Euro 2009 - Polish & Detailing

**euro2009** · 01-11-2010 03:40 PM

Hi,

I am from Sydney area and if anyone knows or can recommend a good reliable Polish/detailing place I can have it done. Just want to have it polish once over and start maintaining it. I mainly want to have the outside nicely done and polished!

Thanks in advance!

**schonda** · 01-11-2010 05:10 PM

how much are you willing to spend?

I am guessing your car is completely new?

More expensive option is a Meguiars type detailer centre up in baulkhim hills http://sydneycarwash.com.au/full-service-list.html I paid $250 for a full detail on the 08 civic i had cause it had coffee stains and was never washed for 30k's but in your case i would prob spend $99 on an Ultimate Wax n Polish 2.0 which includes clay treatment....

If you are looking at GOOD value and a great quality clean i recommend this place at auburn megamall car park for $55 you get hand polish and waxed and all interior cleaned n smelling nice (im not sure what chemicals he uses but the car looks danm good after it just look at my pics. Although i only do the $38 wax n wash at auburn mega mall cause polish should only be done every 6 months as i think it's a bit abbrasive that remove any imperfections in the paint. For your first time it's fine to do a polish then protect with wax.

In summary:
Baulkhim Hills Mequires: $99 Wash n wax 2.0 (interior and exterior) - the reason i like them although more expensive is i know which chemicals they use - Meguiars.
Auburn Mega Mall "Unique Car Wash": $38 deluxe wash n wax (interior and exterior) or $55 for the deluxe + hand polish. (I don't know which chemicals but the final product is very good, they put in a lot of effort unlike most of the detailing places).
http://www.auburnhomemegamall.com.au...t.asp?PageID=4

Most places do interior + exterior, no harm in doing the interior as well as it protects the vinyl.

**HunterZero** · 01-11-2010 05:27 PM

I hear Dr Detail is very good. He comes recommended by Damian at Final Inspection in Melb (who is probably the best detailer in the country). Mobile guy, he comes to you.

Cost of the detail depends on the amount of correction that needs to be done to your paintwork.

http://www.drdetail.com.au/

Another place is Prestige Auto Salon in Rydalmere, they do a lot of new car details for Trivett, and details for show cars.

- HZ

**euro2009** · 01-11-2010 05:52 PM

$99 seems ok for me.

Well my car still looks great - Euro 2009 (1 year old ) but have this swirl on the paint which does bother me a little bit - I guess I did not use the proper towel when I first washed it. I now use Meguiars products and swear by it.

The only concern I have is the abrasive to the paint. What do you think ?

BTW, is this the one you are referring to ? http://www.sydneycarwash.com.au/detailing.html

**schonda** · 01-11-2010 06:18 PM

Your car is 1 year old, how long since you washed it last or used polish? Polish for the first time will be no problem, in fact, i think it will remove the swirls. The clay process as well aids in removing swirls and especially for removing paint contamination.

Don't do the $99 one or any clay an polish treatment monthly or it will remove the cear coat over time. Once a year is fine though. Once you waxed the car lets say monthly or qtrly whateva your maintenance plan is the clay and polish treatment will strip off the wax build up so it's relatively safe.

As I said for the first time it'll be good to give the car a clay treatment + polish to remove contaminents (possibly swirls, as the detailers about this to be sure), it's a relatively new car id give the $99 one a go (especially if you haven't given it a good detail in a long time). As for maintaining it the $38 wash n wax is fine - wax is not abbrasive it's meant to coat the paint leaving it with a shine, not strip it. The baulkhmim hills centre will just recommend a a deluxe or prestige wash after to maintain it which once a member is only $36...

Meguiars aren't the best of the best but they are non-abbrasive so its a plus. Yes the link you provided is correct.

**albii** · 01-11-2010 06:45 PM

Please enlighten me as to how a clay bar removes swirls...i'm interested in this one.

**euro2009** · 01-11-2010 06:46 PM

[QUOTE=schonda;2885252]Your car is 1 year old, how long since you washed it last or used polish? Polish for the first time will be no problem, in fact, i think it will remove the swirls. The clay process as well aids in removing swirls and especially for removing paint contamination.

Don't do the $99 one or any clay an polish treatment monthly or it will remove the cear coat over time. Once a year is fine though. Once you waxed the car lets say monthly or qtrly whateva your maintenance plan is the clay and polish treatment will strip off the wax build up so it's relatively safe.

Great thanks for the info - I will need to find time to book for one then. Thanks once again!

**schonda** · 01-11-2010 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by albii

Please enlighten me as to how a clay bar removes swirls...i'm interested in this one.

I said i think it will remove it. And my thinking is wrong, so I stand corrected. It only removes surface contaminants up to the clear coat. Anyway a clear coat is good as a pre-polishing step. 6 month to 1 year intervals. Clay less abbrassive so opinions may differ.

Why don't you just correct me instead of ask rhetorical and sarcastic type questions?

**Type R Positive** · 01-11-2010 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by euro2009

The only concern I have is the abrasive to the paint. What do you think ?

Clear coat is actually pretty thick, and compounding (harshest polishing) only removes a few micron. More than enough for a full professional 2 - 3 stage detail every year for the rest of it's life.......

here is a pretty good read, It beats me trying to explain it.
http://1800detail.com/category109_1.htm

**Type R Positive** · 01-11-2010 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by schonda

Anyway a clear coat is good as a pre-polishing step. 6 month to 1 year intervals. Clay less abbrassive so opinions may differ.

Why don't you just correct me instead of ask rhetorical and sarcastic type questions?

What is a clear coat? (LOL!)
I think you better stop now.......

**schonda** · 01-11-2010 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Type R Positive

What is a clear coat? (LOL!)
I think you better stop now.......

hahahahhaha

I always get in trouble for not reading before posting.

I meant to say clay treatment is a good pre-polishing step.....errrrrr

**HunterZero** · 02-11-2010 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by schonda

I meant to say clay treatment is a good pre-polishing step.....errrrrr

Clay before polish for two reasons - Clay cleans bonded crud off the paint in prep for polish, but clay can also cause minor scratches that you wil then need to remove with the polish. You only need to use clay if the paint feels gritty to touch after washing as a preparation step to polishing, I would definitely not use clay all the time. You can also get paint cleaner products which are gentler than a clay bar.

Get the car professionally detailed, eg Dr Detail. The detailer will clean and polish, and can apply a sealant for you.

Then THROW AWAY your sponges and crappy chamois and buy yourself a microfibre wash kit (wash mitt, drying towels and polishing/finishing cloths) a good car soap (don't use dish soap, it's too harsh), and a quick detail spray. Use 2 buckets for washing, one for rinse, one for soap. Rinse the mitt after it comes off the car before putting it back in the soap. Then dry the car off using the quick detailer spray. That should be mild enough on the paint to minimise damage from washing. If you want to add a bit of shine depth/gloss but the paint isn't scratched/swirled, don't use a polish, get a nice paste wax like P21S or Pinnacle Signature.

Polishes can be difficult to use properly, and Honda paint is especially soft/sticky and tricky to polish well. Using the wrong polish or using polish incorrectly can cause more harm than good, you may end up with a car covered in swirls.

- HZ