Cleaning my wifes Fiat 500

[The Littlest Hobo]

Hi guys (and girls)I know there are various guides and threads about proper detailing and cleaning of cars on here and believe me i have read a lot of them recently. Excellent and informative they are too.The only reason i have posted a thread is because i have various kit to use and dont want to be wastefull and buy more stuff i dont actually need.Anyhow, my wifes car is a 2012 Fiat 500 Pop with about 3000mls on the clock. It does the school run etc and only ever gets cleaned by me, prob once every couple of weeks. I am able to lay my hands on Guardx free of charge so this was done straight away by me including the interior treatment. I know it is frowned upon here but for joe bloggs it makes things a little easier to keep on top of (Or so i thought). I want to have a go at looking after it properly like you guys do so i have purchased the Autoglym Clay kit which i think includes the claybar, the lubricant, a few cloths and super resin polish. I also have access to any of the Guardx products free of charge.So what would you recommend? I cleaned the car pretty throughly at the weekend including a wash wax from the guardx products and the 'Reactivator'. I know its been slagged off here but it did seem to work pretty well and water has been beading off pretty well this week. I presume by cleaning the car again and then claying it i will remove the guardx protection back to a fresh start so my plan was (And i stand to be corrected)1) Clean car with shampoo i will have to purchase2) Clay car3) Polish car with super resin polish4) Wax car with some other product to seal (maybe more than once???)Seems a shame to not use the guardx products but if anyone suggests i can substitute it in then please say.Thanks for any help

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Oh, apologies for the lack of punctuation etc. For some reason this computer doesnt post threads properly

 

[Andy Monty]

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/188996-basic-guide-how-clean-your-car.html




https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/282179-winter-coming.html?p=2899740

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/...nt-clean-iron-fall-out-removal.html?p=2899739

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/283933-500-winter-prep-begins.html?p=2875520


bit of reading for you;-)

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Thanks for that andy. I had read loads of threads tbh but just felt I should make use of this liquid gold (in cost terms anyhow).

Well today I spent 5hrs and it has been

Shampooed
Wiped down
Clay barred
Auto glym super resin polish
Meguiars spray waxed
Underneath wax oiled

Quite pleased for the first attempt and can see why you guys get all OCD over it

 

[millns84]

I'd recommend looking into a good tar remover and de-iron product (Iron X etc) to make the preparation stage a bit easier and more effective.

Also consider something a little more durable than a spray wax, something like Collinite 845 which is pretty easy to work with and will last over 6 months.

If you're really going to get into this sort of thing though, pop over to detailing world

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Thanks for the reply.I had acees to some autoglym tar and glue remover but tbh it didnt really seem to need it after the big clean i gave it the week before. Iron remover. Never heard of that.When i said i could see how you guys get into this, i dont think i could tbh. Although it felt good for it to be very clean, i was knackered and my finger tips were numb all weekend. Dont think it will be anything other than maybe twice a year.I do plan to wax it a bit more regular so thats a good tip on the alternative. How long will the current wax finish last? Its been on since saturday and its rained ever since. Will it be ok for me to shampoo next weekend then apply 2-3 coats of wax?

 

[millns84]

Tar and iron remover only really make the claying easier as you use them before clay. Clay does the same job but there's more chance of marring the finish if it picks up too many particles and they get dragged across the surface so I'd always use at least a tar remover before.

I only properly do my car twice a year, including tar remover, iron remover, clay, a machine polish, wax, water repellent on windows, wheel sealant etc. - Quite OCD actually...but waxing can be every couple of months or whenever I like really but through winter I'll just put something durable on and leave it between early October- late March and only wash it in between.

I haven't used Maguiars spray wax but I'd say it'd last at least a few weeks depending on the conditions, possibly over a month.

It'd be fine to wash it and apply as many layers as you like but it's usually advisable to allow the layers to cure properly, usually at least an hour between applications and it's never really been proven conclusively that multiple layers improve durability.

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Thanks for that

 

[Andy Monty]

Tar and iron remover only really make the claying easier as you use them before clay. Clay does the same job but there's more chance of marring the finish if it picks up too many particles and they get dragged across the surface so I'd always use at least a tar remover before.

Clay will not remove all the iron fall out as when it embeds in the paint it begins to expand and grip, claying usually just shears the bit thats on the surface so yes it looks better but after the next shower of rain it will reappear

think of an old tin can once it begins to rust it begins to loose its smooth shape and becomes rough as the steel oxidises and expands

bit more in-depth reading:

http://www.autoobsessed.com/shop/carpro-iron-liter-p-1002.html

 

[panda panda]

Thanks for that andy. I had read loads of threads tbh but just felt I should make use of this liquid gold (in cost terms anyhow).

Well today I spent 5hrs and it has been

Shampooed
Wiped down
Clay barred
Auto glym super resin polish
Meguiars spray waxed
Underneath wax oiled

Quite pleased for the first attempt and can see why you guys get all OCD over it

I got as far as the resin polish stage last weekend but due to the formation of condensation as I was polishing it off couldn't give it coat of extra gloss protection.

Hoping for a decent break in the weather and temperatures above freezing to finish the job

Times like these that I really resent not having a double garage to work in

 

[Andy Monty]

I got as far as the resin polish stage last weekend but due to the formation of condensation as I was polishing it off couldn't give it coat of extra gloss protection.

Hoping for a decent break in the weather and temperatures above freezing to finish the job

Times like these that I really resent not having a double garage to work in

if the weather is against you ie damp i'd plump for either of these 2:

http://www.bilthamber.com/auto-balm

(use VERY Very SPARINGLY ideally as i found on a wet car)


or this

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/cgi-...c-jett-trigger-cat12.html#aWSAJ0500#aWSAJ0500

 

[panda panda]

Just when you think Auto Glym is expensive over a fiver a 50mls!!!!!

I was going to order the Bilt Hamber kit with clay bar, shampoo and top seal (£30)but I really resent being asked to pay 10% on top for postage on an already heavily marked up product

The second link isn't working well on the tablet ( laptop is naffed ) what was it for?

 

[Rosso145]

The most pleasing results that I have (personally) seen on white paintwork was achieved by using the Zaino system, ie Z2, Z6 and Z8.

I was unimpressed with their offering for tyre walls (Z16) and my ow preference is Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel.

Just my thoughts.................

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Just a quick question. The wifes car is looking pretty manky now since its spit and polish. Considering what i did last time, what do i do to maintain the look.Shampoo only then wipe it downShampoo & Wax Shampoo & Polish then waxHoping it just needs a shampoo and wipe down

 

[Andy Monty]

Take a look at this....

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/288510-quick-winter-wash-tips.html?p=2920964

 

[The Littlest Hobo]

Just had a read. It doesnt answer if i should/shouldnt wax it again. It just refers thats its easier to wipe off on a pre waxed car.Wax or Not ?

 

[Rosso145]

Just a quick question. The wifes car is looking pretty manky now since its spit and polish. Considering what i did last time, what do i do to maintain the look.Shampoo only then wipe it downShampoo & Wax Shampoo & Polish then waxHoping it just needs a shampoo and wipe down

SRP doesn't really do much other than act as a filling agent and it gives almost no protection in the true sense. Also, a spray wax on top will not really seal in the SRP so what is on, will now be gone and you'll be left with the lacquered surface.

What I would suggest is washing down in the usual manner, then SRP, followed by a sealant of some sort. I did mention the Zaino system but it is quite pricey (however, you get what you pay for). You may want to think about putting Autoglym's Extra Gloss Polish on after the SRP as this stuff is cheap, readily available and easy to work with. It is also leaves a very nice finish.

If you want to step up a little but not shell out for the Zaino system, do a google search for Werkstat Acrylic Gloss.

Hope this helps?

 

[Andy Monty]

what did you wax it with last time round?

if you like a spray wax as per rosso's last post the Acrylic jet is a very similar product to your meguires spray wax with a decent life expectancy...

you can give it a wax again if you want but if its still beading it should last a few weeks at the very least,,,,



did you use the new formula Super resin polish?

 

[Rosso145]

what did you wax it with last time round?

if you like a spray wax as per rosso's last post the Acrylic jet is a very similar product to your meguires spray wax with a decent life expectancy...

you can give it a wax again if you want but if its still beading it should last a few weeks at the very least,,,,



did you use the new formula Super resin polish?

Acrlic Jet and a spray wax are poles apart - the Jet is a sealent and a spray wax is a wax (albeith very "watered down"). The Jet Trigger Acrylic Sealent is much more durable than a spray wax and will going on protecting much, much longer.

 

[Andy Monty]

Acrlic Jet and a spray wax are poles apart - the Jet is a sealent and a spray wax is a wax (albeith very "watered down"). The Jet Trigger Acrylic Sealent is much more durable than a spray wax and will going on protecting much, much longer.

Bad wording on my part perhapse i should have added the application method is similar Ie spray on spread out and buff.....

But to get the best results from it, it should be applied after the use of the dedicated Prime paint cleaner / base...... It doesn't tend to bond well to many petrochemical / oily based paint cleansers...... add the glos top coat / quick detailer your looking at close to £50 which most people will balk at....


To be fair the Meguires kwik wax and nxt spray isn't such an awful product.. and will last a couple or three months during the summer......

many products billed as a wax also contain synthetic sealants like wise many sealants contain wax.....

One thing with the acrylic jet doesn't have the same beading characteristic's as a wax which is what a lot of people want....

another half decent spray wax is autoglyms quick wax



One problem is not everyone has the budget / will to spend a small fortune on car stuff and as a novice starting out will not want to spend £2,100 on a nice pack of Swissvax Exclusive Divine

one wax that is good over SRP and cheap is http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-476s-super-doublecoat-auto-wax/prod_207.html



As your probably well aware Rosso this "hobby" can soon turn into an obsession And cost you a fortune

not to mention the machine polishers 3 boxes of microfiber cloths / applicators box of machine polisher pads.. da and rotary polisher...... pressure washer, foam lance, flood lamps for machining.......