Keeping a Black car looking shiny ?

[Turn7]

So, what’s the secret to keeping a Black car looking nice and shiny ?

Not going to use the local money laundering outfits and also not wanting to get into the detailing thing..

Have access to a hosepipe and have the two buckets .

[Shnozz]

Wrap it a different colour.

I love clean black cars but in the UK it's almost impossible to keep on top of. I don't have access to any car washing facilities in the UK so it was the local Poles who had the job once a fortnight but meant for the majority of the time, with UK weather, any black cars I have had looked dirty.

Would make me avoid them wherever possible in future.

[mk1coopers]

Pay a reputable detailer to give it a coating (how long you want it to last will depend on what type of coating) then try to minimise any damage from contact washing in-between having the detailer do their top ups (if required)

[Chubbyross]

Black cars are impossible to keep in near-perfect condition unless it’s garaged and very rarely used. My family workhorse is black and I’ve given up on keeping on top of its condition. I’ll never buy a black car again.

As has been suggested above, if you want to try then I’d go for a good quality ceramic coating (after a thorough paint correction) and then weekly maintenance washes, avoiding contact as much as possible.

There’s a reason most YouTube detailers use black or dark coloured cars to demonstrate before and after shots of polishing. Alas, most of the time your car will be one of the before examples. The after condition only lasts for a brief period.

[devnull]

Pretty much regular waxing, or as above, a high quality ceramic coating.

[InitialDave]

Turn7 said:

So, what’s the secret to keeping a Black car looking nice and shiny ?

Only look at it during a ten minute period immediately after washing it.

[Chubbyross]

InitialDave said:

Turn7 said:

So, what’s the secret to keeping a Black car looking nice and shiny ?

Only look at it during a ten minute period immediately after washing it.

Sadly, that’s it really! I’m obsessive about my cars and keeping them spotless. That’s why my weekend toys are both silver. It hides a multitude of sins.

[MKnight702]

Chubbyross said:

InitialDave said:

Turn7 said:

So, what’s the secret to keeping a Black car looking nice and shiny ?

Only look at it during a ten minute period immediately after washing it.

Sadly, that’s it really! I’m obsessive about my cars and keeping them spotless. That’s why my weekend toys are both silver. It hides a multitude of sins.

Yep, my last 3 cars regular have been silver. I did try to steer my son away from buying a black car but he wouldn't waiver. I think he regrets it now though.

[Turn7]

devnull said:

Pretty much regular waxing, or as above, a high quality ceramic coating.

What sort of cost ball park are we talking ? This is my new daily, not a V12 Vantage or anything exotic….

[Robotron70]

Just use a good branded shampoo, Autoglym, Meguiars etc, decent wash mitt, some large super soft drying towels and then a quality quick detailer and some microfibre cloths. I’m also a huge fan of Gyeon Wet Coat, easy to apply/remove and will make the future wash process much easier imo.

And then never buy a black car again unless retired and you enjoy detailing or can afford to pay for a detailer.

[devnull]

Turn7 said:

devnull said:

Pretty much regular waxing, or as above, a high quality ceramic coating.

What sort of cost ball park are we talking ? This is my new daily, not a V12 Vantage or anything exotic….

Ceramic coatings are about 30 to 50 quid and need to be applied in a specific manner, a bit like clear bras. A detailer will charge something like 300 to do it for you. But you might also need a machine polish beforehand as black will show up all manner of scratches and swirls.

[Sticks.]

I have mine detailed once a year but in between I add Demon Shine to the rinse which adds a shine even when it's near to it's annual.

[LordGrover]

Simple to keep clean, if you're willing to clean it whenever it gets dirty.

[Dog Star]

After having a black Mk2 MR2 back in the 90s which looked ridiculously excellent when it was clean, but was an utter bd to keep clean, I've just fallen into the mire of a black SLK.

Mrs DSs silver R171 SLK200 has gone to be replaced with a same shape SLK350 - but obsidian (metallic) black; it was a car we couldn't turn down with only 54k miles, one (known) owner, full MBSH from new, every option, no expense spared mechanically and it's got a new subframe and a load of new arms and stuff all round. It's black though

I have no idea how I have done this, but I (as I have many times before) decided to give the car a good clean, clay bar, polish and wax. So I claybarred the bonnet, mirrors, pillars, boot lid, back bumper and sills. Jaysus! What a mess - the car is now covered in minute scratches plus dull "marred" bits - it looks like I've taken a scuffing pad to it (lightly). I've clay barred countless cars before and the job, for an amateur, has always been fine, so I have no idea how on earth I have made such a mess of it. It's beyond me fixing that is for sure. At least I didn't get round to doing the sides - only saving grace.

I've took it in to a really top-flight detailer a couple of weeks ago to look it over, and I've just dropped it off to get rectified - he's got it for two days. He reckons that it cannot be me that did this to the paint, but the bits that I haven't done are lacking the scuffing and marring, with just normal light scratching and holograms that you would expect. I'm sure I did it . It's put me off ever claying a car again, that's for sure.

It could just be that I have done damage like this before, but couldn't see it because of the colours of cars.

Lets see how this chap can do his thing - he's very highly recommended, his premises (as well as the sort of cars he has in there (I almost feel embarrassed bringing a lowly SLK to him)) are stunning and show his attention to detail. It's also costing an utter fortune (that I can't afford!), however the car is a keeper so it is what it is.

So - black cars. Never again!

[resolve10]

Black cars are great if you are prepared to put a couple of hours a week in keeping it looking its best, or if you don't mind a car looking a bit dirty. If you are anywhere inbetween those two on the spectrum, you should probably pick another colour.

If you already have a black car and want the absolute simplest way to keep it looking reasonably good for a low cost, I'd recommend a hydrophobic spray wax type product, something like Gyeon Wet Coat. Every 6-8 weeks spray some on after cleaning the car and then rinse off, definitely the quickest way to keep the car coated and it's my go-to in winter when it's too cold/unpleasant to be out applying a proper wax to the car.

[Shnozz]

Turn7 said:

What sort of cost ball park are we talking ? This is my new daily, not a V12 Vantage or anything exotic….

Mine was only the V89 to be fair, but the local Polish car wash did it once a month or so. No facilities to do it myself. Wasn't spending £XXX a month on a detailer.

[Robotron70]

The sponge jockeys always use the same dirty old rag on every part of your car, they make me cringe.

[Turn7]

Robotron70 said:

Just use a good branded shampoo, Autoglym, Meguiars etc, decent wash mitt, some large super soft drying towels and then a quality quick detailer and some microfibre cloths. I’m also a huge fan of Gyeon Wet Coat, easy to apply/remove and will make the future wash process much easier imo.

And then never buy a black car again unless retired and you enjoy detailing or can afford to pay for a detailer.

Is that Gyeon stuff actually any good ? Whats its actual purpose ?

[resolve10]

Turn7 said:

Is that Gyeon stuff actually any good ? Whats its actual purpose ?

It's very good, and there are other similar products on the market from other brands which do a similar job, but I picked out the Gyeon as I only have personal experience of their product.

It essentially works like a wax but is a lot less time consuming to apply. The only reason this hasn't made traditional waxes obsolete is because they don't produce the same high level of gloss, and the protection doesn't last as long.

I believe they were actually designed to be used as a top up coat on a car that has been ceramic coated, but in my experience they work very well as a standalone product on an untreated car.

It creates a hydrophobic barrier on the surface so water beads straight off it. Not only does this look nice when it rains, but it helps to prevent dirt sticking to the car.

[Turn7]

resolve10 said:

Turn7 said:

Is that Gyeon stuff actually any good ? Whats its actual purpose ?

It's very good, and there are other similar products on the market from other brands which do a similar job, but I picked out the Gyeon as I only have personal experience of their product.

It essentially works like a wax but is a lot less time consuming to apply. The only reason this hasn't made traditional waxes obsolete is because they don't produce the same high level of gloss, and the protection doesn't last as long.

I believe they were actually designed to be used as a top up coat on a car that has been ceramic coated, but in my experience they work very well as a standalone product on an untreated car.

It creates a hydrophobic barrier on the surface so water beads straight off it. Not only does this look nice when it rains, but it helps to prevent dirt sticking to the car.

Great explanation, thanks....

So, as a non detailer, whats the correct process to wash the car ?
Ihave the 2 buckets, a large microfibre cloth and a semi decent mitt thing