Hi, I'm hopefully picking my Pearl Black Metallic Fabia in 1-2 weeks and i'm trying to work out what to buy to protect the paint, i was hoping for any ideas suggestions. My ideas so far,

1. Clean down with a wax based car shampoo,

2. Dry with leather.

3. Use Auto-Glym super resin polish, 1 coat.

4. Use Auto-gylm extra gloss protection, 1 coat.

Then i'm abit stuck, i'm not sure if I should add anything else, or do anything else. I want to be able to leave it for a week, then come back and add more layers of protection.

I also have access to BMW Paint sealent, nano-tech that i'm thinking to add.

Any suggestions helpful.

Thanks!

EDIT:Dump the leather and any sponges you might have.

use a lambswool mitt or noodle mitt to wash, dry with a microfibre towel. Asda are doing two drying towels for a fiver. Pic up an extra bucket, one for clean suds and the other to rinse the dirty mitt.

to your questions:

It really depends on how much you want to seal and protect the paint.

for some, claying and polishing, sealing and waxing is the way to give the paint the best protection.

For others, just a polish and sealant will suffice.

So either add a clay before your polish, a coat of EGP and once that's cured for an hour either 2 or 3 coats of wax.

How much time do you want to spend cleaning it during the month? How many miles do you do a year?

These are key really to your decision, the more miles you do, the shorter the period between cleans and ultimately more times you'll have to apply wax during the year.

If you have the time I'd recommend at least adding a couple of coats of decent wax after the sealant if you dont want to clay as well. Collinite 476s (about £15 a tin, tin will last a veeeeery long time)

New cars have varying amounts of contaminants on them once you get them home. Which is why claying could improve the quality of the finish.

Once sealed and waxed properly washing between waxes becomes a whole lot easier.

I would:

Soak Car

rinse (pressure washer is best)

wash using two bucket method

rinse

clay with claybar and detailing spray

rinse

dry (microfibre drying towel)

polish

rinse to remove polish residue

dry (microfibre drying towel)

sealant

wax

wax

wax

but that's just me and other people might have other opinions - you do as much or as little as you want to, just do the basics correctly: no sponges, no leathers, more than one bucket.

Edited 15 April, 201115 yr by prolfe

EDIT:Dump the leather and any sponges you might have.

use a lambswool mitt or noodle mitt to wash, dry with a microfibre towel. Asda are doing two drying towels for a fiver. Pic up an extra bucket, one for clean suds and the other to rinse the dirty mitt.

to your questions:

It really depends on how much you want to seal and protect the paint.

for some, claying and polishing, sealing and waxing is the way to give the paint the best protection.

For others, just a polish and sealant will suffice.

So either add a clay before your polish, a coat of EGP and once that's cured for an hour either 2 or 3 coats of wax.

How much time do you want to spend cleaning it during the month? How many miles do you do a year?

These are key really to your decision, the more miles you do, the shorter the period between cleans and ultimately more times you'll have to apply wax during the year.

If you have the time I'd recommend at least adding a couple of coats of decent wax after the sealant if you dont want to clay as well. Collinite 476s (about £15 a tin, tin will last a veeeeery long time)

New cars have varying amounts of contaminants on them once you get them home. Which is why claying could improve the quality of the finish.

Once sealed and waxed properly washing between waxes becomes a whole lot easier.

I would:

Soak Car

rinse (pressure washer is best)

wash using two bucket method

rinse

clay with claybar and detailing spray

rinse

dry (microfibre drying towel)

polish

rinse to remove polish residue

dry (microfibre drying towel)

sealant

wax

wax

wax

but that's just me and other people might have other opinions - you do as much or as little as you want to, just do the basics correctly: no sponges, no leathers, more than one bucket.

....if you follow prolfe post you will defintly not go wrong as he sums it up perfectly

I was always under the impression that Extra gloss protection was applied after the wax.

I was always under the impression that Extra gloss protection was applied after the wax.

EGP is a sealant and sits best under wax.

Had my car detailed a while back .....and it was very easy to keep it clean afterwards....link here http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=114198

Sounds like a plan, picked up some microfibre cloths yesterday.

Were can I get Collinite 476s apart from online? Halfrauds don't sell it... Or any other wax that would be decent?

Ignore that ^, got some £15 for a tin off ebay, with aplicator and microfibre. Not bad I guess

Edited 17 April, 201115 yr by cysne

Clean your car is a good company if you are interested in buying anymore detailing products matey

Clean your car is a good company if you are interested in buying anymore detailing products matey

Thanks

Iv'e read the pinned thread about applying sealant before wax and what Prolfe said, but the way i have always done mine is 1st soak, then wash with shampoo using a Listerflex brush [similar to what they use at the local car wash,but mine has more bristles and a lot softer ], I then rinse and dry using a Microfibre cloth, then i apply 1 coat of AG SRP then 2 coats of Carnauba wax and then 2 coats of AG EGP leaving on for a hour at a time. Water still beads off up to a year,[i only do it once a year because it takes all bloody day to do it properly ], I also wash my car at least once a week due to the car getting covered in salt spray when it's windy, I have never had a problem with the wax clouding under the sealant and i would say that the paint work is shiner after applying EGP ,My work mates say i have OCD because it looks so good compared to their unloved examples, I also coat the Alloys with AG EGP, works for me.

Edited 21 April, 201115 yr by roman.w

have a look at these guys have some nice products

My link

.....also wanted to mention that you should use a foam lancer to pre wash with the power washer

Usually go along these lines or a day to day, non-wax routine:

Soak down car

Sud wash with dodo juice at the moment or chemical guys. Don't boher with 2 buckets but always us grit guard. Each to his own.

Go around car working downwards. All sills left until last.

All wheels prepped with poorboys sealant, dirt just falls off them. Wheels done last. I use a sponge for these.

Dry car with microfibre towels.

Chemical guys quick detailer and polish with microfibre cloth.

Usually use megs hot wax tyre spray.

Obligatory pictures taken for forum!

Edited 23 April, 201115 yr by Didescharlie

Clean your car is a good company if you are interested in buying anymore detailing products matey

Always use cleanyourcar, fantastic service and great discounts. Often throw applicators and other freebies in the parcel. I love 'em. Leave Halfrauds for the newbs. Lol.

Gotit, cleaned it. It looks really good.

One question though. What do I do when I next wash it?

I want to layer the wax again, but I dont want to do all the polishing layers again really.

What can I do?

just wash 2BM, wipe down with a Detailing Spray and apply wax.

The washing wont get rid of the wax that's on there now.

EDIT: Also - if you do have Colly - then its detergent proof.

Edited 6 May, 201115 yr by prolfe

just wash 2BM, wipe down with a Detailing Spray and apply wax.

The washing wont get rid of the wax that's on there now.

EDIT: Also - if you do have Colly - then its detergent proof.

Yup, do have colly.

Thanks. Give it another coat this weekend

2 is a minimum really - 3 is ideal.

you'll have to reapply if you use tardis for the tar spots on the lowers.

Might put another coat on today then,

some how I only have 1/3 of a tin left, it went really soft yesterday?? Maybe due to heat?

1/3rd of a tin!!!!

My god, I have over half left and have been using it a year.

You want really thin layers, as thin as possible, goes on better, buffs off better. Use detailing spray onto the wax, or onto the applicator.

Get the wax into the fridge.

Glad to see other people using AG stuff!!! I've been using the ERP (red label) as a 2 or 3 coat base followed (as they state) by a minimum of 2 top coats of EG (gold label).. same on alloys for the last 15 years on various cars. Have recently tried their special "deep aqua gloss"??? The one that is for dark coloured water based metallics (as my car is).....bloodly pain!!!! Got a better finish with the other stuff!!!! Have for the last two winters been using their spray on tyre sealant....very good....cleans up the alloys and does seal them...with brake dust not sticking that much!!!

I will admit that I do sometimes use AG ERP as a "T cut" light version....and sometimes use the EG as a tar/crap remover...... do I have to sit on the naughty step now????? :S