*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

Status
Not open for further replies.
I've just recently bought a MK2 MX5 in Blue. What are the general recommendations for things to buy to clean it? I'm not interested in having it fully detailed, I just want it to be clean, look good, and keep a good look for a while. Whilst I'd love to spend 10 hours cleaning, I'm more of a 2 hour kind of guy!

I have access to a pressure washer. Cheers!
 
Last edited:
Cleaned the car yesterday and dried it with SONAX Xtreme Brilliant Shine Detailer - after the rain overnight I'm very impressed with the beading :-)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Very nice beading indeed! Looks like mine did this morning from the dew. By the way, the bottoms right of that photo is just filled with win :)
 
Beading not the only thing you want though is it? I thought a good mix of water sheeting/beading is what you want when using a quick detailer/spray wax.
 
Blackhawk47 said:
Beading not the only thing you want though is it? I thought a good mix of water sheeting/beading is what you want when using a quick detailer/spray wax.
Click to expand...

Yeah - it's good at both. If I pour a bucket of water over it, it nearly all runs off.
 
YEah those magic sponges are pretty damn good :)
I use mine on all the internal plastics now :p
Sainsburys had the JML ones half price.
Or if you're not in a rush http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003QITQC6/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_j.qCtb07AGKNW


Any tips on swirl marks?
I've gave the car a good few washes, I've clayed it, I've SRP's it and polished til I coudl polish no more, yes it looks good, yes it gives nice reflections.

But I can still see the swirl marks under certain light :(
Anything I can do bar a full on machine polish?
Anyone know any decent guys up in the north east for this type of detailing?
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
YEah those magic sponges are pretty damn good :)
I use mine on all the internal plastics now :p
Sainsburys had the JML ones half price.
Or if you're not in a rush http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003QITQC6/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_j.qCtb07AGKNW


Any tips on swirl marks?
I've gave the car a good few washes, I've clayed it, I've SRP's it and polished til I coudl polish no more, yes it looks good, yes it gives nice reflections.

But I can still see the swirl marks under certain light :(
Anything I can do bar a full on machine polish?
Anyone know any decent guys up in the north east for this type of detailing?
Click to expand...

There is only so much you can fill with SRP. Machine is the only way to get the swirls out.
 
i recently got some Autoglym radiant wax polish, very impressed with it, never heard of it before. anyone else used it?
 
Picked up a pot of "Meguiars NXT Metal Polish" today and wasn't expecting much but after using it on my exhaust and chrome engine dress up bits I'm delighted with the results. It's expensive at £7-9 a pot but it'll last a VERY long time and I reckon last longer than a tube of Autosol.

Having used Autosol for ages to polish bits up I'll definitely be ditching it for this in future, I recommend others try it :)
 
20141006_172150.jpg


Not too sure if the above is noticable but it is with the eye, its a brand new car so a bit miffed off, it was bird poo but seems to have taken a layer of paint off :( not too sure how to go about getting this sorted, would something like a polish work?
 
As a favour I cleaned by brother in laws Leon Cupra over the weekend. Just a quick clean and QD for now as it going to a professional soon for all GTechniq coatings :) Was short on time though so only before and afters.

** Any image wider than 1280 pixels should be linked or placed in spoiler tags **

Wheel before
IMG_1689(1) by Greboth, on Flickr

Wheel after - Who knew it was silver!
IMG_1690(1) by Greboth, on Flickr

Car before
IMG_1687(1) by Greboth, on Flickr

And after
IMG_1691(1) by Greboth, on Flickr
 
I can't comment specifically on TRIX as I have never used it but having used fall out remover and tar remover seperately then yes, it is worth it. Clay works by removing bonded contaminents by shearing off the top to make the paint work smooth. This works for things like tree sap or tar but fallout can enter the pores of paint work or slowly etch in to the paint work which claying wont get out. Tar can be removed with clay however any contaminent you pick up with your clay is going to get run along the surface until you next fold the clay so I remove tar before claying.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom