Cleaning a brand new car

[Ami-Jane]

Done a search but could see anything and thought this might be handy for those picking up a new 10 plate car

What would you guys recommend doing in cleaning a brand new car i.e just picked it up from the stealer - chances are they might have given it a quick go over but for a better job would you give it the full works, wash, clay, polish and wax or just wash and do the rest in a few weeks or so?? Surely the paint should be up to having the full treatment or am I wrong?

 

[Mat]

yep... brand new cars can go through the works.... chances are, these cars have been sat in a field somewhere for months

anyway, yes, go ahead and wash, clay, polish, wax etc etc

 

[nightflight]

I gave mine a full going over when i got it as all the stealers monkey had done was go over it with a quick wipe over of t-cut, the amount of blue crap that came off my car during the first wash was ridiculous.

TBH if i had the chance again i'd tell them not to bother touching it post delivery as the idiot "valet" at the dealers i got it form was sloppy in cloth care and as a result put a nice scratch mark all the way down the passenger side and another across the boot.

luckily they were v. shallow and so are slowly coming out with repeated polishings and i got a free set of mats out of it.

 

[Slimy]

yep... brand new cars can go through the works.... chances are, these cars have been sat in a field somewhere for months

anyway, yes, go ahead and wash, clay, polish, wax etc etc

Even brand new cars built to spec will have been on the back of a wagon between factory and showroom, so while they might not have picked up mileage, they would have still been travelling on British roads, with all the salty goodness that brings.

 

[Ami-Jane]

TBH if i had the chance again i'd tell them not to bother touching it post delivery as the idiot "valet" at the dealers i got it form was sloppy in cloth care and as a result put a nice scratch mark all the way down the passenger side and another across the boot.

that's shocking of them to do that to a brand new car!! I'd go beserk!

Thanks for the quick advice guys

 

[J@mes W]

So when you picking your new shiney car up then Ami?

 

[FR_Flavoured]

Done a search but could see anything and thought this might be handy for those picking up a new 10 plate car

.....

It's amazing what lengths some people go to, to boast about buying a new 10 plate car!
Cleaning prodicts! PAH!... like a shiny new Car would need cleaning anyway! hehe.

 

[Ami-Jane]

So when you picking your new shiney car up then Ami?

Fingers crossed May - wish it was yesterday though! Got plenty planned for it so will give you a run for your money round Colchester

Thought putting this thread up now might help others that are interested in how to clean their pick ups

It's amazing what lengths some people go to, to boast about buying a new 10 plate car!
Cleaning prodicts! PAH!... like a shiny new Car would need cleaning anyway! hehe.

Just want to get things right from the start - heard some people say don't clay a brand new car other say give it the full works - of course new cars can come in with all sorts of crap on them so they need a good clean

so when I'm posing in shop windows in my new car I want it to be shiney

 

[J@mes W]

Fingers crossed May - wish it was yesterday though! Got plenty planned for it so will give you a run for your money round Colchester

I dont doubt that for a second, I've seen you drive your current motor.


I saw you the other day driving around colchester, I waved at you but you didn't see me.

I look toward to seeing your new motor, you went for the cupra right?

 

[Ami-Jane]

hehe don't know what you mean

sorry didn't see you - you should have flashed me

yep gone for the cupra can't wait!

 

[jonjay]

Ami,

Do the following

1) Tell them not to wash the car. They can do the full inspection however they must not wash the car
2) Inspect the car very well when picking it up. Explain that since you will be cleaning the car you will report to them the next day if there is any damage on the paint work (if there is any).
3) When you get it home make sure you wash in straight lines. Use two bucket method etc..etc...
4) Polish
5) Seal with sealant or wax

Alternatively get the car detailed by a professional straight away.

 

[maxitrol]

when i picked my golf up brand new from the dealers i took it home and gave it a good detailing-the amount of crap that come of it was unreal

 

[Ami-Jane]

Ami,

Do the following

1) Tell them not to wash the car. They can do the full inspection however they must not wash the car
2) Inspect the car very well when picking it up. Explain that since you will be cleaning the car you will report to them the next day if there is any damage on the paint work (if there is any).
3) When you get it home make sure you wash in straight lines. Use two bucket method etc..etc...
4) Polish
5) Seal with sealant or wax

Alternatively get the car detailed by a professional straight away.

Jonjay you've not mentioned about claying - would you not do this then?

 

[SteveTDCi]

honestly I would not let them touch it, instead find somebody that can go in and prep the car for you, have a look at detailing world, part of the joy of buying a new car is to see it all gleaming and sitting in the handover bay, if you saw it or took it without it being cleaned then you might be in for a shock, it will be covered in delivery protective wax and have bits stuck all over it. If you went down this route you are probably going to need to start with a all purpose cleaner (apc) to strip and remove the wax, then wash it, then clay and you might need different levels, either light or really abrasive, then wash, then wax, then seal then finally a quick QD to remove oils & waxes.

 

[Ami-Jane]

that's made me nervous now

looking on that detailing world website they want £200-300 to do cars - not something I can really afford to fork out

was hoping the stuff I have at home would be adequate to do the car myself but this protective wax stuff has got me worried

 

[SteveTDCi]

if your nervous about it just let the dealer clean the car or talk to a detailer closer to the dealer supplying the car, it really depends on how fussy you are, mine has scratches and swirls and one day i'll get something done about them most people wouldn't know a clean car i'd just build up your cleaning kit and get ready to do the job yourself

 

[Ami-Jane]

to be honest I can't see me doing an any worse job then the stealers - I've got a fair collection of cleaning stuff (snow foam, clay, polish, wax etc)

I usually only use a mild shampoo so can anyone recommend a shampoo/cleaner to strip off the protective layer the car originally comes with?

 

[nightflight]

Fairy liquid is probably the best thing to strip the car back to the factory paint finish

 

[FR_Flavoured]

When I once washed a car (thankfully not my Leon) with fairy liquid (as that was all i had to hand), the whole colour of the car then had a milky tint to the paintwork - I was gutted.

 

[vroomtshh]

to be honest I can't see me doing an any worse job then the stealers - I've got a fair collection of cleaning stuff (snow foam, clay, polish, wax etc)

I usually only use a mild shampoo so can anyone recommend a shampoo/cleaner to strip off the protective layer the car originally comes with?

If you're planning on claying and polishing it (and I suggest you should), then that'll strip any protection.

I'd give it a quick IPA wipedown after polishing, but I guess not everyone has it to hand