Hi All,

Just wondering whats the best way to clean my new VRS? Its Meteor Grey not that it should make a difference? What do you use? It has lifeshine on it.

Any recommendations for products?

 

Cheers!

Hi All,

Just wondering whats the best way to clean my new VRS? Its Meteor Grey not that it should make a difference? What do you use? It has lifeshine on it.

Any recommendations for products?

 

Cheers!

I'd ask in the styling and car care forum if I were you. Some very informative people there who'' see you right

If it has life shine applied correctly, the autoglym pack you have should last a while. I always use autoglym stuff anyway, good quality, easy to use and not too harsh unlike some 'premium' products.  There's masses of OCD with car cleaning and Lee's comments above are accurate. There's lots of good advice and talk of gtechniq and other good but pricey solutions.

 

For me, autoglym car shampoo weekly using 2 bucket method and a wash mitt, fast glass, tyre dressing and vinyl and rubber care on the black section under the tailgate.  A three monthly polish with super resin polish followed by HD wax. This keeps it looking great until it's time to be sold. In my opinion, the fact that you have life shine means that your cleaning routine is very easy. Others will direct you to detailers to have your car prepped and detailed regularly but I've never felt the need.

As above I use the 2 bucket method with grit guards in the bottom. A Dooka lambswool washpad is IMO far superior than a microfibre mit. First off I'd follow the lifeshine guidelines so you don't use anything that will damage the treatment.

To help reduce damage caused during the washing stage use a nilfisk jetwash (from places like argos you can get one for under £100) and a snowfoam lance. Detailing world do a group deal on an autobrite one, but you can also get snowfoam lances off ebay for under £30 and you just need to make sure they have the correct attachment. Used with a ph neutral snowfoam like valetpro (1" of snowfoam in the bottletopped up with warm water) you can get rid of a lot of dirt without even touching the car.

After snowfoam/jetwash/shampoo with AG shampoo conditioner/jetwash off use the openended hose andmost of the water will then bead and run off leaving a lot less to dry. The wooly mamouth drying towel is very good- by holding it by 2 corners and pulling it across the panels I can get most of the car dry in about 5 minutes. I then use a couple of extra large kent microfibre towels to finish off. If lifeshine permit sonax brilliant quick detailer is about the best you can get.

Don't forget your wheels as they take a real hammering. I use bilberry wheel cleaner which is ph neutral (beware of the acid or alcaline types) and bilbery wheel wax, but there are other very good wheel sealers out there-gtecnik do one which is highly rated. Good luck...you've spent a good deal on money on your new car so have fun looking after her.

Check out http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/

I hope you didn't get lifeshine from the dealer! If they didn't rip you off they probably didn't apply it properly unless you got a really good service bloke. As they're usually paid by the car though I doubt they did.

 

If you're interested the best place is Detailing World. Forums dedicated to cleaning and detailing. From people who want to just improve their wash so they don't damage to the massive enthusiasts who are really into it and buy machine polishers and have about 10 of each kind of product for every wash stage! I'd like to think I'm at the middle ground!

Also have a Dooka wash mitt and the AB lance from DW and can recommend both

If you have a karcher DONT buy their snowfoam lance as its rubbish

There are better ones on ebay around same price