So what do you guys use to keep your beauty looking the best? I figure I would compose a list and was curious as to what else you guys use.

Heres my basic essentials:

Chemical Guys Gloss Enhancing Shampoo
Chemical Guys Wet Mirror Finish
Optimum No Rinse
Blue Claybar
Big Blue Sponge
Megs Endurance Tire Gel
P21S Wheel Gel
Bilt Hamber Autobalm Sealant
Megs quickwax Spray-On wax
Megs Vinyl and rubber Cleaner and Conditioner
Gloss It Leather Protector
Invisible Glass cleaner
Lots of Microfiber clothes
1 - Sheep Skin drying chamoise
2 - 5gallon Home Depot Buckets
2 - Grit guards
2 - Sheep skin wash mitts


I usually wash every 2 days with the two bucket method ....wash/spray wax; while every 6 months or so, I'll make time to Claybar, 1 stage polish and add 2-3 layers of sealant and a few layers of wax ontop after curing.
She keeps the wet shiney finish even if its caked with dirty dried rain water.

 

hey what is the homedepot buckets ?

Andy

 

You should hit up fellow W209 MBworld member "Rashman". He practically washes his non-BS CLK63 every day!

 

more like every 2 hrs

Andy

 

Zaino !!! 4lyfe

 

I usually leave the basic hand washing / detail to a great local business. But come spring and summer I always clay, and give the extra touches only a truly obsessed enthusiast would worry about.
I also carry Maguires quick detail and microfiber towels at all times.

 

when i wax i use:::
p21s shampoo, p21s paintwork cleaser, Mothers Claybar
p21s 100% caranuba wax or Swissvax glacier
followed by a gloss enhacer

i always use the 2 bucket method and dry with a leaf blower

and i always carry SmartDetail and microfibers. SmartDetail in my opinion works alot better than any other quick detailer

 

That about sums it up for me too. Although I did start a "Detail" fund a couple months ago, and I plan on splurging on a crazy amount of products and equipment before the summer.

Wait for Rashman to chime in. I heard you can't even lean on his car without sliding off.

 

LOL!!!!

Heeeeeey.... what's all this??

Ribbing me in my absence, are we??

Well, to be honest, my methods are somewhat unorthodox.

I never use water to clean my 63.

I do not have a long list if products that I use.

After driving the car the night before, I head out to the garage and gently wipe the car down with a few Meguiars MF's.

I then go over the car again wiping it down with more clean Meguiars MF's, spraying Finish Kare #425 onto the MF's.

Then I go over the car again, buffing, with yet more clean Meguiars MF's.
Then I go over the car again, with one more clean Meguiars MF. For this last stage, I breathe on the bodywork and then buff the condensation off.
This takes a while but will leave an unebelievable finish.

I am able to employ this method of cleaning because I never drive the car in the rain.. so the car only ever has a thin layer of brake dust etc on it after driving it.

I have applied some 55 layers of Finish Kare #2685 to the car since buying the car last May (2009). This is also another reason I can employ this cleaning method without damaging the surface in any way.


I also do this to the rims too.
I also use #425 on the windows too.. inside and out.
I love that stuff - I buy it by the gallon! lol


I use a silicone based protectant for all interior and exterior plastc, including rubber seal, wiper arm, tyres, and all plastics and rubbers in the engine bay.

I do not need to treat the interior often as the car doesn't see daylight much at all - I drive the car mostly late at night on the weekends when the roads are quieter and the air is cooler.

I meet my friends and we go for drives and stuff.

These are the products I use:

Finish Kare #425
Finish Kare #2685
Meguiars Gold Class leather moisturiser and conditioner (for the nappa)
Auto Glym Rubber & Vinyl Care

Tools:

Meguiars Microfibres.
Meguiars wax applicator.
Old, soft T-Shirts.
Soft bristled brushes (to keep the areas around the badges clear of dust - I also use brushes to keep dust out of small areas inside the car - dash, vents, buttons etc).
Long wooden skewers (to poke brake dust out of the holes in the crossed drilled discs).
Chop sticks (used with T-Shirts to get those hard-to-reach places in the engine bay).

I clean each individual hole in the meshes in the front bumper one at a time.

I also have a childs toothbrush (they have the softest bristles) which I use to get wax residue out from any creases or crevaces around the body and badges (the day after waxing, when the wax has fully cured and dried - that way, you can see it clearly and don't miss any).

I also wipe down and treat the underside of the car, to keep it clean and to help the car cut through the air cleaner (if only marginally! lol!)

Yes.... I am a freak! LOL


I have been cleaning my car in this way for over a year now - without water or soaps.

The car is flawless and I always keep my eye on the surfaces at all times to ensure that my cleaning methods are not in any way damaging any surfaces.

So far, all is well, so I am confident that I am careful enough when I work.

The car has no swirls.

I have clayed the car twice since buying it.
Once a couple of months after buying the car, and then again, about 3 weeks after that.

 

LOL!

Here's something funny...

My cat tried jumping on my car once.... she slid straight off!!!

She hasn't tried again!

 

 

LOL!!!!

Mate, it was the funniest thing I've ever seen.... she was properly confused by the whole experience.

 

People at work thought I was crazy because I busted out laughing. While reading your post, I pictured it clearly.

 

LOL!!!

Yeah, man... I wish you were there to see it....

She was like "Hmm, yeah, I'll be able to see much more from up there.... here we go... whooooaaa.... what the f#uk is this sh#t?!?!"


LOL!

 

lol, that would have been a great commercial for Finish Kare!

 

Heehee... absolutely!

FK is awesome.

People rave about all sorts of products, and I'm sure there are good ones out there too... but it's FK all the way for me.

I was most impressed by the #425.

Mate, it leaves a more slippery surface than the #2685 paste wax!

So much so, that after waxing with the #2685, I then apply 2 layers of #425.

That way, I get the wax protection and deep shine from the #2685 and the ridiculous smooth, slipperyness of the #425.

 

Just picked up a bottle of #452 on eBay. Going to give it a try. $15 for 31oz. Thanks

 

Cool... you won't be disappointed!

It is a mild cleaner and will remove grime etc from your bodywork but is mild enough not to remove your wax.

Very good stuff indeed.

Spray onto a MF until it is damp and then wipe over your car.

 

Thanks for the tips. I will get back to you on some feedback.

 

Good man.

If you have time when you use it, follow my routine mentioned before.

The last stage in particular... breathing on a section the body at a time and then buffing the condensation away.

This has been nicknamed "The Sex Pest Buff" LOL!

Your neighbours will think you are properly weird but you get a superb finish.

This process also removes streaks/ residue of #425 that you would not otherwise see, leaving a more crisp shine and smoother surface.

To illustrate, when you breathe on a section of bodywork, you should see faint streaks of residue from when you applied the #425.

After executing the Sex Pest Buff (lol!!!), breathe on the panel again and you will notice that these streaks have now gone!

 

Thanks. Good thing I stopped smoking years ago. lol

 

lol!!

Yeah, it can be abit of a respiratory workout!

Takes a while, but well worth it.

Perhaps try the Sex Pest Buff (lol!) on a panel and see what you think.

But be warned....once you feel the smooth goodness... you will want to do this everytime you use #425!



lol!

Right, I better hit the sack now.. last day at work tomorrow - thank god!

Catch up soon!

 

lol, I will definitely try it and let you know.

 

Rashman's routine is remarkably impressive!

 

I ordered the finish Kare #425 ( Of course heard it from Rash) and that thing is awesome indeed.

Didnt sex my car up though like you mentioned now but ill keep that in mind...