Best way to clean and protect brand new car ?

[Vogon]

Never having had a brand new car before, I would like to know if my usual method is best to keep it looking new, or if I should re-think my cleaning routine.

What I would normally do is wash car with lambswool mit and (cheap admittedly) car shampoo, rinse off and shammy dry (if using Autoglym) or just apply polish straight on wet car if using Meguires NXT.
My current car, a dark metalic blue, looked shinier with Meguires NXT, but didn't seem to bead for as long as Autoglym.
I use a sponge applicator and a microfibre cloth to polish off.
I used to polish wheels with a spray on wheel cleaner which also gave a protective coat.
Trim I usually deal with using autoglym bumper care.

The new car is a Grande Punto in hillbilly azzure metallic, nothing exotic, but I want to keep her looking good.
I do have a pressure washer, but have never used it on the car !
This will change now, but I assume its best to use it on the lowest pressure available for pre-shampoo and rinsing only ?

 

[Ninja59]

if you want to pre wash i suggest possibly investing in a Snow Foam Lance: -
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/foam-lance-various-fittings/prod_371.html
and some Valet Pro PH Neutral http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/valet-pro-ph-neutral-snow-foam/prod_500.html
then either use Megs Gold Class Shampoo http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/meguiars-gold-class-shampoo-64oz/prod_423.html or Duragloss 901 (my next shampoo to try lol reports are brilliant for this) http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Duragloss_901_Car_Wash_Concentrate_1.html

ditch the chammy it causes scratches to the paint (tiny yes but damages it none the less) use an MF cloth personally i use either: - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/sonus-ultimate-detailing-towels-pkg/2/prod_185.html or http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/eurow-shag-pile-double-density-towels/prod_436.html

it might need claying either use Bilt Hammer SOFT Clay (Lost the linky ) or Sonus Ultra Fine (apprently the best) if your looking for something easier to pick up the Megs Smooth Surface Clay is the best but not quite as good as the above 2 from reviews.

Which wheel cleaner you using?? http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/valet-pro-bilberry-wheel-cleaner-1-litre-/prod_499.html the bilberry is the best i have used personally and gives a nice smell as well as being easy to use with no acid in which would damage the wheel.

i dont personally use a wheel polish but tend to sometimes put some swissvax BoS on them (pricey yes guys before u mention it)...

Polish well AG SRP if you fancy a good arm work out but shouldn't need to much attention...if the stealers have not swirled it....

and finally wax or sealant depending on your choice Megs NXT is gd, but for durability (wax only i dont use sealants) Collonite 915 is the most durable at a reasonable price http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-marque-d-39-elegance/prod_281.html ( i have not personally used this though) or AG HD Wax and if you really fancy going mad the top one durability wise (which i have now gone to from AG HD Wax is Swissvax Best Of Show) but thats 135 quid a tub.....http://swissvax.co.uk/products/wax-products.asp

if you really get into car detailing then take a visit to Detailing World....http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ plenty of guides on the various stages listed as well....

edit: linky for the Sonus Ultra Fine (u need a lube though water or QD (but this can be pricey) or you could make cheap version up yourself using some car shampoo and some water) http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-clay/sonus-ultra-fine-detailing-clay-pkg/2/prod_37.html if you want to know more about Bilt Hammer though have a chat with andy monty on here http://fiatforum.com/members/andy-monty hes the BH texpert unless he happens to post on here...lol

 

[Andy Monty]

http://www.bilthamber.com/autoclay.html

have a read through these

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/180158-basic-cleaning-polishing-advice-needed.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/172919-cleaning-triss-gp-pic-heavy.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/183616-whats-best-wax-use-solid-colour.html

 

[Ninja59]

once the Megs is finished i will be buying the BH Clay so thanks andy for the link again...bookmark it this time....

 

[Mark Elvin]

As far as protection with an excellent finish & durability take a look at Zaino Z-2, it is superb. More & more clients are asking for it.

 

[Vogon]

Thanks guys.
I am gonna pass on the snow foam lance as A: I would get it all over the neigbours car, and B: it cost more than the pressure washer cost !
I have invested in a 100% pure lambswool washmit, a microfibre drying towel and microfibre polishing cloth, and a second bucket.
I will try one of those polishes at a later date, but for now I needed to keep the spending down.
I got some Autoglym shampoo, and will use my existing Meg. NXT or Autoglym SRP. (probably try the NXT first).
I presume my best method with that set-up, is pre-rinse the car with low pressure wash and give it a few mins to run off before washing with the lambswool and some shampoo (2 bucket). Rinse with low pressure and dry with the mf towel. Apply polish with sponge applicator before buffing with MF cloth.
As the car is new, the wheels should clean up fine, so a bit of SRP on those should do for now ?

I haven't ignored the advice on the polishes, wheel cleaner and shampoo, I will get the said products (apart from foam lance) at a later date

 

[richie.guy]

That routine is fine.

I'd choose SRP over megs NXT though and get myself some Extra Gloss Protection to layer over the SRP - that way you have a more durable layer of protection.

 

[Vogon]

/comes back and sees reply after a mornings cleaning :yum:


I actually used the NXT, then I found some Meguires carnuba wax (I found I had all 3 stage items, but TBH I didn't need the others anyway as its new and looks like the dealer hasn't swirled it thankfully).
So after I had done the wheels, rain-x'ed the glass, and blacked the trim. I put a coat of the carnumba over the NXT for good measure. I know the NXT doesnt seem to last as long as SRP, so hopefully the carnuba will.
Then the sun came out and the paint came to life = happy bunny

 

[Ninja59]

NXT and SRP are polishes do not protect the paint
wax/carnauba is for protection only not looks....
just make sure that if ur just using pressure washer directly that it is very low or personally dont bother with pressure wassher at all just rinse off with free running water..dont worry if you get neighbours car i caught mine a few times and im always willing to wash if it is a problem..mind you saying that one of there cars is never washed....

 

[Andy Monty]

Hate to **** on your bonfire but i found the Megs Step 3 carnubra wax didn't last very long at all

the paint cleanser is very good though

 

[richie.guy]

NXT and SRP are polishes do not protect the paint
wax/carnauba is for protection only not looks....

That's incorrect. SRP and NXT do offer protection and carnuba/wax is not just for looks.

Hate to **** on your bonfire but i found the Megs Step 3 carnubra wax didn't last very long at all

the paint cleanser is very good though

Echo the above. 3-4 days max from that wax.

 

[Andy Monty]

That's incorrect. SRP and NXT do offer protection and carnuba/wax is not just for looks.



Echo the above. 3-4 days max from that wax.

Thank goodness it's not just me that found that i was prepared for the you must have used it wrong type of comments

 

[Vogon]

3-4 days lol thats taking the P ... if thats the case I am gonna get on the phone and complain to Meguires

 

[Andy Monty]

if you want a decent low price wax but arn't fussy about exotic names or brands

collinite

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

for dark colours

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Collinite_Super_Doublecoat_Auto_Wax_3.html

for light


http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Collinite_Insulator_Wax_845_3.html

if you prefer a liquid wax

life span measurable by a calender

look in my machine polishing thread about colli

use step 1 then 2 then collinite


the 915 "won" a recent test on Detailing world (well it came 2nd behind a £130 pot of exotic wax)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=83207


sign up to detailing world and you can get a 7.5% discount from matt at I4detailing with a code on DW