How Do You Detail?

[Tom Ford]

Hi,

My car is 5 years old, black metallic paint, and is in very good nic. Its done 74K, and the previous owner had it parked under cover and took great care of it. The car does have some light swirl marks in the paint, one area on the rear bumper requires a cut to remove a light kiss mark, and there is another light mark on the bonnet (appears a ball may have landed on the bonnet). I've had the car for 2 weeks, and its parked out on the street during the night, and is in an under cover car park while I'm at work.

I do have access to a garage at my parents place to be able to wash and detail the car. I was planning to do the detail every 3 months or so. I currently have done a small detail, duragloss wash, followed by some Z2 and 303. The results were great, and it puts my mind at ease that I have given the paint some protection, but am looking to a better job in the future.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Transporter]

I'm still not convinced that one need to spend hundreds of dollars every year to keep the car paint in a good condition. Our 1999 Forester (white) that was parked always outside, had very little swirl marks, I used clay bar 2x in 11 years, washed it every months or two when we had a water restriction (used hi-pressure cleaner and buckets) and waxed it with Mothers once a year. The paint looked like new, we sold it 3 weeks ago.

[carcareproducts]

My car is 5 years old, black metallic paint, and is in very good nic. Its done 74K, and the previous owner had it parked under cover and took great care of it. The car does have some light swirl marks in the paint, one area on the rear bumper requires a cut to remove a light kiss mark, and there is another light mark on the bonnet (appears a ball may have landed on the bonnet). I've had the car for 2 weeks, and its parked out on the street during the night, and is in an under cover car park while I'm at work.

I do have access to a garage at my parents place to be able to wash and detail the car. I was planning to do the detail every 3 months or so. I currently have done a small detail, duragloss wash, followed by some Z2 and 303. The results were great, and it puts my mind at ease that I have given the paint some protection, but am looking to a better job in the future.

thanks for the extra info.

Ok I would clay your car first as it is 5years old. Then you can put on the AIO, after this I would apply the Z5 with an applicator pad and remove with a microfibre cloth. Then you either need to use ZFX (with the Z5 and Z2) if you want to go straight on with a coat of the Z2 or wait a day.

This combination is a little complicated but does give good protection if you re-apply every 3-4 months.

hope this helps

[carcareproducts]

I'm still not convinced that one need to spend hundreds of dollars every year to keep the car paint in a good condition. Our 1999 Forester (white) that was parked always outside, had very little swirl marks, I used clay bar 2x in 11 years, washed it every months or two when we had a water restriction (used hi-pressure cleaner and buckets) and waxed it with Mothers once a year. The paint looked like new, we sold it 3 weeks ago.

I do not think you need to spend hundreds of dollars as well. It sounds like you were either very lucky with the Subaru or maybe the paint condition was not 'as new' We have seen thousands of cars through our business and without a good protection (wax/sealant) paint usually tends to degrade or oxidise within 2-4 years (depends on paint type) especially if they live outside the whole time.

A basic clay and good sealant pack can cost under $100 and last you 2-3 years easily. Not much of an investment considering you are protecting your car which costs a lot more!

[Tom Ford]

thanks for the extra info.

Ok I would clay your car first as it is 5years old. Then you can put on the AIO, after this I would apply the Z5 with an applicator pad and remove with a microfibre cloth. Then you either need to use ZFX (with the Z5 and Z2) if you want to go straight on with a coat of the Z2 or wait a day.

This combination is a little complicated but does give good protection if you re-apply every 3-4 months.

hope this helps

Cheers, and thank you very much!! Makes plenty of sense, and I would have never have thought of using the ZFX. I will be paying a visit to your store shortly.

And I'd also like to thank transporter for the feedback. I really would like to purchase the cheaper product, however given the climate my car stays in (I'm basically one street away from the beach and its salt water spray and sand), I'm happy to pay the additional extra on the better quality for peace of mind. Eventually the elements will win, I'm sure, but if I can at least delay the process I'll be happy.

Thanks again for all the advice, its greatly appreciated guys. As a newbie to the forum I think its great to be able to chat and learn from experts like yourselves.

[ryana89]

Out of curiousity, what pressure washers do you guys use?
Gerni or Kartcher? Both seem to have pro's and cons
I may just have to buy one

[Transporter]

I use Karcher HD650, bought a cheap one many years ago and it didn't last, (don't like wasting money). I wouldn't wash the car without it.

[fuzion]

the $99 karcher from bunnings is more than ample for any job.. wont do any damage to your paint and has no issues about reliability.

[Transporter]

Hmm, you may get lucky, but I have 4 cars to clean and have a different experience. I didn't want to buy a new one every 3 years. It's not $100 for the pressure cleaner, it's the inconvinience that I don't like.
Link to thread http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f22/...ers-50527.html

[ryana89]

Thanking you both again

I'd like to look into somthing with a with a "foam lance" that fuzion mentioned, could make washer the car soo much faster!
We've had a cheapie karcher for 5 or more years now, its lasted ok, but it does'nt allow for attachments.

[brumue]

I like to wash/clay/wash/buff/wash and then apply a sealant to get things started. This time around I used Dodo clay and Lime Prime. As for the sealant I recently switched to Nanolex (which I picked up from Car Care Products) after trying out a few different sealants including Zaino and Duragloss products, yes, I am a detailing product whore. I've got to say the Nanolex is really in the next league. The car beads/sheets water like crazy, there's barely anything to dry after washing.

I applied the Premium Paint and Alloy sealant about a month ago now, admittedly it was a little tricky to remove as I may have left it a bit too long and been too generous with the application but the results are worth it.

I did a bit of a country road trip the other day and the car was covered in bugs and general road grime. A quick blast with the Karcher to the body and wheels easily moved off most of this which definately made washing easier.

To wash the car i've been using the Nanolex Reactivating Shampoo using the 2 bucket method. The shampoo suds up really nicely has a nice scent too (banana?). It left the car with that 'just sealed' feeling and seemed to top off the sealant on the car, which was particularly noticible on the rear hatch. Would recommend it to those that are using Nanolex.

Obligatory sheeting video... (bit hard to see on the white)

[Tom Ford]

I like to wash/clay/wash/buff/wash and then apply a sealant to get things started. This time around I used Dodo clay and Lime Prime. As for the sealant I recently switched to Nanolex after trying out a few different sealants including Zaino and Duragloss products, yes, I am a detailing product whore. I've got to say the Nanolex is really in the next league. The car beads/sheets water like crazy, there's barely anything to dry after washing.

I applied the Premium Paint and Alloy sealant about a month ago now, admittedly it was a little tricky to remove as I may have left it a bit too long and been too generous with the application but the results are worth it.

I did a bit of a country road trip the other day and the car was covered in bugs and general road grime. A quick blast with the Karcher to the body and wheels easily moved off most of this which definately made washing easier.

To wash the car i've been using the Nanolex Reactivating Shampoo using the 2 bucket method. The shampoo suds up really nicely has a nice scent too (banana?). It left the car with that 'just sealed' feeling and seemed to top off the sealant on the car, which was particularly noticible on the rear hatch. Would recommend it to those that are using Nanolex.

Obligatory sheeting video... (bit hard to see on the white)

WOW!!!! Awesome results with your method, the car looks great.

[carcareproducts]

Thanks for the review on the Nanolex brumue!

Very impressed with the finish and how it looks! Definitely a much cheaper option than the almost $2k paint protection at the dealership when you can easily do it at home for a fraction of the cost and know your car is in fact 100% protected and what is on there. And with 12+ months protection you can't complain at all!

For the response of the PMs, you can definitely layer Wax on top of the sealant if you wish of course yes!

We encourage all buyers from VWW and other forums to let us know their reviews and any questions to post up as well!

[dave_r]

I like to wash/clay/wash/buff/wash and then apply a sealant to get things started. This time around I used Dodo clay and Lime Prime. As for the sealant I recently switched to Nanolex (which I picked up from Car Care Products) after trying out a few different sealants including Zaino and Duragloss products, yes, I am a detailing product whore. I've got to say the Nanolex is really in the next league. The car beads/sheets water like crazy, there's barely anything to dry after washing.

That looks great.

I got a package from CCP before Xmas as well and so far have only washed the cars with Dodo Juice (Purple something). Probably not telling you people anything new but damn a mitt is so much easier than the old sponge! Did the 2 bucket thing as well and its amazing how much crap is there when the car looks fairly clean after a quick gerni!

I need to nanolex the Polo more so than the R as its always outside and being white, everything just stands out so bad. Needs a really good clay first so I'm waiting for a 2 day period where I can wash/clay on day and then wash/seal the next. Otherwise half way though sealing, I'll get tired and loose interest hehe.

Another thanks for CCP, gonna have to place another order for the leather clean/condition kit and something for the R's wheels. They're a bitch to clean. Either some type of brush or spray cleaner that won't do any damage.

[carcareproducts]

That looks great.

I got a package from CCP before Xmas as well and so far have only washed the cars with Dodo Juice (Purple something). Probably not telling you people anything new but damn a mitt is so much easier than the old sponge! Did the 2 bucket thing as well and its amazing how much crap is there when the car looks fairly clean after a quick gerni!

I need to nanolex the Polo more so than the R as its always outside and being white, everything just stands out so bad. Needs a really good clay first so I'm waiting for a 2 day period where I can wash/clay on day and then wash/seal the next. Otherwise half way though sealing, I'll get tired and loose interest hehe.

Another thanks for CCP, gonna have to place another order for the leather clean/condition kit and something for the R's wheels. They're a bitch to clean. Either some type of brush or spray cleaner that won't do any damage.

Dave,

I would definitely use the nanolex over the wheels to save you from extensive cleaning everytime!

Good cleaner wise is the acid free gel from autobrite works very well as the Gel sticks to the wheel and cleans and leaves a very bright shine. (Doesnt smell great though haha however works a treat!)

Leather Kit i would go for either Zaino or Duragloss Leather Conditioner/Shampoo Kits, definitely my favourite products. You can always protect it with Nanolex Textile and Leather Sealant as well if you wanted to.