Tips on Cleaning

[steviekyle13793]

Hi all,

Recently purchased a BG 182 and the paint work is rather dull. I am new to this whole car detailing thing and would appreciate if some people could recommend a list of products for me to purchase to give my cars paintwork a bit of life.

I have read through the stickys but quite frankly, I don't understand what is needed as this is my first car so any help is appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

[Yosemite Sam]

To break yourself in gently, if I was you I would buy...

1) shampoo. There's loads to choose from!

2) Some non acidic wheel cleaner.

2) tar and adhesive remover.

3) Autoglym super resin polish

4) some glass cleaner

5) Some tyre shine.


Wash the car with the shampoo and a good quality wash mit. Rinse it all off. Use the tar remover liberally over the bottom of the doors and get rid of all the big fat tar spots.
Wash bottom of car again. Rinse all over.
Polish with the Autoglym super resin polish, then use the tyre gel to shine the tyres.

That should take you about an hour or so and if you enjoy it, great go and buy some more in depth kit. If you find it a chore and can't be bothered, you've only wasted about. £25.

Alternatively you could of course pay someone to do it for you. Anything from £50-350+

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

I'm far from being an expert mate. However I do like to give it go. What kind of condition is your paintwork in? Post some pics up and it will make it a lot easier for people to advise what products you'll need.

The basics though are 2 buckets, 1 for your shampoo and the other to rinse your wash mitt off after washing each panel (known as 2 bucket method). A decent wash mitt. Drying towels (shammy leathers are a thing of the past)

 

[steviekyle13793]

Thanks for the advice!

I will get some stuff ordered tonight and probably have a go at it next weekend by the time I get some spare hours.

I will try and get some photos up of her soon, I'm going out in her in a bit so will get some then

Thanks again

 

[Inferno Jamie]

Well after you polish the car make sure you wax it Polish will strip any wax/protection already on the car, off it.....expecially SRP....

I like Victoria Wax http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/victoria-wax/cat_60.html

 

[imprezaworks]

Blackhole by poorboys is great on Black cars. A wax, something like a dodo juice sample pot, £6 ish and would do the car a few times

 

[GCC]

Blackhole by poorboys is great on Black cars.

Not just black. I've used it on an extremely dark blue volvo, very dark green Audi, black. All dark coloured cars will be fine with this one from personal experience

 

[MJRacing]

My tip is don't start....i caught the bug and its cost me a fortune!

 

[Coby.]

Daniels advice is spot on, I spent years happy with the results from similar and then bought a wax, and once I felt it's something I'd happily spend a day or 2 doing a car I increased my arsenal.

 

[imprezaworks]

Not just black. I've used it on an extremely dark blue volvo, very dark green Audi, black. All dark coloured cars will be fine with this one from personal experience

Well yeah but for the sake of a debate, op has a black car.

 

[Knuckles]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...productId=1002675&categoryId=165671&langId=-1

That is a good place to start. It gives you the basics which you can then add to

My tip is don't start....i caught the bug and its cost me a fortune!

Lol this

 

[Whetty]

My tip is don't start....i caught the bug and its cost me a fortune!

This is the best advice, I started with the kit knuckles suggested and I even won the AF weekly waxathon and now i have shelves full of various products, two big bags of MFs applicators and towels, easy to lose a weekend cleaning.

It's a sickness!

 

[imprezaworks]

I've tried lots of stuff. But my fav, wait for it... Colour magic white!.

 

[bloke]

just drive it in the rain.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I've tried lots of stuff. But my fav, wait for it... Colour magic white!.

Gtecniq P1 via a DA gives great results on white mate. I did a 1995 white audi on friday. Looked bloody lovely when i'd finished.

 

[imprezaworks]

Will take some pics of mine tomo, weather permitting. Looks spot on. Wouldn't trust myself with a polisher lol

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Will take some pics of mine tomo, weather permitting. Looks spot on. Wouldn't trust myself with a polisher lol

Really?? I had you down as a bit of a clean freak.

 

[imprezaworks]

I am but I know what I'm like. Me-polisher=upset. I just know that's how it would pan out. I get a free day Sunday as the boss rarely comes in so I tinker with the car. He doesn't mind and tbh it's a conversation starter sometimes with customers.

 

[Knuckles]

I am but I know what I'm like. Me-polisher=upset. I just know that's how it would pan out. I get a free day Sunday as the boss rarely comes in so I tinker with the car. He doesn't mind and tbh it's a conversation starter sometimes with customers.

What is it you do?

I also had you down as a detailer type

 

[Yosemite Sam]

He's a dirty car salesman.

 

[imprezaworks]

He's a loving, generous and all round type of car salesman.

 

[imprezaworks]

What is it you do?

I also had you down as a detailer type

Im flattered, I think.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Im flattered, I think.

Don't be. Car cleaning geeks are weirdos.

 

[imprezaworks]

I have my moments, lol

 

[Knuckles]

Daniel speaketh the truth.

 

[Auto Finesse]

We have some really great detailing guides on our website which I really think you would benefit from:

http://www.autofinesse.co.uk/detailing-guides/

If you need any other information we also have our detailers available by phone Mon-Fri 9-530

Good Luck !