In summer simply do not park under a tree if possible, otherwise lots of cleaning and polish is the only answer unless you put a cover over your car every time you park under a tree I'm afraid.

I thought as much :-(

Try using biological liquid (for washing machines) to remove the sap.

Ray

Damn. I´ve used a sponge for the last 30 years and now you`re telling me that I was wrong all the time !!

30 years ago, everyone used sponges - it was all you could get. As time went by and other materials became available, they turned out to be far more effective and kind to paintwork (which has also changed, BTW), so it makes sense to use the best-available kit. My second car has a matte finish and - apart from my usual love of all things shiny being frustrated - it's a real pain to look after (oil-free shampoo, etc.). My shiny car - the Rosso Superb II - looks better today than when I collected it, but a lot of that is attention to detail. If you only want a clean car and don't mind swirls all over the paintwork, carry on with the sponge - it's probably too late to do much correction now without considerable work anyway.

Ray

30 years ago, everyone used sponges - it was all you could get. As time went by and other materials became available, they turned out to be far more effective and kind to paintwork (which has also changed, BTW), so it makes sense to use the best-available kit. My second car has a matte finish and - apart from my usual love of all things shiny being frustrated - it's a real pain to look after (oil-free shampoo, etc.). My shiny car - the Rosso Superb II - looks better today than when I collected it, but a lot of that is attention to detail. If you only want a clean car and don't mind swirls all over the paintwork, carry on with the sponge - it's probably too late to do much correction now without considerable work anyway.

Ray

Hi, Ray.

The car I have on order is also Rosso Red. I'm having it treated with Lifeshine. After taking delivery, would you suggest I continue using the Auto Glym products...or can you suggest anything better?

Me personally I would use the AutoGlym products as they come wih the car's Lifeshine and they are very good just relatively expensive compared to some other products.

Me personally I would use the AutoGlym products as they come wih the car's Lifeshine and they are very good just relatively expensive compared to some other products.

Thank you, Danny, for your input.

Regards.

Mike.

The car I have on order is also Rosso Red. I'm having it treated with Lifeshine. After taking delivery, would you suggest I continue using the Auto Glym products...or can you suggest anything better?

I used AutoGlym products for many years, Mike, as I particularly liked the ease of application and removal. I also liked the gloss enhancer, for the same reason. Their tar spot remover and window cleaner were also frequently used items from the cleaning cupboard. My previous cars had all been light colours, but when I ordered the Rosso Brunello Superb, I started reading up about looking after high-gloss darker colours. This led me into umpteen sites on car detailing and - having perfectionist tendencies - I became really interested.

I now get all my cleaning products from Elite Detailer, Limited, who I can recommend thoroughly (as a satisfied customer). Gurchan is very knowledgeable and the products are very good. That said, detailing is a bit like a number of other hobbies, as others will swear by a completely different manufacturer's range and get the same results.

HTH. Bloody hosepipe ban!

Ray

Me personally I would use the AutoGlym products as they come wih the car's Lifeshine and they are very good just relatively expensive compared to some other products.

And if it's like mine, it will take you some time to get through the ones that are supplied with the kit.

I used AutoGlym products for many years, Mike, as I particularly liked the ease of application and removal. I also liked the gloss enhancer, for the same reason. Their tar spot remover and window cleaner were also frequently used items from the cleaning cupboard. My previous cars had all been light colours, but when I ordered the Rosso Brunello Superb, I started reading up about looking after high-gloss darker colours. This led me into umpteen sites on car detailing and - having perfectionist tendencies - I became really interested.

I now get all my cleaning products from Elite Detailer, Limited, who I can recommend thoroughly (as a satisfied customer). Gurchan is very knowledgeable and the products are very good. That said, detailing is a bit like a number of other hobbies, as others will swear by a completely different manufacturer's range and get the same results.

HTH. Bloody hosepipe ban!

Ray

Thank you, Ray.

I've `bookmarked` the link and will have a good look at the gear as the autoglym products that come with the Lifeshine start running out.

Yes the bag is full and AutoGlym have since sent me their fly/insect remover as a sorry for not sending the Lifeshine guarrantee out to me when they should have done.

Edited 14 June, 201213 yr by Danny 57

I dont text much...too old I suppose...so what does HTH mean?

Ray, do you buy a mixture from them as in different makes or do you buy their AutoGlym products?

I dont text much...too old I suppose...so what does HTH mean?

HTH = Hope That Helps

Ray, do you buy a mixture from them as in different makes or do you buy their AutoGlym products?

I use Meguiars and Zaino products and Bilt Hamber foam.

Ray

I will use the sponge also in the future. If I keep the car max. 3 years, it doesn`t really matter if the paint is shining or not, because the dealer doesn`t care either. They will clean and polish the car anyway, and I`ll get the same money from my old car whether I`ve washed it with a sponge or something else.... :sun: Those car salesmen that I know don`t even bother to look at the old car....they know that it`s well kept. With a sponge....

I`ll get the same money from my old car whether I`ve washed it with a sponge or something else....

I'm sure you will, glad that approach suits you. It's nothing to do with trade-in values for me - I just prefer to drive an immaculate-looking car.

Ray

In anticpation of the delivery of my new car I have started purchasing car cleaning products.

I purchased AutoGlym "Clean Wheels" as on the sellers web site the description (and photo of the bottle) says "For alloy, chrome, painted plastic or lacquered finishes".

However on the bottle that has just arrived (it is stil the AutoGlym "Clean Wheels") it says "Removes brake dust from lacquered alloy, painted or plastic wheels". Looking at the AutoGlym web site it has the same text.

Question is, are the Luxon wheels lacquered and/or does anybody know if it is OK for me to use that product on them?

Ray, I believe you have the Elegance trim level, what do you use to keep the exterior chrome strips looking spick and span, whilst the rest of the paintwork shines my strips are starting to dull?

Thanks in advance

Cerys

I don't use anything specific for the chrome trim, Cerys, I just include it in the overall finishing. Mine's as good as it was on collection, so perhaps it's an environmental thing? If I had a problem, I'd probably use this.

Ray

Whenever I get a new car, I have these ideas that I will keep it sparklingly clean and tidy, bth inside and outside. Usually, this lasts about a month before turning into a bit of a mess. I've been taking my BMW to various drive through car washes lately, and whilst convenient, it does leave bits of muck and it can leave swirly patterns on the bodywork.

What do people do? Do it yourself on a sunday? Polish it every week? Use a buffing/polishing machine? What polish do you use?

(my new car will be candy white if that makes any difference to the suggestions)

I had the autoglym life shine put on my car when I had it delivered last month and have to say that it's a great product, I've been using all of the products supplied in the autoglym bag except for the wheel cleaner, I use bilberry wheel cleaner for them and it's excellent - no scrubbing needed just spray on and rinse off after a couple of minutes.

Is there any particular reason you didn't use the Autoglym stuff? Where did you get the `Bilberry` gear?

Seeing as the OP is asking for a good cleaning method to avoid swirls, I will continue to advice on this, while welcoming "how to obtain best resale value with minimal effort"-advices in another post.

On to wheels:

There was just the other day a poll on Norway's largest detailing site, the P21s (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002EPLDXM) and Scholl's Rim 7 (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=235788) came out sharing pole position. Keep in mind that with Norway's climate, wheels take a fair amount of beating. Great spray-on/rinse off-philosophy on both - nobrainer, if you ask me

As for Autoglym lifeshine; I'd save the money for some good detailing products and a polishing machine, you can really stack up on far better stuff for the price of a Lifeshine-bag

Is there any particular reason you didn't use the Autoglym stuff? Where did you get the `Bilberry` gear?

No reason not to use it, I just find the bilberry cleaner the best. It's also PH neutral so not likely to damage the wheels. I got it from amazon.

Edited 16 June, 201213 yr by Longdog

As for Autoglym lifeshine; I'd save the money for some good detailing products and a polishing machine, you can really stack up on far better stuff for the price of a Lifeshine-bag

I may have agreed prior to having it done. I had no intention of using a machine on my Car so that wasn't an option and I had the life shine done for free as a good will gesture from my dealer, but I will say that at £300 it would be money well spent on any new car. The bag is full of good gear but you're actually paying for the treatment and warranty. Just a quick wash with the shampoo and jet wash gets my car gleaming and rain water just beads and rolls off, the interior just needs a wipe over with a damp cloth and comes up like new. I've only had the car for 6 weeks but a mate of mine had it on his car which is 3 years old and he swears by it.

There are loads of good products on the market to suit all budgets and I've used a fair few but I will use AG from now on - even if only to keep my warranty!

Did anyone pay the full price for the Lifeshine from AutoGlym?

I was happy with £83 and at least person paid £0 for it.