Just wondering what the pro's think of auto glym products. I have always used them and seem pretty good but if i can get better results with other products then i would like to know.

Normally i would wash with autoglym car shampoo, then polish with auto glym super resin polish by hand, then seal with Autoglym extra gloss protection. It goes on like water and takes forever to dry!

I have a Black 95 WRX wagon, Being 13 years old obviously its not imaculate!

Also what makes a good interior shampoo?

Cheers
Adam

 

while they are not in the current "cool" lists by the prada people, they make good products that have stood the test of time IMO

 

I use some of their products but not their polish or sealant/waxes, although over in Detailing World they seem to regard the AG SRP good for masking swirls and light scratches. IMO experiment with products until you find something that works for you with application and finish.

 

SRP is good for masking - but really requires sealing for it to last any amount of time. I also find it a total pain in the **** to get off, feel it leaves a lot of residue, and that massive amount of care has to be taken to prevent it from getting on any plastic trim as the staining it causes is a another pain in the ****!

If you don't want to try and do a proper correction then fine - but I think there are better products out there. As an "off-the-halfords-shelf" product I prefer the Meg's lines, simply because they are much easier to use.

(All in my opinion)

 

I definatly agree with the residue! I used to have a 2.0 zetec converted MK3 fiesta which was used for the odd show and always used auto glym because it was easy to get hold of. But now i have the car i have always wanted i want it to be kept in tip top condition and only use the best products!

 

White dust from SRP is from using too much product.

 

since ive had the current scoob (17 months), really all ive used is auto glym products.

tried a fare few different things inc. megs turtlewax etc, but for me for a decent price auto glym does the trick.

currently use the a.g car shampoo, super resin polish, clean wheels and wheel sealent. tried the instant show shine, thats crap imho, and the fast glass which leaves smears. so i use turtle wax spray for the windows and natty paste wax/megs wax for sealent.

eventually when job/moneys better il invest in a whole new range from polished bliss, but for now 6-7 hours using the above and my own method does me fine. thats on a red car too.

 

I always found the auto glym products to be pretty good.

However I found the Blackfire range to be awesome on black paint... Gives a superb finish!

[IMG]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15...g?t=1208777395[/IMG]

 

I'll be a happy boy if i Can get mine to shine like yours! And you have the wheels i want!

Gonna take mine into work on the weekend and give it a good going over. Which reminds me, must get a clay bar! Any recommendations on which to use? Meguiers is the easiest to get for me but are they any good?

I will try and post some pics when it is done.

 

If you're claying for the first time you'll probably be better off with something like Megs quik clay - doddle to use and the results are quite impressive.

I've used lot's of cleaning products in the past and found Autoglym to be quite good - but as mentioned the SRP is a bitch for residue but on the plus side it's a doddle to apply and buff off while masking is also decent.The EGP is a must though as SRP on it's own doesn't last long.

 

Good man! Thanks for the advice.

As a first timer "clayer" are there any tips you can give me to get a decent job done? I know you are supposed to lubricate but what with? Or does it all come as a kit?

As i'm sure you have realised by now anything past polishing and i am stuck! Never had a car worthy of all this work until i bought my scoob!

 

tell you what to do fella. get hold of one of the megs 'quik clay' kits. in that you get 2 clay bars, bottle of spray loob, a microfibre for wiping and even a bottle wax for afterwards

anywho, make sure the car is washed and dryish. spray a 18" square area with the loob, dont be shy wont harm your car. then simply go over with the clay bar repreatedly until nice and smooth. youll see the dirt grime tar etc on the clay bar. scrunch it up and ready to go again. just wipe the excess fluid off with a microfibre after. it should feel smooth as glass after this. officially de-contaminated.

first time i did my car took me ages but you gt the hang of it and it isnt required every wash, maybe once every 4-6 months depending on car usage.

for the record got my quik clay kit from halford £22.99

 

If you go for the quik clay it comes as i kit in a box.You get a clay bar and a detailing spray - it'll set you back around £12 i think.Just make sure that you wash and dry the car so its spotless before using.

I use around half a clay bar each time but you'll probably find you'll get through almost all the spray.Just make sure you lubricate well and do about half a panel at a time before wiping off with a microfibre cloth,then do the other half.

The pack gives full instructions but honestly it's a doddle.

The biggest tip i can give though is NEVER re-use the clay if you drop it,just throw it away and use the other half.Also,some people recommend softening the clay in warm water for a few minutes to help soften it,it's supposed to work better that way.

Your car will be as smooth as glass afterwards!

 

Cheers guys!

I will get one of those kits from halfords!

So after claying she will be ready to polish and seal i guess?

 

Indeed,you'll probably find it applies much easier as well.

If you've still got some Autglym SRP & EGP left i would just continue using that for now,it'll be as good as the Megs wax that's supplied with clay (IMHO).

 

yeah im gonna wash the scoob today. get the karcher out for a blast. not claying the car as it dont need it, but still have some of the megs wax left in the bottle and may coat her with some

 

Thanks!

Advice same as other guys... make sure you use lots of lube for the clay bar!

Process should be wash & dry, clay, polish, then sealant/wax.

Use up your Auto-glym stuff, then try some other brands... lots of stuff out there! Like I said, I love the Blackfire range for black paint. But if you call Polished Bliss, they are really helpful and can put ou in the right direction for the finish you want.

Good luck!

 

i have just done a test on my car (white classic)

fresh new paintwork, cut back with g3 then g10 (rotary), then went over with SRP via rotary. then i tried some old bottles of diamondbrite body glaze i had lying about the place, looks pretty good

was hoping to try the new autoglym high def wax but its still not been delivered and i had already started the car this morning

if the high def stuff is delivered tomorrow i will go over it again and see what its like

 

Lovely job! Cheers guys!

I'll take some before during and after pics, Then maybe you can point out where i am going wrong!

It will all be done by hand until i can afford one of those meguiers polishing machines. I will also give PP a ring in the near future.

Also what do you all use as a tyre shine? I use the meguiers gel which looks great until you drive the car and it flicks all over the nice freshly polished paint! Can you get one that looks good and doesnt results in flicking up onto the paint work?

 

I too am currently using the Megs Endurance Gloss - i find it's decent stuff but you must let it dry for several hours to stop the gel going all over your pride and joy - i usually leave it overnight to be honest.

When i've finished this i'm going to try this


Blackfire Long Lasting Tyre Gel - Blackfire Car Care and Detailing Products


Seems to come highly recommended.

 

could also try black-in-a-flash, turtlewax make it i think. i use this on the tyres and black exterior rubber bits, like window surrounds, skirts, door hanles etc. can buy it either as a spray in a can or a gel which looks like something naughty

 

my car wash is sent approx 20 x 25litre barrels of tyre dressing every 6 weeks as its used one one of the carwash programs, its free and smells of lemon

works sweet under the wheel arches as well

i always apply the product at some point during the day, leave it, and before i go home i give each tyre a quick wipe with some blue roll to take any excess off, stops any splattering

 

I use the Blackfire Tyre Gel.... I'm telling you... Blackfire stuff is awesome!

Simply squeeze some on a sponge, wipe round tyre and hey presto.. stunning tyres! Can apply two coats for more gloss and actually lasts quite a while too...

Oh yeah, it doesn't splatter up the car either!

 

Cheers guys. I got my clay on wednesday so i'll give it a try and see what happens. I'll try putting the tyre shine on straight after i wash it then. It'll have a few hours to dry that way!

I'll stick some pics up when its done.

 

Autoglym make good products. But, in recent years good no longer cuts it, and Autoglym have stood still in terms of R&D, and have thus fallen behind the competition. Their new HD wax is their first real response to the new wave of interest in detailing and car care, and has come late. Hopefully they will continue to up their game over the coming months and years and get back on par with the newer boutique brands which are currently superior in terms of ease of use and results.

 

tried the new HD wax today

thoughts

the applicators are a bit wierd, kept folding back on themselves while applying the product, need to try again with some other applicator pads i have, wax came off VERY WELL

no messing about, it just wiped straight off, no smears, nothing

the car had this done on tuesday

fresh paintwork on monday
wetsand 800 grit then 1200 grit
G3 cutting compounf via rotary machine
G10 cutting compound via rotary machine
Autoglym SRP via rotary machine
Diamondbrite Stage 2 to seal the paintwork up

so it was looking pretty well as you could imagine

adding the HD wax today, i was not expecting it to look any different, i will be honest, but it does actually look more glossy, which was a suprise to me!

going to test it on one of the staffs cars on monday as his needs a good tidy up, will report back!

seams like it was well worth the £18 i paid for it

not sure if i would be happy paying £40!
time will tell!

 

Well i got busy this afternoon and clayed, polished and sealed the car!
As it was the 1st time i'd ever used the clay i didnt know what to expect. Its brilliant stuff, dead easy to use and makes the world of difference.

Heres a pic before.

Not very impressive.

And after.


Massive difference! Came up well considering its 13 year old paint!

And 1 last pic because i thought it looked pretty good! Taken at shobdon airfield.


Cheers for all the help and advice people! Wouldnt have looked have as good without it. Now for a set of wheels!

 

Nice 1 mate,looks good.

Told you you'd find the clay a doddle.for the little amount of work that actually goes into the claying the results are excellent.

You'll never be without it now

 

You were definatly right mate! For all the effort it takes it is well worthwhile. The paintwork is as smooth as glass now, where it felt like sandpaper before. All for 45mins of work! You wouldnt believe the crap that it lifted off the paintwork.

How many times can you reuse the clay?

 

Don't reuse the clay.It's okay to use on your wheels or something if you like but don't use it on your paintwork again,just use a fresh piece.