Keeping Onyx Black clean?! Help please

[Merlin V8V]

Hi Guys

3 weeks into V8V ownership and loving it! I love it so much that I want to keep the car looking its best and keep the looks of admiration flowing but despite a full Swissvax treatment and buying all the recommended cleaning bits (foam lance, twin buckets, drying towels etc etc I just can’t keep it clean!

The car is garaged and after a 2 hour cleaning session last night after which it was looking stunning, I took it on a little run out today and got caught in this glorious summer rain whilst on a 20 mile stretch of motorway and now it looks like it’s never seen a two bucket wash and a lamb’s wool mitt! lol.

I enjoy washing it (particularly snow foaming it) but I’m sure 3 washes a week runs the risk of damage to paintwork as accidents do happen and the odd stray particle will find its way into a mitt. As well as that risk I’m sure my family or neighbours will have me committed for OCD! lol.


So how are you other owners dealing with keeping the cars clean???

I look forward to your words of wisdom.

Many thanks.

Jay

[topjay]

You've got no chance with black unfortunately, if it's not dry. Get used to it not being perfect most of the time except mid summer. Just foam or hose the worst of it off.

When it is clean though, black is still the daddy.

[Murph7355]

As above. Not a prayer if you're going to actually use the car.

Short of getting it resprayed another colour, there's nowt I can suggest other than just get used to the "lived in" look and just clean it for special occasions.

Much as they look great clean, I will never buy another black car again.

[SirVandru]

Hi Mel, I am a two week owner of a v8 but in light gray. From the sounds of it this is the first time you have owned a black car. I have two black cars in the house hold and they are a bh to keep clean, but I also kind of like they dirty.

The gray does not show up the dirt as much as a black car so I was worried I may neglect cleaning it. So I am booked in for a full detail using Swizzvax products, aGlaze protective coating and final layer of Swizzvax carnauba wax. (2 days work, but takes 3 days to allow layers to dry)

All you then need to do is get them to come out to your house/ office every week, 2 weeks or whenever you want it cleaned and it will look stunning every time with not a swirl in sight.

Well that's the idea anyways, will let you know how it works out.

[bogie]

Ive had 6 black cars now, as Im not very good at choosing colours

Id agree with Murphs assessment above; other than the odd few weeks in the Summer, where it may not rain for a week at a time, then the rest of the time my car looks merely black and lived in

I gave up years ago with my daily driver cars trying to keep them looking pristine ALL the time ...its not possible

My philosophy is its there to be used, driven and enjoyed ...when im driving it, im not looking at how clean it is outside

Anyway, being a lazy car cleaner (fortnightly unless I have a special event to go to) Ive had the last 2 cars coated with polymer stuff they put on yachts etc ...www.gtechniq.com

Its a permanent polymer coating, makes it easier to clean and stay shiny. After 3 years now, it has done its job and I would have it again on any premium car.

My car has had a couple of "top-ups" in the last 12 months, just to give it an extra shine before I go somewhere special, otherwise it just gets a fortnightly wash (2 mitts/buckets/filtered water rinse etc)

50K miles on, Its peppered on the front/rear arches with stone chips, got a few random scratches, swirls are just coming back now (they detail the car and get rid of them before applying the coating) so its really ready for a full detail again if I was fussy....but to be honest, it needs painting again, not polishing and I may have that done next year, I have defects in 4 panels with bubbles, and waiting to see if Aston will honour those under paint warranty first before polishing up the stone chips

Anyway, how to look after black cars for a daily driver;

1. get it coated with some polymer or ask the detailer you use to use the longest lasting sealant products he has.....and do the wheels too

2. have anthracite MATT finish wheels - brake dust dosent stick so much, and even after 2 weeks they still look clean ..in fact they never look dirty or clean most of the time ...just grey LOL

3. use filtered water to rinse after washing, 2 bucket method, and good towels to dry - get a smear free finish on a treated black car and it looks perfectly fine without polish/waxing every few weeks (see pic below)

this is after washing, 18 months after it was done, its perfectly acceptable to me for something that wont stay clean for very long once I get in it

[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2385225920039429722FDdVSL][/URL]

I guess the real answer is, if you like looking at a pristine, shiny AM all the time, is to buy a spare, put it in the garage and dont use it...or have 2 on rotation, one to drive, and another to look at

...in the meanwhile enjoy it whether its clean or filthy

[V8VKK]

I also have a black car and between washes I use a pressure washer being fed by a rain water butt so that you get no limescale marks apon drying

[AstonZagato]

It is a labour of love.

[Merlin V8V]

V8VKK said:

I also have a black car and between washes I use a pressure washer being fed by a rain water butt so that you get no limescale marks apon drying

Thats an interesting idea and not one that I had thought of. Is the rain watr not dirty though and possibly have grit or particles in? As its a system you are using I bow to your first hand experience and will look at installing one if its an option.

Ive read that some people use filtered water to rince their cars. Evian or Volvic Im not sure? lol. Ive got filtered water from the fridge dispenser but that cant be what they mean surely????


Jay

[bogie]

Evian is a bit too expensive for car washing

this is what you want ....

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/aqua-gleam/0ppm...

or those Flash things work fine for a cheaper solution for rinsing

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flash-Home-Car-Wash-System-N...

stops water spotting if you dont dry well enough ...some people have probs with AM grille cleaning, filtered water really helps on that, and good towels for drying

make sure you wash your mitts n towels after every wash, so no grit in them for next time etc


/rainwater butt sounds like a good idea, may have to get one for the garage roof

Edited by bogie on Saturday 28th August 13:59

[Murph7355]

bogie said:

...
this is what you want ....

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/aqua-gleam/0ppm...
...

I have one of these. Makes a massive difference if you just want to do a quick was and dry.

[V8LM]

Murph7355 said:

bogie said:

...
this is what you want ....

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/aqua-gleam/0ppm...
...

I have one of these. Makes a massive difference if you just want to do a quick was and dry.

Buy the ones used for American fridges (the ones with a water dispenser) - far cheaper. For example: http://www.uk-water-filters.co.uk/water_filters_re...

Or, if you have a dehumidifier in the garage, collect the water from that.

[bogie]

cheers - will get one of those when mine runs out

[paddy328]

Trouble is, cars will get dirty. The good thing about having a wxed/protected car is that its much easier and quicker to wash that dirt off.

[V8VKK]

Merlin V8V said:

V8VKK said:

I also have a black car and between washes I use a pressure washer being fed by a rain water butt so that you get no limescale marks apon drying

Thats an interesting idea and not one that I had thought of. Is the rain watr not dirty though and possibly have grit or particles in? As its a system you are using I bow to your first hand experience and will look at installing one if its an option.

Ive read that some people use filtered water to rince their cars. Evian or Volvic Im not sure? lol. Ive got filtered water from the fridge dispenser but that cant be what they mean surely????


Jay

I have not had any problems with dirt and grit, if this bothers you I think you can get a filter which floats on the top, I use mains water for washing and only use the rain water for the final rinse, I then leave it to dry on it's own. I have also found that a Hozelock fitting works on the tapered spout of the butt.

[DSLiverpool]

One of these, a cheap inline filter, a jetwash and a leafblower (used carefully) should do the trick inbetween proper washes, the rainwater through a jetwash is a magical liquid (note the butt drain away, even on my small workshop roof it fills in no time)