Value for money Detailing kits?.....

[Low_E30]

Im looking forward to putting some love into my E30 (aswell as the rest of the fleet), once the weather gets better...

Iv always kept my cars clean inside and out, winter months they gets washed at the Kosovan's and in the summer months I get get busy and wash them....

I'v noticed over the last few years, the bar has well and truelly been raised with regards to peoples car cleaning regimes, partly down to the internet and sites like Detailing World? and the constant evolvement of products...

My old school regime of a wash with Turtle wax shampoo, a leather down and quick polish with some Autglym polish (or it was Mer before that) dont cut it any more....

Im not looking to spend hundreds of pounds or spend hundreds of hours detailing, and endless researching of products, just want a kit that will cover the basics and put me on the right tracks....

A quick search has found me the two kits below,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meguiars-Car- ... 53f73292c3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dodo-Juice-Sh ... 20caa25690


Any advice and opinions on the above kits, in terms of experiences, value for money would be much appreciated...

[Morat]

I've done the full meguiars thing a few times. It takes ages and looks great for a couple of weeks. I never bothered buying any more!

[adam_2922]

I use the meguiars range. Also use poor boys black hole polish from time to time. Fills in the little scratches in dark paintwork. It takes a fair while but the results are worth it.

[Kos]

You'll need a decent shampoo, a drying towel, microfibres, quick detailer, a polish and a wax or sealant. Oh and nice soft wash mit.

£100 will set you up with all that and good quality kit as well.

It's a mind field out there and a head fuck. What sometimes seems like a great product can be completely wrong for your needs.

I have lots for you to sample if you want

[polsta]

never heard of that dojustice stuff-sounds cheap crap to me and wax 30ml is nothing !

buy single bits and try a few products out, ive used meg stuff, but find autoglym much better products and the range is great and the stuff continues to suprise me- for instance the AG glass polish, is fantastic stuff !! as is the vinyl and rubber care (for all exterior rubber and interior vinyl- my favourite e30 product this is) , then look out for halfords when they do the 3 for 2 offer and stock up on your faves

when you do the car- go panel by panel rather than whole car-clay bar, paint renovate, +g3 on any scratches) ag super resin polish, then wax

the best wax to use for long lasting (bar real expensive stuff), is simoniz caranuba wax, round gold tin from halfords , if you detail the car properly and use that stuff, its a ball ache but looks and lasts amazing, then once a week just a quick wash-rinse, shampoo, then demon shine, and will look like you just detailed whole car again, should last a few months like that

also wheel cleaner and AG alloy sealer, is also great, lasts ages and wheels come up clean with shampoo rather than cleaner every time

id get-

ag clay bar kit
g3 paint renovator
some g3 compound and waffle pad
ag glass polish
ag super resin polish
ag wheel cleaner and sealer
ag vinyl rubber care
simoniz caranuba wax
demon shine from asda is cheaper there
micro fibre cloths from ASDA , all that sort of stuff like cloths and brushes is cheap at a big asda,same products as halfords too

[polsta]

also hone the skill of not wasting too much product as you use it and make it last long as you can

[Low_E30]

Thanks for the replys guys...

Seems like the general concensus is to give the above 'kits' a miss and go down the mix and match route, need to make a list in that case....

£100 budget is within range...

Kos, is a drying towel and a microfibre not the same thing??

I know Halfords is a good source for AG stuff... Is it the same for G3 and Meguires ?? Or is the net the best place to shop for all this malarky?

Cheers for the offer Kos, will keep it in mind, wanna see the new ride getting some of this treatment....

[Kos]

New ride ?!

As for G3, don't bother. And there are lots of different types of microfibres lol

[Low_E30]

New ride, as in the one you showed me....!

Thats G3 off the list then,lol...

[polsta]

why not g3 ? for little and light scratches it works wonders, not sure sure about when you hear people doing a whole car with it tho

best thing buddy- go to asda get the cloths etc, then just buy a few bits and pick 1 or 2 bits up every week or whatever and build it up learning as you go

[broadie]

AG my god
Find a wax that last a long time and dont wash it off with cheap agressisve shampoo.
Start off with a wash , clay ,fine compound polish then a long lasting wax.
Im using zymol titainum (too much ) at the moment but next time I'm trying Farecla Marine Professional Ultimate UV Wax Polish (£17.50) both last about 6months.

[Kos]

I thought you meant you had a new ride lol

Carl, G3 is old hat and mine hasn't been used for years. It's too dry, too dusty and not as good as 3M

As for AG, they do some good products. I line their vinyl & rubber product, I buy it in a the commercial form and use it on tyres, engine plastics etc

Also their HD wax is excellent, great shine & durability

[daimlerman]

£100?

£1 for three sponges
£1 for a bottle of Wash and Wax
£5 for a chamis leather

Borrow the kitchen bucket....

[Chris_B86]

Basics...

Elite snow foam and lance
AG shampoo
AG Clay bar kit
AG Super resin (apply 2 coats if light coloured or silver)
AG Ultra deep if dark coloured (apply one coat super res, one coat ultra deep)
AG HD wax

For maintenence between polish and waxes...

Megs speed detailer or AG rapid detailer
AG Aqua wax (smells amazing)

Get your hands on a bulk pack of micro fibres. I use them for everything, application, removal, I even use them instead of a chamois to dry off.

For light swirl removal I'd recommend 3M Ultrafina, although it is £30 a litre.

By the way Polsta, dodo juice is good gear actually.

Poor boys is worth a look too.

Zymol as mentioned above is good but uber expensive.

I've just bought a dodo juice buffer and AG paint pro kit for paint renovation. Yet to test though

[Kos]

Carl, my 150ml AG wax was used over 4 years. A 30ml pot will be plenty for at least 2 good applications

Dodo do some good products, I'm not convinced with some of their waxes but others are very good.

[Low_E30]

Is the two bucket method a must?.....

Shame them Kosovon's aint heard of it.....

[Kos]

Not always

If you have access to a power washer & snow foam & you wash your car weekly so there ain't too much crap on it you'll fine

[Low_E30]

Karcher is ready....

[Kos]

Karcher is ready....

Good start !

[Chris_B86]

Karcher is ready....

Go to elite and get a snow foam lance. Spongless washing ftw

[Kos]

Karcher is ready....

Go to elite and get a snow foam lance. Spongless washing ftw

+1

I get all of my kit from elite and that's where I's recommend anyone to go

[kangman]

Can i go there in person or is it online only?

[Kos]

Yea, he does walk in trade as well. If you call them and speak to Alex the guv he's quite accommodating . Let him know I sent you and he'll let you when's best to come down

Normally afternoons are best once they've dispatched all their on line orders. Be prepared to be confused as the selection is immense

[Kos]

If there is enough demand he can do an open day, give a few tips, show ahow the basics of paint correction

[polsta]

Not always

If you have access to a power washer & snow foam & you wash your car weekly so there ain't too much crap on it you'll fine

myself, i only power wash it, when needed and certainly not weekly, if the car is well detailed/waxed- il give it a rinse with hose, shampoo, then hose again to remove all the soap and in between panels, drainage, wheels,seals, etc , then ut the hose inside watering can to give the car a gentle rinse (less water marks)

then use micro fibres, give the windows a dry 1st-using 2 cloths, then do the car with demon shine