how do you was your car (If you are not loaded...)

[liam012]

Just wondering as i dont have the 100 quid to spend on zymol products for another while but would like to make a diamond black 318is look well again, how can i make a nice job with a bit of elbow grease and 20 quid say?
off to the factors after lunch so can pick up some middle of the road wax/cleaner stuff if anyone can reccomned.
thanks

[Dan318-is]

Meguires(sp?) liam. i got the three stage cleaning kit which is paint clean, polish and wax and two free applicator pads, a drying towel, a micro fiber sponge and some wheel cleaner for under 30 quid from hellfrauds and it looks spanking mate.

hth

[tim-ix]

If I'm doing a "big wash" on my diamond-black car I'll start off by getting all the crap and tar and old wax off with a tar remover.
Next I'll wash the car with lots of water and keep rinsing it with a hose. (No hosepipe bans in Wales!). I'll then do all the fiddly bits like the door shuts, fuel flap etc. as well as plastics and glass while the car's drying off.
I'll wax the car twice then finish it off with a hard shell wax. I use Autoglym products but there's loads of similar like Meguiars. Glass gets done last.

I reckon I've got about Ԛ£25 worth of products and I buy a 99p sponge now and then, to avoid scratching the car with a grit-filled sponge.

If you don't want to spend money on wheel cleaner, use ketchup or brown sauce. The vinegar in it cleans the wheels really well and it's the right consistency to cling to the wheel for a few minutes while it works on the brake dust. Use a soft brush on wheels or you'll scratch off the lacquer and they'll bubble. If you're really tight (like me) you can use Boots's own no-brand shampoo as car shampoo. It's 29p for 500ml and works a treat. I use it if I'm cleaning my matt-black runabout Fiesta or someone else's car.

[YASEY]

autoglym polish is brillaint, i own a valeting company and i use that, there is much better stuff you can get from abroad, but id deffinantly recomend autoglym.

[stuartgallafant]

meguires all the way! the 3 stage as dan said is fantastic, and the XT Tech-wax is something else. it removes swirl marks and scratches and adds a protective layer too. not even that expensive

[c76jon]

sponges scratch paintwork wether they are brand new or not i assure you

autoglym is a terrible group of products and meguiars is in a different class as far as off the shelf products are concerned

thereis no such thing as a "!hard shell" wax because if its wax then its very poor at being durable

wax cannot deal with the elements very well at all especially this time of year

for durability you need to use synthetic products

jon

[dazleeds]

sponges scratch paintwork wether they are brand new or not i assure you

autoglym is a terrible group of products and meguiars is in a different class as far as off the shelf products are concerned

thereis no such thing as a "!hard shell" wax because if its wax then its very poor at being durable

wax cannot deal with the elements very well at all especially this time of year

for durability you need to use synthetic products

jon

quick q jon

what is good in the frozen months of the year??

cars coming off road for a couple months for some tinkering
but i have no garage so car will be out in the elements

cheers

Daz

[c76jon]

its an open ended question really

down to budget really

but for off the shelf product thats fairly priced then a meguiars synthetic product will give you the most durable covering

jon

[feens]

c76jon wrote:
sponges scratch paintwork wether they are brand new or not i assure you

What is best to wash the car without use'n a sponge??

[d6dph]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

[billgatese30]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

i would agree whole heartedly with Dave, microfibre is the king. the two bucket method is great, although as very sad as i am, i'm not quite that vain, but it does have its advantages

meguiers is the best value for money, but zaino is best or performance, but it can be quite costly

[fuzzy]

my car gets a wash when it rains,occasionally when im really spoiling it it gets a Ԛ£3 jet wash

[feens]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

Cheers dave can see swirl marks on the paintwork after use'n a sponge! its a fresh paintjob aswell

[c76jon]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

totally on the money!!!!

[d6dph]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

totally on the money!!!!

Thank you oh master! Your wisdom has finally paid off

Are you planning another group buy at any point? I have a few mates who want some bits.

[stuartgallafant]

i wouldnt mind some of these towels and mits and all that

whats the difference between synthetic and the other stuff?

[Falkster]

meguires all the way! the 3 stage as dan said is fantastic, and the XT Tech-wax is something else. it removes swirl marks and scratches and adds a protective layer too. not even that expensive

Just got that myself and couldnt believe the difference between that and autoglym, Ive always used autoglym until coming on here and hearing of the different options out there. Would love to go zymol/zaino but wife would go loopy.

[Skip]

Probably been asked a thousand times before, but wheres the best place to buy Meguiars stuff from?

Cheers

[d6dph]

halfords or any motorworld/motormania type store should sell it

[Skip]

Went to Halfords this evening and got some Meguiars NXT Car Wash, they have the clay bar but not the three stage stuff which is what I really wanted

[Falkster]

Might be dependant on the area!! Our local branch has it on a 3 for 2 offer. Gonna get me some of the clay bar tomorrow

[zaust]

been using Meguiars too, but i find when i use it i get cats sleeping on the car. when i use auto glym no cats.
either way seh comes up well. and so dose the paint on the motor..

[Grantley]

Love it "Meguiars, 8 out of 10 owners said there cats prefered it"

[Falkster]

Funny you should say that as Ive been noticing cats on my car!!! Cheeky fuckers!!! Gonna get my rifle out.

[e30bemer]

i use a meguiars wash mit (the lambs wool version) but anything microfibre based will allow the particles to go into the mit rather than be dragged along the surface.

Use two buckets of water too, one for the soapy water, one clean to rinse the mit in before going back into the soapy water. Helps stop scratches.

For washing I use meguiars NXT wash, Drying: A waffle towel supplied by Jon, then Glass: Meguiars NXT glass cleaner with another waffle towel (smaller) again supplied by Jon.

Takes no more than half an hour and always looks good. Even in the cold weather/ early evenings. The drying waffle Jon supplied is awesome. nothing in the shops gets close.

let us know when u are doing another aswell!
Really fancy some of these products !!

totally on the money!!!!

Thank you oh master! Your wisdom has finally paid off

Are you planning another group buy at any point? I have a few mates who want some bits.

[march109]

Erm if you want meguirs stuff I have in the past been able to get it cheap.

If there was enough interest I could see what I could do, as we warehouse for a company that stocks it and on occasion I have been able to get it albeit ALOT of it at a heavily discounted rate.

[Hap]

NXT or gold class....discuss i use gold class but tempted to try NXT if its better?

[smithy318i]

I use gold class shampoo in a spray bottle and polish/wax. and an ocasional rub down when it rains.

Not tempted to use NXT. in fact, wont be tempted to buy gold class shampoo ever again.

[Hap]

wot about nxt/gold class polish/wax which is better?

[Skip]

I use gold class shampoo in a spray bottle and polish/wax. and an ocasional rub down when it rains.

Not tempted to use NXT. in fact, wont be tempted to buy gold class shampoo ever again.

Not quite understanding your point there?? So you dont like Meguiars at all then??

[OBs]

Hi guys notice everyones on about how great Megulars is?? I think anything off the shelf is pretty crap but saying that I have not used it my self but am in the trade and I think the best stuff I have used is made by a company called 'Farecla' they make all types of polish and wax products fookin brilliant www.farecla.com and is on Ebay to, Go on give it ago! (Wax top) is the stuff to get obversly wax! and smells of blackcurrent (not edible though) Cheers Andy

[geo1400]

What about the "G" products, like G3 and stuff? I was all set to go try get a hold of that, is Meguirs better? Or is it different kinda product?

[Falkster]

NXT or gold class....discuss i use gold class but tempted to try NXT if its better?

I didnt rate the Gold class!!! I found it hard to take off!

[Falkster]

What about the "G" products, like G3 and stuff? I was all set to go try get a hold of that, is Meguirs better? Or is it different kinda product?

Dont used G3 mate unless you need to compound your car......the G would stand for 'geesus I didnt realise my paint was that thin'

Seriously though you only use G3 and other compounds when your car is badly marked or oxidized and even then its the first stage of many to get it back to being shiny.

[geo1400]

Ah cheers for that. I reckon my paintwork would polish up real nice but I was thinking along the lines of the compound for the little scratches and stuff. I'm also weather permitting doing some paint touch up, so something to blend. Meguirs good enough for that?