Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 2:45 pm Post subject: To wash or not to wash.....
Afternoon,
I saw my car had lost its shine. Therefore I took it for professional detailing.
The guy asked me if I wash the car myself and I repeated not always as I sometimes use the car human wash. He suggested I wash it myself because depending on where you go often you don't get a professional outcome.
I have promised to wash the car myself moving forward.
Just was curious what we all tend to do. _________________ 2012 997 Turbo S
2008 997 Turbo 1.5 (Sold)
Last edited by Ptabi on Sun Jan 21, 2018 2:51 pm; edited 1 time in total
alex yates Brands Hatch
Joined: 06 Mar 2014 Posts: 14013 Location: The Ribble Valley, Lancashire
Wouldn't let anyone else near mine to wash it. Especially some of these modern day slave outfits that do a full wash & valet for a tenner, etc. _________________ 2000 Manual 996 C4 Arctic Silver Convertible
alex yates Brands Hatch
Joined: 06 Mar 2014 Posts: 14013 Location: The Ribble Valley, Lancashire
Last edited by alex yates on Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
DRZ911 Barcelona
Joined: 13 Mar 2013 Posts: 1395 Location: Belfast
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 3:54 pm Post subject:
alex yates wrote:
Wouldn't let anyone else near mine to wash it. Especially some of these modern day slave outfits that do a full wash & valet for a tenner, etc.
+1
I think the thing here is that no matter how good the detailing by a professional, all his/her good work can be wasted in a matter of seconds by poor washing practices. That is the reason that I never will never go to any of the high street hand-wash outfits.
In terms of doing it yourself, good practice should be always exercised to avoid swirling/scores, such as :-
- pre-rinse with a hose to remove the grit, dust and other contaminants sitting on the surface
- a snow foam all over to loosen everything up
- another pre-rinse
- always wash the car from top to bottom with a good quality wash mitt which is kept scrupulously clean before, during and after washes
- use a separate wash mitt/shampoo for the sills/below and the wheels
- wash using the two bucket method with grit guards at the bottom of each bucket (one bucket with the car shampoo and the other to rinse the wash mitt each time before going back into the shampoo)
- rinse off with hose
- dry with microfibre cloths
- add top-up wax or nano coating like Gtechniq C2 v3 spray
Despite sounding long-winded, it isn't. With practice, can get all the above down to about 30 minutes.
Really does stand the best chance of minimising any washing damage to a well detailed paint surface.
Hope this helps. _________________ 991 Gen 2 GT3 Racing Yellow
Yamaha R1 and BMW R100RS
s70rjw Spa-Francorchamps
Joined: 26 Nov 2014 Posts: 302 Location: York
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:15 pm Post subject:
As above. The more dirt you can remove before your wash media comes into contact with the bodywork the better. www.detailingworld.com is your friend when it comes to products, advice and expertise.
Jake911 Trainee
Joined: 04 Nov 2017 Posts: 83
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:17 pm Post subject:
As above and above - only other thing I do is use a Metro Blaster to dry the car. Brilliant bit of kit.
Ptabi Trainee
Joined: 12 Nov 2016 Posts: 62
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:22 pm Post subject:
Sadly I think it’s true those places offering car washing for a tenner probably are doing more harm than good. Picture of my car after it’s detailing yesterday. Moving forward I shall be washing it myself offcause after taking on board some of the pointers some of you have shared with me. _________________ 2012 997 Turbo S
2008 997 Turbo 1.5 (Sold)
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FZP Indianapolis
Joined: 18 Jan 2015 Posts: 2491 Location: Cheshire
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:37 pm Post subject:
In the correct weather I find cleaning my car a cathartic experience. Some people Yoga....i clean my 911 _________________ 997.2 Carrera 2S GT Silver/Cocoa.
T8 General
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 14514 Location: Kent
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:41 pm Post subject:
Don't make the mistake I did by using hot water.
_________________ 2007 Guards Red 997 Turbo Tiptronic
ex 2004 Polar Silver 996T Tiptronic
ex 2002 Seal Grey 996.2 C4 Tiptronic
ex 1978 Silver 924 Manual
KP964 Watkins Glen
Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 2233 Location: Northumberland
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:57 pm Post subject:
Hot water!! , whats wrong with hot water ?? took me a while but i eventually got it _________________ Stone Grey Metallic 964 C4
Guards Red 964 C4 sold
FZP Indianapolis
Joined: 18 Jan 2015 Posts: 2491 Location: Cheshire
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:01 pm Post subject:
KP964 wrote:
Hot water!! , whats wrong with hot water ?? took me a while but i eventually got it
But when you chamois it off it's coooooold _________________ 997.2 Carrera 2S GT Silver/Cocoa.
arry Hockenheim
Joined: 02 May 2015 Posts: 731 Location: South Essex
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:21 pm Post subject:
OP - The trick is to do a really good job of it twice, maybe three times a year with good quality products, including a very good carnauba wax, and then every time in-between just becomes a gentle wash down with a pH neutral shampoo and a dry with a microfiber cloth.
Jet wash.
Snowfoam.
Rinse.
Shampoo.
Clay bar.
Polish.
Wax.
It takes a while, but it's worth it. _________________ 2001 Lapis Blue 996 C2 Manual
2012 Orange KTM 990 SMT
2016 Marsh Grey Royal Enfield Bullet 500
911TEL Barcelona
Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1338 Location: Inverness and Highlands
Wouldn't let anyone else near mine to wash it. Especially some of these modern day slave outfits that do a full wash & valet for a tenner, etc.
Only one other person has ever been trusted with cleaning my cars , my favoured detail guru.....
I wouldn’t trust anyone near it ....
I wash myself and know that if I drop the mitt it goes in the bin , not back in th3 rinse / wash buckets .... _________________ 997 Gen 2 Turbo S Basalt Black -BBS CHR, Kline inconel exhaust, DSC V1 & Polished Bliss air freshener...
Cayenne S diesel 850 N/ m torque!!!! Jet black
SL 55 AMG Obsidian Black
Brompton S2L Black edition
911TEL Barcelona
Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1338 Location: Inverness and Highlands
OP - The trick is to do a really good job of it twice, maybe three times a year with good quality products, including a very good carnauba wax, and then every time in-between just becomes a gentle wash down with a pH neutral shampoo and a dry with a microfiber cloth.
Jet wash.
Snowfoam.
Rinse.
Shampoo.
Clay bar.
Polish.
Wax.
It takes a while, but it's worth it.
Sorry ‘ arry But I don’t agree with the jet wash first .....
Snow foam first THEN rinse off ..... _________________ 997 Gen 2 Turbo S Basalt Black -BBS CHR, Kline inconel exhaust, DSC V1 & Polished Bliss air freshener...
Cayenne S diesel 850 N/ m torque!!!! Jet black
SL 55 AMG Obsidian Black
Brompton S2L Black edition
Phil 997 Brands Hatch
Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 14301 Location: Bournemouth,Dorset
NEVER EVER use a chamois leather on it , that very out of date use a microfibre cloth with any label on it ripped off.
Ideally buy a snow foam attachement for your presure washer
Snow foam first leave for 5 mins rinse off with pressure washer then use two bucket method to wash it with shampoo, pressure wash it again , dry it with microfibre cloth only , then apply a quick detail spray to keep the just polished look for longer.
Every 6/8 weeks replace the quick detail spray with a coat of wax or polish use a good quality hybrid or high canuba content one.
this method should keep you good until your annual or by annual mop at your detailer .
or in my case I have a pro detailer who does this process for me every week on his site using my prefered and supplied products ,presently using blackfire wet diamond shampoo and quick detailer. but there are also lots of other very very good products out there Gtechnic crystal are good I use their trim restorer on my black bumper lips etc.
AVOID AT ALL TIMES the Polish hand cars washes and the likes , unless you want the grit from the previous dirty truck or 4x4 scrubbed into your paintwork and then the paintwork beaten with a cheap plastic wiper thingy followed by a dirty chamois to dry it. _________________ 911 Owners,Some Invest In The Future,
Others Enjoy The Moment Today.
The return of Marty Wild Suzuka
Joined: 04 Nov 2016 Posts: 1041
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:09 pm Post subject:
No way I let anyone else touch my paintwork, scrambles my brain when I see nice cars getting done in supermarket car parks. Some of them don’t even have a constant supply of water! I’ve seen them pouring their bucket water away after a session.... my god! I figure some people are to chop the car in on a 3 year lease and give not a single **** about the paint.
Washing the car properly in 30 mins, wow, that member must have 8 arms! Takes me 2 hours, but is time well spent, I do obsess with the process. My previous car (R32) used to take me 3 hours with black paintwork, more bodywork and fiddly wheels.
Used to leave signs in the R32 so VW wouldn’t wash it in the sole job I trusted them to do... the MOT.
Proper detail takes me 12hours without a DA Polisher, or at least it did on the R. Yet to Dj the Cayman. _________________ Life's too short for cr4ppy cars, keep it German!
Cayman S 987.1
Last edited by The return of Marty Wild on Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
Phil 997 Brands Hatch
Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 14301 Location: Bournemouth,Dorset
No way I let anyone else touch my paintwork, scrambles my brain when I see nice cars getting done in supermarket car parks. Some of them don’t even have a constant supply of water! I’ve seen them pouring their bucket water away after a session.... my god! I figure some people are to chop the car in on a 3 year lease and give not a single **** about the paint.
Washing the car properly in 30 mins, wow, that member must have 8 arms! Takes me 2 hours, but is time well spent, I do obsess with the process. My previous car (R32) used to take me 3 hours with black paintwork, more bodywork and fiddly wheels.
Used to leave signs in the R32 do VW wouldn’t wash it in the sole job I trusted them to do... the MOT.
Proper detail takes me 12hours without a DA Polisher, or at least it did on the R. Yet to Dj the Cayman.
YES very good point made make sure your OPC have it on your records NEVER to wash your car after any work as their guys are pretty much as bad as the Polish car washes. _________________ 911 Owners,Some Invest In The Future,
Others Enjoy The Moment Today.
G2 Österreich
Joined: 26 Oct 2015 Posts: 945
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:24 pm Post subject:
Not sure anyone else has mentioned it but http://www.raceglaze.co.uk is a magic item. Mine get a full pro detail once a year. Maintenance is then just a two bucket wash and raceglaze rinse and leave it to dry.
Big thanks to T8 for the original recommendation.
Oh and anyone getting them washed at the OPC....have it on very good authority that some only pay the external car wash company £2.50 per car...says it all really. _________________ 997 Gen2 Turbo S - Speed.
991 C4S - Riviera.
Millsy71 Silverstone
Joined: 14 Nov 2017 Posts: 106 Location: TOON
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:29 pm Post subject:
im looking into getting mine Ceramic coated at the minute,supposedly itll last about 2/3 years with a bit of care
Anyone on here had this done _________________ 944 22 years ago.
Now a 997.1 C4S Cabby with lots of toys..........
Whats not to love!!
Phil 997 Brands Hatch
Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 14301 Location: Bournemouth,Dorset
im looking into getting mine Ceramic coated at the minute,supposedly itll last about 2/3 years with a bit of care
Anyone on here had this done
Some rate it others hate it, Porkee said it went dull after a while and he paid to get it removed from his car _________________ 911 Owners,Some Invest In The Future,
Others Enjoy The Moment Today.
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