Car Wash Gurus save me!

[Maleficus]

I just bought a new (to me) BMW (2007 328), and now I need to keep it clean and all that jazz. I've searched around and you guys seem to recommend autogeek so I looked them up, even called them and talked to a rep for a little while but when all is said and done I'm looking at 200 bucks. That seems like a tremendous amount to wash and clean my car.

Am I being cheap or am I being sold snake oil?

This is what we came up with:

Klasse all in one Polish
DP Poli-coat Paint Sealant
1Z Einszett Leather Care
303 Aerospace Protectorant
Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo
Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner
Tire/Wheel brush (Boars Hair)
3 Cobra Blue All Purpose Microfiber Towels
Cobra Blue Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt
Grit guard
Guzzler Waffle Weave

and reading the descriptions for all this stuff it looks like I need another damn towel for buffing out the paint sealant.

What is y'alls take on this?

 

[halik]

What the f are you talking about?

 

[Maleficus]

What the f are you talking about?

pretty sure I'm talking about supplies to clean a car, what the f are you talking about?

 

[tbike06]

Or you could just go down to your local autozone, spend $15 on car wash, wax and mitt and call it good. No need to spend all that money unless you have a Lamborghini or something like that.

 

[angry hampster]

You buy an upscale car but think it's ridiculous to use upscale products to clean it.



???

 

[rootaxs]

If you just want to wash and wax like everyone else, Autozone is your best bet.

Otherwise, if you want to start detailing and really taking care of your car, then those products recommended is a good start. But you have to study what each product is for and how to properly use them otherwise you're just wasting your money.

FWIW, my detailing supplies have set me back way more than their quote. And the way i see it, that $200 worth of supplies will last you longer than $200 worth of "detailing" at your local wash 'n wax shop.

 

[Tristicus]

I suck at car washing. If I had a real nice, car, it'd probably be worth it to get it done professionally in nice weather.

 

[alkemyst]

It's $200, but you are not using all that in one setting.

I'd line up:

Clay Magic Blue

Meguiars 83 for getting semi-decent paint back in shape (only you will know if you really need it, I have both 80 and 83, but find 83 is my go to product).

Porter Cable orbital or similar, the new XP's are nice, I have I think the 7436, i got it for about $120 with both 5" and 6" weights, a hook and loop disc and another accessory I have forgotten.

I decided to go with the Edge system. It's pricey, you have to be careful you don't bang the middle retainer on corners, but easy and quick to use. I may change though as the foam products wear out fast.

Meguiars Show car glaze or New car glaze for light polishing. I have been using the New Car glaze a lot more as it never 'sticks' like the show car glaze.

#21 sealant

Gold Class or NXT wax for a final coat.

I have #9 swirl remover, but 80 and 81 seem to replace it really. My best advice is pick a product line you can get easy and afford and learn the line up. Each brand works slightly different, once you get into the 'groove' you will know what bottle to grab to make it shine.

Ultimate Quick Detailer for touch ups.

I like bulk Hyper Wash...cheap and effective.

I don't use a wheel cleaner, you shouldn't have to if you keep them clean. IMHO they are a last resort as almost all are a bit strong for a nice finish.

Grit guard is important...and cheap.

Nice firemans nozzle and shut off valve is good.

I like Tanner's Preserve for leather, I have some Lexol as a go to product for friends. None of my cars are leather now.

I went with a ton of Cobra Microfiber from yellow to thick blue. Different uses for each and last a long time if taken care of. Build them up as you find them/need them. I have yellow, green, purple, waffle weave (but find the really thick light blue work better on glass), and some others...

I use 303 Cleaner and Protectant

Meguiars gel for my tires (low gloss)

Detailer's Paradise I love for upholstery cleaning. I have their general purpose cleaner and deep clean hot water extractor product. You can get buy with just general if needed, but a little green clean machine (spot bot or other like $79 at costco) will show you totally black water in even a 'clean' car.

Build up as you go and then just maintain...I can go a year or so before having to buy miscellaneous items.

some of my products are not shown because I had lent them out...

 

[Maleficus]

You buy an upscale car but think it's ridiculous to use upscale products to clean it.



???

I don't think it's ridiculous if it's warranted, I am just new to this and didn't realize it could cost so much. I want to make sure that I am buying something that is different, is truly a higher quality product and worth my money as opposed to the car wash equivalent of monster cables, thus I asked here.

I have no problem spending the money if it is necessary to protect my investment.

 

[Howard]

Here's what I use for washing my car only:

two 5-gallon buckets - free?
two grit guards - $20
Duragloss Car Wash Concentrate - $30 per gallon
Optimum No-Rinse (occasionally) - $30 per gallon
chenille microfiber wash mitt - $10
yellow Ricardo clay (available only in Canada) - $20
leaf blower - $?
waffle weave microfiber - $15

Detailing supplies get expensive very, very quickly.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honestly, I just take my car down to the local wash and have them clay, polish and hand wax it twice a year for around $100.

I don't have time for all the bullshit you guys do to your cars.

I'm even more liberal with my wife's car. I encourage her to get it professionally detailed because a) I don't have to do it and b) it's tax deductible.

 

[thescreensavers]

Honestly, I just take my car down to the local wash and have them clay, polish and hand wax it twice a year for around $100.

Buffer trails, Marring and swirls all come from chepo/fast polishing do they cover up all the trim? Do they take at least 4 hours to polish?

I would never let those people touch my car

to the OP

I Meguiared

 

[Howard]

You do metal fab in your garage?

 

[thescreensavers]

^Those are hurricane shutters.

 

[Throckmorton]

What is grit guard??

 

[Throckmorton]

Microfiber towels are CHEAP at auto parts stores, dept stores, Costco, etc. Under $1 each.

 

[alkemyst]

What is grit guard??

it's a raised grid that keeps the wash mitt from contacting the 'grit' at the bottom of a bucket.

Ideally many use two buckets both with grit guards. One contains soap and water, the other water only. You always rinse the mitt in the water only bucket prior to redunking it in the suds.

I only use one bucket myself, but I do use a grit guard. They are cheap.

 

[alkemyst]

Microfiber towels are CHEAP at auto parts stores, dept stores, Costco, etc. Under $1 each.

The same towels are also cheap anywhere. There are many levels of microfiber, much like towels and sheets.

There is a good chart here:
http://www.pinnaclewax.com/mfchart.html

 

[basslover1]

What is grit guard??

I'm trying to figure out why the hell someone would pay money for it.


I know, hanging a rag over the side of a bucket is a tough idea to swallow.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I used to use Meguiares a lot, but I recently started switching everything over to Mothers, I like it a bit better.

 

[ElZoidberg]

The absolute best car care products on the web along with the best customer service can be found if you google "Adam's Car Detailing".

You get what you pay for when it comes to detailing your car and washing it to preserve all the effort you put into detailing. The most enjoyable thing I found using their products is that more results take me less time and I get better results. Washing is a simple with a synthetic wool fiber pad that soaks up water like crazy and results in a ton of suds, the car wash can dry and be used in the sun until you're ready to wash off, and the grit guard (which is not useless) dislodges dirt and grime that comes off the car before it accumulates and does damage to your paint as you wash it.

How much effort you put in is left up to your free time and interest in spending time with your car, but the benefits for the practical person.

• A quality pad makes washing easier and less likely to damage your paint with scratches or swirls (although over time this always happens when you touch the paint and use your car)
• A PH neutral car was prevents hard water spots and the ridiculous process of washing the car down continuously as you clean it.
• A quality washing pad and drying microfiber cloth is simple to clean time and time again.

Cheap microfiber cloths made in China lose their softness after a few washes and do not absorb water as well when drying. I save the cheap microfibers (from autozone and such) for cleaning my exhaust tips and wheel wells/tires.

Basslover1, dirt and grime pulled off the car by the wash mitt will also accumulate and the grit guard makes removing it simple before you continue to pass the wash mitt over your car. The dirt does not necessarily fall off the mitt as you put it in the bucket. The grit guard lets you scrub the tough/stuck dirt off.

 

[Howard]

Microfiber towels are CHEAP at auto parts stores, dept stores, Costco, etc. Under $1 each.

Not all towels are made the same.

 

[Howard]

I'm trying to figure out why the hell someone would pay money for it.


I know, hanging a rag over the side of a bucket is a tough idea to swallow.

The grit guard helps prevent particulate matter that's on the bottom of the bucket from moving up during agitation.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm trying to figure out why the hell someone would pay money for it.


I know, hanging a rag over the side of a bucket is a tough idea to swallow.

Sure no problem using a 'rag' on a car like yours: