How to Clean your car (properly)

**Wobbly Dave** · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 00:51

few pics of my efforts

**M44K TS** · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 12:22

I'll post some of mine later, washed and chamoised it yesterday, gonna attack it with some polish then the presta wax, normally comes up nice afterwards

**Murphy** · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 12:28

Looks mint dave. Good effort

I will try and get some pictures up before the weekend.

**Wobbly Dave** · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 13:18

Still not entirely happy with the depth. Think I could get better. Wondering myself about buying one of those american PC things.

arbee · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 13:45

Originally Posted by Wobbly Dave

Still not entirely happy with the depth. Think I could get better. Wondering myself about buying one of those american PC things.

looking good dave, the thing with silver is they look clean even when they aren't but on the otherhand, never give that ultra deep glossy shine like you would get with a darker colour. I tell thee - the stuff I've read about them PC things is convincing stuff

**Wobbly Dave** · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 13:56

Think us 2 could split the difference? How much are they?

arbee · Tuesday 13th June 2006, 14:04

They work out between £150-200 including duty and shipping etc and depending what extra bits you might want. Bit of a distance between us to share mate

i think I'll just talk nicely to Mrs arbee at chrimbo....

**Wobbly Dave** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 10:34

Now that I can see the clear coat properly I notice an number of light swirls and scratches. Until I can get hold of a PC to do it - I am gonna go ahead and use the techniques and hand polishes and scratches removers to improve the top layer.
Washed the car again last night (only for the 3rd time this week) - still feels like glass (even on the lowest panels nr the wheels) - still tempted to clay it again?? What's happening to me??? AAAAARGGHH!

**Murphy** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 10:41

Get on here http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

I ordered a catalogue - it comes with a news letter etc. Arrived the next day with all nice products to chose from. They do a scratch product dave that takes the swirls out ?

**Wobbly Dave** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 10:46

Been there (see their instant clinic suggestions further up).
Tech Wax - I believe. I already have a shed load of stuff on order already. I can pick up the wax and cleaners from the local motorfactors (as they have a large megs selection). Predominantly I am waiting for the fibre towels & applicators to arrive (should be here today)

**adriancole** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 10:48

Just done the meguires 3 step process on the car.....

Washed in meg gold wash
Then did step one of the Deep System Paint Cleaner by Meg

Very nice, lots swirls taken off, car not that shiney, though looking much better

Then Step 2 Deep System Polish by Meg

Really has now come up a mirror finish, can see very nice reflection, all swirls gone, though has shown a couple of scratches up...

Next Step is a Wax...though as i started it started to rain big time....so later today for taht...

ALl in all very happy with the stage up to the polish, car looks great with a real mirror shine, with wax i think will be superb.

One slight thing though....it now makes me want to have the bonnet and roof resprayed as i can now see all the imperfections.....

**Wobbly Dave** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 10:54

You'll need to clay it though, wont you???

**S40xs** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 12:27

Right I've now got a list of the cleaning agents/protector's/ surface prep's that Meg's has advised me (Same as Wobbley's)

But which towels should i be going for? what do they all do - man my head is so messed up with all this stuff......

Below is what im going to be ordering soon, not cheap is it??

Code Description Option Quantity Total Price Action
G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner 14.99
G10307 Scratch X 8.99
G1116 Quik Clay Detailing System 11.99
G7016 Gold Class Clear Coat Liquid Wax 12.99
A3316 Quik Detailer: Mist and Wipe 6.99
A7301 Luxurious Lambs Wool Wash Mitt
9.99
Total Basket Value: £ 65.94

**Engineer** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 19:48

Originally Posted by arbee

looking good dave, the thing with silver is they look clean even when they aren't but on the otherhand, never give that ultra deep glossy shine like you would get with a darker colour. I tell thee - the stuff I've read about them PC things is convincing stuff

This is deep low down under cover silver lol.

**adriancole** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 20:14

Originally Posted by Wobbly Dave

You'll need to clay it though, wont you???

My paint is very smooth at the moment, feels very soft so left out the clay bit, couldnt feel any bumps or stuff, though the bonnet really does need a respray now as i can see all the little stone chips that have taken off the black and the undercoat is showing through.....

Time vs effort for me, esp as i am one armed at mo due to broken collar bone.

All the cleaning took about two hours up to the wax coat, looks fantastic and deffo needs a respray on roof and bonnet, so feel that respray next will really improve the look and overall effect..

My black colour looks fantastic all polished up, so am happy that all the work has revealed the next stage in the beautification of the car......

**Wobbly Dave** · Thursday 15th June 2006, 23:33

Originally Posted by S40xs

Right I've now got a list of the cleaning agents/protector's/ surface prep's that Meg's has advised me (Same as Wobbley's)

But which towels should i be going for? what do they all do - man my head is so messed up with all this stuff......

Below is what im going to be ordering soon, not cheap is it??

Code Description Option Quantity Total Price Action
G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner 14.99
G10307 Scratch X 8.99
G1116 Quik Clay Detailing System 11.99
G7016 Gold Class Clear Coat Liquid Wax 12.99
A3316 Quik Detailer: Mist and Wipe 6.99
A7301 Luxurious Lambs Wool Wash Mitt
9.99
Total Basket Value: £ 65.94

looks like a good list you have there. I spent some more today on Megs body scrub and picked up the touch up pen from Volvo - done a few of the larger deformations. Feel a bit "crickey!!" about doing the chips on the bonnet though. Slowly building up the layers of paint.

Still need some tech wax or glaze/sealant for the next attempt - namely de-swirling

**adriancole** · Friday 16th June 2006, 00:12

Originally Posted by Wobbly Dave

looks like a good list you have there. I spent some more today on Megs body scrub and picked up the touch up pen from Volvo - done a few of the larger deformations. Feel a bit "crickey!!" about doing the chips on the bonnet though. Slowly building up the layers of paint.

Still need some tech wax or glaze/sealant for the next attempt - namely de-swirling

HOw you use the touch up pen??? will that do those little stone chips??...i do have loads.........

adrian

**Wobbly Dave** · Friday 16th June 2006, 08:36

The kit costs about a fiver from Volvo. You need to get your paint code (off the VIN plate on the inner nearside wing)
You get 2 pots, one containing basecoat and one of topcoat. In the top of the top of the base coat is a little red thing that pulls out to reveal a mini wire brush, which you use to scratch away down to the metal and remove any rust/crap. I have some fairly big chunks missing out of the doorframe edge. After removing flaky paint and rust from the hole, I shuck the basecoat and applied a minute amount, with the little brush. Make sure you scrape most of the paint off the brush and the shaft - so you dont drip!! Basecoat is recoatable in about 20 mins. So I just went around the car touching in here and there. I am looking to leave at least 5 coats of base and 3 of clearcoat. Hopefully the spots will be level or proud of the original paint so I can cut the lacquer to level.