Another Clean A6

[pxr5]

Sorry no before or during photos - I got carried away

Wheels First
One at a time. Blasted with a Nilfisk pressure washer, then sprayed with Bilberry (10:1, as still polished and sealed). Inners cleaned with an EZ detail brush, outers agitated with a short detailing brush. Tyres and arches sprayed with APC (Stardrops) at 4:1 and scrubbed with a stiff brush. ValetPro Tar and Glue remover then IronX applied - and Rinsed off.

Exterior
Snow foamed whole car with AB Magifoam and lance, and cleaned badges and trims with APC at 10:1 with a short brush and detailing brush while the foamed dwelled and did its stuff. Rinsed car with pressure washer.

Washed car using 2bm (20 litres each) and AG Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner, grit guards in both buckets (got guards now, but not convinced of their worth – buckets look good though lol)

Applied Valetpro tar and glue remover on the few tar spots, rinsed. Sprayed on IronX, wiped and left to do its stuff (purple blood lol). Rinsed car again.

Car still wet and clayed with Bilt Hamber Regular Auto Clay, using 2 bits soaking in hot water – and warm water in a sprayer for lube.

Washed again with 2bm. Rinsed car again.

Dried with running water from open hose, then final dry with towel (windows first to dampen towel before touching paint). Dried door shuts and engine bay (already cleaned and treated so just needed a wipe over). Wheels, arches and tyres dried.

Paint cleaned with Concours Car Care Perficio worked with the hard side of a tri-foam applicator, then the soft side. Buffed off.

Paint polished with AG SRP using both the hard and soft side of a tri-foam applicator

Dodo Juice Purple Haze pro wax applied with a DJ Supernatural finger mitt, left to cure and buffed off with a Pakshak “Big Boy" Ultra-Plush Microfibre buffing cloth (removal side first then buffed with the fluffy side).

Wheels again.

Inner and outer wheels repolished with Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine. Buffed off. Tyres dressed with meguiars endurance tyre gel.

Exhaust

Inners and outers cleaned and polished with Autosol and a toothbrush to remove the inner grime.

Glass

Inside and outside polished with AG glass polish.

Trim

Rubber and vinyl trim dressed with CarPro Perl.

Glaze

I’d normally apply a glaze before wax, but WetGlaze 2.0 can sit over a wax. So today one layer of WG2.0 applied with the soft side of a tri-foam and buffed off. I'll do another couple of coats next wash.

Total time 8.5 hours – 5 coffees and lots of cigs

Then I crawled inside for shower and a beer. Sorry about the poor quality pics (must update my camera).

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[Guest 2]

Very nice! ;)

I need to take a day and get mine spotless again.

[gupsterg]

WOW :approve:

I have only one question do you let your wife drive it?? ;)

[pxr5]

Very nice! ;)

I need to take a day and get mine spotless again.

Thanks Chris, yours was very good too. I didn't do the interior of mine, but should only need a quick 30 mins going over.

[pxr5]

WOW :approve:

I have only one question do you let your wife drive it?? ;)

Sometimes she does under strict orders about how to drive it and where she is allowed to park it. lol

[Guest 2]

I'm a member on DW but get lost in all the jargon so a question for you :)

The stuff you used above, do you consider that as 'all you need' for a good clean?

I need to restock and wouldn't mind some and maybe all of the items you used.

[gupsterg]

I have also been looking at DW as well, another question for you.. :Blush:

When I asked my friend I'm going to get a karcher he said "I've gone through two karcher's..."

So how have you found the
Nilfisk pressure washer

Looks like an industrial/commercial grade company Link:- Industrial cleaning machines, full range of industrial cleaning machines (http://www.nilfisk.co.uk/)

[Brycie]

good job mate, looks stunning. You'd have to be well chuffed with that finish.

[pxr5]

I'm a member on DW but get lost in all the jargon so a question for you :)

The stuff you used above, do you consider that as 'all you need' for a good clean?

I need to restock and wouldn't mind some and maybe all of the items you used.

I'm certainly no expert at all and have only been into this 'detailing' lark for 6 months or so. When I first joined DW I tried to promise to myself not to get too engrossed and spend too much money. Unfortunately I failed miserably and am sort of hooked. The main things I have learnt though is preparation, touching the paintwork as little as possible and a good wash technique. So in order of what I used above I'll try in my newbie way to elaborate:

Wheels:

As with the paint it's preparation - a wheel cleaner (Bilberry diluted to suit), cleaning the tyres before a dressing (Stardrops/Flash with Febreze as an All Purpose Cleaner), removing embedded brake dust (IronX) and removing Tar (ValetPro Tar and Glue remover). Then a wheel polisher and sealant (Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine)to make them look nice and easier to clean at the next wash. Brushes help to reach the inners (an EZ detailing brush is sturdy and long, and a small brush to do the faces) - finally a tyre dressing (Megs Endurance). There is so much choice, but this is what I'm using now. Wheel Woolies are popular, but expensive, Tardis is supposed to be better then Valet Pro, Gtechiq C5 is supposed to be amazing as a wheel sealant - but very expensive. So:

Wheel Cleaner (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valet-pro-bilberry-wheel-cleaner/prod_499.html)
IronX (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-exterior/carpro-iron-x-500ml/prod_726.html)
Detar product (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-exterior/valet-pro-citrus-tar-and-glue-remover/prod_586.html)
wheel Polish and sealant (http://www.planetpolish.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5)
brushes as required (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/ez-detail-brush/prod_480.html)
tyre dressing (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/meguiars-high-gloss-tyre-gel/prod_103.html)
various applicators and microfibre cloths as required

Exterior - I like using snowfoam and it really does help remove a good 70% of the grime before washing. The Autobrite lance is good and their magifoam works well. 2 bucket method is a must, grit guards are a waste IMO, a decent mit for the upper part and another for the lower area. Again a Tar and Iron Remover and a car shampoo that is wax/sealant (LSP) safe (unless stripping any protection, then an All Purpose Cleaner would suffice). Clay - I chose Bilt Hamber as it only needs water as a lube - so cheaper. If you think about all that the only time the paint has been touched is using the mit, and maybe a wipe of the ironx. The paint then would be pretty well prepped (pre-wash, wash, detar, deiron, wash). I then use AG SRP (worked not polished, so use a tri-foam applicator) or in the case above I have some perficio (http://www.concourscarcare.com/blog/item/6-perficio-pre-wax-cleaner-polish) as a pre-wax cleanser (similar to SRP, but no fillers). Then a thin layer of wax (panel pots or samples are a good way of trying different waxes) as the LSP. As I said before Wetglaze 2.0 can be put on over a wax, but purely for appearance only. On subsequent washes, it would be simply, pre-wash, wash, dry, glaze (or a wax top up, or a quick detailer). So

lance and foam (http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/exterior-cleaning/snow-foam/magifoam-snow-foam-lance-kit.html)
2 buckets
ironx
detar product
clay (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bilt+hamber+clay)
Car shampoo
polish applicators (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/accessories/ultimate-german-applicator/prod_280.html)
wax applicator (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/accessories/dodo-juice-basics-of-bling-finger-wax-applicator/prod_977.html)
A good buffing cloth (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/cleanyourcar-fluffier-24-x-16-towels-pkg/2/prod_456.html)
drying towel (http://www.seriousperformance.co.uk/Products,71,toView_554.html)
polish
wax/sealant
A quick detailer for later washes

Other stuff - Some metal polish (e.g. Autosol), trim dressing (I like CarPro Perl (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-exterior/carpro-perl-coat-protectant-500ml/prod_932.html)as it can be used for all trim, rubber, inside and out at different dilution ratios). Glass - some sort of polisher, e.g. AG Glass Polish or Fast Glass. I've not sealed my glass, but Gtechniq do some good stuff apparently.

Like I said I'm still on a learning curve but the stuff I use is probably more than adequate. Hope this helps and ask away.

[pxr5]

I have also been looking at DW as well, another question for you.. :Blush:

When I asked my friend I'm going to get a karcher he said "I've gone through two karcher's..."

So how have you found the

Looks like an industrial/commercial grade company Link:- Industrial cleaning machines, full range of industrial cleaning machines (http://www.nilfisk.co.uk/)

I just followed the crowd at Detailing World and bough this Nilfisk on recommendation from the majority. It works really well and fantastic with a snowfoam lance:

Nilfisk C110 3-5 X-Tra Pressure Washer with 1400 Watt Motor: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001TUYV14/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00)

The hose is a bit pants though, so for my birthday I'm going to get one of these

PRESSURE WASHER NILFISK ALTO RUBBER HOSE 1 WIRE 10 MT | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRESSURE-WASHER-NILFISK-ALTO-RUBBER-HOSE-1-WIRE-10-MT-/170684210590?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item27bd925d9e)

[pxr5]

I took some more pics the next morning. The glaze seems to improve with time (or maybe it's just the time of day lol):

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[gupsterg]

I bow to you and your A6's shine... the reflections are glorious... http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/approve.gif

Mega thanks for the whole thread and post's 10 & 11 http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/fing02.gif

[stuart]

Don't forget the Surf City Garage range I supply is fantastic... I have used them myself, give first class results ;)

Stuart