Detailing facility/products advice needed please
Discussion
I recently bought an X3, which I want to look after as best I can. It's just turned 6 years old, and looks to have been looked-after reasonably well. The last time I washed it, I noticed what looks like some tar - or maybe black paint - splatter on the roof (of all places!) so I started to think about decontaminating, polishing and sealing. I have various products kicking about, mainly a mix of Autoglym and Power Maxed (see below). I'm not a total detailing newbie, but I'm not up-to-speed with many of the current methods/products. I don't want to get into any debates about which particular brand of product is best, just general pointers as to any additional stuff I will need that I haven't listed below.
First of all, let me fill you in on the location I have for car cleaning work. It's on rough ground, which gets quite dusty/gritty with the slightest breeze in dry weather. This quickly gets muddy when wet. It is a quite pronounced slope as well. There isn't a sealed surface anywhere near enough to my power or water supply. If it's a sunny day, there's nowhere to get the car in the shade except early morning/late evening.
Next, my equipment. I'm fully familiar with the two bucket method, and I use it all the time - even on my wife's tatty Balloongo. I don't own a pressure washer, and our mains water pressure isn't particularly great, but it's always been good enough for rinsing the cars with a hosepipe. I have buckets with grit guards, lambswool mitts, microfibre cloths, waffle drying towels, and a selection of wheel brushes.
Given my lack of sensible facilities and working space do you think I'd do better getting a professional to do a proper job for me two or three times a year and just stick to washing it myself, or buy some more products and wait for a dull day with negligible breeze and do it myself? TBH, I'm not sure I can justify to myself the expense of buying a half-way decent pressure washer just to apply snowfoam/TFR to one car once a month - it won't ever get used for anything else.
I'm not after perfection, I just want my X3 a little cleaner with a bit more shine. The Balloongo won't get any more than it already does - it's too far gone, and wifey doesn't take any care of it so why should I?
Devils Blood
Autoglym SRP, UHD wax (only recently bought, never used yet) & glass polish
Pure Guard glass cleaner
plus some other odds & sods I've accumulated (Holts/Car Plan/Turtle).
I'm thinking to add an RTU TFR trigger-spray, some polish applicators, and a clay kit to my stock.
All advice will be read with interest.
TIA
Stuart.
First of all, let me fill you in on the location I have for car cleaning work. It's on rough ground, which gets quite dusty/gritty with the slightest breeze in dry weather. This quickly gets muddy when wet. It is a quite pronounced slope as well. There isn't a sealed surface anywhere near enough to my power or water supply. If it's a sunny day, there's nowhere to get the car in the shade except early morning/late evening.
Next, my equipment. I'm fully familiar with the two bucket method, and I use it all the time - even on my wife's tatty Balloongo. I don't own a pressure washer, and our mains water pressure isn't particularly great, but it's always been good enough for rinsing the cars with a hosepipe. I have buckets with grit guards, lambswool mitts, microfibre cloths, waffle drying towels, and a selection of wheel brushes.
Given my lack of sensible facilities and working space do you think I'd do better getting a professional to do a proper job for me two or three times a year and just stick to washing it myself, or buy some more products and wait for a dull day with negligible breeze and do it myself? TBH, I'm not sure I can justify to myself the expense of buying a half-way decent pressure washer just to apply snowfoam/TFR to one car once a month - it won't ever get used for anything else.
I'm not after perfection, I just want my X3 a little cleaner with a bit more shine. The Balloongo won't get any more than it already does - it's too far gone, and wifey doesn't take any care of it so why should I?
- I've got:-
Devils Blood
Autoglym SRP, UHD wax (only recently bought, never used yet) & glass polish
Pure Guard glass cleaner
plus some other odds & sods I've accumulated (Holts/Car Plan/Turtle).
I'm thinking to add an RTU TFR trigger-spray, some polish applicators, and a clay kit to my stock.
All advice will be read with interest.
TIA
Stuart.
Edited by StuBeeDoo on Thursday 28th March 15:52
If you're not after perfection, there's nothing stopping you achieving a nice finish with the products you have.
The only thing I would add in would be a clay bar, as you said.
If you go through,
Wheels, tyres and arches,
Pre-wash or a good rinse,
2 Bucket method wash,
Tar removal, rinse,
Fallout removal, rinse,
Clay,
Dry,
Polish with SRP,
Protection,
It will look a lot glossier and be easier to clean yourself.
Then you'll only have to top up the protection every few months or so and do a full decontamination and polish a couple of times a year
The only thing I would add in would be a clay bar, as you said.
If you go through,
Wheels, tyres and arches,
Pre-wash or a good rinse,
2 Bucket method wash,
Tar removal, rinse,
Fallout removal, rinse,
Clay,
Dry,
Polish with SRP,
Protection,
It will look a lot glossier and be easier to clean yourself.
Then you'll only have to top up the protection every few months or so and do a full decontamination and polish a couple of times a year
Look at ONR and Bilt Hamber.
ONR for a more waterless wash (so pre-spray, wash, dry)
Bilt Hamber has a fantastic "filler" product, so "hides" the swirls if you dont have the facility to do it yourself.
Sometimes it is better to get it given a basic enhancement topped with a long life sealant (yes the odd deep scratch left but depending on age of car, use, etc) then just keep it clean yourself.
ONR for a more waterless wash (so pre-spray, wash, dry)
Bilt Hamber has a fantastic "filler" product, so "hides" the swirls if you dont have the facility to do it yourself.
Sometimes it is better to get it given a basic enhancement topped with a long life sealant (yes the odd deep scratch left but depending on age of car, use, etc) then just keep it clean yourself.
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