Taking Care Of A New Fiat 500

[inoicangp]

Right guys just picked up my Crossover black Fiat 500:yum:,yip I took the plunge and got the nightmare colour now I need as much help as I can get.

This is my first new car and I want to keep(well try my best) to keep it in showroom condition.ok lets begin.

Exterior
Best type of car shampoo to use and what type of cloth or mit?
Can I use one of those high pressure washers on the paint?
What polish and/or wax would be the best to use on my car to prevent swirls?
How often should I polish and wax it?
Can I do this straight away or do I need to wait a few weeks before polishing or waxing?
I have the chrome kit what can I use on the chrome parts to keep it shiny and scratch free?
What product can I use on the headlights and taillights to protect them from scratches?
Best polish and tyre dressing to use on my multispoke rims and tyres?`

Interior
Best leather food and how often to use it?
What can I use on the plastic bits on the doors & centre console?This is the most important thing scratches and perished pieces would drive me nuts!:bang:
What can I use on the soft touch material on the dash?

Cant wait to pamper her

 

[Adrian09]

Hello take a look here->https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/252991-beginner-detailer.html
also you should register and have a search on www.detailingworld.co.uk

 

[Adrian09]

Shampoo: Autoglym shampoo/dodo juice born to be mild/meguiars gold class.
Wash Mit: Sheepskin or lambs wool wash mit see here why-> http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4637
Yes you can use a pressure washer just dont aim at any chipped paintwork.
Polish: Autoglym super resin polish
Wax: There are hundreds of wax's which 1 you choose depends on your budget?
How often should you polish and wax? 1-3 Months depending on wax durability
Chrome Polish: Autosol
You can protect the head Lights/tail Lights from scratching by using a good wash techniqe when cleaning them, There is no product to stop scratches being inflicted.
Best Alloy wheel Polish: In my opinion super resin polish/planet polish wheel seal and shine.
Best Tyre Shine: There is no best but here a few good 1's Autosmart highstyle/autoglym rubber cleaner/meguiars endurance tyre gel/

Interior plastic: Aerospace 303 for a none sticky dry to touch finish/autoglym vinyl and rubber care(can be sticky when touching unless very little applied)
Leather cleaning/protecting: http://www.detailingworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2517260

 

[Zaceyboy]

agree'd ^^^ don't over do it though

 

[eddiebabyny]

Gd Day from the Big Smoke, NYC

I just bought the "nightmare colour" as well.

Any tips from your experience on which products worked best? I want to be proactive in protecting this black paint.

Any input would be greatly apriciated

 

[VmanC]

Gd Day from the Big Smoke, NYC

I just bought the "nightmare colour" as well.

Any tips from your experience on which products worked best? I want to be proactive in protecting this black paint.

Any input would be greatly apriciated

Hi, This is an old-ish thread and as such some of the advice can be improved upon these days.

Best way to wash is to use snow foam, this is sprayed on, left for a few minutes to do it's thing, then hosed off before it dries. This method means that no sponge or mit has touched the car so there's no danger of bits of dirt being wiped across your paintwork causing swirl marks. Once rinsed, dry off with a micro fibre towel, chamois leathers are old skool and can also cause swirls.
Next use a good cleanser polish, preferably with an electric polisher, then buff clean with a micro fibre cloth.
Finally wax with the best wax you can afford, carnauba wax is known to be best so choose a wax that has a high percentage of this in it.

Meguires is a good product range for everything you need and being an American company should be easily available.

I did the above to my old 1988 Merc. today and used Zymol polish/cleanser, followed by Bilt Hamber finis-wax, results are as pics...........





Both Zymol and Bilt Hamber produce a superb range of products, not sure about availability in the US though, worth checking thier websites.

P.S. Sorry pics are a bit shakey, but I think the level of shine is still apparent.

 

[RobinPJ]

I think you missed out the two-bucket method washing part after your snow foam but before you dry it...

 

[VmanC]

I think you missed out the two-bucket method washing part after your snow foam but before you dry it...

I don't use the two bucket method after snow foam, I rinse the snow foam off with fresh water from a hose or jetwash then dry.

 

[GoGas]

Also in situation of taking delivery of new 500 and your advice is helpful. Not obsessional about car cleaning but wish to look at how best to protect the car from new (having declined GuardX). Will probably use AutoGlym products as fairly easily available so will plan
(1) 2 bucket wash with neutral shampoo and mitt
(2) AutoGlym Super Resin Polish
(3) Some form of wax protection- unclear which is best and difference between AG Extra Gloss Protection (? better sealant) and AG High Definition Wax and which will give best protection.

The other query is as car is new would something more of a pure sealant or coating be appropriate. In particular gtechniq products which I am unclear as to their use. C1 seems a product that needs careful specialist application but seems to provide very strong protection against scratches etc. Where does C2 and C3 fit in? Is C3 just a type of wax and an alternative to AG Extra Gloss Protection or High Definition Wax. Where does C2 fit in?

thanks