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I saw a program on Speed Channel (yanky tv) last night that profiled a detailer at Beverly Hills Mercedes who claimed that he attempts to bring a shine to the paintwork that would rival that of a steinway (spelling) piano. He also, rather ostentatiously, used a magnifying glass to inspect his work. He paid an amazingly close level of attention to the process, but I doubt that even he would have spent 7-8 hours - even on a Maybach!
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1 Week, MK2 Golf GTi big bumper model. Removed bimpers, arches, side trims, door seals, rain channels, wheels, grill, lights interior etc. Touched up stone chips, t cut 3 x autoglym resin polish before putting it all back together again (polishing all the black plastic before re-attaching). Did this 3 years on the trot. Current car has been washed twice in 2 years (better things to do with my time).
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What is this Meguiars stuff anyway? I've owned quite a few classics and not a few modern motors and always taken an interest in keeping them shiny but I'd never heard of this firm until they were all over the magazines a year or two ago, saying they'd been around since ninteen hundred and far away and with a range that looked over-priced, to say the least.
Sounds like yet another attempt to cash in on the 'classics' market.
Doesn't it strike anybody else as odd that someone will only take their car out when the weather is bone dry, then spend hours trying to achieve a 'deep wet-look shine'?!
I'll stick to my 1.5 hours four times a year regime and I've never used anything but Turtle Wax...
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For starters, in those 7-8 hours, I do the inside as well as outside. After washing, on occasions, I will clay bar the car first, then I use Klasse All in One, then I use Sonus Spritz detailing spray, then I would use P21S carnuba wax. Naturally, I polish the chrome exhaust tips, use wheel cleaner on the alloys, then apply protective wax to the wheels, and then apply tyre dressing. On the inside, I usually apply leather cleaner, then leather conditioner, hoover the carpets, and then begin to polish the dash and interior trim with cockpit shine.
I sweat like a pig, my arm and back ache, but my car looks like it's just come out of the factory (it's a T reg).
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For starters, in those 7-8 hours, I do the inside as well as outside.
Ahh, I see. I thought that you literally waxed (IE did nothing else) for 7-8 hours. In which case, all that work you mention, in that time, isn't bad. About now, when the bad weather's on its way out, and night are lighter, i'll start at about 11am and still be fiddling on at 7-8pm. So i probably spend the same amount of time as you do.
Personally, I use Bilt Hambers Auto-balm. Brilliant stuff, wipes the floor with Autoglym. See: www.bilthamber.co.uk/autobalmcomparison.html
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Slightly off tangent..but can anyone recommend a cood rubber cleaner...back to black stuff just doesnt do the biz!
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Depends what your applying it too, but I?ve always used Armor All on tyres and window rubbers with good results. Only problem is, it can lose its lustre after a couple of days rain. See:www.armorall.com/prod_protectant.html
Don?t Autoglym do some form of rubber care?
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Not necessarily just polishing it, but I can spend all day cleaning the car between washing, polishing, hoovering, windows, wheels, trims etc.
Very therapeutic and its actually quite good exercise!
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My neighbours understand that when they see me wash and polish the car it will be for sale the following week.
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My neighbours understand that when they see me wash and polish the car it will be for sale the following week.
My neighbours understand that when they see me washing and polishing the car it will be a chilly day in hell and the devil will be seen going to work on ice skates!
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Talking bout this - not polishing of course, the ran is off to the jet wash tomorrow, its covered with a layer of green pollen - looks like the roof has got mildew. Its blown over from Denmark apparently.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Nutty nissan, you need to pop over to www.detailingworld.co.uk you'll fit in a treat. But looking at your product list, I'd say your already a member:)
I'm with you mate. Full wash, dry, clay, polish (abrasive), polish (cleaner), seal, wax, treat the trim.
Wheels off, fully cleaned and sealed, wheels arches treated.
etc. etc.
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Oh wow, awesome. What a cool website!!!! Thanks dude!!
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Oh wow, awesome. What a cool website!!!! Thanks dude!!
One question I'm intrigued to ask is what type of car is it you own and on which you are lavishing so much attention? For some reason I formed an opinion that it was a Nissan Micra!!!
Believe me when I say that I am all for looking after one's possessions which also makes me believe that the many contributors to this thread may (I repeat, may) not actually own their own cars and that is why they are so proud to proclaim that they cannot waste time keeping their cars clean on a regular basis - too busy doing more important things, apparently.
It does seem strange to me, that so many people neglect their cars when the latter can represent the second most expensive items that they'll purchase in their lifetime.
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I got the impression it was a big Audi or Lexus that NN drove
As for neglect, my car is polished once a month-ish while I?m browsing round Macro. Just not by me.
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Dave, how right your impression is...it's a GS300 Sport, a nice shiny deep metallic blue.
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I did have a Nissan Primera off ebay for 160 quid which I ran for 7 weeks last year which is when I chose my screen name.
When someone has been into cars since childhood, and they scrimp and save to get a half decent car, they usually put quite a bit of TLC into keeping it in good nick.
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Oh wow, awesome. What a cool website!!!! Thanks dude!!
No problem, I just expect to see pictures of your car there, within the next few days :)
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So whats the difference between polish and wax then? If I only buy one product, which one do I need? Needs to be the easiest to buff off because I get bored of it very quickly.
I very occasionally polish mine (with Mer, got it cheap) because I have to park under a tree at work and it gets a quite frequent dressing of bird muck and sap. I usually only bother doing the upper surfaces and havent got time to spend more than an hour on it.
I always have good intentions when I'm buying a car, but unfortunately the feeling soon fades...
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Whatever is the point of all this effort to wax & polish your pride & joy as some jealous pond life will only key it at the first opportunity.!!!!!
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So whats the difference between polish and wax then?
I was always under the impression that a polish was a mild abrasive, often used to revive dull paintwork and light damage by removing a thin layer of the paints surface. Wax on the other hand was a 'protector', giving the paint a waterproof protective layer to prevent damage from a multitude of things. These days, the ad men use the two terms for either product which leads to a lot of confusion.
If I only buy one product, which one do I need? Needs to be the easiest to buff off because I get bored of it very quickly.
Providing your paintwork is in good condition to start with, a wax (like Mer) will suffice. Given the conditions your car is parked in (under a tree with the resulting sap and bird droppings), I?d use a clay bar, which will pluck all of the excess sap etc off after washing. But you won?t have time to use a clay bar and wax in an hour. Like I keep bleating on about, I prefer Bilt-Hambers Autobalm, which is no hard work at all. Apply with sponge applicator (supplied) wait a moment, buff off with cloth (supplied). The application and buffing needs no effort in the slightest (great for lazy people like me) because it doesn't dry into that dusty and tiresome-to-remove layer you often get. Incidentally, I go over with a microfibre cloth after buffing, as the supplied cloth can clog after some use, leaving some behind.
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