Thanks for your views, I did visit detailing world and I found this link
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=18025&highlight=diamondbrite
It was good to read that there are quite a number out there who are prepared to be a bit more open minded about how they feel about DB.
I really don't want to upset or cause umbrance to professional detailers so please forgive me.
As I mentioned, my wife's Touran was DB'd but fist of all it was clay'd using Meguiar's Quick Clay, this gave the paint a nice silky feel to it. Once the two stages were applied, I left them for some time to react then buffed off using a microfibre cloth.
The finish was really lovely and the feel of the car was like "plastic coated". After 6 months from application, water still runs off in sheets leaving the paintwork dry and bird poo, insects etc wash off really easily.
I use conserver once a month and leather the car dry. All in all it cost me £7 on eBay for the 2 sealed sachets and pence for the maintenance. Best of all I actually get lots of people admiring the finish and although not as good as a wax the maintenance is much less so I get to drive my car more!
I struggle with having enough time to spend polishing, waxing etc, which can take several hours, so for the above it is worth it.
I know I may seem like a Phillistine to the hardened professional detailers, but when you work as a professional using waxes, of course your going to knock the unconventional stuff. DB is good if it is applied in the correct manner, sadly it isn't always, it is also made out to seem like an indestructible permanent coating by the dealers who should know better. If it isn't applied in the right manner it won't last and it will show up the imperfections. This is why it gets bad press. Also, the wax manufacturers prey on peoples gullibility and deliberately slag off DB...because they know it actually works.
Detailing is very obsessive and never ending, leaving you like slaves at the weekend. Waxes are basically esters of long chain alcohols, they are organic rather than mineral, they evaporate off paintwork and worryingly when warm they absorb traffic dust which can etch paintwork.
So think about this...if you spend say £200 - £400 having your car detailed then where is the ultimate value of this when the waxes need re-application, the car will look really good initially then 4 - 6 months down the line you need to re-apply the wax. The finish will only be as good as the owner is at maintaining it.
This is a very passionate part of car care and every one has their favourite compunds, I'm inspired by Clark's detailing on the RS4 Avant, :icon_thumright: I'd love my car to look like that and dealers PDF never reaches that level purely on the time it takes to complete a job like that although that Audi dealer should have taken much more care.
I used to be a real wax fan and swore by Mother's Carnauba Waxes which although not expensive were still good concentraton of Carnauba. But I found that the beading used to diminish really quickly.
This hasn't been the case for DB, and yes I know how to apply waxes etc but their longevity isn't impressive for the costs involved.
There was another post on the above forum, check this out:
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=163885&postcount=10
He makes loads of sense and explains the reason why people "discriminate DB out of ignorance" as he bluntly puts it.
I've used DB on My wife's car and I'll be applying to my brand new A4 Cab and I'll upload the photographs for all to see.
Rather than slag it off, read the links and make your mind up objectively.
It's mostly common sense.
I really hope no offence is taken btw!