LR NUT wrote:

For years been using a sponge and a bucket to wash the Freelander 1 and the paint still looks like new However seen a trend in wash mitts and lamp wool mitts along with the 2 bucket rule! What's the best method to a avoid swirls marks or at least keep them at a minimum! Any good shampoos that stand out ? Might as well stock up whilst I'm waiting for 1st March, will give me something to do Been looking at the snow foam machines but was disappointed when I found out they still need a sponge or mitt to go over the bodywork

Get a high powered torch or strong sunlight on the paint work and stand by to see swirls.

Terran Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

Now a member of the FL2 'Silly Bill' Club

Like Steve C, except I get the undivided attention of 5 Albanians and lots of water for £7.

Am having to get used to this car washing lark again. For the last 8 years I owned a benotti grey Defender which really didn't show the dirt unless I got it covered in mud and probably got washed less than once a year. I've had the FL2 for a little over a month a had to wash it twice already and it's in need of another one again - I love the Santorini black, but it does need to be kept clean.

On the recommendation of a friend I used Autoglym Aqua Wax to finish off the last wash. Wash with car shampoo as usual, then spay on a little of the wax as you dry the car off with a micro fibre cloth. Then use a 2nd cloth to buff the car. Seems very little extra effort than a normal dry but really leaves the car gleaming and no issues with water run marks. You can use it on the side and rear windows too. I hadn't come across this stuff before but am definitely a convert now

I think the FL2 does look splendid in black when it is clean and shiny. Problem is it doesn't stay that way long in this weather, especially on the lanes around here. I did take a black SD4 HSE out for a try when I was looking at replacing the GS with an SD4 XS (why do the dealers always give you top of the range with all the toys )

We took it from Hereford LR to Worcester, down the M5 to Cheltenham and then back via Gloucester on a 'dry' day. It looked worse than my old silver GS after 3 months when I got it back.  GONE - '07 TD4 GS manual Zermatt Silver
LONG GONE - '55 Norton Dominator 99 SS cafe racer

I've owned a couple of black cars in the past and had avoided black ones since because of the effort of keeping them clean. But when I looking for the FL2 I saw this one and it just looked so smart. Hopefully getting the black one won't be something I come to regret...

I had a couple of black cars, I wasn't bothered about them showing dirt, I was more anouyed at the amount of scratches I could see on the paint! Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

A £1.99 car wash every three to four weeks  Black FL2
L200 Warrior

When she thinks it looks dirty she pays £5 to out local illegal? Iranians at Sainsburys. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.

WarriorBez wrote:

A £1.99 car wash every three to four weeks

ARC car washes....I use them all over the place , Hinckley, Coventry, Leicester to name a few...

They do range in price from £1.99 to £2.70 depending on location and competition in the area..

Hinckley is £1.99, handy when travelling from Rugby to my parents in Market bosworth

Coventry is £2.30

The one in rugby was £6!!! For the same basic wash...think it has closed down now Black FL2
L200 Warrior

There's an ARC in Warwick by Tesco.....cheapest wash there is £2.70 for basic...and the brushes are the old nylon-type....muchos scratches!!! Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

Funny how some of you guys wash the big F once a year at annual Service:))

Mine Santorini Black is getting washed at, as you say, Kosovans or Albanians (in Russia Uzbeks, actually) for at least twice a month cause of all the we have on our city roads flying around.

I'm jealous

Decided not to wash mine just yet - looks good with the Sahara dust - looks like I've been somewhere interesting!

I wash mine once a week when home without fail. Started using snow foam recently, and polish the the car then use auto glym high definition wax it lasts for ages. I will every few months clay bar the car and wheels and at the same time will use the iron remover, however I find that the best way to remove tar spots is with a specialist tar remover solvent type stuff. Love the car when it's gleaming. Here is a wee pic using the snow foam toady and after. All very boaring I know but I love it



 Regards

Alan

Rain, as the hand car wash refuses to do mine  2008 xs
Snorkel
raised axle/gearbox breathers
Mantec tank guard
Cb radio
Blanked EGR
Sump guard
Scratches
Snolkle