Hi,

I'm getting in to detailing since i puchased the vRS in January. Last weekend i washed, clayed, machine polished (DA polisher) and then machine waxed the entire car. Imo it looks stunning! I use Meguiars products and have been well happy with them even though they are a little pricey.

I intend to wax the car every couple of months but was wondering what the the correct preperation for that should be considering that i've already just clayed and polished the car etc? I assume that the car would only need a good machine polish around once a year (as long as its waxed regularly) so would a wash, dry and then wax suffice? Or should i wash, dry, clay and then wax? Is claying every couple of months excessive?

I'm also a little weary of using the DA polisher too much as i dont want to take too much clear coat off although i think i'm right in thinking that VAG paint is quite tough.

Thanks, Lee

Hi mate, im just getting into it a little more aswell, but from what i know over the years already is that you should only really need to clay the car once or twice a year at most! once she's ''mint'' just keep her washed and top up with qd/wax/sealant thereafter

Edited 11 March, 201115 yr by MarkMac

p.s go onto www.detailingworld.co.uk to be blinded by science

Ok, thanks for the advice Mark. I was hoping i wouldn't have to go throught all that again, i took me 1-1/2 days to do the whole car!

p.s go onto www.detailingworld.co.uk to be blinded by science

Blinded by science and literally climbing up the wall Talk about paranoia! Still you can get a few really good ideas and find some great products. I love the idea of using a diluted IPA (Isopropyl)wash to get rid of excess polish and take everything right back to the paint after clay/polish and before waxing. Once the wax is applied and cured there is another product DoDo Red Mist which leaves the best wet look I have ever experienced on the car. Just wash, dry and apply very sparingly then buff for the bling.

Edited 11 March, 201115 yr by horkin

You don't need to go through all that more than twice a year.

During the summer you just need a 2 mins skoosh of quick detailer on an MF cloth every day, only need to do the bits that are visibly dusty and that means you don't need to wash it more than once a week (washing will remove the fine dust all over the car, no point wasting QD on that IMO). Use a fairly weak shampoo mix during the summer, just enough to make your washmitt glide, only takes a couple of mins to experiment the first time then you'll know how much to add for future.

Wash every week, when you come across tar spots use your tar & glue remover just in small bits where the tar is, rinse the panel area then i give the area a quick clay. Apply sealant / wax just to that area.

Every 3-4 weeks, when the beads of water start becoming large again, wax it after that wash.

Every 6 months (or 7 months of summer, 5 months of winter), strip it back and very fine polish (whatever brand you prefer) on a finishing pad -- the ideas not to correct the whole car, just burnish the finish. Correct where needed by stepping up the pad / polish and back down again.

It's just what i've found with a year or so's working away finding what works best for me, but if you get other info elsewhere that goes against the above i'd follow the other info since i'm self taught and might have some bits wrong!

Blinded by science and literally climbing up the wall Talk about paranoia! Still you can get a few really good ideas and find some great products. I love the idea of using a diluted IPA (Isopropyl)wash to get rid of excess polish and take everything right back to the paint after clay/polish and before waxing. Once the wax is applied and cured there is another product DoDo Red Mist which leaves the best wet look I have ever experienced on the car. Just wash, dry and apply very sparingly then buff for the bling.

Yes ive found some valuable info on there, but the options/variations people use are mine numbing, ive been trying to find a selection of stuff all week and still havent decided

Thanks for the advice guys. Does anyone know if its safe to clay alloy wheels (to remove tar)?

Thanks for the advice guys. Does anyone know if its safe to clay alloy wheels (to remove tar)?

Yeah definitely. It picks up a lot of crap off wheels, even ones that look clean, so you'll go through clay more with wheels than the whole body.

Thanks for the advice guys. Does anyone know if its safe to clay alloy wheels (to remove tar)?

I always clay the wheels 2 or 3 times a year but it doesn't do well shifting tar. You need to use a tar remover first

Clay twice a year, if it does'nt need claying just apply a couple of coats of wax every 2-3 months. A DA is fine for either polishing or applying glaze and wax. You can use a paint cleaner which does not remove paint but does remove old wax, residue etc...