Autoglym Valet Kit

[SLeon56to12]

Hi all

If anyone is a keen cleaner of their vehicle please take a look at this link. I bought a 12 plate Seat Leon FR+ DSG on Saturday and I want it prestine. Can you please take a look at the below link and advise me on whether you feel it is a good option to go for. I think it has the complete kit, or is there anything missing?

My car has leather seats so I know in the future I will have to buy something for the leathers but for now I want to concentrate on the outside.

Please let me know

DSG

325ml Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
325ml Super Resin Polish
325ml Extra Gloss Protection
500ml Clean Wheels
500ml Instant Tyre Dressing
450ml Alloy Wheel Seal
500ml Interior Shampoo
325ml Car Glass Polish
500ml Vinyl & Rubber Care

Sponge
Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth
Aqua Dry

Price £54 including delivery

 

[lsg60]

It depends how far you want to go? Personally I like AG products but out of that list I would only use the super resin polish, the rest has yet to impress me. If you want it pristine as you say I wouldn't go near it with a sponge but rather a wool mitt of some sort and the two bucket method.

The kit seems like a good starting point but to save having lots of products doing one thing each you could buy say a sealant which you can use on paint work, alloys and metals and will give a deep shine and good protection. Chemical guys jet seal is really good

You could also buy a trim dressing which you can use on your trims and also as a Tyre dressing.

Just an idea if you fancied looking into other products.

I buy most of mine from http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/. Might be worth having a noisy as there is some great stuff on there that many people don't know about

 

[AndyG_TSi]

I have a lot of Autogym stuff myself, plus a few Meguires & Poorboys products.

A good starting point to have is;

Autogym Super Resin Polish
Autogym HD Wax
Autogym Vinyl & Rubber care (use this on interior trim/dash)
Autogym Odour Eliminator
Autogym Intense Tar Remover
Meguires Endurance Tyre Gel
Meguires fast glass
Meguires clay bar kit

Get yourself a washmit & drying towel. I assume you already have 2 buckets & a hosepipe.....

Halfords are doing 3 for 2 at the minute.

Appreciate buying all of the above in one hit would be expensive, but I've built my stock up over time & now only replace something when it runs out.

 

[SLeon56to12]

Hi both, thank you for the reply.
I really don't know where to start, with my previous car all that I used was a basic car shampoo with washing up liquid, not a good idea i know but it didn't really harm the body work at all.

This time round I will go with a reputable brand though, what do I need? If i can understand the concept of cleaning cars I will understand what products I need.

So there is the shampoo, once it is cleaned and dried, is that when I put the wax / protector on? I also want a nice alloy cleaner, what do you use to clean the alloys? A sponge?? I find with a sponge I can't really get in to the groves.

I look forward to hearing from you both.

 

[Legojon]

I just use autoglym car shampoo with this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kent-Q2429-Microfibre-Noodle-Wash/dp/B002PX296S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441872132&sr=8-1&keywords=wash+noodle

Then dry it using an autoglym magic towel which seems to work really well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-AG-110005-AutoGlym-Chamois/dp/B0011E08WE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441872875&sr=8-1&keywords=aqua+dry

Once a month after washing and drying it I use super resin polish and glass polish (use the glass first as it makes a white powder residue over the body if you use too much).

For wheels I use AG custom wheel cleaner cause its non-acidic.

I looked at getting a lambs wool mitt... but all the reviews said they fell apart quite quickly. So I went with the noodle.

Oh... and I also use the instant tyre dressing to black up the tyres... probably every other week.

 

[lsg60]

With car care it's more of which brands you prefer rather than which is the best, a good starting point would be the likes off autogylm, meguires, chemical guys/poorboys. Have a little read of this for an idea on where to start http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4637

Car detailing is like a minefield at first.

1. wash the car with Chosen shampoo, (I like to use a prewash snowfoam first).
2. Dry. Pat dry with a large drying towel
3.pre wax cleaner such as the super resin polish or another glaze,
4. A good Wax or sealant on top, two coats and it should be good for around 6 weeks. Or longer if a sealant.
5. Trim, glass and tyres

Then just was the car with a wax safe shampoo once a week or so.

Wheel wise ironx is a really good cleaner. I tend to take the alloys off, clean and seal them every 3ish months then just use normal car shampoo and wheel woollies

What colour is the car?

Hope that makes sense as I'm rubbish at explaining

Just to add on, wash wheels before the body. This just helps stop wheel dirt messing up all your hard work

 

[SLeon56to12]

Thanks guys, the car is white. No scrathces on it so far so I want to keep it nice and clean.
Halfords arew doing 3 for 2 on Autoglym at the mo. Is it worth taking advantage? If so which 3? and will thew 3 be sufficient for everything?

 

[Legojon]

Halfords have had that deal on for a while... I've been back twice. Everything seems to last quite a while except the interior shampoo which I seem to get through really quick. The super resin polish is lasting ages even with my son knocking the bottle over last weekend and waxing the driveway too.

If I was doing 3 for 2... my choice would be:
Bodywork shampoo, super resin polish, wheel cleaner (Acid) or custom wheel cleaner (non acid).

For interior I'd choose:
Interior shampoo, fast glass and vinyl n rubber (love vinyl and rubber - lasts ages and makes all the plastic black).

 

[SLeon56to12]

Halfords have had that deal on for a while... I've been back twice. Everything seems to last quite a while except the interior shampoo which I seem to get through really quick. The super resin polish is lasting ages even with my son knocking the bottle over last weekend and waxing the driveway too.

If I was doing 3 for 2... my choice would be:
Bodywork shampoo, super resin polish, wheel cleaner (Acid) or custom wheel cleaner (non acid).

For interior I'd choose:
Interior shampoo, fast glass and vinyl n rubber (love vinyl and rubber - lasts ages and makes all the plastic black).

Hi

As you have mentioned 6 of the products which come in the Autoglym kit I may as well just buy that Autoglym kit. It's only £45 as I am going to collect local and i'd be saving £9 postage. (£54 full price incl delivery charge) What do you think????

 

[AndyG_TSi]

Hi

As you have mentioned 6 of the products which come in the Autoglym kit I may as well just buy that Autoglym kit. It's only £45 as I am going to collect local and i'd be saving £9 postage. (£54 full price incl delivery charge) What do you think????

On a 3 for 2 offer, get the kit at £45, tar remover & odour eliminator. You'll get the cheapest free, so you'll get all 3 for about £50. & have a lot of kit for that price

 

[Legojon]

Hi

As you have mentioned 6 of the products which come in the Autoglym kit I may as well just buy that Autoglym kit. It's only £45 as I am going to collect local and i'd be saving £9 postage. (£54 full price incl delivery charge) What do you think????

Yeah, its def worth getting the kit... I'd also use the car glass polish, instant tyre dressing and I love the aqua dry. Plus you'll need the sponge anyway.

 

[SLeon56to12]

I'm looking forward to it mate. What can i get for my leather seats?

 

[Deleted member 94519]

I highly recommend www.detailingworld.co.uk - what they collectively don't know about cleaning cars properly hasn't been discovered yet.

Dunno about Autoglym. Some people swear by it, I'm more of a Poorboy's man myself, but I also vote for www.cleanyourcar.co.uk - always had great service from them, and a good selection of stuff that works.

 

[Deleted member 94519]

They have an entire forum on leather and interior care

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11

 

[SLeon56to12]

How long does it take to do a good job cleaning a car? Also i have had mixed reviews regarding pressure washers, some say that it's ok to use (it's never damaged my paintwork) and some say it's not good for the paint work ....... (confused)

 

[AndyG_TSi]

A standard wash for me takes approx 1 - 1.5 hours

Rinse with hose
Snow foam
Rinse with hose
2 bucket method wash
Rinse with hose
Dried off
Tyres dressed
Widows cleaned inside
Dash & interior trim treated
Mats taken out & shook

Double the time if I'm going to start doing a clay stage & then machine polish & wax on top of the above

 

[lsg60]

How long does it take to do a good job cleaning a car? Also i have had mixed reviews regarding pressure washers, some say that it's ok to use (it's never damaged my paintwork) and some say it's not good for the paint work ....... (confused)

Pressure washers are fine as long as you use them safely. Just don't get to close and wash off at an angle rather than straight on if you get what I mean?
Plus if you don't have a pressure washer you can't really get snowfoam on the go

 

[kazand]

I'm looking forward to it mate. What can i get for my leather seats?

A busty blonde?
Be careful with harsh wheel cleaners, if you have the black plastic caps covering the wheel nuts some cleaners send them grey/white.
As others have said, pressure washers are fine, just don't get too close or use one of those 'turbo' nozzles you get with some. A basic unit will do the job, just check the length of the HP hose supplied, too short and you'll have to keep moving the unit to reach all round the car.
The most important thing, especially if the car is muddy/dusty/very dirty is a good pre wash . This will prevent you scratching the vehicle when you do the mitt wash.

 

[Deleted member 94519]

And there's evidence they cause tyres to "age" much more quickly but you should be able to do a good job whist standing well back from the tyres. (And watch any paint that's a bit iffy or bubbling in any way obviously!)

 

[SLeon56to12]

Thanks guys, greatly appreciated. Ill try to take pics, I'm ready for the challenge.