Cleaned my 147 today

[chillihound]

Got around to washing the winter off of my 147 today and I have to say she looks rather well for a 10 year old motor.

http://www.pixhost.org/show/533/6751621_alfa147.jpg

Sorry for the link, [img] tags are not working on my account anyway

Washed 2BM with AG Shampoo & Conditioner

All Glass cleaned with Cif Pro Glass Cleaner

All plastic trim, rubbers and Tyre sidewalls cleaned with AG Bumper Care Gel

Topped off with a coat of Bilt Hamber Hydra-Wax.

[bigjim]

great result, she's looking

[chillihound]

My appologies for the double post, posted from my mobile - bloody iphone.

Can a mod please delete the other thread with the same title. Ta

[Ralf S.]

That finish looks nice and "wet" (Hydra wax..?? ) for a silver car..

Nice one!


Ralf S.

[chillihound]

Originally Posted by Ralf S.

That finish looks nice and "wet" (Hydra wax..?? ) for a silver car..

Nice one!


Ralf S.

Cheers mate,
it can be a b'stard getting a wet look on a silver motor. I have used Colly 915 a lot for the shear bullet proof durability and protection but it doesn't have a very deep shine on the silver.

I bought the Bilt Hamber Hydra Wax ages ago so figured I would give it ago and i'm quite pleased.

Will do her again in a couple of weeks from scratch to see if I can improve the depth of shine: Wash, Rinse, Clay, Wash, Rinse, Dry, IPA Wipe Down, 3 Coats SRP, 2 Coats BH Hydra and I think it will look good (just gotta convince her indoors the the 7 hours or so are essential and far more important than taking her shopping etc ).

As I posted before for a 10 year old motor she look mint when a little love is lavished on her.

[carty]

This might be a dumb question but is there any point in polishing with SRP more than once? Surely by the very nature of SRP every time you apply a layer you are taking it back to the first anyway, if you know what I mean.

[chillihound]

Originally Posted by carty

This might be a dumb question but is there any point in polishing with SRP more than once? Surely by the very nature of SRP every time you apply a layer you are taking it back to the first anyway, if you know what I mean.

You know what, that was exactly my opinion however over a detailing world many are absolute in their opinion that between 2 and 4 coats is best, 5 max.

Apparently it doesn't strip the previous coat off but rather builds up the fillers to mask minor swirls better.

Gotta get a litre off ebay as i've run out then give a go and see.

[Ralf S.]

It would make sense.. since you probably apply more with the later coats than you remove..

But after a Super Resin Polish, I'd apply a wax rather than more coats of SRP.

Poorboys Natty Blue doodah is the kiddie. I think 3 layers is the optimum..


Ralf S.

[springbok]

Always wax after polishing.

Your car look great BTW.

[carty]

Originally Posted by chillihound

You know what, that was exactly my opinion however over a detailing world many are absolute in their opinion that between 2 and 4 coats is best, 5 max.

Apparently it doesn't strip the previous coat off but rather builds up the fillers to mask minor swirls better.

Gotta get a litre off ebay as i've run out then give a go and see.

Fair enough, thats good to know. After I clay'd mine last week I noticed a lot more swirls and scratches than before and toyed with the idea of more than one coat of SRP but talked myself out of it, for reasons stated above. There wasn't a great deal of dirt on the bar after claying but what there was was a milky kinda deposit. I guess this was the layers or SRP and wax coming off. Next time I go for a polish i'll be sure to put a few layers on and see if there is an improvement, it's all good and well saying it's better but the proof is in the pudding as they say!!

Cheers for the tip.

Carty.

[Ralf S.]

The clay shows the swirls up because it removes any surface wax, glaze or fillers...

If it's clean though, that's a good sign.

One application of SRP and then 2 or 3 layers of wax.


Ralf S.

[chillihound]

Thanks for all your comments peeps, it's been a few days and the car has a loverly coat of dust on it already.

Any excuse to break out the buckets eh?

[ysman007]

Looks new!

[Ralf S.]

Aye.. but a quick rinse and a top-up with the wax will do it this time. Your 7 hours saves time in the long run


Ralf S.

[bigjim]

Originally Posted by Ralf S.

Aye.. but a quick rinse and a top-up with the wax will do it this time. Your 7 hours saves time in the long run


Ralf S.

it sure does. you tell non car cleaners this and they look at you like you've two heads.

[SpeakForYou]

Yeah I told the ones I work with that I spent well over 4hrs cleaning the car and they are all like "wtf? Whats the point??" they just don't understand.

I think we should start a wee club up: The Alfa Romeo OCD Cleaning Brigade :P