.
 
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TBH, the VRC spray worked wonders on my trim, as it had turned a very patchy dark/light grey. Had to do a few applications but got there in the end.
 
WD40 and also peanut butter (I know!) are supposed to be very good at cleaning plastic trim before protecting with AGVRC or any other plastic products.

I had been using AGVRC on my trim and found it had gone white and cloudy from polish/wax. WD40 and some serious elbow grease on a MC cloth cleaned it up a treat.

I did this after my initial rinse and before the shampoo to make sure any WD40 wasn't left on the paint work. I was of course careful not to get any on there in the first place. No idea if it's bad for it or not but wanted to make sure it was all gone.
 
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Thanks for the feedback RussZS thats exactly what I need as I am a complete noob to this.

I am buying some other stuff from Planet Polish so I can just get the MF cloths at the same time. I have also replace the Sonus Drying towel with one from Planet Polish, but have no clue if its good or not, what would you recommend?

And I was going to use the Chemical Guys - New Look Trim Gel for the tyre dressing.

Here is the updated list then:

Washing
Sonus Sheepskin Wash Mitt - CYC
Meguiar's Hyper Wash - CYC
A-Zorb Drying Towel: 40cm x 40cm - Planet Polish

Claying
Bilt Hamber Soft Autoclay - Amazon

Polishing
Meguiars Even Coat Applicators x 2 - CYC
Autoglym Super Resin Polish - Amazon
Dodo Juice - Supernatural Buffing Towel - CYC

Waxing
Meguiars #16 Paste Wax - CYC
Foam Wax Applicator - CYC
Dodo Juice - Supernatural Buffing Towel - CYC

Wheels
Meguiars #16 Paste Wax CYC
Sonus Der Wunder Applicators x 2 CYC
Trim & Tyre Dressing Applicator CYC

Interior/Glass & Exterior Trim
Chemical Guys - New Look Trim Gel (Interior and engine bay?) - CYC
303 Aerospace Protectant - CYC
Super-Weave Berry x 2 - Interior Cloth - Planet Polish
Stoner - Invisible Glass - CYC
Super-Weave Blue x 2 - Glass Cloth - Planet Polish

Let me know what you think as thats shaved off £30 odd quid :D.
 
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Thanks RussZS thats awesome advice there, my bank balance will hate you but thanks :)

Here is the Wheel list again then:

Wheels
Wheel Seal + Shine: 250ml - Planet Polish
WS+S Applicators x 8 - Planet Polish
Trim & Tyre Dressing Applicator - CYC
Chemical Guys - New Look Trim Gel - CYC

Can't wait to clean the golf as its filthy at the moment!!! Just gotta wait for a day with no rain haha!!!:(
 
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I forgot to say that the trim on the outside of the Golf is pretty faded and has wax residue on it I think so will the 303 restore this?

And hopefully the last question lol, as I am pretty sure this is the first time the Golf will have been clayed should I go for the normal Autoclay instead of the soft as the paintwork doesn't feel smooth at all?
 
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I'm starting to use up my current supply of Meguiar's products (I've always used the 3-step system).

Having read all 3,000 posts in this thread and the guides on Polished Bliss etc. I think I've decided on a new set of products. Can you lot critique my current plan please. :) I live in a flat with no outside power or water supply so everything has to be done at the garage or carried up and down stairs. The lack of outside power also means I'm hand polishing everything rather than getting a DA.

1. Snow Foam + Jetwash at my local garage

2. Shampoo with Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo using the two bucket method with Meguairs Lambswool Mit etc. Dry with Microfiber drying towel (I already have all of the above)

3. Clay: Bilt Hamber Clay Original

4a. Polishing Pad: Lake Country Light Cut Hand Pad

4b. Cut Polish: Menzerna 203S

5a. Finishing Pad: Lake Country Polishing Hand Pad

5b. Finishing Polish: Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish

6. Glaze: Blackfire All Finish Paint Protection

7. Wax: Blackfire Midnight Sun Paste Wax

8. Seal: Blackfire Deep Gloss Spray Sealant

9a. Wheel Cleaner: Bilberry Wheel Cleaner

9b. Wheel Wax: Poorboy’s Wheel Sealant

10a Leather Cleaner: Gliptone GT12

10b. Leather Conditioner: Gliptone GT11

11. Interior: Poorboy’s Natural Look Dressing

12. Black Trim: Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer

13a. Tyre Dressing Applicator: Meguiar's Tyre Dressing Applicator Pad

13b. Tyre Dressing: Meguire's Purple stuff (I already have this)

14. Exhaust Polish: Autoglym Metal Polish (I already have this)

15. Windows: AG Fast Glass to clean and RainX on sides/rear window

16. Engine Bay: 303 Aerospace Protect

Obviously I won't do all 16 steps every time. I want the Menzerna 203S to remove some bird-muck etchings and stuff.

The only thing I'm questioning on the above is the Blackfire Wax – is it really worth twice the price of Collinite 915?

Cheers for any advice on the above. I'll post some pics of the E60 cleaned with the Megs 3-step tonight or tomorrow.
 
Hand polishing an E60 with 203s is going to be one big ballache. I'd add all that up and think about using it towards a pro job and waiting until you buy a rotary/DA. It's hard paint and can be a bit of a slog with a machine, I'd hate to do it by hand.

Maybe think about Blackhole/White Diamond for now. As far as the Blackfire stuff, I've bought the whole shebang a couple of years ago and still have plenty left...I stopped using it after trying Werkstatt so I'm not a huge fan although it did work really well on my scoob. The GEP has fillers so that could be helpful to you.
 
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