GRP cleaning and protection

[bobbyj]

Folks - some advice when I pick up my Can Am soon regarding bodywork cleaning. I am sure this has come up before but the search function led me down a few non-helpful rabbit holes...
First is cleaning the GRP - what's the best product? Lots on the net re marine applications but can't find much on car GRP but may be the way I am searching. So any help gladly received. My car will be (is!) black GRP.
Second is I am considering a clear vinyl wrap (3M or similar) for the front clam to protect - good idea/bad idea? Anyone done it and if so was it worth it?

Thanks in advance

[renmure]

My car has just recently been protected with top of the range Paintshield self healing film fitted to the full front (splitter to windscreen) and also the full length of the sides of the car. Worth it in my case because it was going on fresh, custom painted, bodywork. Expensive tho ( >£2k) and perhaps not worth it for everyone.

[deadscoob]

Front of mine also protected - definitely worth it, front looks like it is freshly painted still

[Ult-Jim]

My car has been detailed by KDSKeltec.co.uk, based in Gillingham, Kent. Well respected within the automobile detailing community. Not cheap but worth it. Not sure about recent gel coat finishes but my 2010 car is extremely soft relative to paint. Mine is protected with G Techniq crystal serum protection, all over, chassis, engine bay, interior, glass, polycarbonate and all! Makes cleaning very easy as nothing sticks to it! However a protective clear film is the way forward, especially for the front clip that is going to become shot gunned with stone chips, if used on the road. My Caterham has Amourfend which is brilliant, templates are available for the Caterham and they come and apply, plus it can be polished and G Techniq projected also. Have not investigated if they have ever done an Ultima before. Jim I'm interested in what you have done, please pm me or contact me via facebook please. Also speak to Kelly, if your going down the paint route he has access to the harder more stone chip resistant clear coat finishes that you every day body shop don't have or use.

[renmure]

My car was done at Paintshield in Peterborough who are the premier installers of paint protection film. A quick look at their website will show the type of exotica they work on and I think they are the only company with the full 3d frontal profile for the Ultima so there is no cutting of the film on the car. I already have it fitted on a Ferrari so know how good it is from experience. The finish is perfect, however it isn't exactly cheap and you need immaculate paint under it or else you are just protecting a bad finish. I had just had a new front clip and fresh paintwork so it made sense to have the full frontal kit fitted and also both flanks.

(http://www.paintshield.co.uk/)

[Fastpedeller]

bobbyj said:

Folks - some advice when I pick up my Can Am soon regarding bodywork cleaning. I am sure this has come up before but the search function led me down a few non-helpful rabbit holes...
First is cleaning the GRP - what's the best product? Lots on the net re marine applications but can't find much on car GRP but may be the way I am searching. So any help gladly received. My car will be (is!) black GRP.

Thanks in advance

Nice cars (I don't have one myself) but I do have a GRP car , Anyway, is it painted? or gelcoat? If gelcoat, then the marine products are probably the best. I'm told NEVER to use T Cut as it's got ammonia which streaks the gelcoat - but not immediately!

[Ult-Jim]

Fastpedeller said:

bobbyj said:

Folks - some advice when I pick up my Can Am soon regarding bodywork cleaning. I am sure this has come up before but the search function led me down a few non-helpful rabbit holes...
First is cleaning the GRP - what's the best product? Lots on the net re marine applications but can't find much on car GRP but may be the way I am searching. So any help gladly received. My car will be (is!) black GRP.

Thanks in advance

Nice cars (I don't have one myself) but I do have a GRP car , Anyway, is it painted? or gelcoat? If gelcoat, then the marine products are probably the best. I'm told NEVER to use T Cut as it's got ammonia which streaks the gelcoat - but not immediately!

I work in the super yacht marine industry, most of the marine products are a load of tosh sold at rip off prices! In any case its not always the product but is the technique on how it is applied. Kelly at KDS runs professional detailing courses, its amazing what you will learn.

[ROWDYRENAULT]

What I will not use again is waterless cleaner. I bought some from Gariots here in the states and used it for about 4 months. Then I started to realize that the yellow was getting muddled I got out a hose and some good car wash soap and could see the film going away as I washed the car. Im not a big fan of washing the car in a conventional manner, hose and good soap because usually I want to drive the car when Im done and the car takes awhile to drain out of all the nooks and crannies.

[Ult-Jim]

Thanks for the details and photos Jim

[GTRMikie]

ROWDYRENAULT said:

the car takes awhile to drain out of all the nooks and crannies.

That is a good reason for taking the car out as soon as you have washed it. Driving it around gets rid of the water trapped in the nooks and crannies and helps to dry it out. It is very important to get rid of all the water in the side pods.

[845ste]

ciao,
I'm painting my gtr but when sanding primer (before red) out of micro holes on the gelcoat.
I have already given three coats of primer and continue to putty, but when the surface honed out these micro holes.
I hope that by painting the transparent gloss coating on top of the red, the micro holes fail!

Has it ever happened to you???

[Rscocca]

I had the entire car coated with a product called Diamond Coat here in the States. I have not washed the car in over six months and it still looks great. As you drive dust blows off, no rain drops or water stains. Little pricey but works great

[Storer]

My car is painted.

I never wash my car.

I polish it rather than wash it. I use Autoglym liquid polish on a new Costco microfiber cloth turned regularly with plenty of polish added to the cloth (not to the car). I then use another new cloth to buff it off after a few minutes. I do the same to the wheels.

On the glass/acrylic I use a glass/acrylic cleaner with the same cloths approach.

The cloths are then washed and used for other jobs in the workshop with repeated washing. Their final job either sees them contaminated with floor debris or swarf which consigns them to the bin.


Paul