[CarsAndGuitars]

Unless your interior is grimy, I find a damp cloth or some basic detail spray like meguiars works fine. Save your $

That is a foam gun, not foam cannon. Difference is it is used with a hose not a pressure washer. Supposed to be good but just want to make sure you are aware of what you chose

Invisible glass is awesome

I was intrigued by beadmaker until I kept reading it is a dust magnet and can be tacky in humid environments. Many people swear by it, others at it.

Not familiar with brake duster or their soap but P&S is a well regarded brand.. Let us know! I typically use sonax or griots wheel cleaner, duragloss and meguiars hyperwash soap

Detail spray. Meguiars maroon bottle is probably the most popular ever. Griots speed shine is also excellent. My most recent favorite is using Duragloss rinseless wash (931) diluted ~12:1

I have those same towels for general purpose stuff like door jambs, interior under hood. I use thicker rag company eagles for wax and polish. The gold CG towels are also great for wax, but price fluctuate wildly on Amazon. Those are not drying towels and once saturated will drag water, but again are great for misc tasks

There are so many products it can be mind boggling but in time we find what works for each of us. That said I am always trying / experimenting with new products.

[Germanauto]

Don't make it too complicated. Cars get dirty again fast, just make your life simple.

Costco sells a big bottle of Meguiar's soap
Get some Meguiar's tire shine
Microfiber mitt
Wheel brush for the spokes. I don't go too deep in anymore, it's a waste of time
Microfiber cloths for drying, also sold in bulk at Costco

Viola. I can get my car done in 10-15 minutes.

[CarsAndGuitars]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Don't make it too complicated. Cars get dirty again fast, just make your life simple.

Costco sells a big bottle of Meguiar's soap
Get some Meguiar's tire shine
Microfiber mitt
Wheel brush for the spokes. I don't go too deep in anymore, it's a waste of time
Microfiber cloths for drying, also sold in bulk at Costco

Viola. I can get my car done in 10-15 minutes.

I'm glad that works for you. I don't understand buying a $50-60k car and then saving pennies / doing a rush job on its care.

I wouldn't let those towels touch my paint. They are scratchy rags with harsh fiber content

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars

I'm glad that works for you. I don't understand buying a $50-60k car and then saving pennies / doing a rush job on its care.

I wouldn't let those towels touch my paint. They are scratchy rags with harsh fiber content

I see your point for sure. For me it's more about convenience. I used to spend hours outside washing and sweating the details, then ultimately decided I was stressin it too much. I do wax 3 times/yr with Collinite 845, which lasts very long compared to your avg wax. So overall car looks great and seems relatively scratch free.

Which rags would you recommend?

[CarsAndGuitars]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I see your point for sure. For me it's more about convenience. I used to spend hours outside washing and sweating the details, then ultimately decided I was stressin it too much. I do wax 3 times/yr with Collinite 845, which lasts very long compared to your avg wax. So overall car looks great and seems relatively scratch free.

Which rags would you recommend?

First, let me say 845 is awesome. Though I did recently splurge on some Fuzion paste wax and blackfire sealant to pamper my new M240. I am just waiting for the florida weather to turn to our "winter. "

The gold chemical guys towels on Amazon are great. Can.be had for around $25 a dozen but are often being pushed for upwards of $50

Most recently I am liking The Rag Company edgeless eagles for wax and final detail. They come in a few different densities / thicknesses.

For drying I have found nothing better than Griots PFM but I will caution they are very expensive. But... I use one large one on the whole car without wringing it out. Cobra waffle weaves and quality knock offs are also good.

[razor488]

Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars

Unless your interior is grimy, I find a damp cloth or some basic detail spray like meguiars works fine. Save your $

That is a foam gun, not foam cannon. Difference is it is used with a hose not a pressure washer. Supposed to be good but just want to make sure you are aware of what you chose

Invisible glass is awesome

I was intrigued by beadmaker until I kept reading it is a dust magnet and can be tacky in humid environments. Many people swear by it, others at it.

Not familiar with brake duster or their soap but P&S is a well regarded brand.. Let us know! I typically use sonax or griots wheel cleaner, duragloss and meguiars hyperwash soap

Detail spray. Meguiars maroon bottle is probably the most popular ever. Griots speed shine is also excellent. My most recent favorite is using Duragloss rinseless wash (931) diluted ~12:1

I have those same towels for general purpose stuff like door jambs, interior under hood. I use thicker rag company eagles for wax and polish. The gold CG towels are also great for wax, but price fluctuate wildly on Amazon. Those are not drying towels and once saturated will drag water, but again are great for misc tasks

There are so many products it can be mind boggling but in time we find what works for each of us. That said I am always trying / experimenting with new products.

What do you like for a wax/sealant?

[CarsAndGuitars]

Originally Posted by razor488

What do you like for a wax/sealant?

If you are interested in learning more and joining or just exploring an excellent car detailing forum, checkout autogeekonline.net

If you're looking to get more serious with detailing and products, also visit the autogeek store and watch for a 20% or 25% off sale. Pinnacle, Wolfgang, Blackfire are all their high-end house brands. May be a few others too.

Liquids:
1) I can't say enough good things about Collinite 845: (backstory - started out as a high tension wire insulation protectant)

• ~$20 a pint. You literally use a few tablespoons on a mid-size car
• extremely durable (6 months longevity is not uncommon)
• easy on, easy off one panel at a time
• doesn't stain trim, I had used regularly on satin black as a WOWO
• nice soft glow, combo of sealant and carnauba wax
• plays well with other products
• It is widely (almost universally) considered to be the best winter sealant money can buy on the above mentioned forum.

1b) Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is also amazing. Doesn't last as long but a little easier to use, more "gloss" than "glow"

Sprays:
Pinnacle Sovereign spray wax. Great as a booster. It doesn't last long but has a beautiful glow

Duragloss Aquawax is also amazing, inexpensive and long lasting. Can be used as a primary protectant if you don't want to invest the effort in a liquid or paste.

Duragloss 931 Rinseless Wash (contains the above product) can be diluted ~12:1 and used as a spray wax or a detail spray. Awesome pink bubblegum

I also just picked up some Wolfgang Fuzion paste wax to treat my new M240 in a few weeks once the weather cools down. tbd


So many products. So little time.

[Glen e]

I’ve been Detailing about 15 years, and literally have tried everything under the sun because it was my hobby. I don’t do that anymore, mostly because after all the coatings and silicon or carnauba products they all looked about the same;that is , they all look great. So now I just rinse at the local touchless place, and twice a year, wipe on an application of Gyeon CanCoat which is a semi perm coating. Works great just wipes on, no buffing needed.

[razor488]

Originally Posted by Glen e

I’ve been Detailing about 15 years, and literally have tried everything under the sun because it was my hobby. I don’t do that anymore, mostly because after all the coatings and silicon or carnauba products they all looked about the same;that is , they all look great. So now I just rinse at the local touchless place, and twice a year, wipe on an application of Gyeon CanCoat which is a semi perm coating. Works great just wipes on, no buffing needed.

Thanks for the info. Which Gyeon Cancoat are you using? There appear to be several different versions. Do you just apply it after washing the car?

[Glen e]

This stuff….wipe the car down with 50/50 alcohol/water the first time you do it…watch a you tube vid on how to apply…don’t overthink it…..

https://www.autogeek.net/gyeon-cancoat.html

[razor488]

Is it worth it to just get the xpel ceramic coating so you don't have to worry about waxing? I have two young kids so my free time is somewhat limited.

[Humdizzle]

Originally Posted by razor488

Is it worth it to just get the xpel ceramic coating so you don't have to worry about waxing? I have two young kids so my free time is somewhat limited.

ceramic will definitely help. i dont feel it keeps the car 'cleaner' but it does make the washing process quicker and far less prone to schwirls. especially on dark colors.

i didn't really do anything to my silverstone f80 other than wash, dry, cg v07 and it always looked clean except for the wheels.

if you really want to be stress free then clear bra the entire car.

[freakystyly]

Ceramic on the wheels helps IMO. I did the summers last winter when they were off the car and I don't regret it. Much easier to clean.

[G MONEY]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

ceramic will definitely help. i dont feel it keeps the car 'cleaner' but it does make the washing process quicker and far less prone to schwirls. especially on dark colors.

i didn't really do anything to my silverstone f80 other than wash, dry, cg v07 and it always looked clean except for the wheels.

if you really want to be stress free then clear bra the entire car.

This!!!!!!!

[Glen e]

XPEL is not ceramic, nor is it a coating. See their website.

[aktif8]

Originally Posted by Glen e

XPEL is not ceramic, nor is it a coating. See their website.

Xpel has a ceramic coating that's designed to go on top of their ppf.

[CarsAndGuitars]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

ceramic will definitely help. i dont feel it keeps the car 'cleaner' but it does make the washing process quicker and far less prone to schwirls. especially on dark colors.

i didn't really do anything to my silverstone f80 other than wash, dry, cg v07 and it always looked clean except for the wheels.

if you really want to be stress free then clear bra the entire car.

For me, I don't get the whole ceramic craze. I was quoted $2000 while I was getting my tint done. For that I can get my car professionally polished and detailed 8-10x, should my paint get any significant swirls or paint defects. But actually, I know how to do myself and already have a random orbit polisher, o it is just time and effort.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars

For me, I don't get the whole ceramic craze. I was quoted $2000 while I was getting my tint done. For that I can get my car professionally polished and detailed 8-10x, should my paint get any significant swirls or paint defects. But actually, I know how to do myself and already have a random orbit polisher, o it is just time and effort.

The craze is that the bottles cost very little and they are able to charge 4 figures for installation. The coating mfgs have decided to stratify their product into "pro" and retail so that you can't easily buy the same coating detailers use. Generally, it's just a longer lasting version of the same product and harder to apply. If you are ok with reapplying a bit more often, you will get 95% of the performance from something like Gyeon Mohs Evo (among others) if you want to DIY it.

[razor488]

I think a lot of the expense is prep for the application - paint correct etc. They also told me the $1500 price includes a re-application every year for the next four years. This is for XPEL Fusion Plus by a certified dealer.

[FlyinLowSD]

Thank you YES this is much more like it. Don’t forget proper auto glass cleaner such as Invisible Glass or any of the others that do not have ammonia. Don’t use Windex. Wheel woolies are the bomb for wheel cleaning. For anyone new to the game I suggest fiending on videos at Meguiars online, Larry Kosilla/AMMONYC, AutoGeek and CG. Master the two bucket wash, and enjoy the peace of taking care of your own car. It’s quite therapeutic!

PS: Foam cannons are great, but beware some of the cutsie colored foams… they have been known to stain white or light colored vehicles.

Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars

NO! That is a recipie for swirl marks

BARE MINIMUM to properly care for your car's finish when cleaning:

2 5 gal buckets (HD Lowes work great), ideally with grit guards. One for soapy water, one to rinse your mitt before reloading soap

Mf wash mitt ok, but personally prefer lambswool

Why cheapest on a bmw???? Get something with good lubricity: duragloss, meguiars gold class or Hyperwash, CG honeydew or Mr pink

And if you really want to have some fun, get a small power washer and a foam cannon. With this you need a foaming soap -- any of the last 3 I listed are good examples

Many drying towels. Best I have ever found is griots PFM. $ but worth it

Detailing spray (for touchups, birdbombs, dust) again megs, griots are excellent

Separate cleaning tools and towels for wheels

Wax or sealant (too many choices) foam applicators and at least 4-5 towels to remove. Here CG gold towels are great or edgeless from The Rag Company