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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Claying, polishing, waxing... share your secrets in here.
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Pazza
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Pazza » Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:22 am

Hi all

Having acquired my Z4 coupe I am now considering investing time and money keep it clean and tidy.
I am after products from start to finish, I guess from shampoo all the way to polish.
My Zed is not garaged and just driven at weekends and holidays.

Any recommendations of brands and products ?

Thank you
2008 BMW e86 Z4 Coupe Si Sport, Titanium Silver, Auto - loving it!
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone

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Schaef
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Schaef » Tue Aug 02, 2022 5:50 pm

Gyeon Bath+ is a good Shampoo, or the products from Bilthamber.

Offshore-Monkey
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Offshore-Monkey » Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:15 pm

https://www.infinitywax.com

Only had my Z4C for a few weeks but this is the products I have used for years on my RS worth a spy bud

curvature
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by curvature » Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:48 pm

I use this company for most of my supplies.

https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk

Great service and a good choice of products.
Z4C 3.0 SI
iX3
640d GC

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Nanu
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Nanu » Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:52 pm

spend a couple of hours on here in the detailing section and then decide how much time you have and how much money you want to spend.
I used to spend hours, washing (Two buckets of course) then clay and two coats of wax all over and a third on upper surfaces.

Now wash clay once a year and GTechniq C2 ceramic coating which is so easy to use. Once washed the C2 can be done in about 20 mins with no effort at all.
G29 M30i M Sport San Francisco Red

Previous
E89 35is Valencia Orange
E89 28i Crimson
E89 25i White

True-Blue
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by True-Blue » Wed Aug 03, 2022 8:38 am

Pazza wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:22 am Hi all

Having acquired my Z4 coupe I am now considering investing time and money keep it clean and tidy.
I am after products from start to finish, I guess from shampoo all the way to polish.
My Zed is not garaged and just driven at weekends and holidays.

Any recommendations of brands and products ?

Thank you
Silver is quite a forgiving colour in terms of dirt, but a harder colour to get an ultra glossy ‘wet look’ gloss finish on (compared to the darker colours)

Some good pointers in the thread already, and a logical question would be how much time do you want to spend at the outset and then on regular upkeep?

If you’re prepared to put more hard work in at the beginning then maintenance washes will be easier.

For a car that’s going to sit outside 24/7 I’d echo Nanu and suggest an easy to use ceramic product.

If you’re not intending to machine polish the car, then I’d suggest you select your clay carefully as some are harsher than others and you don’t want to mar the paint whilst claying.

If not correcting the paint with a machine, I’d probably go

Bilt Hamber surfex HD 1/20 for decontamination
Then a fallout remover - lots of good ones available
Then a tar remover - Tardis etc, many available
Then Clay
Wash
Top coat - ceramic (spray type product)

I’d do it this way around because you’ll have reduced detritus to clay off of the paint, so likely to cause less marring.

If you really don’t want the cost or expense of doing all that then something like

Wash
Clay
Wash
Sonax BSD

Sonax BSD isn’t ceramic, but it gives a very glossy finish, excellent water repellency and lasts reasonably well - not as well as ceramic sprays, but you could top up easily even with a wash every couple of weeks. After initial application you can spray it on to wet panels after washing, it helps with drying and will top up the finish- Very easy to use :thumbsup:
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)

Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i

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Schaef
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Schaef » Wed Aug 03, 2022 9:07 am

When you want to do some inspiration on how too you can take a look at Jim from White Details.

https://www.youtube.com/c/WhiteDetails/videos

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DMike
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by DMike » Wed Aug 03, 2022 10:05 am

Hi Pazza and welcome,
Here are some channels I’ve enjoyed, both explaining a lot of the basics and avoiding mistakes, and also digging more and more into details, comparing products etc.
Chicage Auto Pros https://youtube.com/c/ChicagoAutoPros
Forensic Detailing https://youtube.com/c/ForensicDetailingChannel
Ammo NYC https://youtube.com/c/AMMONYCdotcom
2005 Z4 3.0i Sterling grey

Pazza
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by Pazza » Thu Aug 04, 2022 8:31 pm

Thank you all for the suggestions
2008 BMW e86 Z4 Coupe Si Sport, Titanium Silver, Auto - loving it!
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone

motomikey
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by motomikey » Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:20 pm

Hi there. Can I just jump in with another suggestion...

I recently discovered and started using this system which is the Autoglym Polar Series: https://www.autoglym.com/polarpressurewasher

1. Polar Foam - the snowfoam/pre-wash stage. Spray on / soak 10mins / rinse off
2. Polar Wash - the shampoo/wash stage. Spray on / agitate with a mitt (rinse mitt regularly) / rinse off
3. Polar Seal - the protective sealant stage. Spray on / rinse off (no waiting) / sheet the water off with open end of a hose / dry and admire

This is all applied by foam cannon and pressure washer. You don't need the AG foam cannon (I have this one from amazon which is amazing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09 ... UTF8&psc=1)

Check out this quick video from AG on YT and see it in action for yourself: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI

I've tried a lot of products over the years, but this blew me away on how fast and easy it is. I know the seasoned detailers on here will prefer other regimes with more specialist products etc, but honestly, for ease of use vs amazing results this is a game changer IMO.

The other way to do it, is to get some proper deep cleaning done (+ paint correction etc if desired)... and then use this AG system to maintain

Hope this helps you get going. Cheers, Michael
2015 /// E89 35i /// Estoril Blue with Canberra Beige Kansas Leather

motomikey
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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations

Post by motomikey » Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:26 pm

That vid was just the polar seal. Here it is in order...

Polar Blast: https://youtu.be/0XaI2idyYFc
Polar Wash: https://youtu.be/of9-5V6kHW4
Polar Seal: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI
2015 /// E89 35i /// Estoril Blue with Canberra Beige Kansas Leather

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