So wait, you haven't been waxing the car immediately after washing? You would go to a car wash, drive around for awhile, and wax/polish? Don't do that.

 

Takes me about 5 minutes to wash my S2K. My Touareg takes an hour. If I want to be lazy, I get lazy on the VW

 

As soon as the car gets washed, I pull it to a gas station thats right next to it (but they are not related) and spray those 'wax as you dry' stuff. It helps me to check to make sure the soap is all cleaned up too.

I still have not used those proper waxes like Zainer or Zimmer-something where you apply it once in 6 months and just use those 'wax as you dry' wax after washes. Which one do you recommend? It seems like people on this board is on Zainer's side.

By the way, whats good for your seats and leather inserts on the door? I used Meguier's foam stuff and I wasn't happy with the result. It left a couple of small crust and I tried to peel them off with my finger nails and left a tiny shark-gill like scratch on the steering wheel. I once used a friend's 3M spray and it was good, had a nice n light lemon scent too. I use Armorall glass cleaner for glass and Armorall something for dash, plastic etc. Do I need to buy some different chemical for that aluminium plate on the door sill? I just used some water and wiped with a piece of cloth. Oh, by the way I found a huge micro-fiber towel at wal-mart, now I can wipe the wheels and body with it too.

 

Hand wash with Meguiars NXT car wash,at home, hand dry with a micro fiber towel. Blow dry with a leaf blower,to get all the water out of the little nooks and crannies.Then wax with Megiuars NXT wax.


Please don't go to any more car wash places.

 

haha good thing you got rejected! waxing takes MUCH longer than washing! with a water blade and a good strong leaf blower you can fully wash and dry your car in less than 45 minutes

 

 

Even at the car wash places where nothing touches the car but a stream of soapy and clear water, there can be problems as some of these facilities use detergent that is too harsh. As far as car wash detergent selection goes to wash it yourself, there are many good brands out there. But when in doubt, you can't go wrong with Meguiar's. I think they have it at many Wal-Mart stores. Mix it in a bucket as per directions. Wash your car down with clear water via hose nozzle. I apply the detergent with a fleece-type mit, then rinse the car with the hose. To dry, I first blow the car down with a leaf blower, then use a blue "Absorber" artificial chamois (real chamois can strip wax). Then. I finish the drying with microfibre.

The "wax as u dry" and "instant detailer" type products don't give a true wax job, and they are not so intended. They are for "shine-ups" between true waxings. To wax your car after you have washed it, there are many good products out there. Personally, I recommend Turtle Wax Ultra Gloss --- either in liquid or paste form--- for its "hard" shine and its ease of application and buffing. You apply the wax with a foam applicator that is furnished, and buff it with a microfibre cloth. The wax job should be good for six months. When you wash the car in between waxings, THEN you can use "wax as u dry" type products. Also, with a good wax job on the car, you will find that it stays cleaner, and when you wash it, almost all the water comes off with the leaf blower.

I washed and waxed my S2k a couple of days ago in about 40 minutes. It's a small car, so it doesn't take long. I have a problem with doing the wash in the middle of our winters, as it can be too cold (even on a warm day) to apply the car wash detergent with a fleece mit. So I use a very soft brush on the end of a pole, use the leaf blower, and bring the car inside the garage for further drying if necessary. My S2k (along with my Mercedes Benz sedan and Ford pickup) will never see a "car wash facility." They are just to damaging to the finish.

Hope this helps,
Richard