You can't go wrong with the below info, the only thing I add as a personal choice is contactless dry with my blower, plus it gets that water out of hard-to-reach areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pentland
You’re entering a rabbit hole.
There are some useful detailing sites e.g. detailingworld however, as you’ve probably ready found, everyone has their own particular favourite products and methods.
The prices you mention seem a little high when you add the vat. I’d expect to pay under £1k for 2 stage and ceramic. You’re right they won’t be working on your car all day but some products will need curing. That said, I had a stage one correction on my F36 and I know the guy spent 10 hours on it only stopping for a sandwich, then it was ceramic coated.
Clearly you can learn about detailing, diy and get a great deal of satisfaction with the results. Equally, you can easily make matters worse.
Personally, I’d get a pro paint correction and learn how to maintain that and wash a car.
(Note, I’d go for a 3 year ceramic rather than 5 year one as after 3 years you may need to get door dings, or other things fixed as well)
My 2p… (others as I said above will preach their own gospel)
Buy:
a snow foam lance or 2 (one for each foam type)
Two buckets with scratch guards
A sheepskin mitt
Wheel woolies.
Car drying towel.
Consider that each time you touch the car, you damage it. So every time you put a cloth, a hand, polish, any contact on the vehicle there is possibility to add a swirl.
With that in mind this is my wash routine:
Spray mist the car with a garden hose. This ”floats off” of any grit, dust etc
Snow foam with a pre wash foam.
While this is dwelling, I clean the wheels with wheel woolies and a microfibre brush. Do not use a bristled brush.
Rinse again with a low pressure hose.
Snow foam with a shampoo foam.
Wipe off foam with a sheepskin wash mitt one panel at a time.
After each panel, rinse the mitt in a bucket of clean water (bucket should have a scratch guard in it) then rinse the mitt in a second bucket of clean water before starting the next panel.
Rinse the car again with a low pressure hose.
Dry the car with a specialist towel (or 2).
So in the above, I’ve touched the car twice, once to clean it, once to dry it. Both times the surface will be pretty much if not properly clean anyway.
You can then add waxes, sealants etc. but remember, every time you touch the car….
I have a black car so you can imagine it will show every mark if it goes wrong.
Good luck
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