[IronGiant]

Originally Posted by mjn

Don't matter what colour your seats are..

GLIPTONE LIQUID LEATHER CAR SEAT CLEANER & CONDITIONER | eBay

If the leather has lost its top coating, you can do a DIY repair, which is what i did on my drivers seat bolster.

I think I'll get some

[rousetafarian]

Originally Posted by mjn

Ha ha, black car.....showroom condition!!

Do you have a full time job?

My missus has a jet black Golf GTI, and it looks amazing after a full wash/clay/polish/wax.....for about 5 minutes! The paint shows up every speck of dust and dirt.

Seriously though, i'd get a professional detailer to prepare and protect it, then do topup protection yourself.

I realise that the wife's Merc won't be showroom condition, perhaps I should have put that part in quotation marks........you get my drift though, surely

I expect I would apply the same cleaning routines to both of the Mercs (mine being a CLS in Palladium Silver) but just need an idea where to start as its a minefield.

[mjn]

Yes, same cleaning technique, but you'll find that dirt, swirl marks, scratches, etc all show up easier on black paint, whereas your silver paint will not show them as much.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by mjn

Ha ha, black car.....showroom condition!!
Do you have a full time job?
My missus has a jet black Golf GTI, and it looks amazing after a full wash/clay/polish/wax.....for about 5 minutes! The paint shows up every speck of dust and dirt.
Seriously though, i'd get a professional detailer to prepare and protect it, then do topup protection yourself.

I agree with all of the above, if I ever own another black car it'll be too soon.
Keeping them 'mint' is just such a thankless task.
I also agree a professional detail on a new car is a good idea, if you can afford it.
Much cheaper than a detail on a car already showing paint defects.
One of the reasons I went for white was that it only really needs de-tarred to look good again.

[rousetafarian]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I agree with all of the above, if I ever own another black car it'll be too soon.
Keeping them 'mint' is just such a thankless task.
I also agree a professional detail on a new car is a good idea, if you can afford it.
Much cheaper than a detail on a car already showing paint defects.
One of the reasons I went for white was that it only really needs de-tarred to look good again.

Screw it then,I'll just pay and do something better with my weekends

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by rousetafarian

Screw it then,I'll just pay and do something better with my weekends

That's my philosophy too unless you actually derive pleasure from detailing the car - and I know that a lot of people do.

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

What's a good wheel sealant?
I've been using any old polish on the wheels, then Poorboys' wheel sealant on top.
I can't say I'm that impressed with the longevity.
Is the polish reducing the Poorboys effectiveness?
Or is Poorboys just not that good?

Funny that I bought Poorboys to seal my Z3 wheels after I'd cleaned them up and then every post on Detailing World seemed to say how rubbish it is. I'm going to use it up first then try something else. I actually used it on my works car as well to make the wheels easier to keep clean.

EDIT: This stuff by Gtechnig is highly spoken of (as are most of their products) on Detailing World. I'm going to get some once it's back in stock:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels.../prod_878.html

Originally Posted by IronGiant

Can someone link me to the Gliptone stuff suitable for black leather? Thanks in advance!

On their website you can buy a kit for scratches/scuffs as I did on my Z3 pictures on the previous page. You find your car and colour and order it. To make sure I also added in the comments section "BMW Z3 2001 Black Leather". You can dilute it to do a 'wash' and I did this on my OH's Mini seats that are also black leather as the driver's seat looked a little 'grey' and slight cracking on the base. It came out very well and now looks as good as the passenger seat, even though it was left over stuff for the Z3.

Scuffmaster | Leather Colours | Leather Dyes

FWIW my RS2000 is black and I agree it only looks good for 5 minutes after I've washed and polished it, but what a 5 minutes.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by rousetafarian

Screw it then,I'll just pay and do something better with my weekends

Remember a lot of the stuff done at first makes any subsequent cleaning easier.
For example, sealing the wheels and putting good wax on makes the car a doddle to clean for quite a few washes after that.
It's not like we're all spending all day, every time.
Sod that!

[Inked]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I agree with all of the above, if I ever own another black car it'll be too soon.
Keeping them 'mint' is just such a thankless task.
I also agree a professional detail on a new car is a good idea, if you can afford it.
Much cheaper than a detail on a car already showing paint defects.
One of the reasons I went for white was that it only really needs de-tarred to look good again.

I had a detail done on my A4 last year just after buying it, looked fantastic! Needs doing again now as it has a few minor scratches in the paint from the local hand car wash.

Originally Posted by rousetafarian

Screw it then,I'll just pay and do something better with my weekends

Definitely my philosophy

Thankfully I have a mate that does detailing (was trained by Tony Spears at Swissvax)

[KelvinS1965]

If you pay for a pro to detail it, then it seems a bit of a waste IMHO to then let the local hand wash cover it with swirls again. They hardly use any water, use the same grity cloth to wipe the whole car and wheels with, it's no wonder that the car ends up with marks on it. My last CC was an A4 with quite hard paint, but they still managed to scratch/swirl it, so I only wash my CC myself thesedays. MY new 320d has only been washed by me and looks all the better for it, despite 5,000 miles in a couple of months ownership.

But as FZR400RRSP says the wax, etc you put on makes washing it easier anyway. I don't need to scrub my wheels only use a EZ clean brush and some ordinary car shampoo ('wax safe' though so it doesn't strip off the coating I've already applied).

As for 'not spending all day everytime' I'm afraid I do, but only on my private cars, the work one gets maybe an hour every 2-3 weeks (= maybe 2,000+ miles). I've found that getting out in the fresh air washing the car seems to be helping me lose weight and I'm stuck in front of my laptop, except when it's raining like today...

[Inked]

Mine has only been washed twice by the local hand wash over winter and that was enough to put the scratches in the paint, I do it myself during the summer months but only spend a couple of hours as I hate washing cars.

Will get it detailed properly again in a month or so once the weather pics up a bit.

[KelvinS1965]

I actually just don't bother washing it in the depths of winter as by the next day it's often filthy again. Instead I wait for the better weather then give it a careful wash to avoid putting scratches on it. The only problem is if some writes 'clean me' in the dirt which puts scratches where they've written. Last winter someone drew a big male part on my bonnet in the dirt, but then I was an Audi driver at the time.

Who knows what might get drawn on the BMW next winter...

[mjn]

Originally Posted by Wore Nowt

That's my philosophy too unless you actually derive pleasure from detailing the car - and I know that a lot of people do.

I find tidying / cleaning theraputic !

I'm strange like that!

[mjn]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

EDIT: This stuff by Gtechnig is highly spoken of (as are most of their products) on Detailing World. I'm going to get some once it's back in stock:

Mine arrived last week. It says that the alloys needs to stripped of all dirt, tar, wax and sealant. So i'll be trying it out as soon as the PoorBoys has worn away.

If you're local KelvinS1965 you're more than welcome to give it a test run on your alloys?

[KelvinS1965]

Thanks for the kind offer, but I'm a little way from you in Berkshire. I'll just keep using up the Poorboys stuff until they get the Gtechniq back in stock. My Z3 barely has chance to get dirty anyway (and of course I get the stupid comments off the neighbours about 'polishing the paint off it' ).

I'm going to polish the RS2000 wheels up (they are bare polished alloy, but in remarkable condition seeing as they were done some 15 years ago) and then apply the GTechniq to them.

[gam]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

EDIT: This stuff by Gtechnig is highly spoken of (as are most of their products) on Detailing World. I'm going to get some once it's back in stock:

Gtechniq - C5 Wheel Armour - Clean Your Car

really like thier glass coatings and tyre stuff and would be interested in their trim restorer if I had any faded plastic but haven't tried the wheel armour yet but gtechniq themselves have it in stock Exterior Coatings // G|Techniq

used to use whatever wax or sealant I done the rest of the car with after a lick of polish but didn't think much of poorboys wheel sealent at all and have been using zaino clear seal too for the last year and a half or so. It also gets used on the whole of my brother's and dad's cars (both silver) after polishing and on the plastic trim on my own..... easy to use with good results would be an understatement

[IronGiant]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

On their website you can buy a kit for scratches/scuffs as I did on my Z3 pictures on the previous page. You find your car and colour and order it. To make sure I also added in the comments section "BMW Z3 2001 Black Leather". You can dilute it to do a 'wash' and I did this on my OH's Mini seats that are also black leather as the driver's seat looked a little 'grey' and slight cracking on the base. It came out very well and now looks as good as the passenger seat, even though it was left over stuff for the Z3.

Scuffmaster | Leather Colours | Leather Dyes

FWIW my RS2000 is black and I agree it only looks good for 5 minutes after I've washed and polished it, but what a 5 minutes.

thanks, I've ordered the cleaner and conditioner so I'll try those first, as my leather isn't too bad (famous last words )

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by mjn

I find tidying / cleaning theraputic !

I'm strange like that!

Not really as quite a few people find that sort of thing therapeutic. I had a neighbout that spent most Sundays lovingly looking after his car whilst I found it more therapeutic to sit there watching him whilst supping a gin and tonic

[NorvernRob]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I agree with all of the above, if I ever own another black car it'll be too soon.
Keeping them 'mint' is just such a thankless task.

I'm on my 3rd black car, a glutton for punishment I guess - I just love the transformation when properly cleaned, polished and waxed.

The problem is any damp on the roads means it's filthy again the first time you drive it, and even if it's bone dry there's a noticeable layer of dust on the car within a few hours of washing it.

My next car is going to be red....the Mrs's Yaris is bright red and rarely looks dirty!

[mjn]

Taking advantage of the rain for some beading p0rn!

[THE_FORCE]

Originally Posted by mjn

Taking advantage of the rain for some beading p0rn!

Shweet !

This is the results after Refined Detail paid us a visit. Quite tough to show reflections in Silver apparently, but Richard done us a treat :

I just have to maintain it now.

[mjn]

Nice!

[KelvinS1965]

Looks very shiny for a silver car. Did you notice that he's left a black circle of dirt on the back bumper though?

[Inked]

Thats beautiful!

[mjn]

To keep your alloys sparkling?

Armor All® - Product Detail

[gam]

THE_FORCE, very nice finish on a very nice looking car

Originally Posted by mjn

To keep your alloys sparkling?

Armor All® - Product Detail

that video looks class but only lasts upto 4 weeks though, not as handy if you've open wheels and want the inner done too

which reminds me, I have to go out and give mine a wash now as it hasn't been done in a couple of weeks

[rousetafarian]

I'm going to sit in a corner and be envious of the BCGT.....for ever.

[Sandman]

I know its not really detailing but more valeting but I managed to get a copy of Mark Evans how clean is your car. It goes through the various stages of washing your car and the best way to do it. Some will no doubt find it boring but I quite enjoyed it.
Oh, Mark Evens is the guy from the A car is born series.

[KelvinS1965]

I'm a big fan of Mark Evan's series...I recorded most of them as they are shown on Dave during the day. Gives me something to watch when there's nothing else on but soaps.

[Jules Winfield]

I usually clean my car (Golf Mk 6) every other week. I vary the routine depending on the season.

In winter, I use my power washer (Kranzle) with a snow foam attachment, which is great fun, then I rinse it off. I then use the two bucket approach to wash the bodywork. Then I dry it off, do the windows, exhaust tips (chrome) and the black trim if needed. I change my tyres and wheels to a set of winter tyres (Continental) and some steel wheels, so only I only bother to clean the plastic trims (don't really care about the tyres).

Come summer, I put the power washer away and instead use a product called Optimum No Rinse. I read about it on Detailing World, and it promises great results without using loads of water. Basically I spray it on panel-by-panel (I bought a 5 litre fence sprayer from Wickes), leave it to dwell for 30 seconds or so, then wipe it off with a cloth that I've left to soak in ONR for a bit. Once wiped off, I dry the panel with a cloth, then move on to the next one. The car looks an absolute treat after using it. Once all that's done, I'll do the windows, exhaust tips and trim as usual. Every six months or so I'll wax the car as well - I need to do this at some point in the not-too-distant future.

When swapping tyres/wheels, I give the ones being taken off a thorough cleaning with Bilberry (which is fantastic stuff), hose them down, dry them and put a couple of coats of sealant on. They then go in the shed on a rack I bought from eBay until I need them next. As Bilberry will take off the sealant, I just use a brush and mitt with a bucket to clean my alloys during the summer - they don't need anything more.

All of this is fairly time consuming. In the winter, I can spend over two hours if I decide to clean the insides as well; the summer treatment usually takes just over an hour. Then, usually, it'll rain. Ho hum. Another downside is that it's easy to notice stone chips (I have a number on the bonnet) and scratches in the glass (windscreen, driver's window) whilst I'm cleaning things.

I refuse to let anyone else clean my car. At its last service, I specifically asked them not to do it. They managed to obey this instruction, but still write down that they'd cleaned it on my invoice(!).