GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Detailing => Topic started by: EssexMiles on 02 July 2012, 18:05
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Hi everyone im looking for some help, i bought my first golf gti 1.8t 6 months ago and its the first car ive had which i am proud to own and want it to look nice and clean but i cant get that wet glossy polished look im trying to achieve. The colour is LC7V which is a greyish blue colour incase that makes a difference to the products i need to use.
Just so you can guide me ill tell you what ive been doing and what problems im having.
I was the car using the 2 bucket method using products below and the car was clayed few months ago
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_166524_langId_-1_categoryId_165682
and
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_776671_langId_-1_categoryId_165609
Now thinking about it this probably isnt the best wash to use as it contains a wax which would get in the way of me trying to polish the car? or am i wrong?
I then use the hose with no attachment to rinse the car of and so it glides of and leaves less drying.
Now this is where my frustration starts, i dry using a shamy which seems to get dirty and also does a terrible job of drying the car streak free, and by the time ive dried one panel the rest of the car has dried which what looks to me dusty water marks. So now i wet each panel with the hose and dry it with the shamy which gets dirtier as i go along even though ive given the car a real good clean. Live in a hard water area if that makes a differnce.
Now when i finally get it dry it needs polishing as the paintwork just looks dull now although when i first bought the car it was nice with a deep glossy shine.
So im polishing using these below
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_199031_langId_-1_categoryId_165527
Although when buying i did think i picked up
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_199087_langId_-1_categoryId_165527
and rub this in using
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_776723_langId_-1_categoryId_165609
Which i hate using, seems to give my hand cramp and would be alot better if it was like a glove and my hand didnt just move about inside it. So i need help on which products i need to buy as im pretty sure im using the wrong stuff.
I then bought this wax below but havent really used it as i cant get the rest of the stages right and have well and truely lost all motivation by this point.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_172190_langId_-1_categoryId_165527
Im happy with the products im using for glass, interior and wheels as they all come up really well but the paint is just getting on my nerves and i now feel like i dont even want to wash the car never mind spend a day trying to polish it ect.
All help and advice is greatly appreciated and i understand im probably going to have to chuck away most of these products.
cheers
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try www.detailingworld.co.uk lots of advice and ideas for new stuff there .
and get rid of the chamois ! !
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If I was you I think I'd find a good car detailer who lives close by and have him show you some good techniques. They will be able to put you straight if you have any bad habits (like the shammy :wink:)
Ideally you really need to get a full machine polish, with paint correction, to get the paintwork looking as best it can. Then it's just a matter of keeping on top with a very gentle wash with the best equipment (generally sheepskin wash mitts, drying towels and mild car shampoo with two buckets).
For drying you need to invest in some good size drying towels and ditch the shammy. Get some detaling spray and keep the whole car wet with spray as necessary as you dry.
Here's a starter :-
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27
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try www.detailingworld.co.uk lots of advice and ideas for new stuff there .
and get rid of the chamois ! !
whats the point of just directing someone to another site when there are plenty of very knowledgeable users on here? :huh:
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in response to the OP... if you want to make a real difference you need to step away from the halfords everyday consumer products
try looking on the waxamomo site for some product ideas... Chris will help you out with product advice no problem.
if you have already clayed then a decent polish and a decent wax will see you right... you don't need to spend a fortune and won't necessarily need a machine polish to get a deep shine (although it does help)
also... have you looked in the Detailing FAQ's for some pointers?
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Have a look around forum/s classifieds for some 2nd hand products if you cannot afford brand new ones, this is a good way to get some experience with some quality products IMO. As Guy says, try to steer clear of everyday Halfrauds kit.
As for the drying and leaving marks...you could use a quick detailer to get rid of the streaks if you do not intend on polishing and waxing, this will leave a real slick finish and will probably add a bit of protection to your already last stage protection if you have one. Other wise I woudln't worry too much if you are going to give it a polish after...
As for the fear of pressure washing...Don't do it 10mm from the door! If the dirt doesn't come off with a sensible blast then it will probe require a mitt and some products.
Waxamomo is a top site (with a good forum for help also :lipsrsealed:). You will be able to get some good starter products from there.
Happy detailing :cool:
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I happen to disagree about Halfords stuff, they sell some good, really underrated products. For example, AG SRP and EGP are great, especially considering they're off the shelf products, and they are often overlooked or avoided as they're available from Halfords. Likewise, Halfords sells Zymol Natural Car Wash which I really rate and Megs Nxt Generation Speed Detailer is pretty good too. I have found Halfords own brand Intensive Glass Cutter to be good, as have many others, although it doesn't beat Cerium Oxide for removing rain repellent etc, even when CO is applied with a MF - infact Cerium Oxide is the only thing I've found that will remove some repellents. You can even pick up a pretty good mitt and drying towels there.
Overall Halfords has less choice than any online detailing shop and may even be slightly more expensive but I certainly don't think it needs to be avoided.
.... and this is coming from someone who really doesn't like Halfords!
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I happen to disagree about Halfords stuff, they sell some good, really underrated products. For example, AG SRP and EGP are great, especially considering they're off the shelf products, and they are often overlooked or avoided as they're available from Halfords. Likewise, Halfords sells Zymol Natural Car Wash which I really rate and Megs Nxt Generation Speed Detailer is pretty good too. I have found Halfords own brand Intensive Glass Cutter to be good, as have many others, although it doesn't beat Cerium Oxide for removing rain repellent etc, even when CO is applied with a MF - infact Cerium Oxide is the only thing I've found that will remove some repellents. You can even pick up a pretty good mitt and drying towels there.
Overall Halfords has less choice than any online detailing shop and may even be slightly more expensive but I certainly don't think it needs to be avoided.
.... and this is coming from someone who really doesn't like Halfords!
AG SRP and EGP might be ok... but users tend to use far too much SRP and end up with a very powdery result. SRP also contains a lot of fillers.
I can't comment on the Zymol car wash as I have never used it but £7 for 500ml is very expensive, same goes for the Megs SD.
Halfords does have much less choice than online detailing shops and is more expensive than online... its ok for an emergency sunday afternoon and that is it imo.
We're talking about quality of finish here and you won't achieve that just from products bought at Halfrauds.
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thanks for all the comments guys, think ill be ordering some stuff online then. Is the turtle wax wash/wax ok to use or is a straight shampoo better to use. Also can anyone advise me on a polishing product and mit to use, the paintwork is pretty good and doesnt have deep swirl marks or anything just looks a bit dull and flat really where as when i first got it, it looked deep and glossy. Also is the wax any good? Also should i use a differnt mit for axing then i do for polishing, if so could anyone advise on a good mit for waxing.
So far i know i need to order:
1: wash mit and possibly shampoo if mines no good
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=ddjtm
is this good enough or should i buy
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=ddjwf
2. Good polishing compound and mit
Need advice on what to buy
Is this a good item to apply polish with?
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=lccshaw
3. Drying towels
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=cgmdt
or are these just as good
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-60cm-X-90cm-HEAVYWEIGHT-MICROFIBRE-CAR-DRYING-TOWEL-VALETING-DETAILING-/170823823112?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item27c5e4af08 They also do deals on bulk such as 5 for £21 ect
4. Good wax if mine isnt good enough and also something to apply it with.
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=lccshar
and a wax if mines no good.
cheers
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I use autoglym micro fibre drying towel and meguiars water magnet. I also use the autoglym drying blade which makes it much quicker. You can get all these from halfords though are cheaper online
That zip wax stuff is pretty good IMO. I've tried all kinds of car shampoo and find very little difference between them. Zip wax shampoo is all I ever used on my Clio and it always looked great and got alot of comments. I have tried all the meguiars shampoo and the yellow one (ultimate wash and wax) was sh!te and was expensive. I like meguiars soft wash and NXT wash seems decent enough.
I think you will be fine with zip wax TBH. Just cos it's cheap doesn't mean it's crap. Don't expect it to wax the car though. It's just soap.
That spray wax you have I got too and used a few times in between proper wax apocations but i didn't rate it TBH
My favourite wax is poorboys natty paste. It's a good price is easy on and off and lasts good.
I would spend some money on a decent wash mit though. I have the megs wool mit and its good.
I use the cheap noodle type ones for cleaning my wheel arches and underbody etc the. Bin them after a few uses. Also use a separate one for your wheels.
For applicator pads I use meguiars foam ones and also their white MF type. Try A1 motor store on eBay. Always the cheapest I find.
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I happen to disagree about Halfords stuff, they sell some good, really underrated products. For example, AG SRP and EGP are great, especially considering they're off the shelf products, and they are often overlooked or avoided as they're available from Halfords. Likewise, Halfords sells Zymol Natural Car Wash which I really rate and Megs Nxt Generation Speed Detailer is pretty good too. I have found Halfords own brand Intensive Glass Cutter to be good, as have many others, although it doesn't beat Cerium Oxide for removing rain repellent etc, even when CO is applied with a MF - infact Cerium Oxide is the only thing I've found that will remove some repellents. You can even pick up a pretty good mitt and drying towels there.
Overall Halfords has less choice than any online detailing shop and may even be slightly more expensive but I certainly don't think it needs to be avoided.
.... and this is coming from someone who really doesn't like Halfords!
AG SRP and EGP might be ok... but users tend to use far too much SRP and end up with a very powdery result. SRP also contains a lot of fillers.
I can't comment on the Zymol car wash as I have never used it but £7 for 500ml is very expensive, same goes for the Megs SD.
Halfords does have much less choice than online detailing shops and is more expensive than online... its ok for an emergency sunday afternoon and that is it imo.
We're talking about quality of finish here and you won't achieve that just from products bought at Halfrauds.
I agree people tent to use too much SRP but that doesn't make it a bad product. SRP works as intended, it contains lots of fillers as you say which mask swirls and ultimately provide a better finish. It is also very, very, very slightly abrasive so will remove some light scratches and marks. As for Zymol car wash being expensive, it's no more expensive than Chemical Guys and it's actually cheaper than Dodo Juice and some others. Maybe expensive if you're cleaning several cars a day on the cheap but for your own car, it would last a long time, and it's convenient as you can pick some up if you happen to run out like I did recently. Don't forget p&p when buying online.
So in summary I totally disagree when say that you can't achieve a high quality of finish with products bought from Halfords alone. Don't get me wrong I have bought many products not available from Halfords, but I would still be very happy only using products for sale there. Zymol, AG, Megs and so on.
I think a lot of the detailing products are a waste of time anyway, e.g. snow foam. I foamed my last car for 2 years, then got bored and sold the lance and remaining foam, after all the a pH balanced foam won't remove anything a quick pressure wash won't anyway. People will disagree but thinking logically - if a pressure wash won't remove some dirt, then foam dripping off the car won't either. B0llocks to all this "dwell time" to let it soak. Get a mitt on there, 2bm and get it off :rolleyes:
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I would really step away from mits for polishing and waxing as you have very little control over the coverage plus you will use way too much product, use a mit for washing only imo, i use these for polishing/sealing by hand and rate them highly:
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/zaino/zaino-6-tri-foam-oval-applicator/prod_462.html
If your paint is in decent condition ie no serious swirls etc then you can do worse than Autoglym Super Resin Polish, it's rated highly on detailing world and as Guy says is filler heavy so would fill any swirls you do have, just don't use loads!! A small amount on a damp applicator will be fine.
The spray waxes aren't the best either tbh, if you can get some collinite paste wax from Halfords that would be my choice.
I don't really get on with drying towels but that could just be i haven't bought the right one yet!
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@ScottA Guy does have point with regard to the shampoo tbh as it's not just about the size of the bottle but the dilution ratio, a 500ml bottle of say Dodo Juice BTBM would go a lot further than Turtle wax for example, although it may cost more it'll go a LOT further, i agree about the SRP though.
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@ScottA Guy does have point with regard to the shampoo tbh as it's not just about the size of the bottle but the dilution ratio, a 500ml bottle of say Dodo Juice BTBM would go a lot further than Turtle wax for example, although it may cost more it'll go a LOT further, i agree about the SRP though.
Thanks Jimble... I was going to refer to Bilt Hamber autowash myself, its cost effectiveness is remarkable as you only need to use 5ml each time... so even with P&P thrown in you have a very good shampoo which is very economical.
and lets not forget that you have to use petrol when going to halfords!! :grin: (some people don't live conveniently close to halfrauds)
I happen to disagree about Halfords stuff, they sell some good, really underrated products. For example, AG SRP and EGP are great, especially considering they're off the shelf products, and they are often overlooked or avoided as they're available from Halfords. Likewise, Halfords sells Zymol Natural Car Wash which I really rate and Megs Nxt Generation Speed Detailer is pretty good too. I have found Halfords own brand Intensive Glass Cutter to be good, as have many others, although it doesn't beat Cerium Oxide for removing rain repellent etc, even when CO is applied with a MF - infact Cerium Oxide is the only thing I've found that will remove some repellents. You can even pick up a pretty good mitt and drying towels there.
Overall Halfords has less choice than any online detailing shop and may even be slightly more expensive but I certainly don't think it needs to be avoided.
.... and this is coming from someone who really doesn't like Halfords!
AG SRP and EGP might be ok... but users tend to use far too much SRP and end up with a very powdery result. SRP also contains a lot of fillers.
I can't comment on the Zymol car wash as I have never used it but £7 for 500ml is very expensive, same goes for the Megs SD.
Halfords does have much less choice than online detailing shops and is more expensive than online... its ok for an emergency sunday afternoon and that is it imo.
We're talking about quality of finish here and you won't achieve that just from products bought at Halfrauds.
I agree people tent to use too much SRP but that doesn't make it a bad product. SRP works as intended, it contains lots of fillers as you say which mask swirls and ultimately provide a better finish. It is also very, very, very slightly abrasive so will remove some light scratches and marks. As for Zymol car wash being expensive, it's no more expensive than Chemical Guys and it's actually cheaper than Dodo Juice and some others. Maybe expensive if you're cleaning several cars a day on the cheap but for your own car, it would last a long time, and it's convenient as you can pick some up if you happen to run out like I did recently. Don't forget p&p when buying online.
So in summary I totally disagree when say that you can't achieve a high quality of finish with products bought from Halfords alone. Don't get me wrong I have bought many products not available from Halfords, but I would still be very happy only using products for sale there. Zymol, AG, Megs and so on.
I think a lot of the detailing products are a waste of time anyway, e.g. snow foam. I foamed my last car for 2 years, then got bored and sold the lance and remaining foam, after all the a pH balanced foam won't remove anything a quick pressure wash won't anyway. People will disagree but thinking logically - if a pressure wash won't remove some dirt, then foam dripping off the car won't either. B0llocks to all this "dwell time" to let it soak. Get a mitt on there, 2bm and get it off :rolleyes:
I never clean cars 'on the cheap' and use whatever I use on a customers car on my own car.
As for snowfoaming and just 'get a mitt on there' - i'd rather pre-soak the car either using snow foam or, preferably, using a TFR (eg. Hazsafe) which is very effective at loosening dirt... I reckon I can remove roughly 75% of surface contaminates prior to touching the car with a wash mitt so the wash mitt stays cleaner and the risk of paintwork contamination is reduced.
I use autoglym micro fibre drying towel and meguiars water magnet. I also use the autoglym drying blade which makes it much quicker. You can get all these from halfords though are cheaper online
Stop using it, immediately! :shocked:
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never had a problem with it. used them on other cars and never had any scratches etc from them. MUST make sure is totally clean before using though.
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Thanks Jimble... I was going to refer to Bilt Hamber autowash myself, its cost effectiveness is remarkable as you only need to use 5ml each time... so even with P&P thrown in you have a very good shampoo which is very economical.
and lets not forget that you have to use petrol when going to halfords!! :grin: (some people don't live conveniently close to halfrauds)
I agree people tent to use too much SRP but that doesn't make it a bad product. SRP works as intended, it contains lots of fillers as you say which mask swirls and ultimately provide a better finish. It is also very, very, very slightly abrasive so will remove some light scratches and marks. As for Zymol car wash being expensive, it's no more expensive than Chemical Guys and it's actually cheaper than Dodo Juice and some others. Maybe expensive if you're cleaning several cars a day on the cheap but for your own car, it would last a long time, and it's convenient as you can pick some up if you happen to run out like I did recently. Don't forget p&p when buying online.
So in summary I totally disagree when say that you can't achieve a high quality of finish with products bought from Halfords alone. Don't get me wrong I have bought many products not available from Halfords, but I would still be very happy only using products for sale there. Zymol, AG, Megs and so on.
I never clean cars 'on the cheap' and use whatever I use on a customers car on my own car.
As for snowfoaming and just 'get a mitt on there' - i'd rather pre-soak the car either using snow foam or, preferably, using a TFR (eg. Hazsafe) which is very effective at loosening dirt... I reckon I can remove roughly 75% of surface contaminates prior to touching the car with a wash mitt so the wash mitt stays cleaner and the risk of paintwork contamination is reduced.
Have never used Bilt Hamber but it sounds good. Zymol you would probably have to use a little more, but you get more in a bottle, really we're penny pinching here and it won't make much of a difference unless you clean your car five times a day, every day of the year lol
Sorry Guy please don't take it the wrong way I certainly wasn't claiming you are cleaning several cars a day on the cheap, I'm just saying if someone was cleaning lots of cars, such as running a hand car wash, then £7-8 per 500ml would be very expensive! Otherwise, for people who have a few cars to clean, I really don't think it makes much difference. 1 litre of gold class lasted me years and that's washing regularly.
My point about snow foam was that simply pressure washing is just as effective (in my opinion and experience). I would be interested in giving a TFR a go and seeing how it compares though. Hazsafe is AS right? As I believe I am due a visit from the AS guys so will pick some up too. Do you just spray on using a spray bottle? Will it strip LSP? specifically 476s.
Cheers for the interesting convo :cool:
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Right i think i know where ive gone wrong and what i need to buy but theres one thing thats confusing me, whats the differnce with the polishing and finishing pads? I thought id just polish the whole car using a polishing pad then wax it using a waxing pad, so when would i use a finishing pad?
cheers
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When talking about Polishing and finishing pads, most would be talking about machine polishing, ie when polishing the pad would be more course or hard to get the most out of whichever polish/compound being used.
A finishing pad can be used for polish but generally fine polishes to get that final POP but can also be used for sealants and liquid waxes.
The pads i posted a link to are firm on the white side for polishing and soft on the black side for finishing, you can use the black side for wax but due to the size of them (about the size of your hand) they don't fit well into pots of wax, liquid is fine though.
You'd be better with megs foam pads as someones already said.
Blimey! I think i've confused myself!! :grin:
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I also use the autoglym drying blade which makes it much quicker. You can get all these from halfords though are cheaper online.
^^^^^^Yep what ever you do, don't use any drying blades scratch it to bits if there is any particles of dirt on there :evil: :evil:
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or you can just make sure there no dirt on the car (easy to do on a white car especially) and wipe the blade down with a cloth after every sweep. used properly they do work well but yes if theres any dirt there its going to mark it. for the glass they're very good.
also be careful of lamp posts they scratch it to bits too :evil:
sorry just a bit of fun. :wink:
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or you can just make sure there no dirt on the car (easy to do on a white car especially) and wipe the blade down with a cloth after every sweep. used properly they do work well but yes if theres any dirt there its going to mark it. for the glass they're very good.
also be careful of lamp posts they scratch it to bits too :evil:
sorry just a bit of fun. :wink:
Either that or because it's white it's really hard to see the scratches? :lipsrsealed:
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
will be looking to buy polish just to give it that extra pop. was thinking either go for another bilt hamber product or dodo juice as it is very highly recommend on here
am i on the right line or would you go different products?
Oh and i will be using Poor Boy sealant on the wheels as that has just arrived.
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
will be looking to buy polish just to give it that extra pop. was thinking either go for another bilt hamber product or dodo juice as it is very highly recommend on here
am i on the right line or would you go different products?
Oh and i will be using Poor Boy sealant on the wheels as that has just arrived.
you can't go too far wrong with BH products :)
DoDo LP is a great polish... but I think Zaino All in one just eclipses it... i am also hearing good things about auto finesse tripple
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
I wouldn't clay it too regularly. Clay bars are associated with marring the paint work. I only do mine twice a year, that is it needs really. Any more and you may inflict more damage than good...Esp on a new GTi like you have :wink:
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
I wouldn't clay it too regularly. Clay bars are associated with marring the paint work. I only do mine twice a year, that is it needs really. Any more and you may inflict more damage than good...Esp on a new GTi like you have :wink:
Sorry i am only aiming to clay it every 4 months. i am going to clay the wheels this weekend so them i can apply the sealant.
I have not polished the car yet as its fairly new and has hardly any mile on it. but i will be looking to polish it just before the end of summer. How often do i need to polish the car tho? i will be waxing it one every 4-6 weeks.
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
I wouldn't clay it too regularly. Clay bars are associated with marring the paint work. I only do mine twice a year, that is it needs really. Any more and you may inflict more damage than good...Esp on a new GTi like you have :wink:
Sorry i am only aiming to clay it every 4 months. i am going to clay the wheels this weekend so them i can apply the sealant.
I have not polished the car yet as its fairly new and has hardly any mile on it. but i will be looking to polish it just before the end of summer. How often do i need to polish the car tho? i will be waxing it one every 4-6 weeks.
I personally polish it max thrice a year. I use a DA when I do it, weather or not you would 'need' to polish more if only using hand is debatable.
As for waxing, I give it atleast 2 coats of DJ super natural hybrid, this will last upto 4months I'd say, so again I only wax my car thrice yearly tops!
I'd suggest the same for you, find some good wax that provides good longevity and protection. :smiley:
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whats the point of just directing someone to another site when there are plenty of very knowledgeable users on here? :huh:
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I know there a lot of very knowledgeable people on here but assuming the op had read and looked then that is another source of info
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i am new to the whole detailing a car. to be honest i have stuck to bilt hamber. i currently use their snow foam, auto wash (with mitt), clay bar (regular), and gonna try their hydro wax. going to apply it with their pads they supply and will buff off with their micro fibre towels. surfex HD on the wheels as well as clay bar.
I wouldn't clay it too regularly. Clay bars are associated with marring the paint work. I only do mine twice a year, that is it needs really. Any more and you may inflict more damage than good...Esp on a new GTi like you have :wink:
Sorry i am only aiming to clay it every 4 months. i am going to clay the wheels this weekend so them i can apply the sealant.
I have not polished the car yet as its fairly new and has hardly any mile on it. but i will be looking to polish it just before the end of summer. How often do i need to polish the car tho? i will be waxing it one every 4-6 weeks.
I personally polish it max thrice a year. I use a DA when I do it, weather or not you would 'need' to polish more if only using hand is debatable.
As for waxing, I give it atleast 2 coats of DJ super natural hybrid, this will last upto 4months I'd say, so again I only wax my car thrice yearly tops!
I'd suggest the same for you, find some good wax that provides good longevity and protection. :smiley:
thanks for the advice!
I will try BH hydro wax and see if its any good then after that runs out i will give DJ Super natural a go.
would i need something to strip the previous layers of wax of the car before i polish it?
oh sorry but what is DA?
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Clay bar will remove wax. So may some really strong all purpose cleaner, APC, you normally dilute down APC so just don't dilute it down much :grin:
DA - dual action polisher. Google the difference between rotary and DA and you will see why most beginners choose DA's. :wink:
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whats the point of just directing someone to another site when there are plenty of very knowledgeable users on here? :huh:
I know there a lot of very knowledgeable people on here but assuming the op had read and looked then that is another source of info
[/quote]
you're assuming a lot!! the search function on this forum is massively under-utilised
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the megs deep crystal paint cleaner is pretty good to be fair, would polish after it, then a glaze and any lsp you want.
my 2p would be to get some applicator pads, a few mf's and a bottle of glaze (very partial to the clearkote one at the mo myself)
What your using wont give you a finish like some of the folks on here - But ask them how much they've spent to get the products they have.
Also Guy 7 quid for 500ml is about what cw&g costs, that stuff dilutes very well.
ring a few local valeters, see what products they use, and if they'd sell some samples?
Or ask on here nicely sure someone will be local let you have a go with some products
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ok tried the HB snow foam today. not really that good. the foam dripped off the car very quickly and didnt really hold very well. this was on the highest setting (went through about 0.5L of it at least) and it it stayed on the car for about 2minutes before it was all on the floor. Would it be better if i mixed with some water in the bottle?
Or is there a better one that someone can suggest.
PB wheel sealant was really good. my wheels have got a nice gloss to them!