Detailing chat

Curran · 14-10-2014 8:47pm

Dont want to dwell on the matter, but I look at it this way.....if the folk who bought stuff, be it new or previous customers, were happy with the service, and they return to buy a few more bits, then eventually, it will have paid off.

Vectra was not the only one to contact me, voicing similar sentiments - all of whom were told to take advantage of the offer, but still declined. Perhaps personal experience in owning their own business came into play, or whatever, but either way, they'll all be looked after in some way down the line, when they do eventually order something....good Karma, and all that!

LawlessBoy · 16-10-2014 1:26pm

Not sure if this is right place to ask looking to clear up the headlights on my Vw Bora. Tried using toothpaste and it cleaned them up a little bit but not to the way i want them. Can anyone recommend a restoration kit or something i could buy to get them back newish looking?

vectra · 16-10-2014 1:57pm

LawlessBoy wrote: »

Not sure if this is right place to ask looking to clear up the headlights on my Vw Bora. Tried using toothpaste and it cleaned them up a little bit but not to the way i want them. Can anyone recommend a restoration kit or something i could buy to get them back newish looking?

Whereabouts are you?

Mr Detail · 16-10-2014 2:20pm

LawlessBoy wrote: »

Not sure if this is right place to ask looking to clear up the headlights on my Vw Bora. Tried using toothpaste and it cleaned them up a little bit but not to the way i want them. Can anyone recommend a restoration kit or something i could buy to get them back newish looking?

Wet sanding with 1500 then 2000, a quick Machine Polish & decent sealant is the quickest and most cost effective method in my opinion.

Or pay someone to do it, prices range from €30 to €60 usually.

Pops_20 · 20-10-2014 4:41pm

Does anyone know where I could get a good snow foam lance for a Karcher K series? Not sure where to go since cleancar shut down.

punisher5112 · 20-10-2014 4:54pm

Pops_20 wrote: »

Does anyone know where I could get a good snow foam lance for a Karcher K series? Not sure where to go since cleancar shut down.

ask Curran on here or his site

vectra · 20-10-2014 5:12pm

Pops_20 wrote: »

Does anyone know where I could get a good snow foam lance for a Karcher K series? Not sure where to go since cleancar shut down.

http://www.detailingshed.com/

LawlessBoy · 20-10-2014 6:23pm

vectra wrote: »

Whereabouts are you?

only seen this there vectra in D10

Foxhole Norman · 20-10-2014 11:17pm

Lads, now that I have an actual car I'd like to know how to detail it properly

Bar getting a machine polisher to get out the scratches/swirls on the paint, whats the best step-by-step method of cleaning a black car?

Also, what will I need?

punisher5112 · 20-10-2014 11:23pm

Throw out the sponge 1st;)

We don't like them on here

You need really a jet washer so start there if possible then some cleaning gear.

there are some great write ups on here and look up detailingshed.ie for some things you will need.

The car will need to be cleaned, de tarred, de ironed, clayed, washed again using 2 bucket method, Micro fibre mitt and cloths as less likely to scratch.

Need polish/wax and if unsure ask curran or vectra or metz for best tips. they are good at what they do.

Happy detailing and plenty of before during and after pics.

Foxhole Norman · 20-10-2014 11:46pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Throw out the sponge 1st;)

We don't like them on here

You need really a jet washer so start there if possible then some cleaning gear.

there are some great write ups on here and look up detailingshed.ie for some things you will need.

The car will need to be cleaned, de tarred, de ironed, clayed, washed again using 2 bucket method, Micro fibre mitt and cloths as less likely to scratch.

Need polish/wax and if unsure ask curran or vectra or metz for best tips. they are good at what they do.

Happy detailing and plenty of before during and after pics.

Thanks, we already have a power washer alright that we use on the cars and Microfibres are top of my list, DetailingShed the best place for sorting everything?

punisher5112 · 20-10-2014 11:49pm

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Thanks, we already have a power washer alright that we use on the cars and Microfibres are top of my list, DetailingShed the best place for sorting everything?

Curran on here runs/owns so he will do a good deal pm him and he can give you some tips and ideas as best to get starting off.

I get bits every so often so not all big money in one go.

Local motor factors and anywhere doing deals such as halfords when they do likes of 3 for 2.

Curran · 21-10-2014 12:51am

Since the recent car you picked up was an E39, Im surprised you didnt see this thread!

Any further questions, give me a shout!

Noccy_Mondy · 21-10-2014 2:04am

You should have been informed that owning a black car means that you will never keep it looking clean Foxhole!! You can wash all you like but in the winter, dirt will spray up instantaneously and during the summer it will get covered in dust. I'd say if some of you detailing boys seen the state of the outside of my cars now, especially the focus, ye'd get heart failure

Curran · 21-10-2014 6:37am

Black is heartache, but it looks great for a few hours when its done!

Foxhole Norman · 21-10-2014 9:31am

Curran wrote: »

Since the recent car you picked up was an E39, Im surprised you didnt see this thread!
Any further questions, give me a shout!

Well. I have some reading to do.

vectra · 21-10-2014 9:50am

Curran wrote: »

Black is heartache, but it looks great for a few hours when its done!

Black is very high up as a color for my next car..:p

Curran · 21-10-2014 10:24am

Carbon Black??? :P

vectra · 21-10-2014 11:06am

Curran wrote: »

Carbon Black??? :P

No.
Wouldnt mind though

Black Magic Pearlescent :cool:

bbari · 21-10-2014 1:08pm

Curran wrote: »

Black is heartache, but it looks great for a few hours when its done!

Curran - You are right but its those few hours which matter

Gordy6040 · 07-01-2015 5:55pm

Quick question. how do you clean between your front seats and center console? The long piece for hoover is too wide to go all the way down? Anything short of taking our the seats?

Mr Detail · 07-01-2015 5:58pm

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Quick question. how do you clean between your front seats and center console? The long piece for hoover is too wide to go all the way down? Anything short of taking our the seats?

Air line and give it a blast, or look for a kit for the end of the vacuum which will have fairly thin flexible attachments.

Curran · 07-01-2015 7:48pm

As above; you'll get 95% of it with a flexible fitting, made out of tough rubber so it can form to areas that are tight. I find having a toothbrush and a detailing brush at hand too, to loosen embedded dirt and have the vacuum next to it when you are brushing to suck it up straight away. Often having to move the seats into every possible position helps getting to harder to reach areas a little easier! Fully kacked up and seat back cleaning from the front and then the seat fully forward, cleaning from the back seat will get most areas....then you need rubber arms to get the rest!

Codpeas · 07-01-2015 8:18pm

Curran wrote: »

Since the recent car you picked up was an E39, Im surprised you didnt see this thread!
Any further questions, give me a shout!

Curran, if you're still pointing people at that thread you might want to update the links in the second post as they no longer go to the expected products...

Curran · 07-01-2015 9:36pm

Thanks for the heads up....had to rebuild the site so all links no longer work! Will have to update tomorrow. Not something that occurred to me! Cheers!

RobTheLad · 15-01-2015 1:58am

Have a Gtechniq G2 kit for the windows on my car, but I was thinking of getting the back section of the car tinted. Would this stuff be safe to put on after the window tint, as in not react to the film etc??

Curran · 15-01-2015 11:46am

Isnt glass tint usually applied on the inside of the window?

RobTheLad · 15-01-2015 4:04pm

Curran wrote: »

Isnt glass tint usually applied on the inside of the window?

bit of a noob when it comes to these things!, only afterwards I was thinking it might be put on from the inside.

Chrispb · 16-01-2015 5:11pm

anybody any experience in dealing with matt paint. picking up a new car for the missus tomorrow and it has factory matt paint.

I want to figure out a safe cleaning proceedure so I can keep it looking as it should , any suggestions as far as products ?

Curran · 16-01-2015 5:41pm

2 buckets, wash mitt, drying towel, matte shampoo and there is also matte quick detailer that you can get to give a deep appearance to the colour.

Gordy6040 · 16-01-2015 5:42pm

Guys.

I'm about to buy some Chemical Guys APC and Chemical Guys Bug & Tar wash.
My cars are washed infrequently so I figure a more hard core shampoo is the way to go.

Have any of you used those products? I'm particularly interested to see if the Shampoo is actually any good at removing tar. Is it a jack of all trades master of none type product or will it do the job?

As always, your input is appreciated.

Cheers
Gordon

Curran · 16-01-2015 8:31pm

CG's Bug & Tar Wash is more like a Jack of all Trades - it certainly hasnt the power of a dedicated tar remover.
Perhaps if used on a regular basis, it would help remove small deposits and thus helping to keep on top of the issue. But to be honest, its more of a bug remover. For those summer days when the car gets destroyed at the front. It will be an aggressive cleaner, and as a result any protection on the car will as a result suffer. But if it is used as a bug remover, you'd only have to re-apply protection on a relatively small area.

Both it and the APC are not ideal wash products if you have protection on the car. If your car has no protection on it either way, then asssuming you havent got a snow foam lance, the APC in a pump sprayer and applied and let dwell, car hosed down and washed with regular shampoo, would be the way I'd go at it

Gordy6040 · 16-01-2015 9:58pm

Thanks for the reply.
I was more thinking of the APC for tyres & trim rather than the paint, well maybe the door jams etc. I'll think more about your points above

Curran · 16-01-2015 10:11pm

A well protected car will always be easier to wash too. Wolf's Chemicals range of waxes are durable and even put up with APC washes to a certain degree.
This is a picture from Wolf's Chemicals themselves, who say, its been on the car for 10 weeks and 4 APC washes... still going strong!

Click here; image is massive and didnt want to post it!

Foxhole Norman · 17-01-2015 9:10pm

Made a quick list of stuff I might need for the E39's first proper wash, based on you recommendation page on BMWHause Curran.

How does this look?

Anything major I'm missing or should have bar the wax? Haven't added that yet.

Supergurrier · 17-01-2015 9:14pm

NCT on volvo tuesday.

Want to clean the grey boot lining and cream mats.

Whats my best bet ?

vectra · 18-01-2015 11:10am

Supergurrier wrote: »

NCT on volvo tuesday.

Want to clean the grey boot lining and cream mats.

Whats my best bet ?

My son used this on light grey ( almost white ) carpets and seat inserts in the Mk1 vRS
I was astounded with the job it did on them. Would never be without a bottle of it. Fantastic around the engine bay,,, under wheel arches, scrubbing the tyres prior to dressing.
I love the stuff.

http://www.detailingshed.com/pre-wash/117-bilt-hamber-surfex-hd-.html?search_query=bilt&results=8

Curran · 18-01-2015 3:53pm

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Anything major I'm missing or should have bar the wax? Haven't added that yet.

In terms of the exterior, glass cleaner and tyre shine?
50Cal 20:20 and Orchard Autocare Glitz

Gordy6040 · 18-01-2015 4:19pm

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
I was more thinking of the APC for tyres & trim rather than the paint, well maybe the door jams etc. I'll think more about your points above

Slight change of plan. I went with some Orchard are tar remover and some Chemical guys glosworkz shampoo.

Foxhole Norman · 18-01-2015 4:26pm

I have a lot to do!

Curran · 18-01-2015 7:59pm

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Slight change of plan. I went with some Orchard are tar remover and some Chemical guys glosworkz shampoo.

Thought that was you!!

Slattsy · 18-01-2015 8:07pm

Howdy.

Didnt want to start a thread so thought I'd ask here you don't mind.

Do any of you treat your wipers with anything?

Curran · 18-01-2015 8:48pm

Not the wipers but the glass.

punisher5112 · 18-01-2015 8:48pm

Slattsy wrote: »

Howdy.

Didnt want to start a thread so thought I'd ask here you don't mind.

Do any of you treat your wipers with anything?

Giving them a wipe clean helps keep them last a little longer especially with the bad weather and grit.

If they start streaking or lines take them off and replace.

Some people think they never need to change these even when the strips are waving around after wearing off.

Slattsy · 18-01-2015 8:59pm

I seem to go through a lot of wipers for some reason, but maybe i just need to clean them better.

Chrispb · 20-01-2015 5:15pm

Curran wrote: »

2 buckets, wash mitt, drying towel, matte shampoo and there is also matte quick detailer that you can get to give a deep appearance to the colour.

just as a quick follow up to this, im puttiong together an order on detailing shed, I found the chemical guys matt shampoo but havnt come across anything in terms of adding protection ie a sealant or something to repel water better. any suggestions? Its matt black if that makes any difference

Curran · 20-01-2015 5:52pm

Currently out of stock of the matte quick detailer.
Back in stock early the week after next.

Sean Quagmire · 21-01-2015 10:45pm

Hi chaps.

Anyone recommend a polish with decent cutting?

A few months back I did a full wash, clay, super resin polish, black light wax and hybrid v7 sealent on my black Megane. Came up well just not as well as I expected after 2 days work! Under soft light the swirls were still quite visible. Therefore I think I need a decent polish as I'm certain the car has not ever been polished.

Mr Detail · 21-01-2015 11:03pm

Sean Quagmire wrote: »

Hi chaps.

Anyone recommend a polish with decent cutting?

A few months back I did a full wash, clay, super resin polish, black light wax and hybrid v7 sealent on my black Megane. Came up well just not as well as I expected after 2 days work! Under soft light the swirls were still quite visible. Therefore I think I need a decent polish as I'm certain the car has not ever been polished.

Have you got a polisher?

If you have, meguiars polishes m105 and m205 are easy enough to work with and will tackle most jobs. It just depends on the car and paint. Carpro fixer & reflect are also quite good, as are the scholl concepts polishing range.

If you don't really have a polisher, your left with just filling them in with a glaze. Srp doesn't do a bad job of hiding swirls but really your right you need to remove them permanently.

MetzgerMeister · 21-01-2015 11:16pm

Slattsy wrote: »

Do any of you treat your wipers with anything?

I treat mine with 303 wiper treatment pads. Usually give the blades a proper wash followed by a dry and leave them on the radiator for a while then apply the treatment, let it "soak", remove excess and back on the radiator for a few mins.

I used get them from cleancar.ie but haven't seen them for sale anywhere else.

Detailing chat

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