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2005 E46 320CD M SPORT - My first EVER detailing attempt

2K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  arun_shu 
#1 · (Edited)
My first EVER detailing attempt on my day off work.........

I was really pleased with the end result (see pictures below) but I would really love some feedback from the detailing pros on the process I used and some answers to a couple of questions I have.

Looking forward to your constructive criticism!

First off the process:
Interior – Turtlewax ICE Interior Cleaner

Wheels – Megs Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner, Megs Nxt Generation Metal Polysh, Megs Endurance High Gloss Tyre Shine

Washed – Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo using two bucket method and Megs wash mitt, Megs APC

Windows – Megs Nxt Generation Glass Cleaner, Rainx

Scratches – Megs Scratch X

Polish – Step 1: Megs Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Step 2: Megs Deep Crystal Car Polish

Waxed – Megs Gold Class Wax

Secondly the questions:
- I really want to clean the engine bay but what product should I use and how do you do this (I’m afraid of getting water/product somewhere I shouldn’t!)?
- I want to add some extra steps to the process so can someone recommend products for the following and suggest where they fit in the above process:
Snow Foam, Clay, Glaze, Sealant
- A friend has told me to wash again after claying a car is this advised?
- I’m looking at getting a machine polisher, are they really worth the money and can someone recommend a good one that doesn’t cost the earth!
- Lastly can someone recommend another polish as I really don't rate the Megs Deep Crystal Car Polish used in Step 2

Thanks in advance and thanks for looking.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Great Job RedRise :thumbsup
The colour looks fantastic :D .

Whooops sorry RedRise I've just noticed that its polish you're after not wax, ignore the wax info below!!!

AutoGlym Super Resin Polish has been recomended to me due the the amount of fillers in it,the polish helps mask all the nasty little scratches


I had a local detailer take a look at my motor the other day and he recomended Chemical Guys - Pete's 53 Paste Wax which has a
very high percentage of carnuba wax, its recomended for darker paints(mines black) and its relatively cheap at £23

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/chemical-guys-pete-39-s-53-paste-wax/prod_337.html

also I have heard that Dodo Juice is a good product, their Purple Haze and Blue Velvet are also for darker coloured paints.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-juice-blue-velvet/prod_404.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-juice-purple-haze/prod_398.html

these links are all from one website, i'm not promoting it, it was the first one that came up:silly

quality job though :D, don't suppose you want to practise on mine?..............
Nah, didn't think so :rofl

SlowTech :D
 
#9 · (Edited)
I had a local detailer take a look at my motor the other day and he recomended Chemical Guys - Pete's 53 Paste Wax which has a
very high percentage of carnuba wax, its recomended for darker paints(mines black) and its relatively cheap at £23

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/chemical-guys-pete-39-s-53-paste-wax/prod_337.html

also I have heard that Dodo Juice is a good product, their Purple Haze and Blue Velvet are also for darker coloured paints.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-juice-blue-velvet/prod_404.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-juice-purple-haze/prod_398.html

these links are all from one website, i'm not promoting it, it was the first one that came up:silly
First off thanks for all your comments guys, it makes me feel like my hard work was worth it :thumbsup

SlowTech thanks very much for the product recommendations, dont worry about sounding like you are promoting cleanyourcar.co.uk a friend recommended i join the forum there to discuss my detailing questions. If anybody is interested in detailing or has any questions about it i'd recommend joining up as these guys really do seem to know their stuff :jaw-dropping

I posted the following thread and got some great feedback:
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6358

Thanks again guys, look forward to seeing your motors gleaming :thumbsup
 
#8 ·
My first EVER detailing attempt on my day off work.........

Secondly the questions:
- I really want to clean the engine bay but what product should I use and how do you do this (I’m afraid of getting water/product somewhere I shouldn’t!)?
- I want to add some extra steps to the process so can someone recommend products for the following and suggest where they fit in the above process:
Snow Foam, Clay, Glaze, Sealant
- A friend has told me to wash again after claying a car is this advised?
- I’m looking at getting a machine polisher, are they really worth the money and can someone recommend a good one that doesn’t cost the earth!
- Lastly can someone recommend another polish as I really don't rate the Megs Deep Crystal Car Polish used in Step 2

Thanks in advance and thanks for looking.
Hi again.............:embarrassed

I just wondered if you'd considered getting your motor detailed?
firstly they will get all the swirl marks out of your paintwork and as you use the correct car washing technique you should never get them again.
You could watch the detailer do his work and note in what order he does
the various cleaning/cleansing processes,
I'm sure they'll give you loads of advice on products and tips of the trade.
Finally though you'll have a beautifully clean car with a fantastic gloss shine that you'll be able to keep up
and have no need to purchase any expensive hardware.
I'm sure its about £200-£250 to get it done.
Just an idea that fellow forum member G4EDW put to me a couple of weeks ago?

regards :D
 
#10 ·
Hi SlowTech,

Yeah i have thought about this, but the problem with me is when i get my teeth into something i cant let go so i really want to try and have a go at the whole process myself first as i dont think i could stand looking at the car after the detailer had finished thinking wow that looks amazing but i didn't do any of it ;)

That said i've seen the results of some of the work detailers have produced on the cleanyourcar forum and they really are worth their weight in gold :thumbsup

If it all goes wrong and ive spent a small packet and wasted loads of my time i'll no doubt be eating my words :hihi

Thanks for the wax (i was looking for this also) and polish advice i'm going post a list of what i'm going to go with on the cleanyourcar forum once i've decided and see what the pros come back with :D
 
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