Gave my new car it's first proper wash today, having read many of the exploits posted here.

A couple months ago all this detailing business was totally new to me - in fact I'd never really owned a car that even merited washing as they were mostly 10 YO bangers that were lucky to still have any paint on them! Leaving it out in the rain was my idea of giving it a wash.

Anyway, having read up and seen the light, I'd purchased the essentials, snow foam, shampoo, wash mitt, drying towel, wax etc and was ready to go

It's still a bit cold for flip flops here, so I went with industrial Caterpillar boots (sorry, no pics!) and this may well have been my first mistake. The snow foam just didn't "dwell" like it does in the pics provided by the "professionals". I blame it on the boots, but next time I think I'll try it neat in my wash bottle.

After the foaming and 2 bucket wash, I was ready for a bit of claying. This being a new car (<400 miles on the clock), I wasn't expecting much to come off given I'd just spent the best part of an hour washing it, although I had spotted a few tar spots. I'd purchased some autoclay from Bilt Hamber:

http://www.bilthamber.com/autoclay.html

One of the advantages of this clay is that it can be used with water as a lubricant so I armed myself with a bottle of water with misting spray. WOW, excellent and so easy to do even I could master it in minutes, and quite a lot of grime came off not to mention those pesky tar spots. For anyone out there looking for some clay and bewildered by the choice, the Bilt Hamber soft autoclay gets full marks from me, not to mention you get a huge amount for your money

After claying, rinsing and drying, I managed to get one coat of Collinite 845 wax on before the light started to get the better of me.

One question, or rather slight problem I had at the end. As I was waxing the roof, it had started to turn a little colder and I couldn't buff up the roof very well. It looked like it was always smeary, but in fact condensation was forming hence why I couldn't buff it to a shine. Hope I've still got a good coat of protection on it?

The weather is looking dry again tomorrow so I plan to get another 2 coats of wax on it, then hopefully that's me done until summer.

Finally, another recommendation - I needed a new pressure washer just before Christmas, and bought one of these Nilfisk washers:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/38209/Cleaning/Pressure-Washers/Nilfisk-ALTO-C120-2-6-Pressure-Washer-120bar-1-7kW-240V

which are excellent (feels much sturdier than my previous Karcher). They have a high quality aluminium motor and pump, and even come with a detergent bottle that's OK for use with snow foam/shampoo etc. Also, the vario nozzle can be adjusted so you don't blast the paint clean off your car. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a new pressure washer and great value at £90.

Finally (again), I'd just like to thank all those detailers on here for sharing their exploits, knowledge and skills, and for giving me the motivation to get out and have a go myself - thanks

Good on you for having a go in this weather

I got the 'detailing' bug when I bought my ST from new in 2006.

Very rewarding when you see it all finished and shiny

Did you put hot water in the foam bottle before using it?? I if mix the foam with some Meguires APC then fil th rest of the bottle with hot water, it goes like shaving foam

Did you put hot water in the foam bottle before using it?? I if mix the foam with some Meguires APC then fil th rest of the bottle with hot water, it goes like shaving foam

I have some pH neutral snow foam, and used a couple inches with a blob of Megs shampoo and a little (50:50) hot water. I think it's probably related to the dilution the pressure washer "adds" as it draws the mixture from the bottle and into the water flow. I think I just need to experiment some more with my pressure washer, but it's looking like I need to use it neat.

I have some pH neutral snow foam, and used a couple inches with a blob of Megs shampoo and a little (50:50) hot water. I think it's probably related to the dilution the pressure washer "adds" as it draws the mixture from the bottle and into the water flow. I think I just need to experiment some more with my pressure washer, but it's looking like I need to use it neat.

You'll get there in the end, just keep trying. Baker21 is the resident expert if you need some exellent advice.

CYC and Autobrite do some good lances, better than the lance that comes with the PW. Colly needs about 30mins to harden, so I'm sure your ok, just buff with some QD and then apply another coat. Two should be fine in total, also use a good QD like FK 425 or Clearkote QS. In fact Clearkote, IMO, do the best glazes and liquid wax.

Thanks guys

Got a second coat of collinite on it this afternoon. This morning there was some pretty impressive beading on the roof and bonnet formed from condensation so I must have done a reasonable job yesterday

Now I've got some good protection on I'm hoping I can get by with a quick rinse and snow foam with the pressure washer once per week to keep it reasonably clean.

Sounds like a good experience then mate and the flip flops aren't always ideal...............

You got any pics then to show us?

Sounds like a good experience then mate and the flip flops aren't always ideal...............

You got any pics then to show us?

Was gonna take some pics, but again this afternoon by the time I'd finished (3:30), the temp had started to drop and I was getting instant clouding on the bonnet and roof from condensation forming, so not ideal for taking pics. Reflections in the side panels were good though.

I'll try to grab some shots tomorrow, even if it's only beading

Took a few pics before SWMBO took it out and got it all dirty again

Nice colour and nice finish there............

Nice colour and nice finish there............

Thanks.

You would like the colour

It wasn't my first choice (SWMBO chose it), but now we have it, it's really growing on me. I think it really suits an estate

Looks great - although (being a conservative-type) my favourite colour for cars is silver (yeah, very boring, I know), I also think the "cappuccino" beige is a really nice colour (as is the mist green).

As a warning, now you've started with this detailing lark, it will become an addiction!

But yeah, the first time I used a clay I was surprised (or maybe alarmed!) at the amount of gunk that came off, and how smooth the paint felt - it really looked clean when I got it from the dealers, but load of stuff still came off onto the clay!

Thanks.

You would like the colour

It wasn't my first choice (SWMBO chose it), but now we have it, it's really growing on me. I think it really suits an estate

Mines a slightly different colour but yeah, maybe I am, like you the colour wasn't my preference but when buying second hand sometimes you don't have the choice...........

Just an update 3 months on...

The car is still beading quite well, although I'd say it's not as good as when first applied. That said, there's definitely still some useful protection there.

Now, I'm not one to spend hours polishing my car every weekend. Having given it a good protection I have been giving it a quick going over every 1-2 weeks as needed (it doesn't get too dirty), comprising the following:

rinse with pressure washer

snow foam

rinse with pressure washer

and that gets it clean enough for me which is great because I don't even need to get my hands wet :p

Once I've also given it the 2 bucket wash and had the wheel brush out on the alloy's, but other than that it's a quick blast with the PW and some snow foam

Overall I'm really impressed with the longevity of the Collinite 845 wax. I'm thinking it probably needs doing about every 4-6 months but I can live with that as it's relatively easy to apply.