MrsAdams2007

Please list some of your favorite products for inside and outside the car.

claud

Microfiber wash and drying towels. Poorboys car wash soap. P21S on very dirty wheels. A good detailer to do an exterior detail twice a year.

uberwgn

• Optimum soap for your weekly washing
• P21S or Griot's or Autoglym (yum) to keep you wheels looking new
• Maybe Leather Master for the interior
• Some folks like a little quick detailer for the dash, etc. Meguiar's interior detailer works well

I think your focus should be getting the painted perfected, then seal it up with a great product. If you're not up to the task, find a qualified, local detailer. Keeping the paint protected makes the on-going clean ups much easier, especially during the toxic winter months.

g8tor20

I would introduce yourself to some wheel dust repellant. I use the cheaper Armor All product for like $6 a can and it works well. Real easy to clean the wheels with that stuff applied.

In case you haven't noticed, these pads throw out dust if you so much as look at them.

g8tor20

I'll continue my answer...

When I first got the car, I washed it good and then used Blackfire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant. I let that cure overnight and then put a 2nd coating on it. I let that cure overnight and then put a Maguires Carnuba Wax on top of that.

I wash the car about every 2 weeks and I apply the Blackfire Wet Diamond Spray Wax. It's the same as the sealant but in a quick spray.

The water beads like very well and for a long time.

I also use Adams Super VRT on all exterior black trim. We have a 2006 A4 and the seals around the windows and sunroof are very faded. I'm hoping this stuff does the trick.

manup

Along the lines of g8tor20, Black Fire Products are real good in my opinion.

Optima Car Wash Soap
P21S Wheel Cleaner
Armor All Wheel Protectant
Black Fire Wet Diamond (Sealant)
Black Fire Deep Gloss Spray, juiced up with a few drops of Polycharger H2O, spray once a week to keep light dust at bay and maintain shine.
Zaino Z6, Z8 sprays
1Z Leather Care
1Z Cockpit Cleaner
Pinnaccle Leather/Vinyl Care Cleaner
Griot's Window Cleaner

These are my go to products but I have many, many more. I went to Sealants a while back, just like the way it looks, better than Carnuba Waxes and seems like it protects longer.

MrsAdams2007

This is great...keep up the lists of favorites! I should probably mention that my poor Q5 has to sit outside--no garage I think this ups the ante on what might be needed.

manup

I forgot to mention using good quality Microfiber cloths is a must, that and a good quality Sheepskin wash mit. Nothing but microfiber touches my cars to remove polish,waxs or sealants. All these can be obtained on line via Autogeek, Autopia, Detailers Domain, etc., and Pakshak for great microfiber....and many other products.

manup

Check out some of the detail forums for information on products and tips from people like us and those who detail for a living. Here is a couple that I really like:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/

http://www.autopia.org/forum/forum.php

You can learn a bunch about keeping your Q5 or any car looking good.

Reggie

I use ivory dishwashing soap to wash my vehicles (have done so since the 70s) [and hold your flames it does not remove wax -one of the most gentle soaps out there]

<img src="http://www.millersafetyproducts.com/images/Catalog/PAG/PAG00620.JPG">

I then use Mothers products for wax.

<img src="http://www.detailsupplyonline.com/images/mothers_paste_wax.jpg">
<img src="http://www.mothers.com/02_products/product/images/20016_20011.jpg">

For wheels I use wheel wax every six months

<img src="http://www.wheelwax.com/images/Wheel-Wax-1.jpg">

I have switched to Centric pads for all my cars so I have no dust issues on my wheels


<img src="http://www.centricparts.com/images/stories/scorchedRR.jpg">