Cleaned the wifes Gl yesterday, here is the result

[naturn007]

I gave the wifes gl a good clean yesterday.  I think it looks bloody marvellous.  I have a 96 8v GTi, and I can't get it looking anywhere near as good as this, which is gutting!!

The products I used where:-
Autoglym - Car shampoo
Autoglym - Super Resin Polish
Autoglym - Extra Gloss Protection
Autoglym - Glass Cleaner
Wonder Wheels - Alloy Wheel cleaner, which I thought was superb.

I did not have any tyre dressing, so the tyres don't look great.  There are a couple of rusts spots around the wheel arch that will be getting seen to soon.
I could get rather obsessive with the cleaning, so I will be reading more threads, as I would like to see if I can get the finish even better.
See pictures below and see what you think.  As usual it looks better than the photo's show.

[GOLF_STU]

lookin good 

[FOREST GREEN]

Nice 1 m8

[julesdub]

WOW
I'd be v v happy with that finish...but i know what you mean about getting obsessive 

[Guy]

good first effort... although consider moving away from AG products if you want to improve your results - if you buy the right products you will also save yourself money in the long run...

autoglym shampoo - 1 litre - £7.60 - you'd get maybe 20 washes from this

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_185542_langId_-1_categoryId_165527

bilt hamber - anti corrosive - £9 - 300ml - you could get up to 60 washes from this - no joke - one bottle last me a year (for personal use on two cars)

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/autowash.php?manufacturers_id=33


first off... two bucket wash with a wash mitt, decent shampoo and waffle to dry

then clay the car - this will provide the best results possible

wash again

then polish - AG SRP is ok (I prefer dodo lime prime)

then seal and wax


wheels - PLEASE stop using wonder wheels... I don't know why everyone rates this product - it is ACIDIC and will start to rot your alloys if there is any area of the wheel that is damaged. it also does your centre caps no favours and they look like they have white worm already? this will just be made worse using WW. the reason why I suspect you thought this product was superb was due to its powerful 'eating' action... leave the product on too long and this will not only eat the dirt... catch my drift... it is NASTY stuff 

consider changing to something like Bilberry Wheel Cleaner. PH Neutral and VERY effective both in terms of cleaning and cost.

Bilbery - £9 - makes about 5 litres of cleaning product
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/valet-pro-bilberry-wheel-cleaner-1-litre-/prod_499.html

Wonder Wheels - £8 - gives you 500ml of cleaning product
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=140657&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Sitename-_-Car+Cleaning+%26+Pressure+Washers%2FCar+Exterior+Cleaning-_-Na-_-CarPlan+Wonder+Wheels+500ml&source=shopping&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=liwlpm&istBid=t

no contest in terms of price really is there? you would need a squirty spray bottle but you can pick on up for pennies.

right... it is obvious from this photo that you NEED a pressure washer... (you could then start snowfoaming too!  )

this is the one area that has let your clean down...

you can get a decent make for as little as £50 quid now

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/nilfisk-alto-c100-5-5-home-pressure-washer/path/domestic-power-washers

these are getting very good reviews over on DW

don't get Karcher... mine gave up on me after just a year or so 

if you had a pressure washer you could clean your tyres (before you dress them as there is no point in dressing a dirty tyre) and your arches and mudflaps too!!

as I said.. you don't have to spend a fortune to get decent products that LAST longer... trust me on this.. it took me YEARS to find this out for myself. AG is NOT the be all and end all for cleaning and protection.

[Dan J]

looks good dude good effort.

and i totally agree with guy on AG products, ive never used there products in the 15yrs ive been doing this job and never will!! over priced and crap in all honesty.

[naturn007]

good first effort... although consider moving away from AG products if you want to improve your results - if you buy the right products you will also save yourself money in the long run...

autoglym shampoo - 1 litre - £7.60 - you'd get maybe 20 washes from this

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_185542_langId_-1_categoryId_165527

bilt hamber - anti corrosive - £9 - 300ml - you could get up to 60 washes from this - no joke - one bottle last me a year (for personal use on two cars)

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/autowash.php?manufacturers_id=33


first off... two bucket wash with a wash mitt, decent shampoo and waffle to dry

then clay the car - this will provide the best results possible

wash again

then polish - AG SRP is ok (I prefer dodo lime prime)

then seal and wax


wheels - PLEASE stop using wonder wheels... I don't know why everyone rates this product - it is ACIDIC and will start to rot your alloys if there is any area of the wheel that is damaged. it also does your centre caps no favours and they look like they have white worm already? this will just be made worse using WW. the reason why I suspect you thought this product was superb was due to its powerful 'eating' action... leave the product on too long and this will not only eat the dirt... catch my drift... it is NASTY stuff 

consider changing to something like Bilberry Wheel Cleaner. PH Neutral and VERY effective both in terms of cleaning and cost.

Bilbery - £9 - makes about 5 litres of cleaning product
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/valet-pro-bilberry-wheel-cleaner-1-litre-/prod_499.html

Wonder Wheels - £8 - gives you 500ml of cleaning product
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=140657&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Sitename-_-Car+Cleaning+%26+Pressure+Washers%2FCar+Exterior+Cleaning-_-Na-_-CarPlan+Wonder+Wheels+500ml&source=shopping&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=liwlpm&istBid=t

no contest in terms of price really is there? you would need a squirty spray bottle but you can pick on up for pennies.

right... it is obvious from this photo that you NEED a pressure washer... (you could then start snowfoaming too!  )

this is the one area that has let your clean down...

you can get a decent make for as little as £50 quid now

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/nilfisk-alto-c100-5-5-home-pressure-washer/path/domestic-power-washers

these are getting very good reviews over on DW

don't get Karcher... mine gave up on me after just a year or so 

if you had a pressure washer you could clean your tyres (before you dress them as there is no point in dressing a dirty tyre) and your arches and mudflaps too!!

as I said.. you don't have to spend a fortune to get decent products that LAST longer... trust me on this.. it took me YEARS to find this out for myself. AG is NOT the be all and end all for cleaning and protection.

Wicked!! Thanks very much for the advice, I will defo take it all on board, I do actually have a pressure washer!!! (obviously I did not use it on this clean).  Very pleased I don't have to spend a fortune on products that last longer.

Perhaps I should've done more research on Wonder Wheels!!! I certainly don't want to ruin the wheels.

Whilst I appreciate people saying it looks good, I was looking for the advice you have given.  Once again thanks very much.

[Guy]

Wicked!! Thanks very much for the advice, I will defo take it all on board, I do actually have a pressure washer!!! (obviously I did not use it on this clean).  Very pleased I don't have to spend a fortune on products that last longer.

Perhaps I should've done more research on Wonder Wheels!!! I certainly don't want to ruin the wheels.

Whilst I appreciate people saying it looks good, I was looking for the advice you have given.  Once again thanks very much.

no probs... clay (once) and pressure washer ftw