dealer prep

[monkeyhanger]

This is my plan for when the new car arrives and I'd be interested in people's thoughts.

First of all I have spoken to the dealer and asked them not to hand wash the car so they are going to jet wash it and leave it at that. My understanding is that there will be some residue left on the car just through all the protective sheets that were on it.

When I get it home my plan/thoughts are

1) Hose car down initially
2) Hand wash using the two bucket method with lambswool mit and Meguiars gold class shampoo
3) Hand dry using microfibre cloths
4) Iron-X the entire car to remove any iron particles and any possible left over residue
5) Re-wash car
6) Use Gtechniq C2V3 to seal the entire car and the wheels
7) Still debating this stage - possibly wax car with Dodo Juice Diamond White but not sure if this is necessary

My only plan for the inside of the car at the moment is Gtechniq smart fabric on the cloth seats

Does this look okay or is there a fatal flaw in the plan? I'm not particularly keen on claying the car as I've never done it before and wouldn't want to make a mess of it. I'm hoping the Iron X will be enough. I could also use snow foam but what are benefits of this compared to hand washing or is it just another stage?

Thanks

Craig 

Exactly what I will be doing, except using G-Techniq's own shampoo and skipping the Iron -X part. Iron - X is something I would definitely do on a white car, not so bothered for other colours. Don't know whether white is more likely to have particulate iron on/in it as an impurity, or whether it would just be more noticeable on white. You can top up your C2V3 with a 1/20 dilution wiped or sprayed on and then towel dried to a shine every month. Don't spray too much - it goes a long way and is smeary when you're trying to get excess off. Leaving my dad in charge of spraying was a bad idea treating his - he used over 400ml of the stuff and I was wringing copious amounts out of my microfibre cloths. 150ml is probably more than enough for 1 treatment of the car as a litre does 80m2 apparently.

[CraigW]

This is my plan for when the new car arrives and I'd be interested in people's thoughts.

First of all I have spoken to the dealer and asked them not to hand wash the car so they are going to jet wash it and leave it at that. My understanding is that there will be some residue left on the car just through all the protective sheets that were on it.

When I get it home my plan/thoughts are

1) Hose car down initially
2) Hand wash using the two bucket method with lambswool mit and Meguiars gold class shampoo
3) Hand dry using microfibre cloths
4) Iron-X the entire car to remove any iron particles and any possible left over residue
5) Re-wash car
6) Use Gtechniq C2V3 to seal the entire car and the wheels
7) Still debating this stage - possibly wax car with Dodo Juice Diamond White but not sure if this is necessary

My only plan for the inside of the car at the moment is Gtechniq smart fabric on the cloth seats

Does this look okay or is there a fatal flaw in the plan? I'm not particularly keen on claying the car as I've never done it before and wouldn't want to make a mess of it. I'm hoping the Iron X will be enough. I could also use snow foam but what are benefits of this compared to hand washing or is it just another stage?

Thanks

Craig 

Exactly what I will be doing, except using G-Techniq's own shampoo and skipping the Iron -X part. Iron - X is something I would definitely do on a white car, not so bothered for other colours. Don't know whether white is more likely to have particulate iron on/in it as an impurity, or whether it would just be more noticeable on white. You can top up your C2V3 with a 1/20 dilution wiped or sprayed on and then towel dried to a shine every month. Don't spray too much - it goes a long way and is smeary when you're trying to get excess off. Leaving my dad in charge of spraying was a bad idea treating his - he used over 400ml of the stuff and I was wringing copious amounts out of my microfibre cloths. 150ml is probably more than enough for 1 treatment of the car as a litre does 80m2 apparently.

Thanks mate

Will you be applying a layer of wax or just using the sealant?

[monkeyhanger]

Will you be applying a layer of wax or just using the sealant?

Probably just the sealant (unless the shine doesn't impress on a Tornado Red - although my dad's GTD looked amazing so I think that possibility is highly unlikely), Longer term wax is a bit of a sh!te magnet. Also you don't have to be careful with C2V3 - you can put it on any surface and it won't leave an unsightly residue or whitening. Waxing means you have to be very careful around trim and rubbers. The beading of C2V3 is amazing and the car feels like it is coated in Teflon.

There is a place on the net other than the official site that only requires you to spend £30 for free delivery, it is: theultimatefinish.co.uk. The official site requires a £55 spend. Not sure how C2V3 stands up to wheel application. Probably won't last as long as the bodywork between treatments, but I really don't want to spend £22.50 on a tiny 15ml bottle of C5 wheel armour when applying C2V3 every 3 months will probably do the same job.

[p3asa]

@ CraigW, here is a detailer that covers Glasgow http://www.rgkdetailing.com and seems to have a decent reputation on the detailingworld forum.
Interesting in his Blogs he mentions the supplying dealers a few times for not preparing their cars properly or causing swirls.
I also see in his Blog he's done a MK7 Golf that the supplying dealer refused to allow him to prep before delivery.

[CraigW]

@ CraigW, here is a detailer that covers Glasgow http://www.rgkdetailing.com and seems to have a decent reputation on the detailingworld forum.
Interesting in his Blogs he mentions the supplying dealers a few times for not preparing their cars properly or causing swirls.
I also see in his Blog he's done a MK7 Golf that the supplying dealer refused to allow him to prep before delivery.

Thanks P3asa. I did think about going down this route but it is bloody expensive and I'm hoping I can do half decent job myself with the right tools and a bit of elbow grease 

[DougL]

...leave unsightly residue or whitening. Waxing means you have to be very careful around trim and rubbers.

Decent waxes (eg Victoria, Collinite) won't do this.

[p3asa]

Thanks P3asa. I did think about going down this route but it is bloody expensive and I'm hoping I can do half decent job myself with the right tools and a bit of elbow grease 

Yeah if you take your time you will do a decent job. Its only if the dealer adds any swirls to the paintwork that you might need it corrected professionally.

When I picked my new Golf up from the Verve Rutherglen it had a scratch on the drivers door. No problem said the salesman and he disappeared with the car for 5 minutes. It came back looking perfect. However after a few washes the scratch had come back and the marring round it about it glistening in the sun was shocking.  I reckon they had only just put some glaze over it to basically mask it for a few months 

I did have a list of detailers and prices around the Glasgow area but as usual when looking for it I can't find it!!

Hopefully your car will be pristine and no need to worry. 

[CraigW]

Thanks P3asa. I did think about going down this route but it is bloody expensive and I'm hoping I can do half decent job myself with the right tools and a bit of elbow grease 

Yeah if you take your time you will do a decent job. Its only if the dealer adds any swirls to the paintwork that you might need it corrected professionally.

When I picked my new Golf up from the Verve Rutherglen it had a scratch on the drivers door. No problem said the salesman and he disappeared with the car for 5 minutes. It came back looking perfect. However after a few washes the scratch had come back and the marring round it about it glistening in the sun was shocking.  I reckon they had only just put some glaze over it to basically mask it for a few months 

I did have a list of detailers and prices around the Glasgow area but as usual when looking for it I can't find it!!

Hopefully your car will be pristine and no need to worry. 

Thanks p3asa. Fingers crossed all will be ok with it.  I'll make sure I do a thorough inspection before I drive off in it 

[drisser]

I have to admit I am a virgin when it comes to proper detailing and could do with a second view.

This guy is near where my dealer is, can anyone give me an honest view on his detailing options and let me know if a protection or enhancement would be a good investment.. And if so do I just tell the dealer to power wash only..

http://www.detailingandvaleting.com/detailing_services.html

Or am I being too paranoid ?   Might pop into showroom tomorrow and ask if I can see a car that is prepped for customer delivery?

[p3asa]

Looking at other cars the dealer has prepped won't really tell you anything as they will probably just cover the car in polish / glaze to mark it really shine and stand out.
They will look good but it won't be until a good few washes later when that glaze comes off (depending on what you use to wash the car) that any swirls / marring will be seen. Although in saying that if you look at cars they have prepped and can see obvious problems, I'd stay well away from them prepping it.
Have a look over at http://www.detailingworld.co.uk for really useful info.