hi everyone.........can anyone recommend a wax to use on solid paintwork that leaves no residue and wipes off easy leaving a showroom shine?
ps....and that doesn't cost the earth!!
many thanks

collinite 915 http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-marque-d-39-elegance/prod_281.html otherwise Swissvax Best of Show but thats 135 quid a tub.... heres a wax test thread on DW for your interest....http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79747

Hi Sadie,
There are lots of hints and tips on here, and I recommend that you take some time to read some of the threads, as a lot of the guys are very knowledgeable.
It really all comes down to personal preference, and availalbility, if you don't want to go down the route of 'specialist ' stuff ordered from the Net, which can come in quite expensive.
There are quite a few threads with links to chemicalguys and carwashnwax, these sites are worth a look if you want to folllow that route, also detailingworld will give you an idea of what can be acheived.
This can spiral out of control though and there are people on here who spend DAYS cleaning and washing their cars, (and it really shows....they look tremendous !!)
Personally I like Maguiars, which you can pick up in Halfords. It is a little more expensive that your average wax/polishes, but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. You can see from my signature pic the sort of finish that you get with Maguiars.
I'm sure that some of the 'detailers' on here will be more than happy to give you advice.
Good Luck

many thanks for your swift replies i will be off to halfords!!!!

sadie36uk said:

many thanks for your swift replies i will be off to halfords!!!!

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Don't do that they are too expensive and have a poor range IMO

I'd avoid the Meguires gold class and step 3 they don't last very long,

If you MUST go to halfords

go for the time served Autoglym super resin polish and Autoglym extra gloss protection



http://www.autoglym.co.uk/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=HD&Range=1


http://www.autoglym.co.uk/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=FH&Range=1

a pack of these



you might also want to get some masking tape to mask off any black textured trim to avoid staining

many thanks andy, i have tried autogym before many moons ago as it was a freebie from a garage so i will try the two you recommended.......now if only i can find someone to do it for me......
good tip about the masking tape too

sadie36uk said:

many thanks andy, i have tried autogym before many moons ago as it was a freebie from a garage so i will try the two you recommended.......now if only i can find someone to do it for me......
good tip about the masking tape too

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Have a look in halfords they often have a 3 for 2 offer on car care

What car/age is it and what colour ?

you can get better stuff BUT if you don't like internet shopping i'd stick with that combination

when you use it use the smallest amount you can get away with for the polish wet the pad put a pea size drop on this should do for about 1 1/2 square feet work it in really well then do the next section buff off when dry....

If you find it dusty your using way too much..

once the whole car has been polished next give it a light coat of Extra gloss (this is very runny) wipe all over the body work (again thinly) leave for about an hour at this time of year (you can't really leave it too long if anything longer is better than not enough time)

many thanks andy.......i just got the car on sunday its brand new so i want to keep it nice and shiny!!!! and the colour rock and roll blue which i know some people don't like but i love it!!

sadie36uk said:

many thanks andy.......i just got the car on sunday its brand new so i want to keep it nice and shiny!!!! and the colour rock and roll blue which i know some people don't like but i love it!!

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right since its brand new it shouldn't need a polish (unless the monkeys at the garage have introduced a few marks.)

I'd get on e-bay and get one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTOGLYM-LIFE...14&_trkparms=72:1689|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

That should keep the car happy for a year or so along with giving you the chance to treat the interior fabric to resist stains.. and glass sealant which is also very good (although not to be used on the windscreen)

(most dealers try to rush you something like £200 for these sort of treatments.)

that should keep you happy for a year or so (despite many claims of the manufacturers of these type of products saying it lasts for years

if you go for that kit or just the EGP i'd buy a bottle of paint clenser to use first to remove any contamination which gives the LSP (wax/sealent) a nice clean surface to stick to

look for this in halfords

http://www.performancemotorcare.com/acatalog/A3016_DeepCrystalCleaner_p.jpg

used in the same way as Super Resin Polish

then put Extra gloss protection on top..

also it might be worth reading this

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4637


(im trying very hard to resist some more extravagant products )

again many thanks.............i will give it a go.......

I use Finish Kare 1000P Hi Temp Sealant on my car, which is solid Bossa Nova White.

1000P has been tested on Detailing World to last at least 4 months, and it will 'bead' the water even when the car is dirty. It also gives the car a really nice, glassy, shine as it cures over a few days.

It's £19 for a tub from Serious Performance but that tub would last you your entire lifetime. It goes on in a thin coating, is left for 20 minutes then buffs off really easily leaving nothing behind but a brilliant shine.

It's the only product that has never had a bad word said about it amongst detailers, so they must be doing something right with it! Here's how my car looks with a single layer protecting it;






And the beading that happens on my bonnet when it rains. In this case, the car had just been driven 400 miles on the motorway and without a wash, this beading appeared;

thanks lloyd...i can honestly say i've never heard of it but will check it out, i like the sound of the water beading off as the rain always leaves marks on my paintwork which is a pain in the b*m when you've just got your car looking nice,clean and shiny....how often do you put it on?

Lloyd seen people banging on about Finish Kare how does it compare to the good old Collinite 915?

Sadie There are probably hundreds of different waxes on the market making choosing a difficult one then you get different peoples opinions on what to use which is best what someone likes but someone else hates..

But the important step is the preparation of the paint so the wax will actually stick/bond to the paint and improve its appearance. W wax can only do so much on its own (this is where you end up with more cleaning products than you have in the house...)

since yours is new a paint cleanser then a wax should do you well

the meguires one above or Dodo lime prime lite

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Dodo_Juice_Lime_Prime_Lite_2.html


for almost bombproof durability there is Collinite

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Collinite_Super_Doublecoat_Auto_Wax_1.html

they also do a liquid which is apparently very easy to apply
http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Collinite_Insulator_Wax_845_1.html

or 915


http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Collinite_Marque_D_Elegence_915_1.html


I use this one it has a higher wax content (allegedly) and is better on dark colored cars and came second against Swissvax Best Of Show which retails at are you sitting down? ...... £135 a pot

http://www.swissvax.co.uk/products/wax-products.asp

test carried out here:
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79801

then there is also Autobalm http://www.bilthamber.com/

think the best advice i can give is take your pick :devil:

£135 a pot for car wax...................crikey there is a credit crunch on.................i just want something that'll leave my car nice, shiny and protected against the elements.....i will look at what you have recommended
many thanks for all your help............now i've got the interior to think about and the tyres..................theres all so much to think about and now i've read about not using a sponge......this detailing lark is a whole new world to me
thanks again xx

sadie36uk said:

many thanks for all your help............now i've got the interior to think about and the tyres..................theres all so much to think about and now i've read about not using a sponge......this detailing lark is a whole new world to me
thanks again xx

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one of my best investments for the interior has been a set of rubber mats and a California Dash Duster

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/the-original-california-dash-duster.php?manufacturers_id=18

works far better than a cheap one i got originally

do you have alloy wheels or plastic wheel trims?

plastic wheel trims......i always have rubber mats and i've used something similar to your dash duster....in fact i'm a bit like monica from friends dust isn't allowed to settle inside it wouldn't dare!!....and i'm far to obsessed with keeping all around the wheel arches clean any tips there?
thanks xx

As stated before, SO much in the market.
What you have to ask yourself here is how often will you wax your pride &joy.
Are you a fanatic like some who are obsessed with a show room shine all the time [this would be good]
That stuff Lloyod71 was on about....Finish kare sealant.. looks good because it would seem it lasts.
To my mind that's the key for me. Something that lasts & doesnt break the bank.
Many on here have favourites, quite right to.But a lasting shine is what i like.
Im not a fanatic & got to the stage in life where Ive become a bit lazy.
I tend to use Carnauba wax, this tends to last quite well...
I may have a look at that ...Finish kare sealant

the more i read all these tips the more i'm becoming obsessed with keeping my showroom shine.....

sadie36uk said:

plastic wheel trims......i always have rubber mats and i've used something similar to your dash duster....in fact i'm a bit like monica from friends dust isn't allowed to settle inside it wouldn't dare!!....and i'm far to obsessed with keeping all around the wheel arches clean any tips there?
thanks xx

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nice easy method of keeping your arches clean is to take the wheel off (jack up safely axle stands chock wheels etc) and give a good clean with all purpose cleaner (star drops supermarket own brand work ok) did mine on Thursday out of all the coincidences....

it was in for its MOT the next day so gave me chance to check the suspension/linkages/ brake pads. and i had it stuck in mud and snow a couple of weeks ago so the arches needed a clean.....

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=107568

the dinax is a anti rust spray (like waxoil but much better) i did all the arches with it last year probably a bit OTT (took the arch liner plastic out to give the metal a bit of additional protection depends really how long you plan to keep the car.. saying that fiat seem to have the body work well protected anyway now you very rarely see a rusty fiat.....

quicker option is to use a Toilet brush to clean the arch again using all purpose cleaner then rinse with the hose....

then treat the plastic with something like Autoglym vinyl and rubber care (you don't have to dry it first) in fact it only lasts till it gets wet but it stops some of the muck sticking

to clean the trims i use a cheap car wash brush and autoglym wheel cleaner

and treat tires with AG instant tire shine you can spray it on and leave it (this will give a high shine or as i do leave it a minute then wipe off with a old microfiber cloth to leave a matte finish)

like the idea of the autoglym rubber/vinyl care.............i have found if my arches get real mucky that using muc off which is really for bikes is good, you just spray on and leave it for a while then wash as normal it helps to get some of the worst of the muck off....hence the name!! but it would be nice to protect them....my shopping list keeps getting longer.............good job i love shopping........
many thanks xxx