Maintaining the good work?

[Razor]

Hi,

I've had my new baby (C320) for a week now and today spent 4hrs cleaning and polishing, planning on waxing tomorrow. Question I have is whether there are any good practices to avoid or reducing the chances of car getting stone chips and other 'damages' / grit n grime? Things like keeping more of a distance with the car in front, keeping motorway driving to a minimum etc.

Any thoughts / experiences?

 

[Rod Adams]

If you're planning to keep it for a long time, get underneath and smear some grease on all the brake pipes, especially around any joints and where the pipes enter calipers. This will save the dreaded 'just need a brake pipe sir' at an MOT, and if the brakes do need work the pipe connectors will come undone without damaging the pipes.

Cheers,

Rod.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If you're really keen you can get film applied to high-risk areas to protect from chips. I suspect £300+ though for a proper job.

Otherwise, as you say keep your distance, and avoid gritters like the plague!!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Yes, you can get nose-bras and transparent coverings for the nose of the car, but they all look a bit rubbish really.

Just keep a good solid layer of polish on the front, and treat any stone chips immediately. Stone chips are unavoidable.

 

[Razor]

Think I'll just put a layer of wax.

I've never waxed a car before (!) and have just recently bought a tin of collinite. Washed car yesterday, followed by a treatment of Sonus Paintwork Cleaner (by hand).

Planning on a quick clean this afternoon using Sonus detailing spray in prep for applying the wax. Any tips on applying the Collinite?

I have one foam pad and a few microfibre cloths.

Thanks

 

[Chris_J]

Only tip I would give, is apply the Collinite as thin as possible. Avoids waste as much as possible, looks better after and it certainly isn't so much of a PITA to remove as a thick layer.

 

[reflexboy]

Autoglym Super Resin Polish everytime....can't beat it. Superb finish, protection and it's easy to work with.

 

[Chris_J]

Better with a layer or 2 of Extra Gloss Protection on top. I've gone off the SRP, as I find it too dusty to work with, but as a light polish it isn't bad at all.

 

[Dieselman]

Autoglym Super Resin Polish everytime....can't beat it. Superb finish, protection and it's easy to work with.

How does SRP add the wax protection? After all it's a polish.