Full interior detailing

TouchingVirus

So I've got the car six months now and still haven't cleaned the inside of her properly. All that's about to change as I've a week off work next week and am going to give it a going over for the five days.

Top of the list is an interior detailing, top to bottom, so here's what I'm looking at:

• A full leather clean/treatment/conditioning with removal of the seats/cushions for cleaning the plastics at the adjusters - what should I use for the leather? It's dried up and very grubby. There are holes in the bolster so I'm looking at a re-trim in Walknappa Grey to solve that issue so I don't think a dye solution is necessary.
  
• Centre console removal and clean - APC?
  
• Freshen up the gaiters for the handbrake/SMG - possibly going to need replacing
  
• Wet vac hire and shampooing the carpet - which shampoo? Is this even a good idea, I think it is, I've a few days to let it dry
  
• Purchasing of fresh interior mats & clips - Recommendations?
  
• Removal and cleaning the door cards - APC + Leather treatment?
  
• Painting the door arms back to the interior colour - has anybody got paint codes for the interior trim? I know I can wrap but I'd prefer to keep it original, lots of folks are wrapping in carbon these days
  
• Cleaning the headlinder - APC?
  
• Cleaning other bits related to the root (the bits that are on show when the roof is down), they're very grubby - APC?
  
• Cleaning all plastics, removing what I can from the dash to get a good clean on them - Gtechniq stuff?

I think you're getting the idea. Obviously this won't be (too) regular an occurance since I'm stripping out the interior as much as I can. It's possible I won't get it all done in the six days or so but I'd like to give it my best shot with the best materials available. So were you to put together a shopping list to do all this what would you buy? I'd like to support local too, if it makes economic sense

Curran

Various dilutions of APC will be your friend here! Start with a weak mixture and move up to stronger dilutions as required. Various sized brushes, detailing brushes, tooth brush, etc, and plenty of microfibre cloths.
Spray on in small sections, agitate with the brushes and wipe dry with the microfibers.
That will look after the plastics and leather if necessary, but as you are thinking about re-conditioning the seats, look into Dr.Leather or Gliptone products.

Renting a wet vac for the seats is a good idea; something like Chemical Guys Fabric Clean is good with it. And perhaps you could use it and the wet vac on the headliner also if it is supplied with small fittings. Again various brushes will get into the tighter areas. I would spray on, agitate with a medium stiffness nail brush, and then wet vac out...same for the carpets. Obviously start from the top and work down! If you can afford to take the seats out, will especially for re-conditioning the seats, will be a massive help for work space.

APC at fairly strong dilution for areas in an around the roof mechanism, but be careful around area where there is lubrication.
If you are looking into a good soft top protection - gtechniq i1 Fabric Guard is excellent.
Not sure I'd use C4 on the interior...Orchard Autocare's Interior Wizard is leaves a nice matt finish and is reasonably durable. C4 would be crazy durable, but not sure how well it would work.

No idea about paint codes for the handles etc, but would a tidy second hand set be quicker and easier!?

TouchingVirus

Thanks Curran, I see you responded over on bmw-driver.net too

So here's what I've come up with:

Raggtop Cleaner / 303 Cleaner (Roof cleaning)
Raggtop Fabric Protection / gtechniq i1 Fabric Guard (Roof protection)
Poorboy's World APC (General surface cleaner / trim cleaning)
Orchard Autocare Interior Wizard (Interior conditioning / dressing)
Chemical Guys Fabric Clean (Carpet shampooing)
Gliptone Liquid Leather Cleaner
Gliptone Liquid Leather Conditioner

I've got some Meguiars NXT Glass for the glass already and a bundle of microfibers. I need some detailing brushes and some drying towls though (the outside is going to get done too).

So how does that look and what've you got in stock since you're site's offline for the next while?

Curran

PM coming your way!

MetzgerMeister

Why not use C4 on the interior? Nothing wrong with that! I doubt C4 knows whether or not it's being used on the interior or exterior! Not like it's gonna say "Wait, this is trim on the dash, I'm NOT going to work here" :pac:

TouchingVirus

I'm going to pick up some C4 next week, at the very least I'll use it on the engine plastics and the plastics in the boot

Curran

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Why not use C4 on the interior? Nothing wrong with that! I doubt C4 knows whether or not it's being used on the interior or exterior! Not like it's gonna say "Wait, this is trim on the dash, I'm NOT going to work here" :pac:

Not sure the finish would be nice on an interior. But since the OP is picking it up anyways, no harm in testing it on something of the same finish in the boot!

MetzgerMeister

Curran wrote: »

Not sure the finish would be nice on an interior. But since the OP is picking it up anyways, no harm in testing it on something of the same finish in the boot!

THe thing is though, C4 doesn't enhance the gloss level to anything above what it was when brand new. It gives trim life again rather than giving it life followed by an ecstasy tablet