Detailing kits, recommendation

[AvusPdx]

I'm pretty new to detailing cars but lately I've been enjoying the small details (no puns intended) that goes in to getting that deep wet shine.

I'd like to get a kit to start off with the basic tools. I live in a condo so I won't need a foam gun yet, I would go to a local self service car wash place.

Suggestions I got from my local guys were:
Griots Garage products
Chemical Guys
Meguires products

There has to be a lot more options out there, what do you guys use and why? Googling detailing products is a nightmare since so many of them are "AS SEEN ON TV" type shit products.

My car color is ice silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!

[ModItNow]

A while back someone on here recommended Menzerna products. I used their 3 step system. Cut wax, polish wax and then sealant. Car turned out amazing and lasted a long time. I'm about to do it again after 2 years.

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[sacandagaD]

I'm pretty new to detailing cars but lately I've been enjoying the small details (no puns intended) that goes in to getting that deep wet shine.

I'd like to get a kit to start off with the basic tools. I live in a condo so I won't need a foam gun yet, I would go to a local self service car wash place.

Suggestions I got from my local guys were:
Griots Garage products
Chemical Guys
Meguires products

There has to be a lot more options out there, what do you guys use and why? Googling detailing products is a nightmare since so many of them are "AS SEEN ON TV" type shit products.

My car color is ice silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!

The options are endless. One suggestion if you live in a condo, invest in two 5 gallon buckets, grit guards, several waffle weave towels, and good wash mitts, and use a good waterless car wash like Wolfgang or ONR, so you can wash at home. Check out Detailed Image for supplies, among many others.

[14S4GWM]

Just get a professional paint correction and ceramic and call it a day. You will love and never have to detail for the life of the ceramic. Just wash it and be done.

[rvcahawaii808]

I'm pretty new to detailing cars but lately I've been enjoying the small details (no puns intended) that goes in to getting that deep wet shine.

I'd like to get a kit to start off with the basic tools. I live in a condo so I won't need a foam gun yet, I would go to a local self service car wash place.

Suggestions I got from my local guys were:
Griots Garage products
Chemical Guys
Meguires products

There has to be a lot more options out there, what do you guys use and why? Googling detailing products is a nightmare since so many of them are "AS SEEN ON TV" type shit products.

My car color is ice silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!

adams polishes sells a pretty nice package. thats what i use with a DA polisher. i like how it came out. my paint is still smooth from when i did my last wax before the winter. i also like griots garage since they are semi local to us.

[theweebabyseamus]

All good input so far. I’m buying a Porter Cable polisher soon and will likely go with Meguiar products and Lake Country pads.

[tominabox1]

I did my car with Meguiars 105, their mid cut microfiber pad and a harbor freight DA. Our paint is super hard so you'll have to be pretty aggressive with the cuts or you'll take a year to polish. My paint isn't perfect but since its white, you can't really tell.

I wax with S100 or meguiars cleaner wax. I like the way cleaner wax feels but S100 goes on easier. I'd like to try a sealant/ceramic someday but I'd like to have the paint in better shape first.

[MN Blue S4]

All good input so far. I’m buying a Porter Cable polisher soon and will likely go with Meguiar products and Lake Country pads.

This is exactly what I use. Not "professional grade" by any means but I've found I get acceptable results without breaking the bank plus I get the enjoyment of doing it myself.

[tar]

For brands I use many.
Autogeek.com and detailers domain as well as chem guys are who I order from.

Also fuck Adams they won't pay mops for his services. Boycott them.




Pic below is about half my stuff. Other side is coatings, gallons of soaps, spray details, apcs ect.

If your looking for a starting out beginner setup I would get 2x buckets with grit guards, soap, v07 spray detail, a clay block/mitt or bar, wheel cleaner, few wheel woolies/ lug nut brushes, a apc and some interior cleaner and VRP.

All of the above can be ordered from chem guys or autogeek or detailers domain. Get the lug brushes, and wheel wollies off Amazon its far cheaper.


Then a sealant or wax of your choice. I like sonax polymer net shield for sealant. And kenotek showroom shine spray detailer.

[tar]

For polishers I use Adams lr15, and a porter cable with 3.5 inch pads. I have about 10 pads of each color/ grade and use lake country or hexlogix

M105/m205 are my go 2 compound and polish but I do have alot of other options.

If your just starting out and don't need to polish the paint then wait on a polisher.

[GrkA4]

I’m in a similar situation but don’t feel like spending the time doing a 3 step. Going to use an all in one (HD Speed) which apparently is awesome. I like the idea of doing ceramic but when we quoted the A8 it was almost $2000.


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[AvusPdx]

Thanks for the information, Adam's seems to be a common name here. I'm curious with the waterless washing method, never heard of it. Might be good for the condo lyfe.

I guess the question is, my detailer charges me about $250 for inside/out, and the kits out there ranges from $80 ~ $200. I get my car detailed once to twice a year, so I would save some money there, but I'm not sure if I will ever be skilled as a professional detailers.

[tar]

Adams sucks. Boycott them and all their products besides tire and rubber cleaner. They won't pay mops for his services

[rvcahawaii808]

Thanks for the information, Adam's seems to be a common name here. I'm curious with the waterless washing method, never heard of it. Might be good for the condo lyfe.

I guess the question is, my detailer charges me about $250 for inside/out, and the kits out there ranges from $80 ~ $200. I get my car detailed once to twice a year, so I would save some money there, but I'm not sure if I will ever be skilled as a professional detailers.

its a pretty good compromise for apartment life. i tried it out once during the winter time but im just not patient enough to go slowly over every panel and keep folding the towel. it you do try the waterless wash. go for the optimum no rinse wash and wax. there is a version thats called just 'no rinse". the wash and wax version i think makes it a little smoother. i usually add a little to my regular car wash soap

i dont really think about it in terms of if its a better deal for me to detail it or send it out. it just kinda therapeutic i guess to go over the whole car. plus you really get to know every little scratch you have

[MN Blue S4]

its a pretty good compromise for apartment life. i tried it out once during the winter time but im just not patient enough to go slowly over every panel and keep folding the towel. it you do try the waterless wash. go for the optimum no rinse wash and wax. there is a version thats called just 'no rinse". the wash and wax version i think makes it a little smoother. i usually add a little to my regular car wash soap

i dont really think about it in terms of if its a better deal for me to detail it or send it out. it just kinda therapeutic i guess to go over the whole car. plus you really get to know every little scratch you have

I tend to use a waterless wash product right after running my car through the touchless wash in the winter. Less grit to wipe off and it does a good job of removing that gray haze left behind by the touchless wash process. I've had good luck using the Meguiars waterless wash and wax with a big stack of really thick fluffy microfiber towels.

[rvcahawaii808]

also on this topic. i just recently learned that you are not supposed to wash the towels you use to wipe/dry with regular laundry detergent. i think i read people use white vinegar? idk ive been throwing my towels in the wash and they've been starting to get more and more hydrophobic

[washyourrhands]

For a long time I used pretty much only Adam’s products. Since then I have been enjoying more CarPro and AMMO NYC stuff. Now that I got ceramic coated I hardly have to do anything and it’s amazing


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[sacandagaD]

also on this topic. i just recently learned that you are not supposed to wash the towels you use to wipe/dry with regular laundry detergent. i think i read people use white vinegar? idk ive been throwing my towels in the wash and they've been starting to get more and more hydrophobic

Yes, especially anything with fabric softener in it, which clog them, so they make special detergents for them. I use a Chemical Guys microfiber wash on mine.

[grovlet]

Yeah - check out AutoGeek.net or Autopia.org for detailing forums (with a sales arm/website to purchase products) - both are tied together now - but a plethora of free information on those forums....

I agree - Adams sucks..... IMHO = Overpriced for the equal products like Megiuars (Actual better IMHO) that can be found OTC locally....

But lately I've been playing with CarPro Products as well as Gyeon Stuff - and I've gained some interest in Polish Angel....

Be advised detailing becomes a rabbit hole - you'll find youself chasing the next latest product - but's I find it soothing to polish my cars

Also - as you'll see Micro Fiber Towels help - TheRagCompany.com - a good start there - and only wash them in Microfiber Cleaner and hang them Dry to keep them in tip top shape!!

ohh - and I too use a Porter Cable 7424XP - works great - but you amy want to spend a few $ more and go with the Flex 3401 or even Griots Garage GG6 - as they seem to be preferred since the PC is really quite an older model these days - again nothing relaly wrong with it - works great - but the others supposedly are a little easier to work/finish.

Welcome to the OCD world of detailing!!!

[washyourrhands]

Yeah - check out AutoGeek.net or Autopia.org for detailing forums (with a sales arm/website to purchase products) - both are tied together now - but a plethora of free information on those forums....

I agree - Adams sucks..... IMHO = Overpriced for the equal products like Megiuars (Actual better IMHO) that can be found OTC locally....

But lately I've been playing with CarPro Products as well as Gyeon Stuff - and I've gained some interest in Polish Angel....

Be advised detailing becomes a rabbit hole - you'll find youself chasing the next latest product - but's I find it soothing to polish my cars

Also - as you'll see Micro Fiber Towels help - TheRagCompany.com - a good start there - and only wash them in Microfiber Cleaner and hang them Dry to keep them in tip top shape!!

ohh - and I too use a Porter Cable 7424XP - works great - but you amy want to spend a few $ more and go with the Flex 3401 or even Griots Garage GG6 - as they seem to be preferred since the PC is really quite an older model these days - again nothing relaly wrong with it - works great - but the others supposedly are a little easier to work/finish.

Welcome to the OCD world of detailing!!!

The Rag Company is a great resource.

[pdqgp]

I'm pretty new to detailing cars but lately I've been enjoying the small details (no puns intended) that goes in to getting that deep wet shine.

I'd like to get a kit to start off with the basic tools. I live in a condo so I won't need a foam gun yet, I would go to a local self service car wash place.

Suggestions I got from my local guys were:
Griots Garage products
Chemical Guys
Meguires products

There has to be a lot more options out there, what do you guys use and why? Googling detailing products is a nightmare since so many of them are "AS SEEN ON TV" type shit products.

My car color is ice silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!

There are a ton of options but what you'll need specifically will depend on what your car is like now and the skills and time you have with all this or are willing to put in. I'll cover it as best I can in short.

1. You don't "need" a foam gun. Honestly, I do mostly rinseless and waterless washes and it works great. Foam guns are more fun that functional. Worst case get a bucket, a good Microfiber mit and some car wash. I'm a big CarPro and Meguiars fan so most of what I'll share are my products of choice but there are lots of good ones.

Soap wise, CarPro Reset and call it a day. If you want more locally avaialble basic stuff, Meg's Gold Class.

2. Product wise you really don't need much. Again, keep it simple, especially as you start out. As a side-note, color really doesn't impact much in terms of how you correct. It does impact the ease/difficulty in seeing imperfections and results of the correction. Silver isn't too bad. Hides a lot of smaller imperfections thanks to its neutral color and metallic flake.

Keeping it simple:

5 Gal Bucket
(2) 1 Gal Buckets - 1 for wheels and another for misc down the road.
Above noted soaps and mits
Iron-X or like for ferrous decontamination
Nano Sponge for physcial decontamination


If you want basic OTC stuff - Meg's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish. Both are excellent and finish out great.

Buffer wise, it really depends on your budget. I spend more and do it once and buy the best. You have an Audi, you're not cheap and personally, buy the good stuff. Anything less than a Forced Rotation buffer like a Flex 3401 (my preference) or simliar units by Makita or Rupes (pronounced Rupez) are just consumer grade units that are meh....will work but will take you longer and won't work as well with Wool pads (if you have bad paint) so if you go consumer, go with microfiber cutting pads.

Compounding you'll need 5-6 pads. I like MF as they cut fast and work well on German paint. Buy 4-5 green or white polishing pads too. Change both out after 2 panels. If you go with Griots or Porter Cable, etc. consumer buffers, buy the Lake Country "thin" pads. Standard pads don't rotate as well. If you go forced rotation you can go with the Hybrid Force Pads (best) or the regular ones. Either way, get the right qty.

Compound wise, I really love the newer CarPro Clear Cut. It cuts better than anything I've used such as M101 or M105, has low to no dust and will finish out the best of all of them. I have shots of Clear Cut and a purple wool pad that show near zero haze and nearly perfect finish. It's cut my time polishing nearly in half. Polish wise, Ultimate Polish aka M205 is excellent. The latter has less oils thus slightly less working time but otherwise they are nearly the same. both are a good go-to for me. Menzerna makes great products too but I'll leave it to you if you want to go that route. I use a lot of different products for various reasons. Here, either will work the same.

Sealant wise aka Last Step Products aka LSP's there are tons and tons. We can cover that later. If you're not doing a ceramic coating, get a good synthetic like Collinite 476. It's a hybrid paste wax and one of the most durable ones out there.

With all that I'll leave you some "wet" look on black using the above products because black is king and I love it ;) Shoot me a PM or reply if you're interested in more details on any of these.

[AvusPdx]

Fuck a rabbit hole, this is a goddamn Mariana Trench! Simple question turned in to a book of information. Thanks for the input guys.

[austerity]

Adam's was super popular among the MK7 groups, but I agree - they can be a bit pricey. I do like their towels, scents, and the interior detail brush for my alcantara is great quality.

I started trying some products from Shine Society on Amazon. Specifically I just got their glass cleaner to use for my windows as it was marketed as streak free and gentle on tints. Worked perfectly on my windshield and got all the smudges off from the tint install and left 0 streaks or residue.

[GrkA4]

For a long time I used pretty much only Adam’s products. Since then I have been enjoying more CarPro and AMMO NYC stuff. Now that I got ceramic coated I hardly have to do anything and it’s amazing


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Who is your recommended retailer?


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[CrownSeven]

Just get a professional paint correction and ceramic and call it a day. You will love and never have to detail for the life of the ceramic. Just wash it and be done.

This. Getting mine ceramic coated next month. Can't wait!

[14S4GWM]

Fuck a rabbit hole, this is a goddamn Mariana Trench! Simple question turned in to a book of information. Thanks for the input guys.

There is a detail thread

- - - Updated - - -

This. Getting mine ceramic coated next month. Can't wait!

Mine goes in tomorrow, inside and out. Can’t wait