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marktdevon



Member Since: 20 Mar 2010
Location: devon
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 
A dummies' guide to car cleaning?

Hi all,

Will be picking up my FL2 in a couple of weeks and and uber-excited! But I'm faced with a bit of a dilemna - whether to go for the Supagard package the dealer has offered (£199) or an Autoglym application from a private valeter (approx. £300), OR to just go it alone. I've been a bit put off by the Supagard product - reviews on here were not that favourable - and the Autoglym price seems quite hi. So, my question is: how easy/expensive would it be to do the thing myself. More to the point, what would people recommend as a minimal treatment and how would I go about it? If it's helpful in answering this, it might be worth pointing out that I am not fanatical about cleaning/polishing (yet!) so anything that might make my job easier is good in my book. I also have two messy children, so am looking for something for the interior as well.

So, as you can see, I really am looking for a guide for dummies!

Thanks all,
Mark

Post #70051 6th Jun 2010 8:04 am
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npinks



Member Since: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Ls25
Posts: 20090

United Kingdom 

Personally I think the supaguard/autoglym stuff is over hyped, I have seen it done well and very poor

you also have to top up the supaguard I believe or they void the cover

save your cash, wash the car with a wool mitt, 2 buckets, one for shampoo, one for rinsing the mitt before outing it back in to the clean shampoo bucket, clay the car, then apply AG super resin polish, And top off with a hard wearing wax, something like collinte 476s, putting on 2 coats of wax should see you through the best part of a year,

2 buckets @ £5
Wool wash mitt @ £10
meguiers Quick detailer clay bar @ £13
AG Super Resin Polish @£4
Collinite 476s @ £15
a few microfibres and applicator sponges @£7

a lot cheaper than £200 - £300 for the supaguard or AG lifeshine

and you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself

if you really want AG Lifeshine, check eBay out normally go for £20 Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Post #70054 6th Jun 2010 8:28 am
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iain cooper



Member Since: 27 Aug 2007
Location: north of Glasgow
Posts: 1989

Scotland 2009 Freelander 2 TD4_e HSE Manual Lago Grey

I agree with npinks, a total waste of money.

Iain

Post #70059 6th Jun 2010 9:22 am
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iangam



Member Since: 13 Dec 2009
Location: Norfolk UK
Posts: 146

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Zermatt Silver

I have the autoglym treatment on mine but I did it myself, I got the chemicals free from a mate in the trade who also thought it was not worth the money. I think its quite good but not at £300. Autoglym also do a gloss protect to put on after you polish which makes the shine last longer but not as long as lifeshine.

Npinks where do you buy super resin polish for £4 I always end up paying about £8-9. Sad 2009 FL2 GS
1985 90Tdi

Post #70069 6th Jun 2010 10:26 am
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npinks



Member Since: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Ls25
Posts: 20090

United Kingdom 

My local car spare shop years ago, only a smaller bottle though Thumbs Up Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Post #70070 6th Jun 2010 10:29 am
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marktdevon



Member Since: 20 Mar 2010
Location: devon
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 

Thanks for the advice guys - very helpful (and convincing me to save cash).

Does anyone have any thoughts on what to do to protect the interior? Also, if I wanted to put lifeshine on, at what stage of the process would that be - right at the end?

Thanks again
Mark

Post #70071 6th Jun 2010 10:31 am
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Boxer



Member Since: 26 Dec 2009
Location: S Wales
Posts: 354

Wales 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Zermatt Silver

Scotchguard for the interior. Thumbs Up Don't put petrol in a diesel. They don't run well.

Post #70072 6th Jun 2010 10:35 am
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npinks



Member Since: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Ls25
Posts: 20090

United Kingdom 

I use 303 Aerospace Protectrant on the plastics, but also could
be used on other surfaces like leather etc

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/30...ducts.html Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Post #70073 6th Jun 2010 10:38 am
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MacWallace



Member Since: 28 Feb 2010
Location: Perthshire
Posts: 148

Scotland 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Zermatt Silver

For the first polish I use Diamondbrite or Diamond Glaze (both are a one-off application) which can be applied very easily. From there on in I use Showroom Shine which is a waterless wash and wax. I know the result is amazing because so many people have said so Thumbs Up

Post #70121 6th Jun 2010 6:46 pm
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gilfishman



Member Since: 06 Aug 2008
Location: Church Village
Posts: 604

Wales 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Orkney Grey

show room shine/grease lightning is good stuff,esp if ur on a water meter,and havent got the time to spend water washing it or hours cleaning it every week. Thumbs Up Current: Freelander 2 GS, Orkney Grey, Factory fit privacy glass, design pack and Clearview pack. Almond Leather ,rear spoiler,rear mudflaps.my13.

Gone:Freelander 2, GS, "61"

Gone: Freelander 2, GS.e, "59"

Gone: Freelander 2, S, "08"

Post #70156 7th Jun 2010 12:48 pm
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