Advice please

[woody2k4]

Hi all, i am looking at buying a good car cleaning kit for my CTR but just wondering on what you guys think is best?

Alsi if you know how much a good car detailer normally charges?

Thanks, Dean

[PJS]

When you say kit - what exactly are you referring to?
Exterior only, or interior as well?
Are we talking about foaming as well, or just 2 buckets (1x shampoo and 1x rinse)?
How about tools - wheel brushes, microfibre cloths, wash mitt/sponge?
Tell us what you've got first, and we can work off that - if the lot is not junkable!
Also, what sort of budget you'd like to work to.

[shieldy2k7]

Originally Posted by PJS

When you say kit - what exactly are you referring to?
Exterior only, or interior as well?
Are we talking about foaming as well, or just 2 buckets (1x shampoo and 1x rinse)?
How about tools - wheel brushes, microfibre cloths, wash mitt/sponge?
Tell us what you've got first, and we can work off that - if the lot is not junkable!
Also, what sort of budget you'd like to work to.

I'am also looking for something similar - got 1.8 Sport 5 door

Got: Electric polisher -
Turtle Wax Kit sponge and microfibre clothes
Bucket's
Jet Wash
-

Is there anything i need to avoid for the plastic trim? ie certain chemicals

thanks

[PJS]

Okay shieldy, drop the kit (inc. sponge), it's decidedly average at best.
What you'll be looking for is:
sheepskin/lambswool mitt - 2 for £12 delivered at the sheepskinshop.co.uk
If you want to go foam pre-wash or shampoo application to save on the 2nd bucket, just the rinse one needed, then you'll be looking at a foam lance. Autobrite.co.uk or Auto Rae Chem on ebay. One with an adjuster on the lance is better.
Next will be a towel or two - Sonus Der Wonder, Prima Monster Fluffy, Aquatouch, etc to dry the paintwork.
Clay bar - for me there only is one, the Bilt Hamber Auto Clay.
Auto Wash is very concentrated, so it's a good investment too.
Wheel brushes are hard to recommend, since the ones I have are a self imported boar's hair one, and a cheap and alright one by Kent. What wheels you've got will dictate what's best for you, but do consider the EZ Brush - at £17, it's not the cheapest thing since sliced bread (although that's no longer cheap anymore!), but still a well regarded one.
Wax/sealant - personal preference time, and a lot of subjectivity. I'm big on the Bilt Hamber Auto Balm, but equally, have a certain amount of respect for DoDo Juice.
Others will talk up Collinite, Zaino, Chemical Guys, etc, etc.
It all boils down to which grabs your fancy.

Now, depending on which polisher you have, it may be useful, or useless. If the £30 job from Halfords, save it for buffing the next door neighbours (or your own) bald noggin.
It's mediocre, and not a patch on the Meguiar's G200, no the Cyclo dual-head polisher I use.
In this respect, I'll leave polishing compounds to one side, as it'll only confuse.

So, we've got our tools, more or less, and the main ingredients - the only thing missing is trim and wheels.
For the latter, the Auto Balm, and Zaino, and possibly CG Jetseal 109 will do the business there. For the former, you'd look at 303 Aerospace Protectant, which does in and out rubber/vinyl/leather, inc. wiper blades and tyre dressing (matt, not glossy).
For inner alone, an alternative is Einzsett Cockpit Premium. In fact, their Glanz Wax isn't half bad either - but I digress and add to the confusion.
Equally, their Glass Polish is well regarded too, so that's something else to consider.

Think that's it - if there's something I've missed or glossed over, I'm sure another member or 6 will jump in with that info.

Whilst this isn't cheap initially, some of the products (Bilt Hamber for one) will last for a hell of a long time, since you only need a very small amount to spread thinly (Balm), and the Clay is one of the largest on the market, and as it uses water for lube, you can dispense with a Quick Detail spray altogether or save it for between waxing sessions - so wash, dry, QD, buff, beer/pizza/rugby/F1/etc.
If you go the BH route, then you'll not really need a QD, but if you do, it might be worth looking at a synthetic one (as opposed to carnauba) such as Zaino Z8 or Chemical Guys, Finish Klare, among others.
If you go the carnauba wax route, then a carny QD makes more sense there due to no bonding issues.

Anyway, as I was saying, it's a fair chunk of money to invest, but things like the lance, brushes, cloths/towels/applicator pads (foam or microfibre over foam) are not regular purchases - so initially it is "how much?", but over time, it's less so, especially when you see the results you get, as well as helping to keep the residual of your car up as much as possible.
Certainly one that looks like it's been lovingly cared for will be easier to sell at the asking price, if you've pitched it right.

At some point, I'll bother to create or plagiarise a basic "how to get started in detailing" - hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.

[woody2k4]

all i have is a microfiber cloth for the inseide and a furr mitt to clean the car?

Kinda basic!

[Charles_Harding]

Don't forget.

When you get all that gear, take your time.

Millie looks a real treat, even when she has got dirty after a run.

The shine still manages to get through!

"He loves nature.
Despite what it did to him!"

[shieldy2k7]

Or just find someone at Detailing World that live's local lol and slide a few quid his way