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General => Detailing => Topic started by: spills on 16 June 2018, 13:47

Title: DIY or Pro?
Post by: spills on 16 June 2018, 13:47
With the arrival of my new GTI end of next month, do I detail it myself or get a professional to do it?
£300 for the pro to do it, or buy all the products and do it myself?
I don't really want the dealer to do it, so that's a no go. I am a bit obsessed when it comes to cleaning and I can practice on my wife's Fiesta in the meantime.

What products will I need for the initial clean?
I'm looking to ceramic coat it too, including the wheels. Any recommendations?
Hmmm help!
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Watts on 16 June 2018, 16:31
It's entirely up to you of course. To consider is your confidence, experience and ability. If you are confident then by doing it yourself you'll have the benefit of satisfaction in your own efforts (unless of course the confidence isn't backed up by ability :laugh:). If starting from scratch then cost wise there won't be much in it except in doing it yourself you'll have all you need to maintain your car for a few years barring consumables. If you have a pro do it then you'll know you have a near perfect base to maintain.

Above in this section are guides to what you need and how to do it such as http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=277318.0

Also you might what to consider what facilities you have available to you, what space you have and it's suitability.

Still, whatever you decide, what a nice dilemma to have :smiley:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: hog_hedge on 16 June 2018, 17:34
Just remember to buy a least a litre of Iron X/Korrosol etc because you’ll have a lot of fallout to shift. Even though the car travels with wraps I found that I still had a lot of fallout especially on the flat lip in front of the boot.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: spills on 16 June 2018, 18:37
It's entirely up to you of course. To consider is your confidence, experience and ability. If you are confident then by doing it yourself you'll have the benefit of satisfaction in your own efforts (unless of course the confidence isn't backed up by ability :laugh:). If starting from scratch then cost wise there won't be much in it except in doing it yourself you'll have all you need to maintain your car for a few years barring consumables. If you have a pro do it then you'll know you have a near perfect base to maintain.

Above in this section are guides to what you need and how to do it such as http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=277318.0

Also you might what to consider what facilities you have available to you, what space you have and it's suitability.

Still, whatever you decide, what a nice dilemma to have :smiley:

Thanks Watts 👍🏻
Top info there.
I'm gonna have a good read and decide.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: dubber36 on 16 June 2018, 21:15
I think that if you have to ask the question at all, the answer is to use a pro.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: hog_hedge on 16 June 2018, 23:47
I think that if you have to ask the question at all, the answer is to use a pro.

You’ve got to start somewhere and anything is better than the savages at the dealership.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Booth11 on 17 June 2018, 13:56
With the arrival of my new GTI end of next month, do I detail it myself or get a professional to do it?
£300 for the pro to do it, or buy all the products and do it myself?
I don't really want the dealer to do it, so that's a no go. I am a bit obsessed when it comes to cleaning and I can practice on my wife's Fiesta in the meantime.

What products will I need for the initial clean?
I'm looking to ceramic coat it too, including the wheels. Any recommendations?
Hmmm help!


I think it’s commendable your considering doing it yourself.  Nothing wrong with a Pro detail to give the car a great start the car out in life, and many many do it,and benefit from a car that’s pretty easy to maintain, but that’s all achieveable DIY if you have a mind to, the right basic tools, a bit of skill, the time and the will.  And if you enjoy it then it all adds to the ownership of the car. 
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 17 June 2018, 22:28
I'm going to buy a meguiers clay starter kit tomorrow and also some g3 body prep shampoo.

This is for my month old red mk7.5.

Then I've got some poor boys red wax to go on

Hope this set of products is the way to do it..

I've bought everything else, 2 buckets with grit guards, lots of nd cloths and even a fantastic fur polishing cloth


Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Watts on 18 June 2018, 08:24
Sounds good Jeff, are you going to use some IronX before claying? There could be quite a bit of bonded contamination from transporting the car.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 10:45
arrrr is that another product to buy ???  :sad:

 :grin:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Watts on 18 June 2018, 12:09
arrrr is that another product to buy ???  :sad:

 :grin:

You might not need it but in all likelihood you will. And something to get any tar spots off too!
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 12:36
Just been reading about it.

I'll get some Autoglym Magma later, that seems to do the job.

So, if I've got this right it will be;

1) Wash with the G3 body prep shampoo which removes all the existing wax.

2) Autoglym Magma

3) Clay bar

4) Poor Boys Natty Red Wax

5) Quick detail

Does sound like a good plan ?


It's funny this detailing lark is like a drug addiction, start off with a few specialist products thinking I can handle it, and next I'm buying Clay and Iron remover, God knows where I'm gonna end up  :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: hog_hedge on 18 June 2018, 12:50
Just been reading about it.

I'll get some Autoglym Magma later, that seems to do the job.

So, if I've got this right it will be;

1) Wash with the G3 body prep shampoo which removes all the existing wax.

2) Autoglym Magma

3) Clay bar

4) Poor Boys Natty Red Wax

5) Quick detail

Does sound like a good plan ?


It's funny this detailing lark is like a drug addiction, start off with a few specialist products thinking I can handle it, and next I'm buying Clay and Iron remover, God knows where I'm gonna end up  :grin: :grin: :grin:

In my opinion, if you’re not going to follow up the clay with at least a single stage polish then I would leave it out. You will inflict marring through claying, no matter how much lube you use, and if you don’t correct the paintwork after you might see some unsightly holograms once the sun comes out.

However that’s only what I would do on my own car.

Otherwise your plan seems to be pretty solid. Before using the Magma I would use some tar remover to get rid of any stubborn tar spots on the paintwork.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Watts on 18 June 2018, 12:53
Do check you aren't claying unnecessarily, deal with each panel as required. A polish might be worth considering too. I do find the TR quite forgiving and it can look amazing with relatively little effort.

It's funny this detailing lark is like a drug addiction, start off with a few specialist products thinking I can handle it, and next I'm buying Clay and Iron remover, God knows where I'm gonna end up  :grin: :grin: :grin:

+1 for that :rolleyes: My OH thinks I'm mad. I do find it rather frustrating at times but when you have finished and you drive somewhere on a sunny day, get out and look back, that glow from TR makes it all worthwhile :smiley:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 12:58
 :grin: OK, perhaps I wont bother with the clay,

But when you say Polish, what exactly should I get ?

I've already got some Autoglym Polish so I take it that would be ok to use before the Natty wax ?
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: dubber36 on 18 June 2018, 13:05
By Autoglym polish, I guess you have Super Resin? That's more of an all in one defect masker than a correcting polish. You need something a little more raw with no fillers in it. I like the Menzerna range of products.

Another point, don't quick detailer too soon after waxing. You'll just end up with smears. I wouldn't QD until after it's next wash.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 13:32
Thanks for the advice..

Are you there any suitable polishes that Halfords stock? As il be passing a Halfords later...they do most of the meguiers range I think.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Booth11 on 18 June 2018, 13:42
Looks good.

Get as much embedded decontaminant off as you can with the least agressive ‘touchless’ processes to minimise swirling and marring - so iron remover then tar remover - then check to see what’s left by popping your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and running palm and fingertips over panels, as this emphasises embedded contaminants so you know what’s left, and whether claying is necessary. 
 
Claying is an aggressive process and even a careful technique can leave you with some clay marring.   Because of this I only ever clay if I am following it with a polish to remove any clay marring and to refine the paint. A run over with a DA using a finishing polish on a finishing pad easily removes clay marring.
 
The key to minimising clay marring is using plenty of lube (I use DoDo Juice Born Slippy) and regularly folding the clay.  I prefer to use clay mitts these days as they are very easy to rinse after every section.
 
But at any claying can cause marring so my advice is only clay if you intend to follow with a machine polish (or hand polish, but much much harder work to remove marring by hand).

Agree with dubber about leaving the QD to the following week or later even so it’s a refresh in between waxes.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 13:46
Thanks.

Would meguiers ultimate compound be a good choice for a polish ??
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: SRGTD on 18 June 2018, 13:49
Thanks for the advice..

Are you there any suitable polishes that Halfords stock? As il be passing a Halfords later...they do most of the meguiers range I think.

Does it need polishing? It’s a new car, although that’s not to say the car was delivered to you with perfect, blemish/swirl-free paintwork - the dealer will often give you complimentary swirls as a freebie when they PDI the car.

If the reason for polishing your car is to remove dealer inflicted swirls, then doing it by hand will be really hard work and IMO not particularly successful. Machine polishing is the best and most successful way of getting rid of swirls and paint defects.

If you don’t have any swirls to get rid of and the paint’s in good condition, I’d miss out the polishing stage.

Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 13:55
arrr OK, thanks again,
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Watts on 18 June 2018, 14:05
If I were you Jeff I'd keep it simple, as low contact as possible and not rush into anything. I'd use this as a good opportunity to assess the condition of the paint as it may need a machine polish should you be wanting it at it's best. I'd wash, decontaminate, wash and dry. Then check all over to see if it needs claying and for any swirls. Then I'd wax and think about what I need to do next (clay and polish, hand or machine) and plan to do it in the autumn when the weather cools. I'd add that I am very much a novice to all this too which is why I suggest caution, should you feel confident in your abilities then do go ahead at your own pace! Also, despite meaning to for the last 2+ years I haven't yet polished mine :embarrassed: :whistle: :laugh:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: SRGTD on 18 June 2018, 15:01
Good advice there Watts. :smiley:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Jeff Wood on 18 June 2018, 15:13
agreed, thats what I'll do, thanks all..

I'll post some pics when I've done it :)
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: spills on 18 June 2018, 20:08
Thanks for all the info guys.
I'm going to get the Pro to do the initial.
Hopefully I can book him as soon as I know when I can collect the car. If I can't make an appointment for quite a few days due to needing to get to work in the car I will decontaminate it with as little contact as possible just so it's clean. Then let the pro clean and polish it when I can get an appointment.
I still need to buy shed loads of cleaning products for the future  :huh:
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Booth11 on 18 June 2018, 21:23
Thanks for all the info guys.
I'm going to get the Pro to do the initial.
Hopefully I can book him as soon as I know when I can collect the car. If I can't make an appointment for quite a few days due to needing to get to work in the car I will decontaminate it with as little contact as possible just so it's clean. Then let the pro clean and polish it when I can get an appointment.
I still need to buy shed loads of cleaning products for the future  :huh:

If you’re getting a pro detail, there’s little point in you decontaminating it yourself. The pro will do it as part of a new car detail. Leave it him.

You don’t need shed loads of gear.  Start with good quality basics and build from there. 

Couple of buckets and grit guards
Decent wash mitt
Wheel mitt
Decent shampoo
Good microfibre drying towels
A few microfibre cloths.
Some sacrificial protection to top up your pro applied protection - be guided by your pro detailed to choose something compatible with your pro detailed applied protection. If nano coating, stick with stuff with same chemical base.  If wax, choose compatible organic based top up protection. 
Wheel sealant - though what you choose for bodywork could do the job.
That’s the basics.

Other stuff, like tyre dressing, glass cleaner, interior cleaner, tailpipe polish can be added as you desire. 
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: ne0star on 19 June 2018, 10:37
I think if I was doing things over I would have probably gone for the pro detail asap after picking my car up.  Just to give it that solid foundation.  This is definitely one of the best detailing sections of any forum I have been on.  I have always taken care when washing any of my cars, but I have learned loads of cool tips and product recommendations on here.

I watched my neighbour the other day give his brand new Audi A6 Black Edition its first wash.  It took him about 30 minutes and consisted of a jet wash rinse, a single bucket of water and a 99p sponge.

Just shows having a nice car, doesn't guarantee people care about such things.
Title: Re: DIY or Pro?
Post by: Mike J on 03 July 2018, 09:58
Spills
Your in my county.
We have one or two superb detailers around, one if which I have used since my car was PDI'd.

If you find a company that is detailing manufacturers unregistered cars worth upwards of £1/2m for exhibitions the  then you know your onto a good company.

My advice;
TELL your dealer if they touch the paintwork you will refuse the car!
They are only allowed to clean the windows required for the PDI, everything else stays as it rolled off the transporter.
Second don't have your number plates screwed on, one dealer still screwed the plates on despite the owner insisting they were stuck on (there are some real dummies out there)!
Liase with your choosen detailer on everything!
It will take two days to complete the work so don't be in a hurry.

See my post about my new car, the dealer I used and importantly who detailed it (and who still cleans it).