How do you wash yours? A journey into keeping your XJS clean
#21
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orangeblossom (08-08-2014)
#22
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The thing you also must remember, Paul, rubber is perishable. It hardens, shrinks, cracks and draws away from glass and metal it's intended to seal, thus allowing water to enter places it can't get out. So it sits and eats on the metal; RUSTS.
This is why I don't wash my car, nor do I drive it in the rain. I already have tiny bubbles forming under the paint over the headlights, along the trunk/boot lid struts and a few other places. They're not bad yet, and from 3 or 4 feet away you can't even notice them. But eventually, all metal rusts, and if you get it wet, it rusts faster.
(';')
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orangeblossom (08-08-2014),
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#23
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orangeblossom (09-02-2014)
#24
Find any drain tubes, holes, leaf collection areas etc and make sure they are clear. I take my leaf blower to mine after it's annual wash and make sure all the crevices and trim areas are dried out plus always open the boot and dry the under lip as it's prone to rust/separation. I only drive mine in nice weather and keep it covered in the garage plus I use a car duster and spray detailed to keep it up during the year.
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orangeblossom (09-02-2014)
#25
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orangeblossom (09-02-2014)
#26
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orangeblossom (09-02-2014),
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#27
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orangeblossom (09-03-2014),
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#28
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orangeblossom (09-03-2014)
#29
There are loads of Videos on You Tube about cleaning Alloy Wheels but the one that used Iron X Wheel Gel looked pretty impressive.
Last edited by orangeblossom; 09-03-2014 at 04:09 AM.
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paulyling (09-03-2014)
#30
@paulyling. Yes you can use them both just about anywhere. You can even use it on glass. The collinite is slightly harder to use and does not smell as nice but is absolutely the toughest polish you can buy - to give you an idea, they use to use it on destroyer radar arrays to keep the sea spray eating the dish. Use 476 as a winter coat and it will keep you well protected. For wheel cleaning I use Valet Pro Bilberry alloy cleaner, its cheap (can dilute 1:10) effective and non corrosive so wont take off old lacquer or sensitive finishes. Iron remover is a different thing altogether but is useful every 5th wash or so, look up some stuff called Dragon's Breath - it bleeds (from clear to purple) as it removes the iron, iron X is also very good but more expensive.
As you might be able to tell I am also a member of Detailer's world forum
As you might be able to tell I am also a member of Detailer's world forum
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orangeblossom (09-03-2014),
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#31
"Don't wash the engine bay!!!! No, oh no, nada, zip.......oh by the way did I say NO! All by hand my friend, do not soap, soak or spray water in there, too many bullet and unsealed electrical connectors under there too risk that. Lots of de greaser, simple green, rags, brushes, steel wool and time/elbow grease."
+1 to this previous post.
+1 to this previous post.
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#32
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orangeblossom (09-18-2014),
Tyran66 (09-04-2014)
#33
How I Wash and Polish my XJS V12
As I keep her Garaged and Covered, she never really gets dirty in the true sense of the word but I sort of know when she needs doing.
When I put her back on the road in May, I gave her a really good clean all round and then polished her with 'Mer' which I always do about 4 times a year.
As you can see from the photo, even 3 months later, the Water just runs off
So all I did was give her a Wash with Water and a few drops of Washing Up liquid.
But I didn't dry the Car I just left her Wet! and also used a Wet Rag to put the Polish on!
Which you just spread around like 'single cream' only doing one section at a time.
You really need to do this on a nice warm day, then with a 'Cup of Tea' at hand, you sit and sip and wait a while for the polish to start misting over.
With a bit of practice you can pick the moment to polish the 'mist' off.
Too soon and it will mist over again, Too late and it gets a bit harder to polish it off.
You need a rough rag to do this, so I used a Clean Tea Towel, then a final polish with a big piece of very soft rag.
After which She then looked like this!
When I put her back on the road in May, I gave her a really good clean all round and then polished her with 'Mer' which I always do about 4 times a year.
As you can see from the photo, even 3 months later, the Water just runs off
So all I did was give her a Wash with Water and a few drops of Washing Up liquid.
But I didn't dry the Car I just left her Wet! and also used a Wet Rag to put the Polish on!
Which you just spread around like 'single cream' only doing one section at a time.
You really need to do this on a nice warm day, then with a 'Cup of Tea' at hand, you sit and sip and wait a while for the polish to start misting over.
With a bit of practice you can pick the moment to polish the 'mist' off.
Too soon and it will mist over again, Too late and it gets a bit harder to polish it off.
You need a rough rag to do this, so I used a Clean Tea Towel, then a final polish with a big piece of very soft rag.
After which She then looked like this!
#34
As I keep her Garaged and Covered, she never really gets dirty in the true sense of the word but I sort of know when she needs doing.
When I put her back on the road in May, I gave her a really good clean all round and then polished her with 'Mer' which I always do about 4 times a year.
As you can see from the photo, even 3 months later, the Water just runs off
So all I did was give her a Wash with Water and a few drops of Washing Up liquid.
But I didn't dry the Car I just left her Wet! and also used a Wet Rag to put the Polish on!
Which you just spread around like 'single cream' only doing one section at a time.
You really need to do this on a nice warm day, then with a 'Cup of Tea' at hand, you sit and sip and wait a while for the polish to start misting over.
With a bit of practice you can pick the moment to polish the 'mist' off.
Too soon and it will mist over again, Too late and it gets a bit harder to polish it off.
You need a rough rag to do this, so I used a Clean Tea Towel, then a final polish with a big piece of very soft rag.
After which She then looked like this!
When I put her back on the road in May, I gave her a really good clean all round and then polished her with 'Mer' which I always do about 4 times a year.
As you can see from the photo, even 3 months later, the Water just runs off
So all I did was give her a Wash with Water and a few drops of Washing Up liquid.
But I didn't dry the Car I just left her Wet! and also used a Wet Rag to put the Polish on!
Which you just spread around like 'single cream' only doing one section at a time.
You really need to do this on a nice warm day, then with a 'Cup of Tea' at hand, you sit and sip and wait a while for the polish to start misting over.
With a bit of practice you can pick the moment to polish the 'mist' off.
Too soon and it will mist over again, Too late and it gets a bit harder to polish it off.
You need a rough rag to do this, so I used a Clean Tea Towel, then a final polish with a big piece of very soft rag.
After which She then looked like this!
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orangeblossom (09-18-2014)
#35
#36
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orangeblossom (09-20-2014)
#37
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orangeblossom (09-20-2014)
#38
Now you know why I hate that leaper so much!
P.S. About that Support Group for XJS 4.0L You might just have a new member lol!
#39
#40
Thought you guys might get a kick out of this from the Ferrari Chat forums
Washing your Ferrari without water..Do you? - FerrariChat.com
Washing your Ferrari without water..Do you? - FerrariChat.com