I've just got into detailing in the summer, went out and spent around your budget on pretty much all the autoglym range. This is how i wash my car and what i use. But im a novice at this and just starting out.
Prep:
Hose the car down, make sure everywhere is soaking, all the loose dirt is removed.
I then let the wheels soak in tesco wheel cleaner and the really dirty bits of body work i coat in AG bug remover. Leave that while i go fill my bucket up with shampoo and warm water. I then use a meshed sponge and the bucket to clean off the dirty areas, i class that as the front bumper, anywhere below the side door trim, rear bumper, and maybe the front of the bonnet, pretty much the lower quarter of your car. I then use a Flash lambs wool brush for the wheels. Rinse that off make sure all the wheel cleaner is off.
Washing:
2 Buckets and Ag Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner with a meg's wash mit. Plenty of water on your mit, don’t use lots of pressure. I start at the top and work down and around the car. So I’m not pushing muck up the car. Rinse that off and check see if i have missed anywhere.
Claying:
AG clay bar kit has everything i needed in it to start learning to clay. I do this around about every 4-6 month depending on how the paint feels to me after washing.
Drying:
I use an AG aqua dry, however i'm favouring microfibre cloths at the moment to dry with, you can pick up some big ones for pretty cheap form the discount websites on here. (I4D and cleanyourcar)
Polishing:
Now here is the complicated section where there is loads of info on the internet with different names for stuff, different products. This is just what I personally use, I do it all by hand.
If there are any scratches or scuffs Ii use Meg's scratch X, really good product. Just goes on with a meg’s applicator pad or microfiber and wipes off with a microfiber.
I then use AG Ultra deep shine because my car is black, turtle wax microfibre sponge and AG Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth(microfiber.) If your car isn’t black/dark you can always use AG super resin polish, i use it on my headlights. It’s cheap and highly recommended among the detailing world from what i have read. Both are slightly abrasive and will remove a tiny layer of clear coat and fill swirls.
To add some protection and hide remaining swirls I then use AG extra gloss protection and AG perfect polishing cloths ( just cotton cloths) Really easy to use product (liquid that just wipes on, no buffing), looks great, bonds well to either ultra deep shine or SRP. Sets hard too after about 30-60 minutes you can see it change on your paint, then just buff it off.
Wax:
I use AG HD WAX to add protection to all this hard work gone into making it shine, you may aswell keep it shining. Nice product to work with, probably cheaper options out there, but I picked it up for £20 at my local auto parts shop and couldn’t resist trying it.
I plan on buying some wheel wax once my wheels are refurbed to protect them, right now i don’t really care about them.
Final Touches:
Why bother making your paintwork look like a mirror then let crap plastic trim, dull tyres. So more money spent on:
AG Instant Tyre Dressing (use a sponge to rub around the tyre)
AG fast glass (apply with microfiber) Good for removing polish/wax off plastic trim !!!!
AG vynil and rubber care - Interior, exterior and engine bay trim. Good at removing general crap found around your car.
AG Interior shampoo on mats, Instead of spraying it onto the fabric i use a microfiber to apply it.
I bought all this product in the summer, I just went out to Halfords/local store/Boyes(AG 100% free stuff, still in there now) with the little knowledge I had and wanted to make my car shine, and it does There are cheaper/better products you can get. I’d advise you to use the discount sites as their prices are awesome compared to what I paid.
You need to see what the condition of your paint is in before you go buying stuff you don’t need.
Hope this helps you get an idea of the products I use.
Check here for pictures of my car after cleaning:
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?554823-Just-gave-my-new-car-a-clean.&highlight=
p.s I don't work for Auto Glym, I wish I did then I wouldn't have spent as much ! Its just what I could get my hands on.
