First Detail On my S3

[Damo - S3]

Hi everyone, i have conducted a detail for the first time on my S3. I did everything by hand.

Firstly the products. I used only what i had as i've not done this before properly & want to test different products etc.

- AutoGlym :- Shampoo, Polish, Sealant, Glass Polish, Claying Kit, Rubber dressing, Wheel Cleaner
- Valet Pro - Achilles Prep, House Wax (aka Banana Wax)
- Meg's Application Sponge & Pads, Tyre application sponge
- Cotton Polishing Cloths
- Micro fibres

Method

Total Time Spent 7Hours:

- Pre Rinse
- Pre Wash, AG Shampoo (Two bucket system)
- Rinse
- Wash, AG shampoo (two bucket system)
- Rinse & Leather Dry
- Achilles Prep
- Clay
- Polish
- Sealant
- House Wax
- Tyres & Alloys cleaned and RimWax applied
- Final Buffer

Products

exhaust after rinse

After pre wash

alloys after pre wash

shot after wash & dry + achilles prep applied and buffed

cheeky reflection shot, just after the previous photo was taken

Reflection shot after claying. never clayed before, i fell in love with it what a difference!

shot after wash, prep applied, clayed & polished

Think this was after sealant was applied...

After Sealant had been buffed

Alloys after wash, tyre re-dress & rimwax applied. ignore the scuff, its called ambulance dodging. soon to be refurbished

Finished side shot

Front shot finished.

A quick review of the products. - All really good apart from the sealant, might just be me but took the biscuit to buff off. the Achilles Prep is brilliant at its job, works really well as does the House wax. Valet Pro are really really good and cheap too. AutoGlym's products that i used today are actually really good, the polish is really good as a polish, sounds obvious but it states on packaging that with added pressure helps to reduce and remove scratches, i personally don't think it lives up to this but non the less its good.

Thank you for looking, all comments welcome and appreciated. thanks again, damo

 

[S3 Rav]

Car looks very nice there mate.

 

[Damo - S3]

Thanks Rav

 

[superkarl]

lovely S3

you'l find using the extra gloss protection in the sun that it will become harder to buff off. does take some elbow grease. i used it last year.
just dont leave it for as long and maybe give 2-3 coats.

 

[FranA3]

good job there damo looks good pal

 

[Damo - S3]

Thanks Fran i want to try out some other products and the main one is dodo juice home brew, looks amazing and fun to do lol.

Karl,

thanks yeah it was a real pain, i spent a good 45mins easy getting it all off. i was unsure about adding another couple of coats but i'll look into doing it, whens the best time to give it another coat of the sealant and would i need to repeat the process again?

 

[superkarl]

Well last year i applied, then buffed off, reapplied then buffed off, 3 times in total. It gave a great finish, i do have a photo somewhere il dig it out.

AG stuff does tend to get a bit of greif from wanabe pros but i think EGP sealent is pretty good. The 3 coats I gave last summer lasted well, only noticed lack of protection this winter to be honest.

 

[FranA3]

Thanks Fran i want to try out some other products and the main one is dodo juice home brew, looks amazing and fun to do lol.

i can't recommend dodo juice enough mate i love it so easy to use and most of them smell amazing too , well look at my sig that was after two coats of dodo juice orange crush and one of supernatural

 

[Damo - S3]

thanks karl, i will probably do another coat within a few weeks see how that goes but i will deffo be doing the whole lot again in autumn in prep for winter.

Fran, yeah i've heard so many good reviews about dodo juice's waxes. i think i will have a look at getting some but i don't know which ones to buy? i really want the homebrew kit just because it looks fun lol call it boys and there toys hey lol. whats the difference between them? and sorry to ask loads but did you apply the wax onto your windows + windscreen too?

 

[FranA3]

Fran, yeah i've heard so many good reviews about dodo juice's waxes. i think i will have a look at getting some but i don't know which ones to buy? i really want the homebrew kit just because it looks fun lol call it boys and there toys hey lol. whats the difference between them? and sorry to ask loads but did you apply the wax onto your windows + windscreen too?

supernatural has got more natural carnuba content than orange crush plus its got no extra additives so no funky smells , and yes i do wax the windows too but i use supernatural hybrid for them because its got sealant in it , loads of info on the waxes is on there website

 

[Damo - S3]

cool thanks for the info buddy, i always wondered because some waxes haven't agree'd with my window wipers lol. think i may go order some

 

[FranA3]

cool thanks for the info buddy, i always wondered because some waxes haven't agree'd with my window wipers lol. think i may go order some

no worries mate , i don't use a lot on the windscreen tho only a little bit i use more on the side windows it keeps them really really clear of rain , I'm going to be putting some gtechniq glass guard on soon its quoted to last for over 30.000 miles over 50 mph you don't need wipers

 

[sean s-line]

looking good damo!! nice reflection shots. i used dodo juice on my car on the weekend and was lovely stuff to work with and the smell was divine, lol. lovly car fella!!

 

[Damo - S3]

that sounds amazing! theres so much stuff on the market its untrue lol

 

[Damo - S3]

Thanks sean! i think im deffo going to get some of this dodo juice wax!

 

[sean s-line]

i am quite tight, lol, so i buy the panel pots will get a few waxes out of them if done properly ;-)

 

[Juicy Jen]

Looking good!

A few tips for next time....the valet pro Achillies prep is much the same as AG SRP which I assume is what you used as 'polish', therefore should be applied after decontamination of the paintwork, ie. Claying.

Although you have washed twice before using Achillies you would of still had dirt particles on the car which when you've rubbed in the product will no doubt of inflicted some damage. The clay would of then removed the polish and fillers, etc thats why it felt smoother afterwards.

By applying the polish after claying it means that you are polishing directly on to bare paintwork and will achieve a much more even and smooth surface to then protect with your chosen product.

For your colour car I would recommend Dodo Juice Purple Haze (soft wax); dodo juice blue velvet (hard wax); dodo juice purple haze pro or blue velvet pro.

The softer waxes offer less durability, with more of a wet, deeper look and the harder waxes offer longer durability - generally speaking you would choose soft for the warmer months as the car isn't being affected so much by the salt ect on the roads.

The Pro versions are hybrid waxes and have an element of sealant in them which offer a different look and potentially longer durability (a little more expensive than the above options).

Alternatively as Fran has suggested Supernatural is their top of the range wax that they offer at this time

 

[Damo - S3]

ok thanks Jen, i was unsure which to do first but i went for using the Achilles first to help get rid of Tar spots as i don't have a Tar spot remover. Although i found that the clay took a lot away. when's would you recommend doing it again, or what should i do next? wash as normal for a few weeks and then add some more wax? And i was literally about to purchase the home brew kit from you then lol, is it better to use the waxes you have suggested and ignore the homebrew wax?

thanks

 

[Juicy Jen]

Again I would be careful using an abrasive product yo remove the tar spots as this will scratch....would definitely be worth getting yourself a tar remover. Valet Pro Citrus Tar and Glue is excellent and at £4.99 for 500ml you can't go wrong

Ideally the general rule is to clay twice a year. Once to prepare the car before winter and then about April to prepare it for summer, however some of use that are OCD will do it more often to try out different products!

All that you should need to do for now is on your next wash, once dry (using a microfibre drying towel not a chamois/leather) apply another coat of wax. You should look to get 2 to 3 on there....the liquid waxes are not as durable as the soft/hard waxes but can be easier to apply.

The Dodo Juice Home Brew is a different version of the soft waxes, without any dyes to compliant various coloured cars. Yes it's a great little kit to have a play with and I'd love you to buy one. HOWEVER you would be better off with one of the above I have suggested as it will be more useful to you. Perhaps get someone yo buy you the home brew on your birthday or something as a treat

 

[superkarl]

3 coats of EGP

nice crisp shine, shame i dont have a close up, but its great for the metallic flake our cars have. although im switching products for summer for a deep wet look, cannot wait.

 

[Damo - S3]

ok thanks Jen i'll order some now. so do i use the citrus tar & glue prior to claying?

 

[Damo - S3]

karl that looks mint!

 

[superkarl]

ok thanks Jen i'll order some now. so do i use the citrus tar & glue prior to claying?

yeh use it before you clay, spray on, leave to work, then wipe off with a microfibre, and i always wash after it too (ocd), then you can clay.
getting the most off the car before claying minimises light scratches that may occur when claying. so you want it as clean as possible, clay is the last step of decontamination.

 

[Juicy Jen]

ok thanks Jen i'll order some now. so do i use the citrus tar & glue prior to claying?

Yes get rid of the larger amounts first as this will help reduce as much marring that the clay will create

 

[Damo - S3]

cool thanks for your help guys much appreciated

 

[nally]

my fave s3 colour good work. seen one for sale a few weeks ago, if only lol

 

[Damo - S3]

thanks nally yeah it was a debate between this or the orange, but i went for this because all the ST's around my area at the time was orange and i wanted to be different lol. if i was buying it now, i'd go for that new green just because its different lol.