1077 replies to this topic

[greenymk7]

Thought id start a thread that could be pinned so anyone can et an info quickly and easily and ask any questions they like.

Im sure myself and mr dan will always be willing to help out.

il start off with all of the new products that i have bought

zymol sponge
bilt hamber auto clay
bilt hamber surfex HD
Super Natural Shampoo
Swissvax style brushes
finger mitt applicators

[Edit from DanGull - there is now a detailing section on the boards, so I have changed this to a specifically Fiesta-based topic and pinned it]

I4Detailing.co.uk have been kind enough to set us up a 7.5% discount code to use on all products on the website apart from festools.

I4Detailing discount voucher code - I4D123456 - 7.5%

Elite Car Care Discount Voucher Code - FORDOC - 5%

[DanGull]

Finger mitts are fantastic, as are the brushes.

Supernatural shampoo I'm not impressed by. I got a sample with an order from somewhere and Born to be Mild is much better for me.

Bank balance groaning greeny?

Good idea for a sticky thread. I'm always happy to help.

[Flic]

Oh super, is this the correct thread to make an appointment for Fabio?

[titanium_s_spec]

hi there
picking new car up Friday,what do i need to keep it in reasonable condition from new as this is my first ever brand new car.so what polish,wax ,wash,mitt ,drying cloth,polishing application do i need as i have seen the stuff in halfrauds the American stuff is it any good and can some 1 list what i require please.

[greenymk7]

how much money do you have

do you have a pressure washer? and what products do you currently own?

[titanium_s_spec]

yes have pressure washer karcher and just the usual standard bubbles and mer and shamy and blade for water removal and dreaded sponge .and cheap tire dresser and wheel cleaner looking at the yank stuff in hafrauds gonna need 100 quid for initial out lay me thinks but there areso many cloths and polishes etc got confused and left it all there.seemed that they used a round ponge thing to apply polish.and a mit to wash and a cloth to dry is that correct and do i need wax as well as polish.

[DanGull]

hi there
picking new car up Friday,what do i need to keep it in reasonable condition from new as this is my first ever brand new car.so what polish,wax ,wash,mitt ,drying cloth,polishing application do i need as i have seen the stuff in halfrauds the American stuff is it any good and can some 1 list what i require please.

By the American stuff - you probably mean Meguairs. They make several good products - the only two I use myself are the NXT metal polish and their excellent tyre dressing. If Halfords still have their 3 for 2 on, it's worth picking some products up in there and then finding the rest from an online detailing supplier such as I4D, Ultimate Finish or Clean Your Car.

Megs gold class wash has good reviews generally and so does their clay kit. However - things like their paint cleansing system and polishes seem to be out performed by other (and cheaper) brands.

As greeny says - it's all down to budget really. A comprehensive detailing set up can pass £500 easy, but at the same time the basics can be had for £100.

Absolute essentials as far as I'm concerned -

High quality shampoo (Dodo Born to be Mild or Sour Pour or Supernatural, Megs Gold Class or similar)
Microfibre or lambswool washmitt (Dodo Wookie's fist or my favourite - the Megs microfibre mitt)
Large drying towel (Dodo Supernatural, Sonus or similar)
Good hard wax (Autoglym High Def, the relevant Dodo wax based on your car's colour, or Dodo Supernatural all spring to mind)
Tyre dressing (Megs or Blackfire)
A good number of decent microfibre cloths
A few foam applicators

Then to be considered -

Snow foam lance and foam for a pressure washer
Two buckets - both with grit guards
Citrus prewash
Wheel cleaner (ACID FREE - Bilberry or AG Customer wheel cleaner for example)
All purpose cleaner (Megs' is great)
Degreaser/machine cleaner (Megs again, Autoglym works ok)
Detailing clay (Sonus green or Dodo Supernatural) and lube (Dodo Born Slippy)
Paint cleanser/primer (Dodo Lime Prime)
Quick detailer (Dodo Red Mist, Megs Last Touch)
Machine polisher

[DanGull]

yes have pressure washer karcher and just the usual standard bubbles and mer and shamy and blade for water removal and dreaded sponge .and cheap tire dresser and wheel cleaner looking at the yank stuff in hafrauds gonna need 100 quid for initial out lay me thinks but there areso many cloths and polishes etc got confused and left it all there.seemed that they used a round ponge thing to apply polish.and a mit to wash and a cloth to dry is that correct and do i need wax as well as polish.

Step away from the drying blade, chamois and sponge. Swirl central from those.

Polish is used to correct the paint - that is remove (minor) scratches and imperfections. It is NOT a final coat product. I use Autoglym Super Resin polish after the last wash if my paint is in need of attention. Dodo Lime Prime does a similar job this but also forms a better layer to put a wax onto. I prefer to use SRP and then Lime Prime Lite as a base for my wax, but SRP alone or Lime Prime alone will do.

Cloths - you can never have two many. Three basics types -

1. standard microfibre - quite a short pile, useful for general cleaning jobs
2. drying microfibre - much plusher, used for drying the car
3. applicators - usually made of foam, but I have some microfibre ones too.

You need at least one drying towel, and then a few of each of the other two types.

Check if your wheels cleaner has acid in it. Chances are it does. The Fiesta's wheels are not especially hardy - I wouldn't touch them with an acid based cleaner.

[titanium_s_spec]

blimey ok have to look online for the stuff if its cheaper any good sites to see these products.

[DanGull]

Ultimate Finish

i4Detailing

Rubbishboy's

Clean Your Car

[titanium_s_spec]

cheers dan will have a look

[DanGull]

Incidentally - when it's back in stock this is a fantastic bundle. The wax alone is £75 on its own.

Rubbishboy's Supernatural Bundle

[DanGull]

And this is great too - and in stock now. You choose the wax based o your car's colour.

Rubbishboy's starter bundle

[FezzaT]

Found a really good guide here on safe washing techniques:

http://www.cleanyour...wtopic.php?t=27

[greenymk7]

i can vouch for all the links that dan has put up.

they all have great service and the prices don't vary to much.

if you have the pressure washer spend £50 on the foam lance and ul love it