I want my car to SHINE!!!

[farky77]

I've got a 04 plate Furby vRS, low mileage so the Red paint is in excellent condition. Basically i want to polish, wax the car but dont know the best products to buy? I've stood in Halfrauds for AGES reading all the different products in the Meguiars range After washing the car with Gold Class shampoo what do i do next?? Do i use a detailer in between washing and waxing, do i use a paint cleaner after washing before i wax the car etc etc?? Any help would be appreciated, i just want my car to be TOTALLY GLEAMING

[andy2407]

The guides on Car Care - The finest products, the best advice - Polished Bliss seem to come well recommended.
Or have a look on Detailing World - A world for detailers by detailers.
I got some Meguiars NXT Tech Wax Paste on a recent trip to the USA - had a quick go with it today and was very impressed. Need to do the car properly, but initial results can be seen here

[Flanno]

Well, I used be very much into detailing years back and only just got my new vRS so am hoping to start back into it again. Like you I went to Halfords today. I blew over 200euro!!

Before I did, I went and did some research on various sites - autopia.org is good, as is the meguiars forum. I found meguiars have an instant clinic on their uk site under support which will recommend what products to use depending on how often you want to detail you car. It is usually a 5 step plan to washing and detailing.

Of course there are lot and lots of manufacturers of car care products out there, and people swear by different brands but I find there is no alot between the premium brands. I generally use meguiars or autoglym as Halfords carry it.

Anyway here is my plan for the pain (all meguiars products)

Wash : NXT Generation Car Wash (cheaper then Gold Class and just as good)

Clay : Quick Clay Detailing System (also use a good tar remover)
This gets off all the contaminants.

Clean Paint : Scratch X, Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner Step #1
Not needed when car is new, but ScratchX is good for spot touchups of swirls marks and scratches. While DCP step#1 is an overall body cleaner. Probably won't need these for a couple of months.

Polish Paint : Deep Crystal Paint Polish Step #2. This contains no abrasives and just enriches the paint giving it a gloss.

Protection : NXT Generation Tech Wax. Went with this instead of DCP Step #3 Caranuba, as I wanted something longer lasting.

Maintenance : NXT Speed Detailer+NXT Spray Wax. After each weekly wash I will use speed detailer to remove contaminants and spray wax to boost the wax. I would then do a full clay/clean paint/polish/protect every 2 months.

Applications/towels etc..
1 x Superthick Micro Fibre Wash Mit
1 x Water Magnet Drying Towel
4 x High Tech Applicator Pads
3 x Super Shine Microfibre Towels

[farky77]

Thanx, you've been a great help!!

[Flanno]

No worries mate.

Autoglym products are almost as good and cheaper so you could also substitute all I said above and use the following method if you want to save some cash.

Wash with whatever car wash you use now (Meguiars Gold Class)
Autoglym tar remover after washing the car to get rid of tar spots on lower panels.

Autoglym Super Resin Polish - this contains a cleaner as well as a polish
followed by
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection - this is a sealant which locks in the shine from the Super Resin

or instead of the 2 autoglym products above just use the new all in one Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine.

All products can be applied and buffed off with Autoglym Perfect Polishing Cloths.

Do this every 3 months, and between washes use a top up product called Autoglym Instant Show Shine to keep you car shiney looking

This was the routine I used use before. But I personally think the Meguiars will give better results as it tends to separate out the paint prep process a bit better and that in my view is the most important thing. With autglym, the super resin polish is a cleaner (however mild) and a polish, whereas the ultra deep shine adds fillers to hide swirls and a sealant. With Meguiars you have more control in that you can can decide what level of paint cleaning you want if any (scratch x - stubborn spot scratches/swirls, deep crystal paint cleaner - overall paint clean, clay - contaminants) or just move onto a polish with no cleaners *if you car is brand new* i.e. deep crystal paint polish. Can't do that with Autolglym. And then move onto a wax or sealant (nxt).

By the way for the glass inside I recommend autoglym fastglass, and autoglym glass polish for outside if you have stubborn stains.
For the dashboard I recommend Meguiars NXT Tech Protect
For the rubbers in the windows, and the doors - autoglym vinyl and rubber care.
For the tyres and wheels - Meguiars hot shine tyre dressing and Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner
And finally for the leather - Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather wipes, and Autoglym interior shampoo for everything else.

A full detail would probably take me 8 hours

As the car is a week old, I will just wash, dry, and do the glass inside and out tommorrow.
If weather is good enough, I will add a coat of Deep Crystal Paint Polish, followed by NXT Tech Wax.
Don't think I will need to use a tar remover, clay or any paint cleaning or alloy cleaning products yet.

I can feel the obsession setting in already.

[farky77]

Holy **** Flanno, you know your stuff!!!! You proffessional valeter?? Thanx for the help mate, i've written down everything!!!!

[bryand]

I like the Meguiar's preparation stuff, but prefer a Swissol wax for depth and durability. Also I find Gliptone products best for leather (shampoo & conditioner - what? take two bottles into the car...)

[Flanno]

Nah..far from it. Used be obsessed years ago and now it's all coming back
Thanks for the complement though.

[Schwarz]

I agree with Flanno but I would suggest another wax such as Poorboys Natty's or for durability you CANNOT beat Collinite. Alternatively, you could use a 1 step product such as Megs Cleaner wax which I was very impressed with One thing to be wary of is the water magnet, a lot of people have found that they will inflict minor swirling. I would suggest a Poorboys waffle weave as it is much softer.

[Glider]

A world for detailers...

Polished Bliss - Car Care Advice

[mattbeef]

Hmm i think we should a detailing thread going

especially for us new to detailing

[bryand]

Not the best of weathers for it, but having got some new stuff this week, I was dying to try it out.
My car's NCAP rating must have gone up at least half a point because the pedestrians slide off the bonnet so easily now!

[ChrisRs]

Originally Posted by bryand

.............. but prefer a Swissol wax for depth and durability. ............................)

I second that. Swissol wax is simply the best there is.

[Jon TDI]

Just had a cleaning session today too.

Washed with Meguiars Gold Class shampoo.
Prepped with Meguairs Clay bar & Quick Detailer.
Dryed.
Waxed with Colinites Auto wax.

Took the best part of 4 hours but fantastic results. Very, very shiny.

Having a beer now!