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Zymol cleaner wax sold in Halfords is not the same wax as the more expensive waxes. The cleaner wax is made by Turtle Wax under licence.
I use Zymol Vintage wax and must say its the best depth of shine that I have seen. I also have the Destiny wax which is also very good!!
Although some Zymol waxes are very expensive, they do go a long way as you use very little to get best results.
I know a lot of people who have used Titanium and Concours and are very happy with the results!!
PS I also know of a few who have converted to Meguires products and say its very comparable but for much less cost!
Ive got the meguairs hand polish (£14) it is a non scratching pure polish and I have recently got but not yet used the meg paste wax (£14) to go on top. Have had excellent results with the polish and autoglym egp have not compared it to Zymol personally but I dont think I could tell a diffenerce as the meg product was f**king well shiny!
omar please dont make me laugh
trained technicians these are the same guys who wash your cars when they come in for there service washes and leave swirl marks in the paint .all these paint protection products which claim will protect your cars paint for 5 years are the biggest con going yes i have applied them i have seen how long they last and no they are no way worth the money .i can get one which is used and approved by the united states navy on there battle ships radars has a teflon coating system this is one of the best around but it still does not beat a properly detailed waxed car.to detail a car what i would call reasonably quick and semi presentable should take between 7to 10 hours and thats not stopping for an hour and half hour for lunch and tea breaks .these so called trained technicians lol will apply there magic solution and have the car back ready for the customer if you are lucky they might spend 3 hours on it.garages are run by accountants they know nothing about detailing a car .they see the valeting bay as a loss as it does not bring money in only money goes out.they will make the valeters use the cheapest products out there not the best products for the job.the valeters will not be allowed to spend a day on the car let alone a couple of days on a car.the most they might get is a couple of hours.this is from major car dealerships ie bmw, bentley, rolls,land rover ,mg ,porsche and ferrari.so just think what the car supermarkets try to get way with to try and cut corners and make more money out of you.
yes this the experence i have had over the last 17 years of being involved with the motor trade i very rarely do work for garages it is now more private clients.suppliers of products i use see the same problems i have high lighted as well they can see that the customer with his car is not getting the best result for his money because of this mentality of detailing of the car for the customer is not needed a wash and a leather will do and a quick hoover.it is down to the customer to complain how his car is presented to him or her and not except it until it is right .when i have bought cars .my car goes in cleaner than the car i get and i allways make a point of taking the car back to them properly detailed and tell them this is how i should have received the car in the first place .but the public unfortunatly do not know what a properly detailed car should look like.so the garages will carry on ripping off the customers.
Shiny red R32
We have friends in the motor trade and topshopvaleting you are so right in what you say! I was at our BMW dealer the other day when they were prepping a car which was being collected and I asked the valeter what he was using, expecting him to say Auto Glym or similar and he said he uses good old liquid gold, or some Nielsens (sp) stuff in gallon cans, nothing exciting and the car looked very shiny. He said not to waste your money on these over-hyped expensive cleaning products that smell of tropical fruit salad!
Quote: Originally posted by topshotvaleting on 22 June 2004
omar please dont make me laugh
garages are run by accountants they know nothing about detailing a car .they see the valeting bay as a loss as it does not bring money in only money goes out.they will make the valeters use the cheapest products out there not the best products for the job.the valeters will not be allowed to spend a day on the car let alone a couple of days on a car.the most they might get is a couple of hours.this is from major car dealerships ie bmw, bentley, rolls,land rover ,mg ,porsche and ferrari.so just think what the car supermarkets try to get way with to try and cut corners and make more money out of you.
yes this the experence i have had over the last 17 years of being involved with the motor trade i very rarely do work for garages it is now more private clients.suppliers of products i use see the same problems i have high lighted as well they can see that the customer with his car is not getting the best result for his money because of this mentality of detailing of the car for the customer is not needed a wash and a leather will do and a quick hoover.it is down to the customer to complain how his car is presented to him or her and not except it until it is right .when i have bought cars .my car goes in cleaner than the car i get and i allways make a point of taking the car back to them properly detailed and tell them this is how i should have received the car in the first place .but the public unfortunatly do not know what a properly detailed car should look like.so the garages will carry on ripping off the customers.
What car care products do you recomend then??
All this reading of products here has my head spining...lol
Simon.
simon the products i use are mothers ,sonax ,zymol ,system 8, 3m and feracula.these products i can mix and match where needed depending on the job in hand.
KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
Youve arrived at the Meguiars resource for automotive surface care knowledge. The really useful information shown below will help you understand the importance of automotive surface care and maintenance and how Meguiars products can help you keep your car looking its best at all times.
Environmental Wars
Yes, your environment is fighting the finish on your pride and joy. Because aggressive elements in your environment are especially hazardous to your car, we continually monitor the latest scientific findings about the impact of these elements on paint, metal, vinyl, leather and rubber.
Your cars environmental foes deploy a variety of very nasty weapons. Each finish-degrading weapon is bad enough, but, when combined, their impact is greater than the sun. Scientists call that synergy.
Secrets of the Pros WATCH YOUR STEP
Professionals understand the critical value of each of the following appearance care steps:
1. WASHING: Removing loose contaminants on the top of your cars paint surfaces.
2. CLEANING: Removing bonded and embedded contaminants, blemishes and oxidation that washing cannot remove.
3. POLISHING (Not waxing): This is the key step for restoring rich, vibrant paint colour with sparkling, swirl-free high gloss. BEWARE: Not all products labelled "polish" are truly pure polishes. Some are abrasive and some are waxes. Meguiars polishes are pure polishes.
4. PROTECTING: Applying a barrier coat of tough waxes, silicones, resins and/or polymers on top of the paint finish to repel contamination and oxidation.
5. MAINTAINING: Removing the daily accumulation of surface contaminants (i.e. fallout, diesel exhaust, overspray, hard water spots, tree sap, bird droppings) the instant they are discovered, before they have time to bond or etch into the paint finish. Meguiars Quik Detailer quickly removes fresh contaminants on the spot while actually adding gloss and protection. Carry it in your car for ready use. (Maintaining has become the most important step for keeping a sharp car looking sharp all the time.) PAINT SURFACE EVALUATION TEST
Wash and dry both your car and your hands. Now run your finger- tips across the paint surfaces, which should feel as smooth as glass. If not, you are feeling bonded contaminants and oxidation that must first be removed with a mild, clear coat safe, abrasive cleaner like Meguiars Clear Coat Body Scrub before applying polish or wax.
PROTECTION TEST
To determine if your paint has enough wax protection, wad a clean, dry towel and rub it against the TOP surfaces of your car after it has been washed and dried. If you hear squeaking, it needs to be waxed.
IMPORTANT CAR WASHING TIPS
Do not use dish-washing detergents because they strip off paint protection and accelerate oxidation. Only wash your car when its cool and in the shade to avoid water spotting. Start at the top and work down. Soft water is best.
TREE SAP MIST
During Spring and Summer, trees release tree sap mist. Unlike droplets of sap, tree sap mist can travel for long distances before landing on parked cars or cars passing by. Its impossible to avoid, yet easy to remove when it first lands, by maintaining with Quik Detailer.
TYRE CARE TIPS
Avoid ordinary silicone emulsion protectants that cover over your surface contamination with a shiny synthetic coating. These cause tyre discolouration and decay. Clean your tyres while you dress them with a complex formula like Meguiars Endurance Protectant that cleans, beautifies and protects in one easy step, leaving tyres looking like new, and free of that "plastic" look.
WHEEL CARE TIPS
Most wheels now come with clear coat finishes that require special care. Do not use abrasives or scouring pads on these wheels. One of the safest, most effective wheel cleaners is Meguiars Hot Rims. It contains no acid, toxins or abrasives yet effectively removes stubborn road grime and brake dust and leaves the surface bright and shiny. It is the product recommended by BBS, the world- renowned wheel maker.
INTERIOR CARE
Common silicone emulsion protectants cover over surface contamination, create glare on the dashboard, and leave seats and steering wheels dangerously slippery. Use non­silicone vinyl cleaners and one­step cleaner conditioners such as Meguiar,s Natural Shine. Only use specialised leather care products (like Gold Class Premium Leather Cleaner & Conditioner) on leather surfaces. Use safe, specialised cleaners such as Meguiars Carpet & Interior Cleaner on carpets and fabric upholstery.
CLEAR PLASTIC & WINDOW TINTING
Maintaining clear plastics and window tinting is a delicate matter. These materials can easily scratch and lose their original clarity. We highly recommend the use of Meguiars Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner Polish to safely remove surface contaminants and gently restore optical clarity. Use it on window tinting, convertible rear windows, instrument panel lenses, helmet face shields, sun glasses and hundreds of other clear plastic surfaces.
SPECIAL DETAILING TIPS
Use 100% cotton terry cloth towelling on your paint finish. The nap protects the finish from particles caught between the surface and the towel. Synthetic blends may scratch your surface. If your polishing cloth pulls colour your finish is probably not a clear coat. Avoid turning your application cloth over to its other side to apply a different product, because some ingredients may penetrate through and change the chemical balance of the product. Avoid putting pressure on tops of ridges where your cars paint is the thinnest. Use Meguiars Quik Detailer and a soft cloth to remove wax residue from emblems, lettering, etc.
reading all this sounds good but the more i read the more it messes with my head, all i want to be able to do is wash and polish/wax the car to keep it clean and make it look good with out spending stupid amounts of money everytime i need to buy more stuff..
iv got to say i really dont know what to buy for the best anymore
ps.. Just to let you know that I spent 1/2 an hour cleaning the back of my burnt out car so the pics would look good for the insurance company. - see below
http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1088018310__IMGP0548.jpg
http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1088018395__IMGP0554.jpg
http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1088018450__IMGP0546.jpg
I think the neighbours thought I was nuts because the back end got a full wash and chamois!! ;-) lol
http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/member_photo.php?photoid=23519
Clio 197
Dead funny!! Cant imagine it!
PS, noticed the calipers are red... did the same to mine... nice touch me thinks.
hi there blaupunkt what you need to do if you are after a simple cleaning session on you car is wash leather then clay the car then use a carnauba cleaner wax this will do everything you are after a simple clean car with a great shine
Clio 197
Quick question topshotvaleting....
Have one of those 12v rotary wax aplicator thingies... Comes with a sponge and a brush.... It says the sponge is for applying liquid type polish/wax, and the brush is for hard type wax.... is it safe to have a brush go on the paint?!
Also, should I bother with it at all?!
omar please dont use a brush on the paint work it will cause so many swirls not worth the trouble.
lee so you are after protection more than a deep shine in your paint work with ordering zymol titanium. you would have been better off ordering ital wax as you would at least get a nice deep shine .i have found on certain colours that titanium never gave you that wow shine .but if you use the zymol ital you would get the shine.
I figured Id just go with one of the starter kits for now, as its easier for me. As the car is brand new I just want to get a nice protective coating on there for now. Its already got a nice deep shine to it.
Im sure the Titanium wax will be more than enough for me. I dont really go all out for perfection, but I do like a better than average finish which this should hopefully give me.
guys you confuse me why you would go for the titanium wax .this wax was designed for trucks which were in salty and heavy pollution areas not for the shine if anythink it will give you a dull finish to your cars paint. you would find it worthwhile topping with ital wax which will give you a better shine.you will not have to hd cleanse just top with the wax.i was doing rolls and bentleys for a garage a couple of years ago when i did a british racing green bentley non metalic they wanted the car to be coated with titanium like you they thought this would give it a great shine like it had done on other rolls and bentleys before.when the car was waxed it looked no different if anythink dull.so i topped with ital and what a transformation it had a great wet look shine.so this made me think just how much you are not seeing the true depth of shine in your paint.with titanium you get protection but no concours winning shine
adder you will find the paste will last longer of the 2 .no wax will give you longer protection of 3-6 months depending on use may be less in some cases.martin
Hi,
I get the guys at the local Immigrant wash to clean my car. Its costs a fiver and i only have to touch up a couple of bits that they miss. It takes about 20mins (i sit on the wall and watch the world go bye) then i go off and have fun driving the car. After about 30mins the car is dirty again.
How long do you guys/ girls spend cleaning your cars?
And how much does it cost you? well it costs me only my products lol but my clients £250 upwards depending on what they want and how bad the car is .time wise quick wash and tidy up 2 hours, full clean 8 to 10 hours depending on light lol time is irrelevant when detailing its finished when its done
RX-8
When i bought the titanium I didnt actually realise that it was designed for SUVs I went for it as it said it was designed for cars in everyday use which is what mine is, i just presumed that the concours and above where designed for cars sitting in the showroom or one or two days of brilliant shine.
The shines very good but not amazing just gonna see how long it lasts now. J
Well for years ive stuck with Simonz wax and Turtle wax top gloss on top as I could find nothing better. It seems to last over a month before needing reapplied.
Autoglym didnt agree with the metallic paintwork on my RS1800 leaving bad swirls - it was only after I discovered that it cut aswell! It only lasted a few weeks anyway.
Nothing else was even that good with Mer being the worst thing I ever tried!
If topshotvaleting has any suggestions on a better combination than my Top Gloss/Simonz wax combo for long lasting Id appreciate it! I really just polish for paint protection above looks so the longer it stays on the better.
