I'm off to Halford tomorrow to treat my coop to some new cleaning products but am not sure what to get;

I was going to get the Meguiars 3-step system but have read about step 3, the wax, being pretty poor?? Has anyone tried the Nxt Generation Tech Wax as an alternative?

Then going to buy 3 cloths:
a wash mit
For drying - is a chamois or microfibre towel best?
For polishing - microfibre cloth for polish on/off

What you reckon?!

Peace,

Nick

Hey Nick, 3 for 2? that's a good deal!

Personally, I use a auto glym synthetic chamois for drying, I've experimented with real chamois and microfibres, and I still use this one. It's about £8.

Meg's 3-step, it's a good system, but the wax, I don't know if it's "poor" as such, it's just that it only seems to make the water bead for about two months max. You could buy the first two steps (paint renovator, polish) then use the NXT for a SICK shine! the NXT has polish in it already so you'd effectively be polishing twice, but that would be okay.

For polishing, I use a 100% cotton towel to remove the remnants of the dried wax, then I switch to a microfibre polishing mitt for that final buff. The car plan one is cheap and effective.

Happy shopping!

So you reckon a should still get step 2? Could i not replace 2 and 3 with the NXT wax?

I use steps 1 & 2 & then the NXT wax rather than the step 3 wax.

Get excellent results with this, but I've found it's even better if I then apply some Autoglym gloss sealant after the wax.

Oh, and get some clay detailer and do this first before you start any polishing.

You could do, but the point of the 3-step is you are separating each process to get the best finish. So you're defeating the object a bit. You will get a far better result if you get something like this to correct the paint, then using the NXT. This is supposed to be awesome...


Remove swirls, oxidation and then instill a shine with something like this

..then seal in that shine with something like this. This one keeps water beading for A YEAR!

Most of the detailers I've spoke to swear that would knock spots off the 3-step. It's a bold claim as I've always used the meg's and have had good results. However, I've just bought the above products. Watch this space!

Don't forget to get some clay. Makes the painwork glass smooth before applying wax top coat.

what's that clay stuff you can get? and where can you get it? Pinin showed me a link where they used it on the Veyron James May from Top Gear blitzed to it's max. bound to have had some insect debris!

This stuff? Meguiars to the same too. Works very wel.

John

Halfords do their own clay, and it's great!

I got given some Meguiars clay as a gift but can't really tell the difference between the two.......well I can, the Halfords one is actually better at removing debris and swirls

yeah, that's the stuff. can't wait till i've got a car worth doing all this "detailing" on

Hahahahahahahahaha (get the idea? )

Just looked at the price of that detailing kit

Halfords Clay Bar: £3.99

B&Q Squeezy Bottle: 69p

Water: Free-ish

The shine: Priceless

But remember Stan, all clay bars are not the same..

























some are more expensive than others

Oh aye, and the Emperors new clothes look

Meguiars step 3 is a carnauba and evaporates off the surface over time, which is why it only lasts for a couple of months max. Of course, you'd know that if you bothered to read the bottle.

Hi,

as said not all clay is the same, i use clay magic which is great at pulling of any grime with ease! I recently tried another clay bar is it Sonis? I forget the correct name correct name of the manufactuer but it was the one suggested for regular use, anyway when using it for a short while it would begin to flake and leave bits on the car and my hands!
Not very impressed so next time i'll be using the clay magic which is amazing

Cheers
John

Well i have just been out to spend some of my hard earned student loan on some cleaning products!

I went for Meguiars step 1 and 2, and NXT generation tech wax to make it look shiny.
Then to do the cleaning i bought a Meguiars microfibre wash mitt, 3-pack of microfibre cloths and a Autoglym aqua-dry chamois leather!

Really i went a bit over the top, but thought i would take advantage of the 3 for 2 deal while it was on!

Now to look for a clay.............

pidgeon?

haha, idiot!

Well I went a bit mad in the Halfords 3 for 2 offer the other night, buying a Meguiars washing kit, clay kit and another drying cloth . Most of it will be my birthday present, but I couldn't resist giving some of it a try out today on the new Alfa. 5 hours later (wash, clay, polish & wax) and it's looking like this:

Front End
Whole Car
Roof
Arty one!

I'm rather pleased with the end result !

Phil

Anyone know when this offer ends?

I asked the guy in Halfords, but all he said was the offer finished "in a few weeks". Thats why i decided to buy a load of stuff in one go!

ahh 'a few weeks' is ok just didnt want it to end in like a week

Holy revival yes but I've just been to Halfords and 3 for 2 on all cleaning products (AG!) is back on!!! yipppee