Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[DFB FGXR6]

This video (podcast) with Larry from AMMO NYC provides some very insightful information about new car paint. In particular, paint NOT being "perfect" straight from the factory. You wouldn't believe the amount of people I've come across who think their brand-new car should and does have perfect paint. Sadly, that is generally not the case, even when you are shopping exotics.

Being a podcast format, its pretty long, so home in on the 45 - 50min mark for the Q&A section.

[OneMadMan]

Originally Posted by stannoplan

That feeling when you know you don't really need that last item for any reason other than its price to get you to $150 ;) I have taken to keeping a mock cart as a wish list for that purpose. Be interested to know what you got?

Love your sig...

ex owner of: Mk1 Escort, Mk1 Capri, BA Falcon but Fordless at present and punished by having 3 black cars and 2 teenage daughters.

Wow, talk about living the nightmare... How do you cope? I have OCD in a bad way, and even finger prints on the windows does MY head in, let alone 2 black cars to deal with.. I need more patience..

Have you got a lifetime membership at the BP Scratch and go? hahaha

One Man.

[stannoplan]

Originally Posted by onemanempire

Love your sig...

ex owner of: Mk1 Escort, Mk1 Capri, BA Falcon but Fordless at present and punished by having 3 black cars and 2 teenage daughters.

Wow, talk about living the nightmare... How do you cope? I have OCD in a bad way, and even finger prints on the windows does MY head in, let alone 2 black cars to deal with.. I need more patience..

Have you got a lifetime membership at the BP Scratch and go? hahaha

One Man.

All good here. Just sold the Polo in the avatar and got a white T-Cross. 2 cars are outside and get a bit of dust so its a challenge and requires weekly washing.

Tips for the fellow long suffering: The girl's cars are coated with NV-EVo, topped with Meg Hybrid QD/Boost V2, glass with Mirch Neo-lite and wheels with Happy Endings in hose down so its a breeze to clean. 3 cars in 40 mins for maint washes, sometimes with 1 towel (Carpro Dehydrate). Best tip is use the flood method, small workshop blower to do cracks, grills, gaps and wheels and draw the towel over to dry. I had a car yard car washing business when i was 16 so my fast wash technique is good.

Girls are starting to appreciate the comments about their cars and now think about cleaning them.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by stannoplan

Be interested to know what you got?

Couple things missing, 5 more four season microfibres and another pack of 24 hero's and some Snow+.

[DFB FGXR6]

My latest article went live earlier this week, a range overview of the Armour Detail Supply maintenance line.

https://detailingshed.com.au/blogs/a...-product-guide



From the moment I tried their wheel coating late last year, the Armour Detail Supply brand captured my attention. As I discovered more about the brand, I knew these were products I wanted to try. When Detailing Shed announced they would be the Australian distributor for ADS, I was excited to get my hands on the entire lineup. The coatings launched first earlier this year, followed a few months later by the maintenance line.

Going off the comments I had been reading about ADS in the US, I knew I wanted to try every product they make. During a detailing therapy session, I remember lining them all up, then started grabbing one after the other as I worked around the car. I'm at the point now where I can tell within 30 seconds if a product is good or not. Each ADS product instantly impressed!

What impressed me most of all was how consistently great the entire lineup is. For any given brand, they will have one or two truly great products with the rest being average at best. ASD on the other hand sit at the top tiers for each segment they play in.

Still, a few key products rise to the top. Pilot is my absolute favorite interior cleaner/detailer, Amplify I can't get enough of..............I have already re-ordered both! I love Tire+, it seems to have just the right amount of enhancement without sickly gloss. And Hero rinse-less wash is delightful to use, Ceramic Spray Sealant the easiest of it's type to apply.

Full Disclosure -

While I have authored the above article, the "DS User Notes" are my own, I bought all of those products with my own money. I get no financial credit if you do go on the buy some of these products from Detailing Shed, but you will be supporting a passionate Australian company.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...-detail-supply

For transparency, you can also buy ADS products from AutoBuff in Melbourne. From my interactions, they are likewise a great company to deal with.

https://autobuff.com.au/collections/...-detail-supply

[Trendseeker]

I’ll be placing an order soon for their Pro Quartz Coating and the associated prep products. I bought a 3.8L container of the P&S Xpress Interior Cleaner that you recommended a while back, and it goes a long way, so I’ll have to wait a while before I can sample the spicy pear scent of the Pilot Interior Cleaner.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

I’ll be placing an order soon for their Pro Quartz Coating and the associated prep products. I bought a 3.8L container of the P&S Xpress Interior Cleaner that you recommended a while back, and it goes a long way, so I’ll have to wait a while before I can sample the spicy pear scent of the Pilot Interior Cleaner.

I love Xpress, still on my original gallon of it. I would say Xpress offers more serious cleaning power, whereas Pilot is closer to an interior detailer for regular use.

I'm thinking of putting Quartz (non-pro) on my Dad's Wildtrak.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...quartz-coating

[Trendseeker]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I'm thinking of putting Quartz (non-pro) on my Dad's Wildtrak.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...quartz-coating

Why are you thinking of the non-pro rather than the pro? Ease of application is important for me - I’m a bit nervous of a stuff up with the application - but the process seems to be the same for both products and the extra protective life of the pro seems worth the extra cost. I’m not sure I’ll get the spread right with the tiny 30ml in the bottle, and then there’s the risk of high spots.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

Why are you thinking of the non-pro rather than the pro? Ease of application is important for me - I’m a bit nervous of a stuff up with the application - but the process seems to be the same for both products and the extra protective life of the pro seems worth the extra cost. I’m not sure I’ll get the spread right with the tiny 30ml in the bottle, and then there’s the risk of high spots.

I'm going to be completely honest here, coatings still scare me. I've applied a coating numerous times now, but they still have me on edge. With a wax, the worst thing you can do is stain some black trim. A coating needs to be micromanaged to avoid high spots, you end up binning a collection of towels, I also hate the grabby wipe off process and the way most of them feel tacky after application instead of that extreme slickness that comes from a wax.

That doesn't mean I hate ceramic coatings, because actually do like them. But they are just so bloody finicky! And in the case of a garage queen that's never on a wet road and is washed more than its driven, why do I need to play the coating game when a wax or sealant is going to offer me more pleasure? That's why I would want to put Quartz on my father's daily driver, and why I won't be coating my new Mustang (except for the wheels, where I feel a coatings benefit is more pronounced).

So, to answer your question, the choice of the regular version of Quartz would be the less time critical application process and cheaper price of entry. Also, you are going to want to refresh/polish the paint long before the 5-year life expectancy of Quartz Pro, so paying the extra $100 for something you may end up removing at the 3-year mark doesn't compute for me.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I'm going to be completely honest here, coatings still scare me. I've applied a coating numerous times now, but they still have me on edge.

I think the way that we detail and really enjoy it, that coatings are useless for us as well. I've also found them so much more maintenance than a nice wax every few months as well. They are marketed as low maintenance but they are far from it. If you've got a garage queen they are pointless, zero point.

They are great for people who don't really notice the small details. I see them useful for cars that are used as a daily for a sacrificial layer. The issue is, for perfectionists like us, you then notice the flaws in coatings very quickly. My Territory had watermarks within 4 weeks of coating it. Then to remove them is an annoying process that takes a couple hours, then a month later they are back. They also need toppers to "protect" the coating, which to me, is again, pointless.

I think they are great in certain aplications but they are absolutely pointless for people that are a bit OCD. I've gone away from coatings now, much easier to spend an hour every 4 months applying some protection.

I remember doing CQ UK as my first time coating on my old silver XR8, I was petrified and it took me 8 hours to do two coats because I was so paranoid of high spots.

Forgot to add, sealants and waxes etc give so much better gloss/depth/reflection etc to the paint than a ceramic gives. I just hit the Rebel with Collinite 845, my god the depth is insane. I'll do a small write up on it when I get time.

[DFB FGXR6]

So, having said all that, I'm STILL debating what to put on the Mustang. You'd think after waiting more than two years for the bloody thing I would have figured that out by now.

For the paint, I have either Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant or Collinite 845 in mind. Both of these have their quirks, but they make paint glow in a way that no coating I have seen or experienced can. The Wolfgang product is a polymer sealant, the Collinite is a hybrid blend of synthetic polymers and natural carnauba wax.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/co...5&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Collinite 845 on Race Red..........................



Wolfgang DGPS on Sensation Blue and Odessey Red...........................





The strange thing is, going the wax/sealant route has me feeling like I'm not putting "the best" there is on the car. We are conditioned to think a ceramic coating is THE best way of protecting and enhancing paint. I guess that is a subjective.

For the wheels though, I'm 100% sure what's going on them........................

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...-wheel-coating







This stuff blows Carpro DLUX and NV Wheel out of the water for hydrophobics and slickness. It's considerably more expensive than either, but it's worth every cent for that slickness and expected longer durability. I'll also put it on the calipers and rotor hats.

For trim, I'll just do Carpro Reload. I really like how easy this is to apply on plastic trim, likewise the subtly enhanced finish it leaves behind. And unlike a typical plastic dressing such as Perl or 303, Reload won't wash off next time it rains or when the car is washed, or have a greasy feel.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...d&_ss=e&_v=1.0







The glass, well from what I have seen, glass specific coatings are a mixed bag. I think I'll just stick with a sealant like Gyeon Quick View, or maybe have a go at Soft99 Ultra Glaco.

https://detailingshed.com.au/product...k&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.soft99australia.com/prod...cd347cdf&_ss=r

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

I think the way that we detail and really enjoy it, that coatings are useless for us as well. I've also found them so much more maintenance than a nice wax every few months as well. They are marketed as low maintenance but they are far from it. If you've got a garage queen they are pointless, zero point.

They are great for people who don't really notice the small details. I see them useful for cars that are used as a daily for a sacrificial layer. The issue is, for perfectionists like us, you then notice the flaws in coatings very quickly. My Territory had watermarks within 4 weeks of coating it. Then to remove them is an annoying process that takes a couple hours, then a month later they are back. They also need toppers to "protect" the coating, which to me, is again, pointless.

I think they are great in certain aplications but they are absolutely pointless for people that are a bit OCD. I've gone away from coatings now, much easier to spend an hour every 4 months applying some protection.

I remember doing CQ UK as my first time coating on my old silver XR8, I was petrified and it took me 8 hours to do two coats because I was so paranoid of high spots.

Forgot to add, sealants and waxes etc give so much better gloss/depth/reflection etc to the paint than a ceramic gives. I just hit the Rebel with Collinite 845, my god the depth is insane. I'll do a small write up on it when I get time.

My exact thoughts.

I've found 845 to be receptive to a wide range of toppers and drying aids, whereas coatings get weird unless you stick with a very specific product. I can't say that I was ever disappointed with the hydrophobic behavior of 845, other than its "just waxed" performance dropping off quite quickly. In which case, I found topping 845 with NV Jet to give you the best of both worlds, ceramic-like hydrophobics, and the warm glow of a wax underneath.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

My exact thoughts.

I've found 845 to be receptive to a wide range of toppers and drying aids, whereas coatings get weird unless you stick with a very specific product. I can't say that I was ever disappointed with the hydrophobic behavior of 845, other than its "just waxed" performance dropping off quite quickly. In which case, I found topping 845 with NV Jet to give you the best of both worlds, ceramic-like hydrophobics, and the warm glow of a wax underneath.

How long before you put jet on top? I might go and do it now

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

How long before you put jet on top? I might go and do it now

I think the last time I did it, it was after 24-hours. In other cases, its been after a week or more. I think in any case, you would probably allow 845 to cure and "bloom" first, that light hazing that appears as the solvents evaporate.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I think the last time I did it, it was after 24-hours. In other cases, its been after a week or more. I think in any case, you would probably allow 845 to cure and "bloom" first, that light hazing that appears as the solvents evaporate.

Gets it's first wash tomorrow so will just follow with jet after the wash, cheers mate.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Gets it's first wash tomorrow so will just follow with jet after the wash, cheers mate.

That's perfect, the wash removes that haze 845 is known for, the Jet will give you a sacrificial layer to extend the longevity of 845.

[fordomatic]

Can confirm that Nova Lustre will last exactly 12 months on a garage queen. Washed my P250 today and the Lustre I put on 12 months to the day had broken down on about 20% of the surfaces with no hydrophobic ability left. This car is garaged and probably sees the sun for about 8-12 hours a year.
when I washed it 4 1/2 months ago, it was still very good.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Can confirm that Nova Lustre will last exactly 12 months on a garage queen. Washed my P250 today and the Lustre I put on 12 months to the day had broken down on about 20% of the surfaces with no hydrophobic ability left. This car is garaged and probably sees the sun for about 8-12 hours a year.
when I washed it 4 1/2 months ago, it was still very good.

I think that shows that for a garage queen, you can safely double the expected longevity claims for a wax/sealant/coating.

[Top_Ghia]

Got some onyx on my recent Waxit order along with some bulk NV Purge and Snow.
I’m pretty happy with the satin finish Onyx leaves after a quick hit with Carpro Retyre.
I also bought a small detailing brush which I found handy to clean in the crevices of the DH grill.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I actually ordered some Megs Soft Wash, the local Repco doesn't carry it.

As promised, plus one other contender........................



I nearly took out my nostrils giving the Soft Wash a quick whiff, that cherry scent is STRONG!

The NXT? Well, that takes me back to the late 2000's and my FG XR6. Before taking delivery of it in June 2008, I went on a car care binge by "upgrading" to Autoglym, in particular Super Resin Polish (a mild polish with a LOT of fillers), Extra Gloss Protection (a liquid sealant used on top of SRP), and Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner. The SRP and EGP stayed with me for a while, but the shampoo was exceptionally terrible.

Enter Meguiar's then new NXT 2.0 lineup. Three products made up the NXT 2.0 line, a synthetic liquid sealant called Tech Wax 2.0, a paste wax also called Tech Wax 2.0, and a shampoo. Meguiar's went all out on these products, the purple colouring linked them together, as did the grape scent and special cardboard packaging. Even the foam applicators were purple.





I ended up using the NXT 2.0 Tech Wax paste on the XR6 for many years. From what I can tell, that stuff was also full of fillers and had a mild abrasive in it. It's main claim to fame was the "stunning wet-look shine". Looking back, I seem to remember Tech Wax 2.0 paste required plenty of effort to apply, plenty of effort to buff off. In the end, I replaced it with the delightful Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant. Since then, the liquid Tech Wax and shampoo remain on sale, but the paste wax is long gone.

In terms of the soap, this was looong before my foray into foam cannons. As such, I always appreciated the ultra-sudsy formula which hung around throughout the duration of the wash. Claims of it "refreshing paint protection" and "synthetic lubricating oils" suggests a soap full of conditioning agents and fillers. The grape scent takes me back, just like the ArmorAll Car Wash from last week. I'm also keen to see how this soap fares against the benchmark soaps on the market.

Thinking this through, I do wonder where NXT Car Wash sits with other Meguiars soaps. Meguiar's offer soaps in consumer friendly and professional user formats. So, which of the consumer soaps listed here matches up with the Detailer pro range, as in Soft Wash, NXT and Gold Class vs Hyper Wash, Shampoo+ and Citrus Blast Wash & Wax?

[bangm001]

The smell of the Meg soft wash just reminds me of good times and summer!! I love it! HAHA!

[DFB FGXR6]

Well, I caved.....................

[bfets]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Well, I caved.....................



image



image

Ooooh! Is that going on the Mustang?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by bfets

Ooooh! Is that going on the Mustang?

I think so. Kinda has to now, it's not a cheap coating to leave sitting on the shelf.

[bfets]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I think so. Kinda has to now, it's not a cheap coating to leave sitting on the shelf.

I'm also going to experiment with mine. Don't want to spend 10k+ on PPF for the whole car, so only getting the front, quarters and roof done in Xpel. Coating the rest. I've been a wax only guy up until now. Looking forward to seeing what the fuss is about.

[bfets]

Another question for you @DFB FGXR6

Do you think Bilt Hamber Touchless would be too harsh for frequent maintenance washes on PPF and a ceramic coating? Should it really just be reserved for those times that the car is very dirty, or is it safe to use every wash?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by bfets

Another question for you @DFB FGXR6

Do you think Bilt Hamber Touchless would be too harsh for frequent maintenance washes on PPF and a ceramic coating? Should it really just be reserved for those times that the car is very dirty, or is it safe to use every wash?

Touch-less is supposed to be coating safe, likewise safe on the various unpainted rubber and plastic parts that heavy alkaline products can discolor over time. However, I can't back that up as I think "we" are still early days as to the long-term use of this product.

Like any soap, its use can be tailored to suit the cleaning ability needed...................

The new Touch-Less formula can be applied at between 0.5% – 2% panel impact ratio (PIR), giving you twice the power of the old formula. For dirty cars use 2% PIR for slightly soiled cars it's suggested to try a 0.5% PIR. Touch-Less is a bio-degradable sugar-based product that provides a truly exceptional level of cleaning without altering your ceramic coating.

In other words, use it as required.

The new version of Touch-less is still on the way and should be available from the end of October. The older version needed twice as much product for any given PIR, and if you have a higher flowing pressure washer like I do, you end up running it undiluted to get sufficient PIR.

[bfets]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Touch-less is supposed to be coating safe, likewise safe on the various unpainted rubber and plastic parts that heavy alkaline products can discolor over time. However, I can't back that up as I think "we" are still early days as to the long-term use of this product.

Like any soap, its use can be tailored to suit the cleaning ability needed...................



In other words, use it as required.

The new version of Touch-less is still on the way and should be available from the end of October. The older version needed twice as much product for any given PIR, and if you have a higher flowing pressure washer like I do, you end up running it undiluted to get sufficient PIR.

Yep. I was going to grab some v2 as soon as it comes in. I want to try some Traceless as well.

I'm just a little worried about the long term effects of such a high pH soap when I might not really need all that cleaning power. I might just stick to normal neutral soap for normal washes and then pull out the BH when the car really needs it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by bfets

Yep. I was going to grab some v2 as soon as it comes in. I want to try some Traceless as well.

I'm just a little worried about the long term effects of such a high pH soap when I might not really need all that cleaning power. I might just stick to normal neutral soap for normal washes and then pull out the BH when the car really needs it.

To be honest, you are never going to need Touch-less unless you are dealing with heavy traffic film, bugs and dirt. The only time I use it is if I'm detailing someone else's car, it really helps lift away the baked-on stuff and then makes it quicker and easier to do the contact wash.

Traceless on the other hand, well that is something I really want to try as well, everything I've heard suggests its a game-changer.

[DFB FGXR6]

For those who want to try or restock Bilt Hamber Touch-less, Detailing Shed and PPC have it back in stock and I'm told its moving fast. This is the latest formulation, which is double the concentration. On my high-flow pressure washer, I've been having to use it undiluted in the foam cannon to achieve the desired panel impact ratio (PIR).

https://www.ppcco.com.au/products/bi...bp9ED0tMoPcbCj
https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...ash-touch-less



Also now in stock, Trace-less glass cleaner. From what I have seen, and I normally refrain for using this term, Trace-less is a game changer.

https://www.ppcco.com.au/products/bi...49138053087536
https://detailingshed.com.au/product...45462170894551





Touch-less is not something I always need, but it's a real time saver on filthy vehicles. Trace-less on the other hand is very enticing, I think we all hate cleaning glass, especially discovering a rouge smudge afterwards.