Hi,

Just today recieved my order of a couple of bottles of 'Grease Lighting' & recommended cloths , from Amazon, on the recommendation of the guys on the camping and caravaning section of this forum.

Somehow think I will wash and dry the car before use though!

Will report back tomorrow on the results.......if it dont rain! Kola is the big solid black German Shepherd, Dobbie is.......a breed you've never heard of......yet;)

I was going to ask you to post a few piccy's but just remembered

detailing can get very very expensive -

never been a huge fan of clay barring my cars or some super expensive wax - its takes hours of work and while the results are amazing - makes you question whether its all worth it...

Personally i swear by Autoglym HD wax. Its not massively expensive - goes on really easily and gives brilliant results.

Thanks.

I'm looking of getting some snow foam, it seems to clean rather well and it looks easy and fun to do.

Just gave mine a first good wash and wax. Very pleasing - although much harder work than my little Alfa was

Just in case you're interested, this is the stuff I use (and like):

- Valet Pro - PH Neutral Snow Foam ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-...d_500.html )
- CleanYourCar Snow Foam lance ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a...ductId=371 )
- Meguiars Shampoo Plus ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-...d_322.html )
- Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a...ductId=282 )
- Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a...oductId=84 )
- Collinite #476s wax ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinit...d_207.html )
- Autoglym Fast Glass ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/interior/aut...d_747.html )
- Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-t...d_805.html )
- Valet Pro - Bilberry Wheel Cleaner ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-bi...d_499.html )
- Chemical Guys Wheel Guard ( http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-t...d_197.html )

I included links to cleanyourcar.co.uk because I use them, find them to be excellent and they have a good collection of reviews for most products (no other affiliation).

Unfortunately, it started raining literally as I finished buffing off the wax and has rained off and on since...so now I'm fighting every temptation to go out with my quick detailer to remove the droplet smudges... Just need to resist for a couple of days and I won't care...

Good luck! FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

Thanks for that!

Is Turtle wax any good? I have some zipwax shampoo (cheap but good) and wheel cleaner. I find them good and I want to get more products from them. I would prefer to have most things from the same brand, but does it matter?

Cheers

Hi,

Well we are begining to think it looks better dirty! (easy option I guess!)

Nice and clean and shiney this morning, but after just a 4mile round trip to the woods to walk the dogs on only damp roads, its covered with dirt and muddy spots ( the £250 dealer fitted mudflaps were a total waste but do 'look' good!)

Fast coming to the conclusion if you want clean and shiney dont buy a Freelander!!!!

Footnote - The Freelander replaced a Suzuki Grand Vitara, no comparison in comfort or driveability but at least the damn thing stayed clean in the wet!!!! Kola is the big solid black German Shepherd, Dobbie is.......a breed you've never heard of......yet;)

Yeah I understand that approach, it's how I started with Autoglym products. Definitely makes it simpler - there are so many products doing all kinds of things, at least within one brand it's easier to see how they fit together. But after a bit of reading around I switched to trying to finding more 'best of breed', and so ended up with a mishmash of brands.

I don't have a great deal of experience, but I can't think that mixing brands would really have any downside.

re Turtlewax - I suspect most of the products on the market are pretty good, and you maybe get 5% to 10% better results from the more expensive ones. Far more important - especially starting out - is to use the tried and tested techniques (e.g. two bucket method with a lambswool mitt) to get good results and to not damage the paintwork. FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

Thanks for that. I'm going to buy some turtle wax products, and if they are not any good, I will try Autoglym.

TOO CLEAN THE CAR PROPERLY , FIRST GET IT DIRTY .... !!


MUD A PLENTY IN WALES


WE EVEN TAKE EURO,S AS WELL AS POUND,S !!

 Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

I had an old MGB restored by a Jaguar E Type specialist near Derby a couple of years ago and talked to him at length about the best polishes. They prepare cars to concours standard with a typical restoration costing upwards of 60k. To my surprise they only use basic turtle wax!! I've never bought anything else since.

Once you've had enough of continually reapplying the likes of TurtleWax & Autoglym, have a look at Gtechniq...
http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coatings/

They supply a range of incredible high performance paint sealants which give your car a brilliant glossy look AND last for 8 months upwards...

They're also very easy to apply & use. Suggest getting the car properly clean, then applying a couple of coats of C2V3; spray on, wipe around with a microfibre cloth & buff off... Job done

If C2V3's not enough, you can always upgrade to EXOv2; Here's a link to some sheer detailing p0rn0graphic material..

Thanks for all of this info guys!

As the sun came out this morning, spent a quiet hour getting the car clean...

Quick pressure wash, once over with a washmitt & shampoo, rinse & dry...
Then, a couple of coats of Gtechniq C2v3 (http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coatings/c2v3-liquid-crystal/)

Amazing stuff - quick spray on a panel, wipe over with a microfibre cloth to spread it around, buff to a shine; repeat for 2nd coat. Took about 20 minutes to do the car.

The pic doesn't do it justice; paint surface is amazingly slick, water beads instantly, and the reflections are stunning with a lovely deep gloss.




Will see how long it lasts...

I would highly recommend the Bilt-Hamber detailing clay. Great performance, works with plain water and quick to use. Once you have clayed you won't believe the smoothness of the paintwork. You will need to wax after though as it will strip the protection.