'Average' cleaning product recommendations needed

T

Tamman69

Member
Hi All

As explained elsewhere I am the proud owner of a new Z4 2009. A very big step up for me in vehicle.

I am living in a pretty poor country outside of the EU. DHL or any form of delivery from the outside is very difficult.

I'm new to looking after the finish of a car in a serious way, but am extremely hampered by the criteria above, and for the foreseeable future am going to be limited to the kind of cleaning products you guys would be pretty appalled by. There are typical hardware / supermarket stores selling the sort of thing most people in the UK would pick up and think is ok. For instance 'Turtlewax' is there as well as a couple of other brands I recognise.

Further investigation may turn up something but for now, can anyone recommend me any of the more 'standard' product list, something that you would choose if you absolutely had to, if not to make the z4 look fantastic, at least not to damage the bodywork until such times as I can source something more high end...

thanks in advance

Tamman69
 
The main basis of keeping it clean is to get as much dirt off the car before you start touching it with sponges or mitts.

You need to bathe the car with some sort of degreasing shampoo via a hose or pressure washer on lower pressure setting.

Let this soak in and absorb, moisten & loosen some of the dirt (for 15-30 minutes, but don't let it become dry) before washing off again.

Then you can go to your two-bucket washing process where you ensure that the sponge/mitt is rinsed thoroughly in one bucket before putting into the shampoo bucket and then onto the car.

Do small (i.e. 1mx1m) areas at a time, and use a different sponge/mitt for the wheels.

As for the products to use, then I prefer one of the 'natural' shampoos rather than the synthetic chemical ones, but that's just me, and the chemical ones should clean the car quicker as they bond to the dirt better than the 'organic/natural' ones. If you see any of the TurtleWax ICE range of shampoos, sealants, quick detailers, etc. then they should be fine - as are any of the Meguiars, Zymol, Zaino, Autoglym products.
 
Many thanks for the reply mmm-five. Will take your good advice on general cleaning. I've not seen any kind of pressure washer here yet but suspect they may be around, I certainly don't trust the local car washes...

From the little I've learned around forums people are very happy with Zaimo / Zymol etc. but I don't think I have a hope in hell of getting them - unless I bring them back in my suitcase on my next visit home. As long as the Turtle Wax etc. doesn't do any harm in the short term (given my own due care and attention), then at least I can use those in the meantime.

For now, I shall just have to do more work in photoshop before presenting photos I guess :wink:

Thanks again
 
I have never used a pressure washer just give the car a really good going over with a hose first with a trigger type attachment then as above most of the products you can get in Halfords are OK will not damage your car the AG range is fine and underated i use SRP+EGP for my base then top of with VC Carnuaba wax but the AG one gets good reviews and is available in Halfords.

Getting a good finish is in the prep not spending a fortune on high end wax always clay my car first when i give her a full detail

mmm-five tips are spot on get as much crap off the car before using your mit and two bucket method helps.
 
I bought the car in the UK. I'm living in part of former Yugoslavia doing some UK government work. Don't like to name it as there are various issues to do with names that amongst the local parties - must appear neutral at all times!

As it is the car sticks out like a sore thumb... but a very pretty one : )

Thanks for all the tips guys. I've done a prelim wash much as advised, except the intial soak was water only from a hose for a good few minutes just to get the major crud off. It has come up pretty well except for bug splats at the front. Will consider a product for those.

Thanks for all the tips. As you said Gaza, all in the prep I imagine. Except I've been decorating my home for rental for the past year back in the UK and the word 'prep' makes me shudder to the core now!
 
Tamman69 said:
Thanks for all the tips. As you said Gaza, all in the prep I imagine. Except I've been decorating my home for rental for the past year back in the UK and the word 'prep' makes me shudder to the core now!
Click to expand...

Claying is a doddle and no where near the graft of painting and decorating prep
 
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