rivarama
New member
With the arrival of my new (to me) F430 next week, I have been doing some research about car washing, and the magic of detailing opened its arms to me...
Although I have had pretty decent cars in the past (991s and maserati), I had never really realized how big a deal swirl marks were. Car was until now, to me at least, was as easy as driving to a manual car wash, staying in the car while an army of dodgy looking mens kept splashing shampoo and chemicals on the car, handing a fiver and then driving away.
After the hours of videos and forums reads I went through, I think I understand why detailing is such an unknown and misunderstood art. The information out there is vast, totally conflicting, with about 73 schools of thoughts, and millions of products with thousands of compounds...
The bottom line, as you guessed it, is that I am utterly confused with what to do when it comes to car washing.
I am going to summarize what I think my technique should be, based on what I could gather, and hopefully you can tell me if I am way off. Given the multitude of methods out there, I don't really expect feedback about the perfect way of doing it, but just for you to point out any major flaw in my approach.
- Let it be said first that I live in central London, with no front porch/front garden to park the car in for a wash. Nor do I have a spigot out front, which really prevents me from washing the car with a hose. Hence, we're talking (pressured?) watering cans to get the car wet and then the good ole 2buckets method.
- Given that the car has quite a few swirl marks already, I do intend to have it professional detailed at the end of the season, ready for her hibernation. But that won't happen for another few months.
First wash
- Get the car wet thoroughly (with the use of a watering can)
- Wash the car a panel at a time following the 2 buckets method. I intend to use Autoglym bodywork shampoo, with a capful of of Optimum No Rinse added in the water to soften it (London water is very hard, or is ONR an overkill?)
- Dry the car properly with clean microfiber cloth
- Clay the car with clay bar and lube
- Dry the car again with clean microfiber cloth
- Apply 2 coats of wax on top (Autoglym high definition wax)
- Buff well and that's it
Routine wash
This would be my preferred way of cleaning the car following short day trips... obviously long drive/week end away, or car being caught in the rain would revert to previous method (excluding claying, which I don't intend to do again).
- Get the car wet a panel at a time with pressured watering can
- Wash the car a panel at a time following the 2 buckets method, but this time with ONR and their waterless method
- Apply 1 coat of wax on slightly misty car (autoglym aqua wax)
That's about it. The car would be covered under a clean car cover while in the underground parking I am renting for her.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Although I have had pretty decent cars in the past (991s and maserati), I had never really realized how big a deal swirl marks were. Car was until now, to me at least, was as easy as driving to a manual car wash, staying in the car while an army of dodgy looking mens kept splashing shampoo and chemicals on the car, handing a fiver and then driving away.
After the hours of videos and forums reads I went through, I think I understand why detailing is such an unknown and misunderstood art. The information out there is vast, totally conflicting, with about 73 schools of thoughts, and millions of products with thousands of compounds...
The bottom line, as you guessed it, is that I am utterly confused with what to do when it comes to car washing.
I am going to summarize what I think my technique should be, based on what I could gather, and hopefully you can tell me if I am way off. Given the multitude of methods out there, I don't really expect feedback about the perfect way of doing it, but just for you to point out any major flaw in my approach.
- Let it be said first that I live in central London, with no front porch/front garden to park the car in for a wash. Nor do I have a spigot out front, which really prevents me from washing the car with a hose. Hence, we're talking (pressured?) watering cans to get the car wet and then the good ole 2buckets method.
- Given that the car has quite a few swirl marks already, I do intend to have it professional detailed at the end of the season, ready for her hibernation. But that won't happen for another few months.
First wash
- Get the car wet thoroughly (with the use of a watering can)
- Wash the car a panel at a time following the 2 buckets method. I intend to use Autoglym bodywork shampoo, with a capful of of Optimum No Rinse added in the water to soften it (London water is very hard, or is ONR an overkill?)
- Dry the car properly with clean microfiber cloth
- Clay the car with clay bar and lube
- Dry the car again with clean microfiber cloth
- Apply 2 coats of wax on top (Autoglym high definition wax)
- Buff well and that's it
Routine wash
This would be my preferred way of cleaning the car following short day trips... obviously long drive/week end away, or car being caught in the rain would revert to previous method (excluding claying, which I don't intend to do again).
- Get the car wet a panel at a time with pressured watering can
- Wash the car a panel at a time following the 2 buckets method, but this time with ONR and their waterless method
- Apply 1 coat of wax on slightly misty car (autoglym aqua wax)
That's about it. The car would be covered under a clean car cover while in the underground parking I am renting for her.
Any thoughts?
Thanks