*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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MikeHiow said:
You should be able to go 3 months or so at least before the EGP has worn enough to warrant using SRP again, but there is a test of sealants over on DW, and EGP came out very high, so I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't last much, much longer with the correct washing techniques.

I use PBW Natural Look dressing for plastics - does the job, but can be awkward sometimes.

For tar, Autosmart Tardis and a good clay bar.
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Khaaan! said:
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Lol Tards :D

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Oh, Tardis :p

Exterior trim = Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel and interior trim = Poorboy's Natural Look Dressing although this can be used on outside plastics as well! Chemical Guys Gel lasts a lot longer than poorboy's on the exterior though.

No need to polish every week. EGP should last a good few months cross season. IMO There's no need to polish and seal again until you begin to feel debris on the paint surface as you run your palm along AFTER a normal wash and dry.

Has always worked for me ever since I got into this washing and waxing malarkey :p
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peterattheboro said:
Chemical Guys Trim Gel for rubbers and trims.

Whilst waiting for an order of some Megs Tar remover coming in I nipped to the local car shop as I needed some tar remover urgently..

I bought the cheapest can they had and it was Carplan Tar Remover and I didn't expect any miracles... It's absolutley brilliant. Strong as **** and gets you high also... the tar just melts off. :D
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Thanks for the help folks! I will get some poorboys natural look dressing or chemical guys trim gel... ^^lol will see if I can find some of that carplan tar remover.

I'll also leave it 3 months or so between polishing with SRP and EGP then... well, I will judge it by how it feels after a wash.

Thanks for the help, been very helpful :)
 
As I have some spare time now I think I need to get my car sorted. The previous owner of my car must have loved automatic car-washes as the car is full of swirl marks which are partiuclarly noticable in summer. Due to this the paint also looks a lot more dull than it should.

Now after a little research it's unlikely I'll be able to rectifcy them myself so need to get it done professionally. So what is it that I actually need doing? Does anyone know any good people in the Midlands area? How much should I be paying for it?

Thanks
 
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[TW]Fox;17127482 said:
This stuff is awesome. I was brave and went bonkers and coated the ENTIRE interior in it - and it came out brilliantly. No nasty yucky silicon shine or anything. Just... nice.
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Lol. I might give this a go, but i'll prob just start on bumper and mirrors
 
Actually no! Well not the ENTIRE interior obviously, but I did the whole dashboard, centre console, door sills etc etc and it came out looking brilliant. It's a great product.
 
[TW]Fox;17126886 said:
This is exactly my point! How can you say that? Clay removes things you CAN see as well, tar spots, bonded contaminants etc!
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Fox just let them go on about it. To be honest I think some of these detailers with this little bit of business on the side are more clueless than some of us that really don't consider ourselves good.

Too much reading of detailing world and managing to polish out some swirls makes people think they know everything about polishing cars.
 
peterattheboro said:
I'll travel all over as long as long as I'm covered for travelling.

As Fett says though, there's probably someone off DW closer to you who's cheaper and can do a good job which will keep costs down. (I'm assuming your down south and proper detailers will charge you 'down south' prices :p

I have to point out that I do have insurance and a PTG before Foxy starts jumping down my throat about that one aswell :p
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Not quite mate lol, I live in Sunderland. I suck at washing my car and it needs doing badly lol.
 
-Ad- said:
Fox just let them go on about it. To be honest I think some of these detailers with this little bit of business on the side are more clueless than some of us that really don't consider ourselves good.

Too much reading of detailing world and managing to polish out some swirls makes people think they know everything about polishing cars.
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Who had claimed they know everything about polishing cars?
 
MikeHiow said:
Who had claimed they know everything about polishing cars?
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Think: to have or form in the mind as an idea, conception, etc.
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I don't think he said anyone had claimed to to say that. He's just expressing his opinion of the market as a whole - there are many talented people in the market, some of whom may post here.

Learning is cool. But I'm old fashioned and think learning a skill comes before taking peoples money in exchange for performing it. Thats just my personal opinion, you are entitled to yours :)

Anyway we are going around in circles, as the nature of these particular opinions, unlike general ones about cars, are that neither side is suddenly going to go 'oh, you are right', so we'd probably be best off going back to talking about cleaning cars.

I have to say though the idea of filling the car cleaning thread with more and more pictures of cars you've cleaned for clients doesn't really sit right with me. I thought the concept of the thread was for us to chat about cleaning our cars, or perhaps those of our family and friends rather than on a commercial basis. But again its probably not an opinion many will share, so I guess I'll just have to put up with people using this thread to promote business interests :)
 
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Right, should I just post in this thread, a different picture of my car each time I wash it? No.

I don't think I know anything, neither have I ever claimed to. I'm still learning all the time (as are the pros) - and the price of what I do reflects that. The Evo done recently would have been well £400 to get a pro to do it, with similar results.

I'm not promoting business interests, either - How many other members have ever even been to the Isle of Wight, much less live here? I've also stated many times that cleaning/detailing is not a business interest for me, I do it on the side because I enjoy it, hence why I do it for beer money.
 
[TW]Fox;17129876 said:
Anyway we are going around in circles, as the nature of these particular opinions, unlike general ones about cars, are that neither side is suddenly going to go 'oh, you are right', so we'd probably be best off going back to talking about cleaning cars.

I have to say though the idea of filling the car cleaning thread with more and more pictures of cars you've cleaned for clients doesn't really sit right with me. I thought the concept of the thread was for us to chat about cleaning our cars, or perhaps those of our family and friends rather than on a commercial basis. But again its probably not an opinion many will share, so I guess I'll just have to put up with people using this thread to promote business interests :)
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Agreed. I'm pretty bored so let's leave it.

And I've just been sharing clean cars in the cleaning thread on a car forum which I figured would qualify? If you'd prefer then i'll just stick the interesting stuff in here, even that's what i've been doing... Jag XKR, Lotus 340R, BMW M3, VW Scirocco (ok maybe not this) and a GT3 RS.

I've done many more cars which are just normal dull cars which people won't care about.
 
Technically anything you do for gain, be it beer money on otherwise, is a business interest but if I'm honest it's not really you, it's more peter and his 'EMAIL IN TRUST' stuff :p

People in the web hosting forum etc have got into quite hot water for that sort of stuff.
 
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