What you use to wash polish and keep your Elan Clean?

[type47]

HI all , not sure if this is the right place to this but here it goes.

What products do you use to keep your elan shinning ?

Not shure what to use in body since it is fibreglass to detail!

I usualy buy cleaning products at
http://store.carcareeurope.com/home.php

Can someone give me a light in what to use?

[Ekapol]

I've been using Meguire's products for a long time. But Claybar from Mother's. Just recently tried ordering car care package from Griots Garage

Also, I use diluted "Greenstuff" for detailing oily parts in the engine bay.

[Doug]

Also, I use diluted "Greenstuff" for detailing oily parts in the engine bay.

don't use your old GreenStuff brake pads for detailing

he means "Simple Green", which is really just soap! I agree with that as it has no chemicals that can damage the finish of your wheels, brake calipers, engine parts, etc.

Griot's is the bomb, but there must be a similar place over yonder . . .

[Ekapol]

Also, I use diluted "Greenstuff" for detailing oily parts in the engine bay.

don't use your old GreenStuff brake pads for detailing

he means "Simple Green", which is really just soap! I agree with that as it has no chemicals that can damage the finish of your wheels, brake calipers, engine parts, etc.

Griot's is the bomb, but there must be a similar place over yonder . . .

I thought old brake pads are good for cleaning engine bay

Certainly -NOT-, thanks Doug for correcting me.

"Simple Green" it is. Over working for me again does that

[type47]

hehe thanks.
But i mean just the body , what do you use to make it shine?
i mean the procedure you do with the detailing products!

i.e- Washing with .... Polishing with... finishing. with...

Sorry my question and my english , but i kind new to this detailing stuff, i just want to make my elan Shine all the time!!! Elan love

My S2 is Green

[Ekapol]

Car washing tips -- especially for Green Elan

- Dust it off, shake the duster often. First round just barely touching the paint. 2nd round closer to the paint. That is if the car is dry and just dusty, not too much dirt and grime.

- Rinse the car well with plenty of water. It would be helpful if you have the top up at this point. Do not spray on your seats/dashboard.

- Mix your favorite car shampoo, just follow the label.

- Use separate car washing mits/sponge. One for upper part, one for the lower part. Don't mix them or you'll get the sandy dirt grain from the bottom to scratch the upper section.

- Work from top to bottom.

- Rinse well.

- Never use dry towel/mits to clean/rub the rear vinyl. Work lightly with plenty of water.

- Clean the wheel with "Simple Green" or other wheel cleaner products.

- Dry the hood then the body.

- VERY IMPORTANT: slowly open the door, attack all the water you see on the door sills.

- Coat the outside of the wheel with your favorite tire dressing products.

- Lazy route: spray "Quick Detailer" (Meguire's) just when you finish drying and wipe off dry with clean cotton towels.

- More fun: Spray Quick Detailer or whatever name each brand call their product, Speed Shine, etc. on small section at a time, 2 square foot. Lightly work the Claybar back and forth. Flip the bar or fold it to the new section as necessary. Dry off the rest of Quick Detailer. Claybar is good for detailing 3-4 cars, toss it after that.

- More fun2: Now it's a good time to wax the car after you claybar it. Outside in, inside out circular motion, use your imagination. Alternatively, rent "Karate Kids part1", very good carcare tips hidden there.

- Never wax the car when it's out hot in the sun. Shady area works best or early in the morning/ late afternoon.

- If you're following me to this line. You car should be plenty of clean. Time to drop the top and enjoy it.

A clean car is a happy car. You can tell it's happy when the color is green.

[Doug]

see folks, he is becomming such a great Stripey Daddy

[theelanman]

Meguiars all the way.....I used to be an Autoglym devotee until I found this stuff last year....
these are their words but they're not fibbing!!!!!

Soft Wash Gel

The First Gel Car Wash.... Years ago we invented this remarkable gel car wash that is super thick, super rich and super concentrated. It is unlike any other car wash on the market. It blends expensive conditioners and optical brighteners to enhance the brilliance of the paint finish ... and it won't strip off wax protection. It's completely safe on all surfaces including clear coat paints. Enthusiastic fans continue to use this exciting formula year after year.

Meguiars NXT® Tech Wax G12718
NXT Generation Tech Wax is unlike any car wax you have ever tried before. Nothing even comes close to this amazing product.If you're planning on entering a car show or cruise or just showing off, you won't want to be without this product. Here is what this awesome product will do:

Your paint will be darker and richer and the shine will be the deepest, clearest you've ever seen.

Our new ESP (Engineered Synthetic Polymers) technology creates a tougher, polymer bond to your paint so it can provide extreme protection.

Engineered to eliminate those fine scratches so you can have a flawless finish.

Glides on and off easily. You'll be surprised how easy it is to reveal your dazzling new finish

[type47]

Thanks for the info.

what do you guys think of adding a Topic with photos of detailing ...
i.e- with before ( all dirty ) and after detailing (band new ) - Interior - Exterior - Wheels - Engine Bay - Boot - Hood

of course explaining the use of the car care products. I think would be a nice way to compare the products and provide some info to newbies like myself. I just ordered some products and will follow EKapol car cleaning master tips for GReen ELANS

i'll make sure after the first detailing try to post some pictures!

[Ekapol]

see folks, he is becomming such a great Stripey Daddy

Thanks Doug


BEFORE Picture:
Lotus Type 1 watch



AFTER Carwash Picture:

:-D

Photographer in the shadow 2nd picture: Doug



Photographer: me in the reflection

[type47]

Nice Pictures Ekapol!

Bit small But sure that body is shinning!!
I'm ansious to get my care detailing stuff and try to make my car shinee brand new!!

C'mon guys show us your elan love start washing detailing and posting pictures !

[Andy C]

with all the above.

I have also used Meguiars products for a long time and always found them excellent ... special mention to NXT Wax, it is a exceptional product.

Not long after I got my Elan my father-in-law insisted I buy BMW Car Polish. In the interest of "spousal parental harmony" I tried it out and was very impressed. It definitely goes on and comes off easier than the Meguiars equivilent, and produces suburb results. A product well worth trying.

[Ekapol]

Just an update, I just couldn't stand the dirt left over from the rain in San Francisco 2 days ago. So today I gave it a quick rinse and gave "Speed Shine" (Griot's) the first try.

Well, this product easily got my stamp of approval. It quickly returned deep even darker shine for Stripey. Provided a nice waxed surface to begin with


And they said it will rain again tomorrow

[Dave M]

see folks, he is becomming such a great Stripey Daddy

No kidding! Someone else who is as anal about cleaning a car as I am. Way to go Ekapol!

For those in the US, I agree that Griot's Garage is wicked awesome. Any car care product I've bought there is great from wax to claybars to Speed Shine to their rubber cleaner. The amount of stuff that comes off your tires when using the rubber cleaner is frightening...

type47: Whatever brand you use, you'll truly be amazed at the grit a claybar gets out of your paint. I can't recommend it enough.

[GeoffSmith]

Meguiars all the way.....

Check out the Honda CRX makeover all you pinky drivers.

[nitroman]

I have 2 boxes of this stuff left and it will turn a pink Elan red again. I used to buy it at Pep Boy's. I'll have to look for it the next time I'm there but it sounds like they may have packed it in. Too bad, it was the greatest ever; so good it could change your mind about a respray. Dare I say, it even produced a gloss superior to the original shine.

NicSand Aluminum Oxide Gel
April 26, 2007
I found a bottle of NicSand Aluminum Oxide Gel at a Liquidation store here in Anchorage, Alaska. The bottle said that the gel polishes like 10,000 grit sandpaper and it was safe to use on all paints, metals and plastics. I found that this was the best product I've used for polishing! It did everything claimed and more. Problem is, I've used all of it and can't find any more. I've tried to contact the company without success. Please help me locate more of this wonderful product.
Karen Luce
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

06-18-2004
If you don't have experience in buffing, there is a much safer method that I recommend. Nic Sand 10,000 grit aluminum oxide sanding gel. It is applied with a foam pad and the results are stellar. It works like an ultra fine sand paper but without the need for a second buffing. It is very forgiving and pretty darn hard to damage the paint. It will remove scratches, but not scratches deep enough to catch a finger nail on. You should be able to find it at auto body shop supply houses and it usually comes with it's own foam buffing pad. To use it, simply wet the paint surface with a spray bottle, apply product (about the size of a quarter) to the pad and start buffing in an up and down direction on side panels, front to back on top panels. Take your time and re-wet as needed. When done, wash it down and you are done, and it will look like the paint is wet with a mile deep reflection.

[nitroman]

Yeah, NicSand is kaput. Their website off the package no longer exists & I called their telly from an old invoice too. A very good natured woman said "I've gotten 100s of phone calls for them & I've had this # a couple of years."

Too bad. The claim on the box says it all: The world's not perfect, but this polish is.

Of honorable mention is GS27 Scratch Remover. It is the best hand-applied polish (can't be used as a machine-polish) I ever used. It removes scratches which have not completely gone through the paint layer and it also polishes to a gleaming shine all by itself. You rub it in wet and then remove it while still wet using another cloth. It does not leave behind fine scratches caused by the product itself like many "scratch removers" do.

[Russc]

When i did this i used 3M hand glaze followed by Autoglym Super resin polish and then a coat if their extra gloss protection.

[paulwatkins]

Nice finish Russ!

I think you rubbed too hard on the number plate though

[L.G.]

Guys,

Do you use any kind of polishing machinery? I am thinking of buying one because it's quite hard to do the rubbing stuff well (you get tired eh?) but, I am afraid of damaging the paint... (over rubbing a part or something with the machine) I actually bought a very amateurish one for like 10 pounds but it's rubbish.

Any recommendations on this?

Thanks,
L.G.