[BMWSKI]

Just received some detailing products by Auto Finesse!
Before I invest in a brand it's good to try out small samples first
Unfortunately two of the items were missing from my order but a quick phone call to AF and all appears to be sorted. They seemed genuinely gutted that my first order was incorrect. Let's hope their products speak for themselves.
Hopefully I'll get time to test them out later or at some point over the weekend.

I'm a very keen car washer but I'm new to 'Detailing' so I'm intrigued to see the results. Due to work/life commitments I'm striving to find the easiest / quickest products to apply but still get a good shine and protective coating.
I can report back my findings if people are interested to hear?...
The products come in nice packaging at least

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Just received some detailing products by Auto Finesse!
Before I invest in a brand it's good to try out small samples first
Unfortunately two of the items were missing from my order but a quick phone call to AF and all appears to be sorted. They seemed genuinely gutted that my first order was incorrect. Let's hope their products speak for themselves.
Hopefully I'll get time to test them out later or at some point over the weekend.

I'm a very keen car washer but I'm new to 'Detailing' so I'm intrigued to see the results. Due to work/life commitments I'm striving to find the easiest / quickest products to apply but still get a good shine and protective coating.
I can report back my findings if people are interested to hear?...
The products come in nice packaging at least

Hopefully it's fine and sunny this weekend.

Looks nice set of samples.

I tend to do the same, getting in some panel pots and going to tryout different snow foam along with dodo juice iron x stuff.

Getting everything sorted for June lol.

[d4springer]

Yes would be interesting to hear, I'm also an OCD car washer but no idea about detailing as such.

I have recently tried out "claying" and have been very impressed, I had a bad feeling it would scratch or swirl the paintwork but so far no sign of any problems, the clay itself easily removes blemishes and all those little black dots around the wheel arches and back of car (easy to spot on AW!), don't need any elbow grease you simple spray with detailer and manoeuvre the clay compound over the surface and all the crap just comes off. Finish with plenty of Mcquires Ultimate silicone wax and it stays clean and blemish free for weeks.

This weekend I plan on adding more Poor Boys alloy protector, looks like no rain for us so far anyway, car has already been washed in preparation!

[Southern Jay]

Definitely interested in hearing more mate, I have just bought a load of McGuire's products and am planning to wash mine for the first time over the weekend.

My experience in the past for washing cars has been a mix of bucket and sponge when i can be bothered but more usually letting the local Polish give it a once over. saying that my previous cars have been company cars.

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Yes would be interesting to hear, I'm also an OCD car washer but no idea about detailing as such.

I have recently tried out "claying" and have been very impressed, I had a bad feeling it would scratch or swirl the paintwork but so far no sign of any problems, the clay itself easily removes blemishes and all those little black dots around the wheel arches and back of car (easy to spot on AW!), don't need any elbow grease you simple spray with detailer and manoeuvre the clay compound over the surface and all the crap just comes off. Finish with plenty of Mcquires Ultimate silicone wax and it stays clean and blemish free for weeks.

This weekend I plan on adding more Poor Boys alloy protector, looks like no rain for us so far anyway, car has already been washed in preparation!

I'd save your money on the detailer spray. Lots of Fresh clean ph neutral car shampoo in water as lube, works a treat for me, also means you never under do the lube so no sticking of the clay

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by JM7789

I'd save your money on the detailer spray. Lots of Fresh clean ph neutral car shampoo in water as lube, works a treat for me, also means you never under do the lube so no sticking of the clay

I've heard of this trick too. It would save quite a few quid over several washes.
I won't be claying mine yet as it was only done at the end of December.
I intend to wash, de-bug, polish and seal. The car already shines up well but I'm really keen to try out some new products...

[Chunkv6]

+1 for the Auto Finesse range of products BMWski let me know what you think of them I certainly can't fault them!!

They make up the bulk of my detailing bag with a few items from other brands.

I would also order the interior spritz cleaner, great for plastics/dash etc leaves a matt finish and smells really nice. Also the total interior cleaner is great for carpets and leather cleaner (the water based cleaner not the cream) is also good.

Although the glass cleaner is good I prefer scholl concepts gel cleaner as it seems to work better and is easier to apply. I'm planning to try AF iron remover as I've ran out of my tried and tested ironx so may aswell give it a chance aswell.

Happy cleaning!!

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

I've heard of this trick too. It would save quite a few quid over several washes.
I won't be claying mine yet as it was only done at the end of December.
I intend to wash, de-bug, polish and seal. The car already shines up well but I'm really keen to try out some new products...

It works great i stopped using detailer a long time ago for clay, just don't overdo the shampoo and don't use wash n wax, a good shampoo in tepid water is what you need, lash on the mix with a mit and squeeze it so it soaks the panel then clay, add more as it drips off. Rinse the panels as you go though or it dries on nasty! Detailer is a rip off for claying, I only use it for a quick shine in the weeks/months between waxing. Can't wait to give my new car it's first detail when it arrives

[d4springer]

Originally Posted by JM7789

It works great i stopped using detailer a long time ago for clay, just don't overdo the shampoo and don't use wash n wax, a good shampoo in tepid water is what you need, lash on the mix with a mit and squeeze it so it soaks the panel then clay, add more as it drips off. Rinse the panels as you go though or it dries on nasty! Detailer is a rip off for claying, I only use it for a quick shine in the weeks/months between waxing. Can't wait to give my new car it's first detail when it arrives

Sounds good, I got the detailer with the clay kit (Meguiars) but I'll go for your method once it runs out. Wierdly I just had a conversation with my mother and found out she has been using bluetack on her car to remove deposits! She hadn't heard of claying but says she's used bluetack for years, maybe she's on to something!

[Rich9600]

@BMWSKI

Welcome to the land of shiny shiny. Let us all know how you get on, with plenty of pictures.

If anybody is claying a car just don't dry it first. Keeping it wet massively reduces the amount of lube needed. Rinse off each panel once done and you'll have less post-clay buffing to do. Clay does wonders for glass also.

[d4springer]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

I've heard of this trick too. It would save quite a few quid over several washes.
I won't be claying mine yet as it was only done at the end of December.
I intend to wash, de-bug, polish and seal. The car already shines up well but I'm really keen to try out some new products...

I've noticed the bugs starting to appear on the front of my car, almost forgot how much of a pain they are to remove.

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Sounds good, I got the detailer with the clay kit (Meguiars) but I'll go for your method once it runs out. Wierdly I just had a conversation with my mother and found out she has been using bluetack on her car to remove deposits! She hadn't heard of claying but says she's used bluetack for years, maybe she's on to something!

Yes I've heard of that but it's just not quite as tacky or firm as clay, cheaper though! I'd stick to the clay you could have a tough clean up to get blue tack residue off the panels. Resourceful mum though!!

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

@BMWSKI

Welcome to the land of shiny shiny. Let us all know how you get on, with plenty of pictures.

If anybody is claying a car just don't dry it first. Keeping it wet massively reduces the amount of lube needed. Rinse off each panel once done and you'll have less post-clay buffing to do. Clay does wonders for glass also.

Thanks for the advice ...it will be quite a while before I get as good as you though!

[dubdemand]

Also a big fan of AF stuff. Just bought their iron and tar removers and I'm pleased to report they're really very good! Its amazing how much iron contamination came out the paint!

Another product worthy of a mention is a sealant - C2v3 from G techniq. Really easy to apply and provides a durable hydrophobic coating - which, they claim lasts for 9 months!

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by dubdemand

Also a big fan of AF stuff. Just bought their iron and tar removers and I'm pleased to report they're really very good! Its amazing how much iron contamination came out the paint!

Another product worthy of a mention is a sealant - C2v3 from G techniq. Really easy to apply and provides a durable hydrophobic coating - which, they claim lasts for 9 months!

Is that acrylic based like the AF Tough Coat?

[dubdemand]

Um... Not sure, learnt about it from a mate that details for a living and read a load of positive reviews online. All I can say is that our cars all have a coat and its great. Water sheets off the panels and I've also found they stay cleaner for longer between washes.

Here's a link to the product page
http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars...iquid-crystal/

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by dubdemand

Um... Not sure, learnt about it from a mate that details for a living and read a load of positive reviews online. All I can say is that our cars all have a coat and its great. Water sheets off the panels and I've also found they stay cleaner for longer between washes.

Here's a link to the product page
http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars...iquid-crystal/

Great thank you.

[boom77]

AF is good stuff.
Am picking up my car on Tuesday, and with any luck it will get a day over the weekend.
Wash, Iron X, clay, AF Tough Prep, 1x coat of AF Power Seal, 1-2 coats of AF Tough Coat.

[BMWSKI]

Well the weather was rubbish over the weekend so I couldn't test out my new products Hopefully I'll get the chance soon.
On the plus side though I just received my missing applicator pads along with a load of free samples to say sorry...Thanks AF!

[addo402]

Have you had the car detailed professionally before? If so who did you use? As I see you are in Bucks like me.

I'm in two minds to get mine done as a new car treatment or do it myself as a geeky cleaner but also like you but struggle to find time.

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by addo402

Have you had the car detailed professionally before? If so who did you use? As I see you are in Bucks like me.

I'm in two minds to get mine done as a new car treatment or do it myself as a geeky cleaner but also like you but struggle to find time.

Yeah, had it detailed before collection. It looked great and gave me peace of mind that someone had checked over every square inch of the car before collection.
I just want to have a go myself with various products but would like to stick to the same manufacturer if I can. In most part anyway.

[BMWSKI]

I used Refined Details. Think he's based in Aylesbury but I got him to carryout the work at Sytner in High Wycombe.