[Leeg1633]

Hi all,

Question is not specific to this forum but I know how helpful you guys are.

Recently got myself an X3 in Phytonic Blue and it shows dirt almost as bad as a previous carbon black 5 series I had. Any tips or advice on keeping this colour reasonably clean would be appreciated. Preferably without spending a fortune on products

Thanks

[Jon TDI]

It’s going to get dirty no matter what colour.
Wax or ceramic coating will help, but the best way is just keep on top of it.
Regular washes & hard work save it from looking like a sh!t box.

[Leeg1633]

I've never used wax or ceramic coatings. Just wash and dry. Any recommendations for a beginner?

[330DW]

Hi, welcome to the club, I've got the same colour X3!
The Phytonic blue is a great colour and it does look bad when it is just getting dirty after a wash but it tends to look better and hide the dirt better than a black car when absolutely filthy.

Regarding washing and prevention, as a beginner the aim is to get some protection on there so the rain, and ultimately some dirt, will bead up and roll off. I would use a good shampoo with wax in it (meguiars gold class, Autoglym shampoo and conditioner). the first really easy way to put some protection on is a wet ceramic coating spray, where you spray over a clean wet car and then rinse off and dry the car. I've used the Autofinesse Aquacoat and it's impressive for the amount of effort. The second way is to use a drying aid wax which you can spray on your drying cloth or panels before wiping dry (Autoglym Aqua wax).
The other options are more traditional waxes and spray waxes, where you dry the car and then apply the wax. There are hundreds of products around, I recommend Meguiars, Autoglym, Autofinesse for a start, all of which can be bought from your local Halfords. The only donwnside is that it adds an extra step to the wash process.

If you are obsessed over the dust and pollen laying on the paint you could try a waterless wash and wax to keep on top of it?
Hope this helps and hope you are enjoying your new car

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Leeg1633

I've never used wax or ceramic coatings. Just wash and dry. Any recommendations for a beginner?

More or less the same

However I have gotten into using AGs Rapid Ceramic Wax recently on our cars and it does give them a really good finish and some longevity to it as well...

I have gone over both cars with a clay mitt after a full wash to aid the decontamination of tar, tree sap etc and that left the paintwork like glass...

A good coating of Poorboys White Diamond on our silver cars (Black Hole I've used previous on darker cars) has left an amazing finish, but it has no longevity at all

White Diamond finish:



Black Hole:



I did use Chemical Guys Banana carnuba spray wax a while back on my F31; that worked brilliantly for a good few months and then it stopped (probably because I was it more or less weekly without fail)

Chemical Guys finish:



Silver cars = you can get away with murder TBH; they always look clean

The longest lasting really is a proper ceramic wax; but there's a lot of prep needed for that (ie pro detailer if you're not up to it); you can do maintenance washes thereafter...

[TurboWeasel]

For beginners I recommend a good claying followed by 303 Graphene nano spray. £12 for a Bilt Hamber clay bar and £20 for the 303.

What I like about 303 is it protects all exterior surfaces and doesn't leave white residue on rubber and plastics, and buffs off super easily.

I do have DA polishing gear and loads of products, but to be honest I find it tedious and boring and stopped using it a few years ago. A quick blast over with 303 does the job fine for me now

You can spend a fortune on ceramic coatings but they're not all they're cracked up to be. They don't protect from scratches, stone chips or swirls. They're just good for beading water for longer than wax, and that's it.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

For beginners I recommend a good claying followed by 303 Graphene nano spray. £12 for a Bilt Hamber clay bar and £20 for the 303.

What I like about 303 is it protects all exterior surfaces and doesn't leave white residue on rubber and plastics, and buffs off super easily.

I do have DA polishing gear and loads of products, but to be honest I find it tedious and boring and stopped using it a few years ago. A quick blast over with 303 does the job fine for me now

You can spend a fortune on ceramic coatings but they're not all they're cracked up to be. They don't protect from scratches, stone chips or swirls. They're just good for beading water for longer than wax, and that's it.

^^^ This!

I love keeping my cars clean; interiors also etc... But the whole 'going to town with a DA' for me, is just a step too far... Plus I'm also worried what damage I'd do knowing my luck

[Leeg1633]

Originally Posted by danb1979

More or less the same

However I have gotten into using AGs Rapid Ceramic Wax recently on our cars and it does give them a really good finish and some longevity to it as well...

I have gone over both cars with a clay mitt after a full wash to aid the decontamination of tar, tree sap etc and that left the paintwork like glass...

A good coating of Poorboys White Diamond on our silver cars (Black Hole I've used previous on darker cars) has left an amazing finish, but it has no longevity at all

White Diamond finish:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Y0HNTxWJ/todayswash4.jpg[/img]

Black Hole:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/j2QsnwPz/wash1.jpg[/img]

I did use Chemical Guys Banana carnuba spray wax a while back on my F31; that worked brilliantly for a good few months and then it stopped (probably because I was it more or less weekly without fail)

Chemical Guys finish:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/qvZhsbyc/detailed1.jpg[/img]

Silver cars = you can get away with murder TBH; they always look clean

The longest lasting really is a proper ceramic wax; but there's a lot of prep needed for that (ie pro detailer if you're not up to it); you can do maintenance washes thereafter...

That white diamond finish 👌

[Leeg1633]

Been to Halfords and picked up the below. Couldn't get to much as the other half was with me and she just doesn't get the passion for cars! As soon as we were heading home, guess what..... rain! Will get to it in the week sometime.

Also think I will order a good wax. Any suggestions? I'm clueless. And would you want first or ceramic rinse first?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Leeg1633

Been to Halfords and picked up the below. Couldn't get to much as the other half was with me and she just doesn't get the passion for cars! As soon as we were heading home, guess what..... rain! Will get to it in the week sometime.

Also think I will order a good wax. Any suggestions? I'm clueless. And would you want first or ceramic rinse first?

I wouldn't bother personally...

I'd snow foam the car first; rinse, wash it by hand, then re-apply snow foam; clean all panels with one of these whilst the cars lathered in snow foam:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/G3-Pro-7191...27&sr=8-5&th=1

Rinse again, wash again; then apply a wet wax like AGs Aqua Wax or similar; towel dry and dry the wheels/treat the tyres etc / Or use something like the Chemical Guys Blazin Banana Wax (smells great too)

Chemical guys: https://chemicalguys.co.uk/products/...auba-spray-wax

AG Aqua Wax: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-Ra...s%2C121&sr=8-5

AG Tyre Dressing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-IT...ps%2C98&sr=8-5

Use these to apply the tyre dressing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/psler-Appli...%2C149&sr=8-25

Have loads of these in for all purposes (microfibre towels):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/URAQT-Micro...s%2C190&sr=8-5

And have a few decent car drying towels:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Airlab-Micr...s%2C121&sr=8-7

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Topteck-Sig...21&sr=8-5&th=1

They're the basics I use and the cars come up superbly IMO - I am not a detailer; just like to keep the cars clean

[Leeg1633]

Originally Posted by danb1979

I wouldn't bother personally...

I'd snow foam the car first; rinse, wash it by hand, then re-apply snow foam; clean all panels with one of these whilst the cars lathered in snow foam:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/G3-Pro-7191...27&sr=8-5&th=1

Rinse again, wash again; then apply a wet wax like AGs Aqua Wax or similar; towel dry and dry the wheels/treat the tyres etc / Or use something like the Chemical Guys Blazin Banana Wax (smells great too)

Chemical guys: https://chemicalguys.co.uk/products/...auba-spray-wax

AG Aqua Wax: [...]

Thanks Dan, Ive just ordered the clay mitt (did look in Halfords but they didn't have one) and the AG wax. Just hope for a decent bit of weather to do it, dry and cool hopefully

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Leeg1633

Thanks Dan, Ive just ordered the clay mitt (did look in Halfords but they didn't have one) and the AG wax. Just hope for a decent bit of weather to do it, dry and cool hopefully

No worries; you'll be amazed at how well the mitt brings up the paintwork... Just let it glide over the surface with the snowfoam acting as the lubricant; don't press down unless you have to and even then, just a bit of pressure is all that's needed for any stubborn spots

It might be worth getting some IronX or similar fallout remover for the lower quarters etc; that shows up a lot!

I use this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gtechniq-W6...s%2C142&sr=8-7

[Armaan]

The only thing I’d add to the process by danb1979 would be a polish after the clay mitt, due to it agitating the surface when you remove the contaminants - AG super resin polish will work well before the wax.

This will mean the wax or sealant will bond better IMO.

You can add any number of steps, but that would be the basics covered.

A

[Allworth]

+1 to AG Rapid Aqua Wax because it smells good, makes car a bit shiny, provides some water repel, very easy to apply/dry car at the same time and opportunity to explore bodywork for any little scratches and imperfections.
I never polished cars even with resin polish, as it actually removes a very thin layer of lacquer,
only if there is a visible scratch.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Allworth

+1 to AG Rapid Aqua Wax because it smells good, makes car a bit shiny, provides some water repel, very easy to apply/dry car at the same time and opportunity to explore bodywork for any little scratches and imperfections.
I never polished cars even with resin polish, as it actually removes a very thin layer of lacquer,
only if there is a visible scratch.

This; and I don't use AGs stuff either as it's so, so dusty!

The spray carnuba polish is much better

[Ennoch]

I'm going to go against the trend here and say that unless you've got a DA to compound and polish the car with after (or arms like Popeye to do it manually) then I'd just stick to fallout remover like korrosol and a tar remover like Angelwax Nemesis, rather than clay. Clay's great and really does leave a glassy finish in terms of things tuck to the paint but it will introduce marring that then needs polished out - and even with the DA I still only ever use clay after fallout and tar remover as it's always better to avoid inflicting marring even if you do have the ability to take it out. Obviously different people have different takes, but I generally like to be as kind to the paint as possible. To that end I don't often polish the paint, just wax it with a good oily wax (or use FK1000p synthetic paste wax in winter as it lasts longer), and do occasional tar/fallout removal throughout the year to keep on top of things.

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by danb1979

This; and I don't use AGs stuff either as it's so, so dusty!

I used to find that but then discovered a damp microfibre pad and using less makes it go much further, and leaves less dried on spare product on the panel to create the dust when you're removing it. I find all glazes create a certain amount of dust as it's basically the excess fillers sitting on the surface. Dodo Lime Prime Light/Fillit Bang are both great products but are definitely dusty and on a par with AG SRP but they do give a wetter, oilier finish IMO. Meguiars Ultimate Polish is good though, that doesn't seem to fill as well but does give good gloss and less dust (probably down to less fillers).

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

I used to find that but then discovered a damp microfibre pad and using less makes it go much further, and leaves less dried on spare product on the panel to create the dust when you're removing it. I find all glazes create a certain amount of dust as it's basically the excess fillers sitting on the surface. Dodo Lime Prime Light/Fillit Bang are both great products but are definitely dusty and on a par with AG SRP but they do give a wetter, oilier finish IMO. Meguiars Ultimate Polish is good though, that doesn't seem to fill as well but does give good gloss and less dust (probably down to less fillers).

Yeah the CG Banana wax does; but it wipes off easy enough and doesn't leave a dusty haze like AGs stuff does... For me that fills too much and then just washes out

Never used Megs polish; just their compounds

[Armaan]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Yeah the CG Banana wax does; but it wipes off easy enough and doesn't leave a dusty haze like AGs stuff does... For me that fills too much and then just washes out

Never used Megs polish; just their compounds

Is the compound any good? I’ve got swirling on my very tough to keep clean Tanzanite blue and thinking of going for a compound instead of AG SRP this year - Mags Ultimate I think.

AG SRP is very light and barely has any abrasive in it from what I’ve read.

A

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Armaan

Is the compound any good? I’ve got swirling on my very tough to keep clean Tanzanite blue and thinking of going for a compound instead of AG SRP this year - Mags Ultimate I think.

AG SRP is very light and barely has any abrasive in it from what I’ve read.

A

The compound was good for ridding some of the more obvious marks; but I used this on my previous dark cars between washes, when I remembered:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-Ul...s%2C107&sr=8-6

I also used, as above, Poorboys Black Hole; but that's a show glaze really and it'll wash off after a few washed

My most recent dark car was my Azurite Black F01 730D; it came up superbly with AGs Ultra Deep Shine polish:



I'd apply that and then AGs Aqua Wax on top (just a light coating) and the buff it off; that'd give quite good longevity

But now they've got their Rapid Ceramic Wax; I'd use that instead personally; it works superbly on my F31

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-RC...98&sr=8-4&th=1

[Leeg1633]

Managed to have a go today, didn't get all I wanted to do done as Amazon delivery didn't arrive in time and weather was to good not to make a start, clear and dry but not hot. Done the wheels wit Halfords advanced wheel cleaner. Then Turtle wax snow foam and a rinse, followed by more Turtle wax snow foam and a wash with Meguiars wash and wax. After that I used the Halfords advanced ceramic foam sealant followed by another rinse and a towel dry. Then I found some Turtle wax waterless wash and wax and used that to finish it off. Very pleased with the outcome. Unfortunately the clay mit and AG wax arrived to late but I have it ready for next time

Thanks for all the pointers and product suggestions

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Leeg1633

Managed to have a go today, didn't get all I wanted to do done as Amazon delivery didn't arrive in time and weather was to good not to make a start, clear and dry but not hot. Done the wheels wit Halfords advanced wheel cleaner. Then Turtle wax snow foam and a rinse, followed by more Turtle wax snow foam and a wash with Meguiars wash and wax. After that I used the Halfords advanced ceramic foam sealant followed by another rinse and a towel dry. Then I found some Turtle wax waterless wash and wax and used that to finish it off. Very pleased with the outcome. Unfortunately the clay mit and AG wax arrived to late but I have it ready for next time

Thanks for all the pointers and product suggestions

That looks cracking to be fair