Anybody wash and wax?

[cornershop]

I think it's called 'detailing' these days ....

Whilst the Mrs and the 3yr old are away, i got a window of opportunity to finally give the Lex a proper clean.

This won't be a common occurrence ( a wash at most every other weekend) but i felt the bodywork was quite gritty so got to work.  I used to be quite into 'detailing' but time is of the essence these days, however i still have a variety of magic potions and cloths in the garage.

1) Washed with Bilt Hamber Autowash

2) Rinsed

3) Smooth over with a clay-mitt (alternative to clay bar)

4) Rinsed

5) Two coats of the quaintly named "Soft 99 Fusso Coat Dark" Wax - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/63776/best-car-wax-and-car-polish-2017. I also have the BH Wax that won this test, however the Soft 99 is better at filling tiny scratches in the paint.

6) Final buff with a finishing cloth http://www.nipponshine.com/shop/accessories/trizex-premium-cloth/

Came out pretty well, however it really does need a machine polish.  With the amount of dings across most panels, probably something I'll undertake when selling it (eventually)

Proof is in the pudding, the beads of rain showing its working as expected - may do it again next year :)

 

[Guest]

I use the soft99 king of gloss on our cars. Light and dark version. I love it. Lasts ages and nothing sticks to it. Even bird crap. Only 1 coat for me though. Makes washing very easy afterwards.

 

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[nickd]

Your car looks great and I'm sure well worth the effort.   Will do mine when back off holiday from Cornwall, it's covered in dust and flies!

[cornershop]

3 hours ago, Comedian said:

I use the soft99 king of gloss on our cars. Light and dark version. I love it. Lasts ages and nothing sticks to it. Even bird crap. Only 1 coat for me though. Makes washing very easy afterwards.

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A connoisseur, I see :)

Fully agree it makes washing so much easier afterwards.

I had my 911 professionally done when it was getting an engine issue sorted at a specialist, the bodywork was like glass afterwards. Two years later and appreciate it's garaged, it doesn't need much more than warm water to clean the bodywork.

 

 

[dendonc]

Appreciate this topic, but which is best of soft99 products, winter coming on need to get it done, google brings up these, these a few

https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&q=soft99+wax&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[Cotswold Pete]

 A lovely finsih, and some products I have not heard of before to give a go.

I've had a clay mitt for a while, but never got around to using it, so maybe will now give mine a clean, knowing it will expose all the bits of the bodywork that need attention.

The plan has always been to get it looking like your, then take it to a spray shop and get a quote to sort out the scrapes etc.  Just life gets in the way of sorting the car out!

[cruisermark]

The Lexus paintwork is the best i have every seen - mine has been neglected lately - meaning i have not been able to wash it myself - but even with a simple wash it really gleams and thats after 13 years it came out of the factory! - modern paints are no where as durable.

Shirish your car looks absolutley lovely - green is one of my favourite colours - i used to own one in the same colour.

[Guest]

Appreciate this topic, but which is best of soft99 products, winter coming on need to get it done, google brings up these, these a few

https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&q=soft99+wax&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Fusso wax coat. Light or dark. But use a car place as amazon looks dear. I pay 22 quid and there is enough for maybe 10 years on one car I reckon.

 

 

 

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[dendonc]

OK comedian (} thanks

[cornershop]

The Bilt Hamber Double speed wax is good value as you get the applicator and the buffing cloth with it. Plus it's UK made, so helps the economy. Wouldn't say it's far behind the Soft99 stuff in terms of longevity, if at all.

[dendonc]

13 minutes ago, cornershop said:

Wouldn't say it's far behind the Soft99 stuff in terms of longevity, if at all.

What seems to make it last & look very highly polished is that it says it has ........"creates a thick, heavy gloss coating of synthetic resin that coats your car and gives it the great gloss look of transparent nail polish".....I don't know if others have equaled or better it (from a customers point of view as opposed to the manufacturers)

[cornershop]

Forgot to add, the Soft99 i use has a very strong chemical smell to it - the Mrs was not amused when i washed the applicator in the washing machine, it stunk for days afterwards :)

[The-Acre]

5 hours ago, cruisermark said:

The Lexus paintwork is the best i have every seen - mine has been neglected lately - meaning i have not been able to wash it myself - but even with a simple wash it really gleams and thats after 13 years it came out of the factory! - modern paints are no where as durable.

Shirish your car looks absolutley lovely - green is one of my favourite colours - i used to own one in the same colour.

I agree, a green LS is superb.  And you're right about the paintwork.  I don't do anything special to mine but somebody said recently that they always admire the shine on mine and said it must be excellent paint!

[Chris Skelton]

Just about to book a Valetting Service to do my Citroen XM 3 litre car.

He said, pleading age and onset of infirmity as excuse!

£75 for full go; wax, inside conditioned, etc. Takes 3 + hours.

 

Green Lex looks great.

[DanATR]

You need to put sealent on at the very end in order to seal all the work that you have done. This then makes the work you have done last for at least a year unless you use trafic film remover and a jet wash which would remove it all.

[Cotswold Pete]

12 hours ago, DanATR said:

You need to put sealent on at the very end in order to seal all the work that you have done. This then makes the work you have done last for at least a year unless you use trafic film remover and a jet wash which would remove it all.

If you use a sealer, I assume a quick hand wash is good enough over the year.  

Does any old seal do the job, or is there a recommended one

[DanATR]

Yes that is correct, over the year hand wash. I use Megs 5L bottle of shampoo plus it lasts me years. I also always use Poorboys EX-P Sealant as its a large bottle, easy to use and not costly and recomended by other detailers also. Best applyed by a machine but I suppose you can use a autosmart application spong.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/322479983778?chn=ps&dispItem=1&adgroupid=43106429403&rlsatarget=pla-517465521272&abcId=1128926&adtype=pla&merchantid=113747021&poi=&googleloc=9045718&device=c&campaignid=857233083&crdt=0

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/shop/shampoo-plus

[steve2006]

I bought some snow foam last week the container attaches to the hose pipe and then mixes with the contents to produce the foam, smells like bananas.

Says on the bottle "up to 20 washes"..... maybe based on a Fiat 500 not a 5 metre long LS400 as used over a quarter on two washes or perhaps using too much which may explain why the neighbours came around last time with wine and beer for the foam party.

[DanATR]

my 5L bottle has lasted my ATR, BMW and now lexus... so probaly 6 years or more..