Detailing is it worth paying a pro ?

Hi all

Looking for some guidance on detailing .. My newly aquired gti(candy white) has lots of tiny tar and iron spots stuck on/in paint and I'm weighing up buying some clay/iron x and doing it myself finishing with some quality polish/sealant v getting a professional to spend a full day for around 150-180 depending on finish sealant ..

Love to hear thoughts good and bad ..

Cheers

Col

 

Invest the money in the products and spend a few nights on detailing world

 

Yea I'd do it myself too.

Even rotary polishing isn't as hard as they say.

 

As above - do it yourself. You learn loads and can reap the benefits of your own work.

 

Thanks guys kind of what I'm thinking just good to hear other opinions/thoughts

Cheers

Col

 

The clay bar bit is very easy, you can't half feel the difference and the tar spots will be whipped off in no time. I have only used meguiars, the one where you get the lube spray doodah and bar. Takes a long time but you don't need to waste too much time researching it.

I bought the meguiars 3 step stuff, takes an age and gets very boring. I start hiding when the neighbours are out for the 3rd time and I'm still at it. That's why I only do it once a year.
Wash, clay, cleaner, polish, wax! Keep thinking Ill try a machine polisher to speed up the process.

 

Thanks dub 303 I'm fairly patient So hopefully manage a good job !

I already have some zaino all in one and a bottle of z2 sealant so reckon I'll just need clay and good cleaner ?

Plan is wash/iron x/clay/zaino(All in one) finish with z2 .. Will wash car after iron x and claying..

Could I skip the iron x ? Would the clay remove everything ?

Thanks again folks for help/pointers

Col

 

I might try a clay bar, you can hear it ripping stuff off and it ends up silky smooth [:d]

 

Just had a look on e-bay and i'm baffled already. Where do you start when buying this stuff? Can you lube it with water and what would you put on afterwards?

At the minute I have a bucket and some failry liquid.

 

http://www.bilthamber.com/clay-bars These can be lubed with water, I haven't tried it yet, but have used Meguiars clay with their lube, and that worked pretty well.

A good wash, followed by sealant or wax once you have de-contaminated/clayed/corrected it.

 

There are some less potent iron removing type cleaners on the market. No harm is using somethng like this and then clay. You can use a diluted shampoo solution as lube. The key to detailing is the foundation and initial deep clean. Finish with a decent wax.

If you are on a budget try here - http://www.angelwax.co.uk/ I highly recommened their products. They manufacturer and pour their own items (not many other than Dodo Juice do this) and have testers around the world.

 

Thanks dragonfly looks good stuff

 

Be careful with clays as there are different grades and some can leave marring that will need polishing out.

 

Oh never knew that ? What would be good clay to use ? Car is only 2 years old and probably not as bad as some ?

Think being as it's white it really shows the tar/iron spots

Col

 

Start with a mild clay bar.

 

Meguirs clay kit should do the job.

 

It's cheaper to buy a single/double bar and use a diluted shampoo mix or cheap quick detailer (something like Demon Shine).

 

get yourself over to http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/sale-items.html, they are having a 12 days of christmas sale!!

including purple rain which is iron/tar remover.

lots of bargains to be had and the sale range is changing daily!!

i have spent too much already, but i am turning into a detailing nerd!

oh and to answer the original question, no do it yourself, start off slowly

 

Thanks everyone I'm most definitely going to do it myself now

The more I look at product/Vast array of choices it gets very hard to choose

Think I may pick up a bilt hamber soft clay bar (only water required as lube) couple of grit guards(have buckets) some good paint cleanser ? Hopefully a wash/clay/paint cleanser(anyone recommend some) then my zaino all in one followed by 2 coats of z2 will give me a nice finish .. Then maybe pick up more kit as I go

 

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