V8growler

Having recently got myself a new (to me) ride, I really want to make the most of it with a good detailing. I'm in the UK and struggling to find what I would call real products, rather than the nasty stuff from the big car accessories shops that appear to be a bit of everything products that don't do anything that well. I've found this uk website that I recognise some names of products from this forum, but I'm in way over my head. Can anyone recommend (I'm sorry, I know many people ask similar requests)from the products listed at the linked site, which are the ones to go for to give me a good starters kit, especially when it comes to the paintwork. No Zymol though, my pockets are not that deep! At the moment I'll be doing all by hand, but I intend to purchase a rotary or random orbit polisher one day soon (another question looming there I'm sure).

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/65024/dsc02429.jpg">

This is my car, it's in Ebony black pearlescent, that has a reasonable shine, a number of 'light' scratches to the sides from plants and shrubs planted by parking places I expect, but nothing too nasty.

Any guidance would be gratefully received thank you.<ul><li><a href="http://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk">Click to see the site I'm talking about</a></li></ul>

RKA

I'd pass on products that will eliminate the scratches and such. A machine would be better suited for that job. The menzerna line of polishes are excellent for use with a machine. For now I would recommend three things.

Meguiares Quick Clay Kit - this will remove the stuff that gives the gritty texture to the paint. Use this twice a year.

P21S Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser - this is a mild cleaner that will produce a good shine and slickness. Apply this every few months. It will strip previous layers of wax, so be sure to wax afterwards.

P21S Paste Wax - comparable to the likes of Zymol, but cheaper, and easier to work with. One coat will last about 3 weeks. Produces a really nice shine! Goes on and comes off easily...so much so that you can apply a coat of wax following each car wash if you wanted to. It would only add 1/2 hr to your car wash time.

Sealants can be used instead of the paste wax. The don't have quite the same shine, but tend to last longer if that's a concern.

V8growler

kill me, but looking on US Ebay shops with the exchange rate as it is then from the US a PC 7424 works out about £93 (184USD) I might just get away with it the next month or two, I have a 110Vac power tool transformer (we use 110Vac here on building sites and the like). I can see obsession just around the corner.

onuris

You should be able to get the <a href="http://autopia.org/forum/ultimate-detailing-machine/88388-ultimate-detailing-machine-project.html">UDM </a> from a UK website. Probably even cleanandshiny since they already deal with David.

V8growler

I know the Mrs will say so... thanks for the very interesting link.