SR's top tips for a gleaming Car with mainly Autoglym products - Updated 17/2/09

[DJB]

On SRs' recommendation I've just used AG Aqua Wax, and it's fantastic giving Carbonio an extra depth of shine compared to that acheived using SRP and UDS.
Top product.

[G5een]

I think I'll try the aqua wax and acid free wheel cleaner Sold in Halfrauds??

Not overly into the detailing side of things but I really want to keep the GT looking mint.

I use a combination of AG and Megs products which seemed to work well on the 156, and I hope, with a little more effort, will work great on the atalantico blue GT

It's the wheels I really struggle with, after 1000miles the GT already has the nasty tar marks over the rims What sort of brush/sponge would you all recommend to use with the AG wheel cleaner product to get the marks off?? Also, is it a good idea to use the aqua wax on the wheels to make cleaning easier??

Cheers.

Great write up SR

[alfabarrett]

hi,iv got a 147 lusso and not sure what two use when cleanin the dash,any ideas?

[73GTVJim]

Simon, thanks - that's a great tip about pre-soaking with 50/50 mix in a spray bottle.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Originally Posted by 73GTVJim

Simon, thanks - that's a great tip about pre-soaking with 50/50 mix in a spray bottle.

My pleasure Jim. 50/50 is being very generous as I reckon 60/40 or even 70/30 would do the job. I'll experiment

[springbok]

G5een, if you keep your wheels well waxed or sealed, it will make cleaning them much easier. No matter what brand of wheel cleaner you use, if they do not have a layer of protection on them then the brake dust/tar and whatever else will cling to the wheels.

There are some excellent dedicated wheel sealants on the market. I particularly recommend the Poor-Boys Wheel Sealant, also sold as Smartwax Rimwax (It's all the same stuff just different brand names)

[156GTASW]

So no one would suggest a nice petrol station car wash - the auto wash type with fast rotating brushes !!!!

The GT style 18" wheels are a pig to clean and take almost as long as the whole car!

Totally agree - a strict approach to car cleaning is worth it... one product I've found helps no end are the Aqua Gleam De-ionising Water Filter - I live in a very hard water area - and it makes a lot of difference

[G5een]

Originally Posted by springbok

G5een, if you keep your wheels well waxed or sealed, it will make cleaning them much easier. No matter what brand of wheel cleaner you use, if they do not have a layer of protection on them then the brake dust/tar and whatever else will cling to the wheels.

There are some excellent dedicated wheel sealants on the market. I particularly recommend the Poor-Boys Wheel Sealant, also sold as Smartwax Rimwax (It's all the same stuff just different brand names)

I'll keep an eye out for some.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Turtle Wax nano won the recent AE test on wheel sealants. It's great, as is the AG version

[Cody]

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

Turtle Wax nano won the recent AE test on wheel sealants. It's great, as is the AG version

Do those wheel sealants really work or is a good coat of wax, etc just as good?

[Squadrone Rosso]

I honestly think they do but I'm that anal I often do both

[Squadrone Rosso]

Yesterday, 5 days after having keyhole spinal surgery & injections in my L5, L4 & S3 facet joints, nerves & muscles I decided to spruce up both cars ready for today's AI Day at Gaydon.

Usual routine, cars looked mint (there's a pic of them in the images section under the AI event thread).

Shame the front of Clare's GT is so peppered with stone chips

I really need to spend and hour or so on my backside playing join the dots with some Red touch up paint and a dinky brush

RE. wheel sealants, on Clare's GT I consider them both essential & really effective

I gave my car a spruce yesturday, used some of your tips SR and have to say....


































really really good mate

When I get longer i'll be doing the whole hog

The alloy sealant does really help cut down on brake dust build up. I've just started using it - Simoniz stuff for me due to lack of pennies but still works really well

[braddersR]

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

Yesterday, 5 days after having keyhole spinal surgery & injections in my L5, L4 & S3 facet joints, nerves & muscles I decided to spruce up both cars ready for today's AI Day at Gaydon.

Usual routine, cars looked mint (there's a pic of them in the images section under the AI event thread).

Shame the front of Clare's GT is so peppered with stone chips

I really need to spend and hour or so on my backside playing join the dots with some Red touch up paint and a dinky brush

RE. wheel sealants, on Clare's GT I consider them both essential & really effective

Hope ya backs fixed up soon matey.... ....I'm going to have to invest in some wheel sealant.........the multi-spoke 17inch alloys are a bit of a ball ache to clean .........look great when they are though..

[Maxxb12]

Hey SR tryed this out : well chuffed with results

To avoid the swirls, I always pre-treat the car with a 50/50 mix of water and wash & wax, sprayed on with a trigger bottle. Leave for a bit then hose off.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Can't wait to do our cars again but recovering from another bout of back surgery Cars are minging

[Pasi]

Just wondering... do AG products contain silicone like the Turtle Wax products do?

[Squadrone Rosso]

Finally got around to doing the GT today and I'm absolutely cream crackered now. Done inside and out but only polished with Aquawax

The car gets it's first MOT on Tuesday so it needs to be clean

[Squadrone Rosso]

I recently bought a high quality hose head with an integrated, switchable, detergent dispenser. Got loads of spray patterns to choose from too Not cheap at £28 though Still following the routine and cars both mint

[Squadrone Rosso]

Used the foam dispenser gadget with some snow foam GTLeigh gave me to try. Not much foam but a very good TFR. Quick blast over with my (low) pressure washer and 90% of the cack was gone. Washed, rinsed & Aquawaxed and it looks new again. Plan to do the GT tomorrow morning before the dent dude gets here!

[Andy Waine]

Washed my Brera on Xmas Eve, Aquawaxed her and left her to dry off in the garage overnight. Then attacked her with Autoglym High Definition wax, superb! Can't get her any cleaner now. She's been sat in there looking lovely and will remain so until return to work next week.
Can't recommend the HD Wax enough.
And a photo to prove my hard work.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...a/IMG_0027.jpg

[Squadrone Rosso]

Looks mint fella AG products are ace in my eyes. Affordable, easy to use and produce excellent results

[GTA Jim]

thats shiney!

[JEZALF]

Well following SR's and others' top recomendations I asked Santa to visit me via the Autoglym factory this year and he delivered everything I asked for !
So on Sunday I launched a full scale cleaning attack on the Brera and the results are quite simply staggering

To start with -washed with AG Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner, rinsed off then repeated and leathered dry.

Used Custom Wheel Cleaner on the alloys, then rinsed and repeated. Also used an enamel silver paint pen on the wheel bolt heads which have started to rust!
Then when dry used Alloy Wheel Seal and gave the tyres a squirt of Instant Tyre Dressing.

Then had a first attempt at using a clay bar (Meguiars Quik Clay) which was surprisingly easy.
Its quite a surprise how much extra grime it lifts off along with all those anoying tar spots on the doors!

Next up was Bumper Care on all the door/window rubbers and around the wipers and the the black plastic bits by the headlamps/ foglamps.

Fast Glass was used on the skyroof and windows which gave the roof a very deep gloss shine!

Then a non AG product for the exhausts and headlamp surrounds - Autosol Metal Polish- which is particularly good for lifting the black soot from the exhaust chrome.

Finally the big gun was brought out!
AG High Definition Wax.
Easy to apply - a b*gger to get off without swirls- but a brilliant finish after the hard work.

I was going to do the interior as well but it basically got dark outside- I'd been going from 10 - 4.30 and felt like I'd spent all day at the gym!

Next day the sun was shining and I can honestly say she's never looked so good since I bought her.
The paint finish is now showroom standard (despite the odd stone chip) and even the missus commented

Obviously everyone has their fave products and I'm sure there's plenty of alternatives out there, but for me for vfm and ease of use (despite taking 6 hours ) Autoglym products are pretty damn good.