Washing and Polishing

[chris mallett]

Right, this has possibly been coverd before but would like to seek your lots advice and recommondations.
What is the best car polish???
Best finish, ease of application etc?????
We also live in hard water area and this seems to create streaks when just giving a quick wash to car, any ideas???? Thinking maybe fitting a water softner to whole house??
Also whats best for cleaning alloys?
Car is titanium silver
Any help much appriciated

[ChrisO]

I'm sure lots of people will disagree with me here, but I've used Autoglym on every car I've had and I've always been impressed. It even restored some very badly faded paint on a Fiat I once had.

[turbobloke]

If you don't want the white powder residue thing go for a carnauba wax product like Zymol or Race Glaze.

[liquidken]

Autoglym super resin polish, followed by a coat of Zymol wax.

Works an absolute treat. And regardless of what anyone says, Zymol is easy to remove. You just need to let if haze up properly.

Not the best of pictures, but you get the idea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/liquidken/B10wedding1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/liquidken/B10wedding2.jpg

>> Edited by liquidken on Monday 4th October 15:03

[turbobloke]

Agreed, this isn't a BMW (not obvious eh) but when posted on a PH forum by the photographer, comments came back saying it looked unreal, too shiny even, that's Zymol and Race Glaze. It does have a weird effect here - lighting? - better in the metal.

[chris mallett]

WOW I'm sold on that!!!! Where can you buy it? only have a halfords nearby??? Oh and love the car by the way!!!Is it as quick as it looks??

[mustard]

Always used to use Autoglym myself, then I tried the 'cheap' Zymol, as you can see i was impressed!

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=119799

[turbobloke]

chris mallett said:

WOW I'm sold on that!!!! Where can you buy it? only have a halfords nearby??? Oh and love the car by the way!!!Is it as quick as it looks??

Both the products are based on carnauba wax and they work well together. Zymol is more expensive, Race Glaze will do a good job as a starter but for best results I'd suggest you Zymol your car and then use Race Glaze as a top up.
[url]www.raceglaze.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.vertar.com[/url]
The car's a 1986 Koenig Ferrari GTS, it's not slow but everything's relative.

[burwoodman]

Turbobloke.

Id like to get a bit more info on the Zymol/race glaze treatment.

Are you saying WASH with Zymol and POLLISH with Raceglaze

I have a car in Carbon Black. What would you suggest?

Any thoughts on the best applicators (cotton cloth etc?)

Thanks

Adam

ps I saw the photo's of the Fezza and couldn't believe the paint finish. Bet it took all day

[MattOz]

Got to be Meguiars. Clay Bar, cleaner wax and then either Gold Class or NXT. Seems to work OK on my cars!

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/MattOz/M5Side.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/MattOz/330dSport.jpg[/IMG]

Matt

[xxplod]

Second that. The Meguairs range of stuff is superb. My Elsie looks the DBs when given the polish with the wax on top.

[stuarta]

Well guys, hello to all, newbie here.

Anyway, as far as polishing, must admit I've converted to Meguiars from Autoglym and hve to say, very good.

I was suffering from overspray from a nearby paint factory, and their quick clay, removed it all and back to a glass finish. Their Quick Detailer is also very good for when you get a sand shower just after washing.

[stuarta]

Well guys, hello to all, newbie here.

Anyway, as far as polishing, must admit I've converted to Meguiars from Autoglym and hve to say, very good.

I was suffering from overspray from a nearby paint factory, and their quick clay, removed it all and back to a glass finish. Their Quick Detailer is also very good for when you get a sand shower just after washing.

[chris mallett]

Ok so autoglym is looking best recommended, so which products, do you wash with it and polish every time or polish say once a month????? This race glaze also looks good, do you wash with autoglym and polish with race glaze??
Also alloy wheels, is there anything you can put on them when clean such as polish?? to aid ease of cleaning next time. Wheels on mine can be a pain to get inbetween the spoke bits
Some great pics by the way!

[liquidken]

I tend to polish every 3 or 4 washes.

I use Zymol clear auto wash. Its highly concentrated, has all the same ingredients as the wax, and is a straightforward shampoo. So its at its best when you use a seperate wax after/

About £5.99 in Halfords for 500ml

[turbobloke]

chris mallett said:

This race glaze also looks good, do you wash with autoglym and polish with race glaze??

I use the 'HD Cleanse' from Zymol to prepare the surface, after washing / leathering and before applying Zymol which is best done with your fingers and then buffed with the soft cloth pad you also get from Zymol. This is something you need only do every month or so. Inbetween, after removing dust and so on for which ostrich feather dusters are said to be the best I would then use Race Glaze spray applicator and soft cloth to keep the finish looking good.

burwoodman said:

Turbobloke. Id like to get a bit more info on the Zymol/race glaze treatment. Are you saying WASH with Zymol and POLLISH with Raceglaze. I have a car in Carbon Black. What would you suggest? Any thoughts on the best applicators (cotton cloth etc?) Thanks Adam ps I saw the photo's of the Fezza and couldn't believe the paint finish. Bet it took all day

I've used both the 'Carbon' and 'Concours' waxes from Zymol, blue and yellow respectively, both cost a packet but last ages as you apply such a small amount, melted on the skin. The smell is addictive, watch out. It won't take all day but it does take longer than other products.

[sohlman]

I have to add my two peneth. Autoglym is fine untill you try something better then you realise it is not that great. The reason it is so widely used is that it has the best marketing. I used to use autoglym and then was introduced to both race glaze and meguires. Race glaze is significantly better, but my feeling is that meguires is the best. I was doing a show and we used autogly super resin polish, race glaze, meguires NXT and zymol on 4 marked out sections on my friends bootlid. The meguires gave the deepest shine.

I also find that the meguires and the zymol last considerable longer. Autoglym i found needed doing every 3-4 weeks before the polished affect was going. Race glaze lasts about 6-8 weeks and meguires last about 3-4 months. The most exspensive Zymol can keep the shine and the beeding of the paint for about 6-8 months. However you are looking a over £100 for this wax.

My advice would be to Clay the car (Meguires), Then give the car a paint clean which can also take out the swirl marks in the paint (Meguires. I the would then polish the car using the race glaze polish and then finish off the car with the Megures NXT.

Please see my car finished using the above products at the Alexandra Palace Car show in February

[The Wiz]

xxplod said:

Second that. The Meguairs range of stuff is superb.

I'll third that - the M3 looked superb after I first used Meguairs.

Prior to that I used Autoglym.

[burwoodman]

Do you think BMW/Merc garages use the quality products when valeting a new car for delivery?

[JRSE]

I recently treated my car with this:

www.jewelultra.co.uk/diamondbrite.htm

Very impressed!!

Not sure about this tho:

"Jewelultra Diamondbrite, can only be applied by fully trained, and authorised Diamondbrite centres to ensure a professional guaranteed finish"

- I did a decent job myself tho and it wasn't difficult!!