Bought a black Z4 - I 've forgot how to detail/polish a car!

[BeanCounter1980]

Hi, just bought a gleaming black Z4, BMW have also thrown in a free treatment of Supagaurd..

Anyway i digress,

First i wash water over the car, rinse and then in what order do i apply products?

Do i go straight in with the wax and then the polish?

Or vice-versa?

Also regardign the claybar, has anyoen here damaged their car using one?

Cheers
Don

[PJ S]

Pre-wash/pre-rinse
Wash (2 bucket method)
Clay (rewash if going straight to wax/sealant to remove lube, unless Bilt Hamber clay used with just water)
Polish
(Pre-wax glaze or IPA)
Sealant and/or Wax

[belleair302]

Most owners don't clay their cars more than twice a year, and likewise with polish.....

Wax every eight weeks, pick your products carefully and have a good supply of microfibres, foam application pads and sheepskin mitts or 'wool' sea sponges to hand for the washing process.

Buy a good drying towel or three and some decent wheel cleaner....plus sealants.

[exitwound]

There's a lot of snobbery on here regarding detailling products but all things considered, you'd have to go a long way to beat the TW Platinum range currently on offer for 3 for 2 at Halfords. I use it myself and polished up my daily driver vette for Goodwood on 4/7 and its still shiny now and cleans easily..

Check the Autoexpress reviews...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/207...

Ta-daa!!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by exitwound on Wednesday 21st October 17:37

[Parabola]

Can anyone recommend a decent, (& reasonably priced!) Pre-wax glaze.

Ta

[PJ S]

Meguiar's #7, Dodo Juice Lime Prime Lite, Clearkote Vanilla Moose, and Victoria Light, along with a good few more.

[Parabola]

PJ S said:

Meguiar's #7, Dodo Juice Lime Prime Lite, Clearkote Vanilla Moose, and Victoria Light, along with a good few more.

Class cheers, which do you think is the easiest to apply?

[PJ S]

They're all much the same, of those I've tried.
Dodo LPL can set-up quite quickly in some conditions, but nothing going over again with the applicator, or a slightly more firm buff won't take care of.

[flux]

what about the fabric roof?

[belleair302]

Renovo make a great fabric roof cleaner and all you need to do is then brush it.

[chopper602]

flux said:

what about the fabric roof?

Autoglym do a fabric roof set, with a cleaner and waterproofer (along with a hard sponge for the cleaning stage). I've not used the cleaner as yet (Mk3 MX5) but the proofer is excellent.

[Mattt]

BMW Roof stuff is recommended on Z4-Forum, not too badly priced IIRC - I use the kit from Raggtopp IIRC.