GEt it handwashed or do it yourself?

[ICedout]

Hi guys just wondering if its okay for the bodywork of the car to take it to a good handwash place?

Because doing it yourself can take good 2 hours or more!!!!!!!!

[Shuriken]

I can't see why that would be any different on the paintwork than doing it yourself? They might not do as good a job but I can't see how it would be any different to the car. I may be wrong. :)

Shuriken.

[ICedout]

I can't see why that would be any different on the paintwork than doing it yourself? They might not do as good a job but I can't see how it would be any different to the car. I may be wrong. :)

Shuriken.


I was thinking since they use the same cloth on all cars they may not wash it so often and hence scratch the cars paintwork which becomes visible in the day in the form of round marks? I am not sure but just wondering and guessing [read

[MistaSmiff]

NO NO NO NO..don't ever let anybody else wash your ride ........unless its the wife .. :p

[Shuriken]

Oh I see your point, yeah, maybe. Although, mistasmiff's plan is good, get the wife to do it. :p

Shuriken.

[peppernick]

I use a valet I've known for 3 years. They know exactly how to handle my car and it's always spotless after 30-40mins work for £12. Pretty good during lunch breaks.

[InvIs Inc]

im the same as nick ive used the same guys for like 3/4 years now and aint had an issue yet. :)

[ICedout]

I use a valet I've known for 3 years. They know exactly how to handle my car and it's always spotless after 30-40mins work for £12. Pretty good during lunch breaks.


Wow they take 30 mins just to wash your car!!!!

I knw this local one where i see a lot of nice cars and they take 10 mins max!! to do outside and inside but u have like four people working on it, does tht sound right?

[peppernick]

4 people team work, inside and out full valet. They jet wash my brakes, hand clean between wheel spokes and reach in to clean the inside as far as they can go. They also polish my exhaust tips and gel the tyre walls. The only thing I don't want them doing is clean the inside of my windows/winscreen.

An example of their work ;)

[paulm3]

yep, i usually do it. but when i cant be bothered or when i go shopping at my local supermarket (cos thats where theyre at), i get a handwash done. team of a couple of ppl. do it while u wait. use all auto glym products too :):) £8. and it looks lovely :):) outside wash and shammy & wheels & windows clean. or £15 for inside clean/hoover aswell:)

[cableguy]

It also depends on the colour of car, light colours are less prone for visible swirl marks, whereas dark colours, especially Black are a real PITA for swirl marks so best to treat very gently yourself.

I say DIY. [ok

[Estoril Sport]

I wash and wax my own car, wont trust anyone unless recommend by a fellow member. I have read some real horror stories about some handwashed places.

[MistaSmiff]

I've owned my other car a ford focus for 2 years which is my runabout and have never washed the fcker myself ..lol :D

[pete]

I suggest using a meguiars soft wollen wash mitt, its awesome and doesnt leave any marks

[MistaSmiff]

I suggest using a meguiars soft wollen wash mitt, its awesome and doesnt leave any marksThe Meguirs drying towel is the best though, you can you dry your whole car without even ringing out the water!!..miles better than a chamois..

[Raj]

I only ever wash my car myself. I wash both mine and my wifes at least once a week, and tbh I actually find it quite theroputic (and it's a bit of alone time ;) :D ).

[JayVee]

I wash/wax the BM myself and i take the punto gt thru the cheapest tesco car wash!

Jay.

[mystic sport]

I only ever wash my car and my wifes car, won't even let BMW wash them after a service. Got the full range of meguiars products to keep me busy :D .

[kam32oi Cab]

i dont take my car any where i do it my self as i know the water is cleaner than theirs and the soap aint been usued and has dirt/grit in it that will scratch my paint work, last time i took my car to get washed some albanian left a big fcuk off bogey on my old e30 :mad: i dont trust their chamois either

anyways washing your own car is good exercise and in that way u see all the nooks and crannies for yourself, and plus you bond more with the car(now thats a bit sad haha!) plus i always wax my engine bay, where i can

[ICedout]

Okay so many people seem to be washing thier own cars here.

I am gonna take a trip to halfords and get kitted up, Can some one please give me a list of thinghs tht should form my Kit.

People use a hose or a power jet wash system? Worth spending the money on the jet wash?

[Estoril Sport]

Don’t go to Halfords I would recommend a web site for you http://www.seriousperformance.co.uk/ really good guy. Don’t go for a power washer just a hose pipe and two buckets.

I use the following:

Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner
Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mit
Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax
Meguiars Gold Class Bug and Tar Remover
Meguiars Quik Clay Detailing
Meguiars Gold Class Trim Detailer
Meguiar's Hot Shine Tyre Dressing
Meguiar's Gold Class Ultra Safe Wheel Spoke Brush
Meguiar's High Tech Applicator Pads

Serious Performance Professional Microfibre Cloths, for drying instead of a Chamois Leather use a large Microfibre Cloth (much quicker to use) 60 x 90cm

And few smaller cloths 40 x 40cm for inside and outside polishing. If you get colour coordinated ones you wound mix the up. Some foam pads for wax application and for the wheels

If your budget is bigger your could go for some other brands such as http://www.advancedcarproducts.com/ for Zaino or www.vertar.com (http://www.vertar.com/) for Zymol and these is also http://www.swissol.com/E/HomeEnglish.htm.

[MistaSmiff]

Okay so many people seem to be washing thier own cars here.

I am gonna take a trip to halfords and get kitted up, Can some one please give me a list of thinghs tht should form my Kit.

People use a hose or a power jet wash system? Worth spending the money on the jet wash?Yes definately get a jet wash, I got one from Argos a few weeks ago for £39.99. It's just as good as my Kercher I had a few years ago.

[ICedout]

Thanks for the help guys.

Mista wht else do u use?

[rahrah]

id goto to cleanandshiney.co.uk john is a top fella and gave me a car forum discount as i was with another forum...also he has the ability to accept credit cards unlike serious which is a shame, ohh and delivery is super super fast!

[rahrah]

right just my 2 pc worth here,...

i would get :
prep.

soft gel wash.
meguiars clay bar - just use the soft gel wash when you run out of lube.

polish/ glaze
meguairs stage 2 deep crystal pure polish
or
2 thin coats of meg NXT (no final coat needed if your using NXT)
or vaniila moose
or
poorboys

final stage
P21s carnuba wax..this stuff is great
or
pinnacle souveran wax - probably the best wax in he world

hopr that helps

[ICedout]

Hey mate thnks for ur help, do u knw wht car forum was it that got you the discount wont mind as the total does seem to come rather steep!!! :eek:

[MistaSmiff]

I wax with Meguirs Gold Class wax, it's sooo easy to apply and take off and doesn't leave white dry flakes behind.

clean leather with johnsons baby wipes, wipe on, leave for a few seconds then wipe off. Don't leave it on for longer than about 20 seconds, again so easy.

I don't get the luxury of spending hours on my ride anymore as I have a busy schedule these days. :(

[rahrah]

Hey mate thnks for ur help, do u knw wht car forum was it that got you the discount wont mind as the total does seem to come rather steep!!! :eek:

yeah it is tyresmoke.net

johns who runs the cleanandshiney.co.uk site is a great fella and a self confessed cleaning nut! he will definetly give more advice when youre buying if youre still not sure what to use. hope that helps!

[rahrah]

ohh if you join tyresmoke.net im sure someone on there somewhere john has posted something about it, also feel free to join in and add some banter! sorry mods hope you dont mind me mentioning another forum?..please delete if required!. :)

[mike 318is]

always wash the car myself
would never let anyone near it apart from my old man , brother or a zymol detailer