What to buy ?

[DavieK]

Over the last few years With having little free time I've let the Audi get into a real state sometimes before it gets a proper clean and now we also have the Elise I want to get back into the habbit of keeping them in a decent state. At the minute all I have in the garage is a ton of Autoglym stuff and WonderWheels for the car cleaning duties.

Any suggestions welcome

[Stewart]

I am sure the polishers will be along shortly extolling the virtues of various wunder products but autoglym stuff is quality gear and unless you have OCD will do the job nicely.

Word of warning though, bin the wonderwheels. I always swore by it and it does indeed shift brake dust but after a while it can get under the smallest scratch on the laquer and start to eat away at the wheels or allow corrosion in. I found this out the hard way and had to get my wheels powder coated last year. Autoglym do a similar product I believe and there is also stuff called Bilberry (I think) that polishers swear by. I think the key is to give your wheels a good polish once they are clean and then just wash them regularly thereafter.

For more info check out http://www.detailingworld.co.uk and by your products at http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk. I bought a snowfoam lance a couple of weeks ago and it works fairly well but you will still need to wash the car if you want to do a proper job.

[tuscan_thunder]

Proper wash mitt (no sponge)

Clay bar (Meguiars will be fine) will remove a lot more gunk: I always soften mine by dunking it in (clean) hot water before I use it.

If you've got Auto Glym, use what you've got: Super Resin Polish will work ok but add layer of something else on top of it: even Meguiars NXT wax would do fine, to give a better layer of protection and some water beading (which will also make the car easier to clean next time round)

That'd make the car look decent, not the level you'd get with a professional valet, but a good job.

Don't use wonder wheels: it's evil.

(Alternatively, send me a PM and we'll sort something out...)

[Paolo]

2 x buckets, a wash-mitt, half decent shampoo, a drying towel, some QD spray, you've got some polish and get a good wax or sealant.

Read a couple of guides on detailing world and your cars will be looking better in no time!!

Stay away from any wheel cleaner that's too aggressive. If you use the sealant you might buy for the bodywork on the wheels too it means you won't have to do too much scrubbing in the future.

[DavieK]

Thanks for the replies

Had a look at what i have in the garage and most of it is almost finished, should get some new stuff tomorrow but just for the wheels ... cleaner, sealant and some tyre gel (I think dull tyres can kill the look of a car if it's been properly done up) Only problem i have with doing the wheels properly at the moment is getting the wheels off as i have no jack at the moment but working on it

Clay is something I've never tried and since the car needs some attention paint wise I'll try and give this a go before hand .... practice as it were.

With christmas coming up and the new toy in the family i now have a list of things id like and quite a few of them are for cleaning the car.

I've had a look at some detailing sites and I would love to have the time some of these people have to spend on their cars but since i dont a bit at a time will have to do.

[alicrozier]

Only problem i have with doing the wheels properly at the moment is getting the wheels off as i have no jack at the moment but working on it...

If you need to borrow a jack for a while I have a low entry ally one in the lockup you could use. I'm in Aberdeen.

Cheers,
Ali

[DavieK]

Thanks for the offer Ali but hopefully I'll be picking up one tomorrow as my christmas present ....... only need to persuade the boss that it needs testing first if not I'll maybe take you up on the offer

[stu331]

Hi Davie,

It's been said you should bin the wonder wheels..........correct...........best get the wheels off and give them a good going over by washing and claying then apply a few coats of wheel wax/sealant.

Also, it's been mentioned you should get a wash mitt, well I'd say get 3 one for the upper part of the car (down to the styling lines on the door) another for the lower half and a third for the wheels........I use a cellulose sponge on wheels myself.

Here is a web site with all the guides with all the info you need to know: - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides.html

Stu

[LB]

Hows it going Dave, Bought a machine polisher for giving the honda a good once over before I flogged it in August, its meguiars one that cost arm and a leg but very impressed with it, could give you a lend of it when I come back for xmas (fly out on 18th and away on the 2nd Jan).
Weather in KL - scorchio , off to chinatown market for xmas shopping today, much cheapness.
Catch up with u soon 4 a few beers

[DavieK]

Fit like LB !

you're not home for long then !! and you'll miss Isla's christening on the 4th ya bam !

I should be home over christmas but you can never tell whats going on at the moment so we shall see what happens.

A few beers is a must though