My Detailing procedure for comment

[aaronjb]

I was quoted £1800 just for a front nose area and rear arches!

That's cheap, £2500+VAT for the impact-area PPF on my new car.. thankfully the dealer included it as part of the sale!

[KevinW]

The detailing costs come in for the clay barring and polishing stage and any paint correction. This is where good detailer can work out any swirls and touch up the paint.   
This also might include some addition of PFF in the front main stone chip areas and lower areas. I was quoted £1800 just for a front nose area and rear arches!

ah, I see. Thanks, don't think I'll be using their services.

[JON1D]

The detailing costs come in for the clay barring and polishing stage and any paint correction. This is where good detailer can work out any swirls and touch up the paint.   
This also might include some addition of PFF in the front main stone chip areas and lower areas. I was quoted £1800 just for a front nose area and rear arches!

[KevinW]

Is 'Detailing' basically what used to be called Wash'n'wax?
Asking for a friend with a wet sponge.

[JON1D]

I have always gone through a process after winter storegae. A full wash and polish.

The washes I have tried

1. Mer
2. Autoglym two step polar blast and Polar wash
3. Turtle wax green bottle basic
4. Bilt Hamber Autofoam

I use the Autoglym and Bilt Hamber in power washer. So lot quicker.

I use Bilt Hamber Surfex HD fall out remover. Great all round cleaner.

Polish wax or spray.
1.Mer
2.Autoglym Polar seal wax ( Jet wash)
3.BiltHamber double speed wax
4.SONAX XTREME Brilliant Shine Detailer Spray ( Easy to spray and use). Daily driver

I have gone with Auto Glym more for daily driver and BiltHamber products for cobra.
All are great products and I have tried some of the ceramic sprays from Turtle wax which give same results as Sonax.
I jet wash the cobra top and underside and then hand wash around the rear area as water runs into the cockpit. Mer is easy and quick which is a powder that easily wipes off if missed.
30 year paint work and it still looks great. I was going to do a machine polish this year with a mild cutting compound and see if I can remove some small squirrels that I can see. The paint lacquer is super hard which is why the paint work has lasted so long. It has less chips also than my daily driver. I believe the new water base paints are so soft on new cars. 

[chris27_blue]

Cant agree guys- its an uncomfortable feeling driving a Cobra that doesnt look the part.

And IMO keeping it clean is not only good for the soul, but helps with spotting issues, and its soooo much easier keeping it clean, if its done regular.

My detailing is only once a year, and thats due shortly for show season. Thats probly a day or 2, and saves a £500 detail by professionals
Although it pretty much gets a once over every month. (Out of the house, away from the other half)

Take pride in my Cobra :-)

Still- each to their own

[Simon]

I had my last cobra for three years, only ever wiped it over with a damp sponge and a leather.....preferred to drive rather than polish.

[Ldw]

Ok. So spring is looming (Thankfully)
Rather than pay £600 to detail my Cobra - which doesnt even have a roof to deal with- Ive decided to prep and use a Dual Action polisher myself.

My schedule is to be:

1. Wash carefully with weak washing up liquid and rinse/dry
2. To clean any further residue will then use a specialist "cleaner" designed to remove old wax and polish. "Frosts".
3. Clay bar mitt and glider spray to remove any embedded residue left
4. Commence polishing with Dual Action polisher. I intend to use a slightly harder sponge (Serrated) with a medium polish to start, (Meguiars possibly) thereafter a finishing polish to complete with a softer sponge. Then polish off with final mopping sheepskin cover.
5. Apply a finishing durable wax

If anyone has any helpful comments on this schedule feel free to comment

No doubt the final 2 hrs will be walking round the car with a nice glass of something, on a warm Spring day, with a few new microfibres embellishing the newly acquired glow 

......or just wipe the windscreen with a damp cloth and go for a drive.

[RichardG]

And finish it all off with some Autoglym Rapid Ceramic Spray?

[chris27_blue]

Ok. So spring is looming (Thankfully)
Rather than pay £600 to detail my Cobra - which doesnt even have a roof to deal with- Ive decided to prep and use a Dual Action polisher myself.

My schedule is to be:

1. Wash carefully with weak washing up liquid and rinse/dry
2. To clean any further residue will then use a specialist "cleaner" designed to remove old wax and polish. "Frosts".
3. Clay bar mitt and glider spray to remove any embedded residue left
4. Commence polishing with Dual Action polisher. I intend to use a slightly harder sponge (Serrated) with a medium polish to start, (Meguiars possibly) thereafter a finishing polish to complete with a softer sponge. Then polish off with final mopping sheepskin cover.
5. Apply a finishing durable wax

If anyone has any helpful comments on this schedule feel free to comment

No doubt the final 2 hrs will be walking round the car with a nice glass of something, on a warm Spring day, with a few new microfibres embellishing the newly acquired glow