Detailing a New Car

[B6Andy101]

Have read seveal comments in the model specific areas of the form regarding owners of new cars wanting to detail them before they post up photos.

With a new motor on the way what should I be looking at doing to the car on delivery to keep it tip top and easy to clean.

Thanks in advance.

[Lespaul]

Alot of problems with new cars is that the dealership valeters just dont get the time to correctly detail each car before it goes to the customer and as such some come from the dealers with swirls inflicted in the paintwork.

A correct detail after collecting from the dealership would depend on the quality of the paint upon collection. Most would be along the lines of :-

Pre Wash with a MILD traffic film remover
Rinse
Clean alloys and arches with a APC or de greaser
Wash using 2 bucket method
Clay all paintwork and glass surfaces
Wash using 2 bucket method
Dry
Machine polish to remove any swirls or imperfections in the paint
Cleanse paint with a pre wax cleaner
Wax paintwork
Seal wheels
Dress tyres and plastics

For Weekly maintenance

Wash with 2 bucket method using a good shampoo
Dry using a WW drying towel and a detailing spray to help keep the shine topped up

For Monthly maintenance

After washing give the paintwork a coat of wax

For 6 Monthly maintenance

Wash, Clay, cleanse and wax

For 12 monthly maintenance

Wash, clay, polish, cleanse. wax.

Hope that helps
Darren

[Millerman]

As a valeter myself i've got to agree with the post above;) I also used to work for a BMW dealership and we were given plenty of notice to valet their cars, no questions asked, they had to look good!

[B6Andy101]

Thanks Guys. Would you care to recommend any products....don't want to use anything too agressive. Thanks

Thanks in advance :D

[Lespaul]

Thanks Guys. Would you care to recommend any products....don't want to use anything too agressive. Thanks

Thanks in advance :D

That really depends on what you want to spend :D

My advise would be to get a Meguiars clay kit from Halfords and thier step 1 to 3 system, it's not the best in the world but is a good intro into the world of detailing at a reasonable price ;)

Treat yourself to a lambswool wash mitt, 2 buckets and a microfibre drying towel aswell and try to stick to washing your car using the 2 bucket method, this will help protect and maintain the finish of your car :)

Some good car care guides here (http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides.html) :fing02:

Darren

[B6Andy101]

Fantastic guide. Cheers Darren.
Andy

[Christian6984]

if you havent taken delivery yet, i would advise to get in touch with ur dealer, and tell him, dont wash or polish the exterior of the car. if no swirl marks or rotary buffer trails are inflicted and you use the two bucket method, the car should remain defect free forever (tell the dealer also not to clean it when u service it)

Audi Paint is notoriously hard (as a rule) so and damage inflicted is difficult to remove.

Hope this helps
Christian

[Millerman]

if you havent taken delivery yet, i would advise to get in touch with ur dealer, and tell him, dont wash or polish the exterior of the car. if no swirl marks or rotary buffer trails are inflicted and you use the two bucket method, the car should remain defect free forever (tell the dealer also not to clean it when u service it)

Audi Paint is notoriously hard (as a rule) so and damage inflicted is difficult to remove.

Hope this helps
Christian

Going back to my above post Christian, most new cars to my knowledge, certainaly BMW, where delivered with a certain amount of protective wax still on the body work/door shuts/boot shuts/engine bay shuts that was not removed at the port of entry, new cars need to be valeted, but in the hands of a professional.;)

[Christian6984]

Going back to my above post Christian, most new cars to my knowledge, certainaly BMW, where delivered with a certain amount of protective wax still on the body work/door shuts/boot shuts/engine bay shuts that was not removed at the port of entry, new cars need to be valeted, but in the hands of a professional.;)

very true transit waxes need to be removed and detailers are a good way to ensure a proper job, the less the dealer does the better tho.

[B6Andy101]

Guys,
Couldnt arrange for the dealer not to prep as a lease vechicle. Has been delivered with some minor swirls on bonnet from mop polishing. Can anyone recommend a good detailer in West or North Yorkshire that would have a go at this. Would do it myself but I'm gonna get Audi to pay for it.
Thanks

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr167/B6Andy101/Audi%20A4%20Avant%20S-Line%20Lava%20Grey/2008_09_10_001335.jpg

[Plife]

if you havent taken delivery yet, i would advise to get in touch with ur dealer, and tell him, dont wash or polish the exterior of the car. if no swirl marks or rotary buffer trails are inflicted and you use the two bucket method, the car should remain defect free forever (tell the dealer also not to clean it when u service it)

Audi Paint is notoriously hard (as a rule) so and damage inflicted is difficult to remove.

Hope this helps
Christian
Good advice! Mine will be delievered unwashed for this very reason....then straight to a pro detailer to prep it correctly!!

[B6Andy101]

Thanks that makes me feel much better

[Lespaul]

Have a look here (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40246) for a detailer ;)

Darren

[Plife]

Have a look here (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40246) for a detailer ;)

Darren
Thanks....I have already picked one out from DW! Been in contact and penciled in :biglaugh:

[Lespaul]

Thanks....I have already picked one out from DW! Been in contact and penciled in :biglaugh:

Look forward to the write up ;)

Darren

[B6Andy101]

Have a look here (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40246) for a detailer ;)

Darren

Thank you

[Christian6984]

Hiya got this list from detailingworld, the closest to me is Iain Brown from Finerdetails who does some amazing work, but if you go on the website you will be able to see what work they do in the studio section.

Hope this helps
Thanx Christian

Autoshine Specialist Valeting
www.autoshinespecialistvaleting.co.uk (http://www.autoshinespecialistvaleting.co.uk/) /yorkshire /+44 (0) 7779 143 403

Carnoisseur (Auto Detail)
www.elitedetailer.co.uk/ (http://www.elitedetailer.co.uk/) York /07930 949821

CJA Valeting
www.cjavaleting.co.uk (http://www.cjavaleting.co.uk/) / York & North Yorkshire / 07523 900 901

Cossie Devil
www.prestige-detailing.co.uk (http://www.prestige-detailing.co.uk/) /staffordshire /01782 744115
(Autobrite-Direct Detailer)

Crystal Clear Detailing Ltd
www.cc-detailing.com (http://www.cc-detailing.com/) /covering the North West/ 07809 891 911

DPN
www.professional-car-valeting.com (http://www.professional-car-valeting.com/) / Based in Harrogate / But will travel anywhere in the UK & abroad / 07759 627237

FinerDetails Ltd
www.FinerDetails.co.uk (http://www.finerdetails.co.uk/) /Greater Manchester & North West / 07870 503197


Obsessive Car Detailing
www.obsessivecardetailing.co.uk (http://www.obsessivecardetailing.co.uk/) / Greater Manchester / 07734 658957

Off Your Marks Ltd
www.offyourmarks.com (http://www.offyourmarks.com/) -Licensed Zymöl Detailers with detailing centre.07881934788

alanjo99 (Shine Studio) - www.shine-studio.co.uk (http://www.shine-studio.co.uk/) - North West based Detailing Studio - 07810 098101

Wonder Detail
www.wonderdetail.co.uk (http://www.wonderdetail.co.uk/) North East, Teeside, Cumbria, Borders / 01670 531898/07854 936076

[Plife]

The results a lot of these guys get is nothing short of amazing. They work wonders and turn the whole appearance of the car around. Trick is to once they do it to keep the car looking that way :)

[B6Andy101]

Having found swirl marks on the bonnet inflicted as part of the dealer prepping process and a discussion with the dealer they eventually agreed to pay a profession to undertake the paint correction rather than use the VW dealer as they had suggested. (I politely noted may leave them with a bigger problem and a whole new world of pain).

I have now had the paintwork corrected and it now looking like it should have done when it was delivered (delivered wet so I don't spot it)

This may now turn into a shameless plug, for which I do not apologise. It is not very ofter that you get a service that is professional, high quality and offers good value for money.

Thankfully I used http://www.professional-car-valeting.co.uk/ of Harrogate following a recommendation on the forum.

After two hours work on the bonnet, a carauba wax and a good sealing the car now looks fantastic. Big thanks to Dave Naxton of DPN for sorting me out. :notworthy

I would not hesitate to recommend the company to any of you, I'll be booking mine in for a detail in the spring. Great Value for money and a fantastic job.

Dave also runs http://www.car-care-direct.com/catalog/index.php and has offerd me an offer code to get 10% off orders. If anyone out there is interested drop me a PM and I will let you have it when I get it.

In summary, Audi Preparation :aargh4: DPN :arms::arms:

[Plife]

Good news mate! Just remember every time it goes in for a service to put a big sign on the seats....DO NOT WASH :biglaugh:

[dnaxton]

Having found swirl marks on the bonnet inflicted as part of the dealer prepping process and a discussion with the dealer they eventually agreed to pay a profession to undertake the paint correction rather than use the VW dealer as they had suggested. (I politely noted may leave them with a bigger problem and a whole new world of pain).

I have now had the paintwork corrected and it now looking like it should have done when it was delivered (delivered wet so I don't spot it)

This may now turn into a shameless plug, for which I do not apologise. It is not very ofter that you get a service that is professional, high quality and offers good value for money.

Thankfully I used http://www.professional-car-valeting.co.uk/ of Harrogate following a recommendation on the forum.

After two hours work on the bonnet, a carauba wax and a good sealing the car now looks fantastic. Big thanks to Dave Naxton of DPN for sorting me out. :notworthy

I would not hesitate to recommend the company to any of you, I'll be booking mine in for a detail in the spring. Great Value for money and a fantastic job.

Dave also runs http://www.car-care-direct.com/catalog/index.php and has offerd me an offer code to get 10% off orders. If anyone out there is interested drop me a PM and I will let you have it when I get it.

In summary, Audi Preparation :aargh4: DPN :arms::arms:

Hi Andy,

Thank you for using DPN to sort out your bonnet.

If i am able to advise or help anyone else on here, please do ask away.

Regards
Dave