Right chaps as above what products to you use to clean your car.
I had a blast of my dads Maguires DA set up with some Maguires products and was impressed. But want to know what you would recommend for the Raider from start to finish. e.g. best shampoo, clay bar, polish, wax etc etc and what process to take.
I’ve never really given the Raider a full detail just a good was etc.. so want to give it a go and see how good i can get the paint work restored and looking etc.
Cheers
Oh sooo many opinions, so many options…
I am sure the very experienced people will jump on here and advise what they think is best… But it’s more a choice of budget, and application purpose and what suits you best..
Do you have a jet wash and a snow foam Lance? Do you need that?? Alot of people use citrus based pre wash through a garden weed sprayer pump (with good effect to)…
Then there is the waterless washing (handy if no access to hose and some are environmentally friendly)…
Other cleaners attack your wax.. No real issue if you wax often or use a decent wax…
For me I have
Bilt hammer Auto wash (snow foam)
Bilt hammer car wash (small bottle last ages)
3M clay Mitt (although have a few bars aswell, but Mitt works well for the most of it)
Bilt hammer fall out remover (forget the name- but it’s cheap and effective for me)
Bilt hammer wheel cleaner (very good - but plenty out there to choose from)
If you have a DA polisher then your ready for Polishing with a machine, research for me suggested a good place to start with was megauirs 205 polish and 105 cutting compound would do most of the jobs I wanted and tbh u haven’t needed to use the 105 stuff yet as the 205 is very good for removal of swirls, light scratches etc..
Wax I use colinnite 456s, very cheap, effective and easy to use… But once again there are others out there such as show waxes etc.. Depends on what you want..
Then I use a quick detailer of BSD with chemical guys V7 mixed 50/50.. However BSD (available at euro car parts cheap atm) is very good on its own…
I have alot of bill hammer stuff, mainly down to cost and availability and it works well… If you have an autosmart guy near you who will sell to you you can get alot trade stuff that’s also very good…
But as I say many different options out there…
Cheers for that Chris. Plenty to choose from then… will spend the next few weeks having a look about and see what other people suggest.
Cheers
Scratcher has given good advise on here… Look at some of his threads, also @andybond thread about mitts… Good advise on there to, all the stuff I have, I haven’t been disappointed with, got the results I was after..
Cheers mate, I read though a few of the threads last night, need to go over them again and see whats what.
As @Chris Smith said, it’s all down to opinions 
there’s so much to choose from these days with new firms popping up every week.
What products do you have at the moment? You can usually work them in and save a little money for something else.
The products I’d suggest would be…
Pre-wash: Auto Finesse Avalanche (I use it through a pump sprayer as it’s less messy).
Shampoo: Auto Finesse Lather or Dodo Born To Be Mild.
Quick Detailer : Auto Finesse Finale - if you finish with a wax, Chemical Guy’s V7 - if finishing with a sealant.
Wheel cleaner : Auto Finesse Imperial.
Tar remover : Auto Smart Tardis.
Clay: Bilt Hamber regular.
Tools are just as, if not more important than the products, a good wash mitt, drying towels and wheel brushes will make a huge difference between a nice safe wash and slowly wrecking the paint.
Machine polishing is a complete mine field.
A paint depth gauge is a must, definitely on an older car as you don’t know what it’s been through in the past.
But as Chris said, 105 and 205 will see you through the majority of things. Always start with the least aggressive combo and work up only when needed and If its safe to do so.
Wax or sealant, it’s completely down to what you want from the protection and what your budget is.
Looks, durability, warm glow, clinical look, glassy finish - there’s lots of choice
Tbh I had some autoglym products kicking about and the use of the maguire da with products. But I’m wanting to get a good set of products together and keep on top of it and get a good quality finish.
I’ll look into the products you’ve mentioned cheers
A word of warning… It’s very addictive..
I use carlack 68, think its called klasse all in one now, as a sealant and p21s wax which is so easy to apply and buff off, might not last as long as some other waxes but its easy to use and gives a good finish imo.
So just been looking at the Autofiness and thought i’d price some products up and get them all from one company:
Would this be a good start? It has everything i need I’m hoping.
Advice again is appreciated
Also a maybe a daft question but cloths, pads wash miss etc can I use them on two cars or is it best to have a set for each car???
2 bucket wash method helps… Plastering buckets are ideal as they are tall, any dirt/debris should drop the bottom…
I have 1 sponge, decent drying towels (once again bmw hole can of worms - buy mine from China as I have loads but if it’s only for your own car only need 1 or 2)…
I’d say all of those products are a good way to go.
Good quality mitts and towels can be washed and reused.
It’s worth looking at the wash kit on the Auto Finesse shop, pre wash, shampoo, a good mitt and drying towel in a nice bundle
Excellent, thanks for the advice chaps, ill get some ordered for when i get home in a few weeks and post some of my handy work up lol
I find the clay bar is a pain in the arse. I use a clay mitt. I seem to get the same results without the ballache.
I would also recommend that you have a look at the waterless methods that are descirbed in Chemicals and Neutral seem to be oxymoron by @LowiePete . Makes sense what he says and is next on my list to try.
cheers bud ill have a read
:ai: A bucket of water and a sponge.
Angelwax products are great.
I use auto finesse stuff .
Meg’s stuff also
Coliinite wax
Poorboys
Chemical guys
A good mix
Loads to choose from
Bought some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 for the rust spots on the Dauph and while I was doing that I also bought a clay bar. What a revelation! I have got a polisher, but the thought of doing a whole car with Farecla and the attendant mess it leaves everywhere does not appeal. The clay bar is great and seems to be quick and easy if you use plenty water and a touch of soap as lubricant. My Question is when should you stop using it? When it is all discoloured, before that? I am not a car polisher by nature and tend to wait until the paint feels like 400 wetndry before doing anything about it, so car polishing is a bi annual event for me on my daily drivers. I await the wisdom.
