Car Cleaning

Chat about your MKV (6N2) Polo
User avatar
RS_GT
Gold Member
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: Croydon, South london

Car Cleaning

Post by RS_GT »

ok so i just wanted some tips on how to get a nice deep shine :D

my current process is
Rinse
Wash with Zip wax wash n wax
dry and then polish with carplan triplewax polish
then finish off with Autoglym Aquawax

i do finish with a wicked shine but i really want to bring out the pearl effect of the paint. am i doing something wrong or a wrong product? :?
i also have quite bad swirling all over so what can i use to cover/get rid of them
really want to have a go at claying too as iv heard nothing but great things

SO, what steps would anyone recommend to getting a great shine and protected finish and what products would you recommend, iv heard good thing about the poorboys stuff, but what order do i use these products :?

car is 'Bright Green Pearl' (dark green)
User avatar
vw55raz
Gold Member
Posts: 815
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Far East

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by vw55raz »

dude you need to get some meguiars products. They are the best! I think Tim_GTi had a guide on cleaning somewhere. Let me find it for you
User avatar
alexperkins
Site Admin
Posts: 14873
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:29 pm
Drives: 91 Golf GTI, 01 TT 225, 54 T5 174
Location: Poole, Dorset, UK.
Contact:

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by alexperkins »

zip wax wash and wax is rubbish - dont use it. You are currently washing, waxing, polishing, waxing - silly.

Invest in a good quality car wash such as Megs Nxt Gen car wash as that is a dedicated shampoo, then a polish such as AG Super Resin or Megs step 2 or similar, then finish with a wax such as Megs Step 3 or Collinite 476 or similar.

Waxing doesnt need to be done very often - every 2-3 months. Wash and polish as normal and just wax when you need to ;)

also, on the topic of colour, are you 100% that your car is this bright green pearl? Polos never came in any colour of dark green apart from Dragon Green as far as I was aware. Id be interested to check it lol pm me your chassis number if you can haha (the joys of having worked at VW before make you curious!)
User avatar
RS_GT
Gold Member
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: Croydon, South london

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by RS_GT »

alexperkins wrote:zip wax wash and wax is rubbish - dont use it. You are currently washing, waxing, polishing, waxing - silly.

Invest in a good quality car wash such as Megs Nxt Gen car wash as that is a dedicated shampoo, then a polish such as AG Super Resin or Megs step 2 or similar, then finish with a wax such as Megs Step 3 or Collinite 476 or similar.

Waxing doesnt need to be done very often - every 2-3 months. Wash and polish as normal and just wax when you need to ;)

also, on the topic of colour, are you 100% that your car is this bright green pearl? Polos never came in any colour of dark green apart from Dragon Green as far as I was aware. Id be interested to check it lol pm me your chassis number if you can haha (the joys of having worked at VW before make you curious!)
yep im 100% paint code is LC6M, have had it mixed up at halfords using that code and the confirmed the name is Bright Green Pearl but il PM you the chassis number

also is there anything out there that will help with the swirls?
User avatar
alexperkins
Site Admin
Posts: 14873
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:29 pm
Drives: 91 Golf GTI, 01 TT 225, 54 T5 174
Location: Poole, Dorset, UK.
Contact:

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by alexperkins »

Megs Step 1 is good at removing swirls, as is Megs ScratchX.

For more hardcore cleaning, a machine polisher would be the solution to proper deswirling
quiksilveralex
Bronze Member
Posts: 176
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:18 pm
Location: Whitstable, Kent

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by quiksilveralex »

As Alex says you are currently washing waxing, polishing waxing. Which is not the way. Personally this is what I do when cleaning the car:

Wash (Power wash to remove loose dirt)
Snow Foam using Chemical Guys Maxi Suds + Spray on chemical guys Blue rim and wheel cleaner on the wheels to remove stubborn dirt
Wash (Power was again to remove the suds and dirt)
Wash using Megs gold class shampoo along with a lambs wool mitt and the two bucket method
Then clay bar it keeping it well lubricated to remove spots of tar etc
Wash again with just water
Then remove water using microfiber towels
Then glaze using Poor Boys Black Hole
Then I wax use a Dodo Juice Purple Haze
On the wheels I use chemical Guys wheel sealant

The last two products are used on specific paint colours for example black hole and dodo juice purple haze are used on dark colours.

Black hole is really good as it fills in light swirls as well as gives a good glossy depth to the paint. (All these products can be applied by hand using foam applicators). By the pictures of your car I think I would class your colour as dark so you could use these!

To remove swirls a Dual action polisher can achieve really good results (used correctly). If not several go rounds using super resin polish can remove swirls and for deeper scratches Megs Scratch X is good.

A really good and helpfully forum to look for detailing is http://www.detailingworld.com + Tim_Gti has done a really good detailing thread on here which is also very helpful http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... 20&t=44466

I buy most of my products from http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk always receive my products quickly even with a hand written thank you note.

Hope that Helps :D :D

Alex
User avatar
Bradley
Gold Member
Posts: 974
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:51 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by Bradley »

The basic methods have pretty much been covered here by other people.You want to invest in some decent products first, products you cant go wrong with and i would strongly reccomend are:

Meguirs Gold class shampoo-Comes in a nice big bottle,lasts a long time and is even available from you local halfords.

Auto Glym Super resin polish-This is a good polish,dosent cut too deep but multiple passes and you can remove light scratches etc,also available from halfords.

Collinite 476s-Excellent wax,easy to apply and remove and gives superb final results.

The process you're washing your car in is quite backwards as people have noticed.

Other things worth considering that i personally think really finish off the car are window cleaner and tyre dressing.I use tesco window cleaner it does the job fine for me and i use turtle wax tyre dressing as i find it makes you're tyres look new and restored as apposed to other products including meguirs that make your tyres look like they are off a toy car and made of cheap plastic.

For a deep shine i'd look into a glaze product,as mentioned for your dark car go for something like poorboys black hole.

Brad
User avatar
RS_GT
Gold Member
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: Croydon, South london

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by RS_GT »

cheers guys, went n bought some products today, bought autoglym shampoo/conditioner (cleaned my old beemer with it today which hadnt been 'properly' cleaned in over a year, and its sparkling now) :D , super resin polish and megs tech wax 2.0 (halfords 3 for 2 :lol: ) waiting on a few cleaning products to arrive then il get down to work

i use AG fast glass and AG Clean wheel and they do the job perfectly, i also use a cheap wet black thing for my trim and tyres, does the job but il invest in a longer lasting one soon.

will probably invest in a good clay kit soon and poorboys SSR as ive heard good things, will keep everyone updated :D
User avatar
6N2 GTI 00
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 4143
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:20 am
Location: North Wales, Denbighshire - Drives 255bhp EP3 Type R!

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by 6N2 GTI 00 »

I use Dodo Juice Sour Power Shampoo, Poor Boys Black Hole Glaze, Klasse German Polish and Dodo Juice Red Mist Detailer.

Not in that order but those 4 products above give me good results, especially the Poor boys Black Hole Glaze.

I dry the car with two large drying towels, microfibre cloths to polish/detail and a meguiars wash mitten to wash the car.

For the wheels I use Auto Glym wheel cleaner for the G60's then seal them with Poor boys wheel sealant.
benmkiv
Platinum Member
Posts: 1082
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:33 pm

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by benmkiv »

im looking for a decent polish, any reccs?
User avatar
Bradley
Gold Member
Posts: 974
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:51 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by Bradley »

benmkiv wrote:im looking for a decent polish, any reccs?
Auto Glym super resin polish or Klasse seem to be favourites with most cleaning enthuiasts.They're both good products,autoglym being alittle cheaper and easier to source of course.
User avatar
vw55raz
Gold Member
Posts: 815
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Far East

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by vw55raz »

i found this guide of it helps anyone

http://www.matey-matey.com/auto-detailing.shtml
benmkiv
Platinum Member
Posts: 1082
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:33 pm

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by benmkiv »

yehh i was thinking autoglymm then some dodo juice wax

you cant put a price on a nice looking car :)
User avatar
vw55raz
Gold Member
Posts: 815
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Far East

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by vw55raz »

Right now my shopping list for detailng is

Kestral DAS - 6 polisher
Poorboys SSR1, SSR2, SSR2.5
Poorboys Black Hole
Elite car care snow foam
Meguiars gold class shampoo
Meguiars Clay Bar
Collinite 476s
User avatar
6N2 GTI 00
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 4143
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:20 am
Location: North Wales, Denbighshire - Drives 255bhp EP3 Type R!

Re: Car Cleaning

Post by 6N2 GTI 00 »

vw55raz wrote:Right now my shopping list for detailng is

Kestral DAS - 6 polisher
Poorboys SSR1, SSR2, SSR2.5
Poorboys Black Hole
Elite car care snow foam
Meguiars gold class shampoo
Meguiars Clay Bar
Collinite 476s
Your Paint will look immense when you get that lot mate 8)
Post Reply