[planemad]

Owning cars since 18 - now 40, I have spend huge amounts of money on detailing products over the years as well as the time & effort researching products on forums trying to always get the best results.

With countless hours spend in the garage with products I have realised over the last few years that Autoglym products which are commonly available literally everywhere are the most consistently performing product giving excellent results. Autoglym seem to be often overlooked by the detailing community and I’m not sure why.

Just some words of wisdom if anyone is on this journey as it will save you a heck load of money!

[boba-fett]

Most of them are the same products just rebadged. I mean look at Yiannimize, which should only appeal to people who wear Tracksuits and sliders with socks!

I have bought many many products, and some are excellent and some just don't do what they say they will do, however over the years I have come to use a select few products that I feel do the job and the rest is bvllshit!

I think autoglym products are generally good and I do have some and occasionally the resin polish does come out with the machine polisher for so light swirls!

[MY340i]

Same with L’Oréal for skin products

[Allworth]

I liked to work with AG wax, smeels good. Resin polish also works. I didn't like the interior shampoo. Leather cream is average. But generally is a good brand at affordable price, but if you in a trade can find much more suitable products.

[danb1979]

I use a lot of AGs stuff; but rarely their polishes TBH

I've found the Koch Chemie stuff to be better and far less dusty

I've literally just polished some light scratches out of the bonnet & tailgate on my F31 this morning and the Koch Chemie 6.01 has done a superb job

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by MY340i

Same with L’Oréal for skin products

Tried that on my wet suit... didn't work, looked just as bad after

[TurboWeasel]

Maybe it's just indifference because AG have been around for decades and there's a ton more choice now?

They're all the same thing really. They are all a wax, abrasive paste or some kind of ceramic. There are only so many ways you can wipe stuff onto a car and wipe it off again.

I just use whatever is easiest these days, which for me is 303 Graphene spray as you can wipe it onto anything and everything and it doesn't leave any residue on rubbers and plastics.

I used to spend £100s on Swissol stuff years ago and spend an entire weekend detailing the car, and then some seagull would dump it's load all over it the next morning. Not worth it. So long as the car is clean enough from 5 meters, that'll do me

[crAbb]

Originally Posted by boba-fett

Most of them are the same products just rebadged. I mean look at Yiannimize, which should only appeal to people who wear Tracksuits and sliders with socks!

I have bought many many products, and some are excellent and some just don't do what they say they will do, however over the years I have come to use a select few products that I feel do the job and the rest is bvllshit!

I think autoglym products are generally good and I do have some and occasionally the resin polish does come out with the machine polisher for so light swirls!

What's a 'Yiannimize'?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by crAbb

What's a 'Yiannimize'?

Not what; but whom: https://www.youtube.com/@yiannimize

Appeals to the Burberry masses

[Rbrown]

By coincidence, I gave my car a quick once over with AG resin polish today as plan to change out of winter wheels next week.

I have dabbled with other products and am currently thinking of paying £800 to get my 6 year old car professionally detailed.

But AG is so easy to use and gives such a good result for pretty little effort. Does make me question paying that amount of money.

Still thinking of selling my 2018 M40i as don’t use it much and has done 29k miles.

[Wills2]

Having used many over the years inc AG, for me Swissvax make very high quality washes, surface cleaners and waxes along with Menzerna when it comes to compounds and polishes.

Huge amount of me too detailing products have sprung up of the last few years just like they have in the food supplement industry as well, for me they are best avoided.

[planemad]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

Maybe it's just indifference because AG have been around for decades and there's a ton more choice now?

They're all the same thing really. They are all a wax, abrasive paste or some kind of ceramic. There are only so many ways you can wipe stuff onto a car and wipe it off again.

I just use whatever is easiest these days, which for me is 303 Graphene spray as you can wipe it onto anything and everything and it doesn't leave any residue on rubbers and plastics.

I used to spend £100s on Swissol stuff years ago and spend an entire weekend detailing the car, and then some seagull would dump it's load all over it the next morning. Not worth it. So long as the car is clean enough from 5 meters, that'll do me

I spent a good £500 on Zymol a number of years back, looking back I was mad.

[Wills2]

Zymol make a very good leather cleaner, I have an AG one at the moment but it's no where near as good, AG do make some good products I've used many of them for years and have loads in the garage, but as with all things in life you generally have to pick and choose from a range of quality suppliers to get the best results.

Bilberry wheel cleaner as an example is excellent stuff, Megs make great drying towels etc... but these are all established quality brands not a TikTokers me too range.

[Alscoob]

Too many products to choose from in todays market and a lot are just copies of others and I doubt the man on the street could tell the difference between them, professionals on the other hand doing cars day in day out will obviously have more knowledge and find some better than others, but guess that even they would find most the same and it would come down to what they like and the cost of them.

In 2004 when I started to get into car finishes, I started with Meguires stuff (by hand) and thought it was much better than anything else I had used (T-cut & Autoglym SRP) but then expanded to the purchase of a DA polisher (imported from the US) and Poorboys products. I've found that Poorboys stuff is brilliant, easy to use, gives a great finish, lasts a long time and is competitively priced. Hence it is still my go to product for polishes in 3 grades, paint sealant and waxes for bodywork and wheels.

Wife bought her Night blue 350Z in 2007 and I bought Poorboys Natty Blue paste wax (for dark couloured cars) at the same time, great product for the car colour. It was regularly used over the 7 years she had the car, I've still got quarter of a tub left and have used it on the last F31 and now on my Tanzanite 540, still beads really well. That's value for money to me but will need to get more soon or try another perhaps.

I've also used Menzerna on the last black F31 I had, as it was recommended and while it produced a great result it was hard work and did clog up the pads a lot quicker than Poorboys stuff.

I tend to try different glass cleaners and quick detailers as they are products you get through quite quickly and stick with what I like for a while before looking at others. Currently using Sansom Hydra glass cleaner & Auto Finesse QD.

Not to preach to the converted, but one thing that some dont realise is that certain polishes contain fillers, AG SRP for one, which is why it gives good results, the fillers help mask the sharp edges of micro scratches in the paint finish. Sunlight reflects off the sharp edges of scratches, which is why you see them, fillers round these off so they are less visible. Polishes for paint correction (removal of scratches / swirls) don't contain fillers so you need to choose the right products for what you are trying to achieve.

Anyway just my thoughts and I'm sure others will have found the same with other products thay like.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Zymol make a very good leather cleaner, I have an AG one at the moment but it's no where near as good,

The orange coloured spray..? I agree, that’s good stuff, although I noticed it’s not as freely available now as it once was… Still have half a bottle left…

[Blacktemplar]

Having tried loads of different products over the past 8 or 9 years, I have to say I’ve become something of a Bilt Hamber fanboy of late. Their Finis carnuba Wax is pretty good & beads like crazy, haven’t tried their QD product yet, been using Meguiars Gold I picked up in offer at Halfrauds. I use Poorboys wheel wax, that’s been the most durable one I’ve come across short of ceramic coating, works well with the matte cerium finish on the alloys.

[Abzynthe]

I try various products and stick with what works for me.
Autoglym do it for me in terms of snow foam, shampoo and sealant/drying aid. But I like Meguiars Ceramic wax, Soft99 for the windows and Tyre Wax. Armorall leather wipes are working fine for me for the seats and AutoBrite(?) for alcantara cleaner.

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by planemad

I spent a good £500 on Zymol a number of years back, looking back I was mad.

Yeah I flirted with Zymol as well. Objectively, I just couldn't tell the difference between brand X and brand Y, so in the end I stopped paying for the expensive stuff

Defo not mad. It's all good experience, but I just think as you get older and value your time and bank balance more, you naturally grow out of the obsessive detailing and adopt a more 'that'll do' approach.....which is where the cheap/er products come in

As much as I appreciate the craft and work that goes into professional detailing, I'm not paying someone over £1000 to wipe something onto my car, and then wipe it off again, either

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by DaveA

The orange coloured spray..? I agree, that’s good stuff, although I noticed it’s not as freely available now as it once was… Still have half a bottle left…

Z-507 which I think is it, Swisswax one was very good as well, once the weather warms up (if it ever does) I'm going to give the car the full treatment inside and out, wheels off the lot.

I've not done that to it yet and I can see it needs the DA.

[Blacktemplar]

The one product I've not managed to get a 'regular' favourite on is tyre shine - I used to rate the Meguiar's gel, but the replacement is nowhere near as good and doesn't last.

Anyone got a recommendation?

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

The one product I've not managed to get a 'regular' favourite on is tyre shine - I used to rate the Meguiar's gel, but the replacement is nowhere near as good and doesn't last.

Anyone got a recommendation?

I've used this before, seems to last well... https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/gyeon-q2-tire

Essential to clean the tyres first though so it will adhere well.

...and it doesn't fling off the tyres up the paintwork like Megs Gel.

[boba-fett]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

The one product I've not managed to get a 'regular' favourite on is tyre shine - I used to rate the Meguiar's gel, but the replacement is nowhere near as good and doesn't last.

Anyone got a recommendation?

I used to swear by Turtle wax Wet "n" Black, but thats changed in the last 6 months its not so wet and black and does not last as long.