Cleaning against Aluminium

A

A2P

Member
Hi all, newbie here!!

Just bought myself a A2 1.4TDi and loving the looks i'm getting (well the car anyway!!) :rolleyes:

Quick couple of questions:

Has anyone used Snow Foam on their A2 through a pressure washer? Any problems? I currently use Snow Foam on my other car with very positive effects. The time taken to clean the car is greatly reduced especially where I have gone up to 2-3 month intervals without cleaning - shouldn't do this realistically :p

Secondly I assume the aluminium body can take-on any cleaning device/product just like a non aluminum car can?

Lastly, the noobs question, I assume when applying a clay based product the car should ideally be clean - free from dirt/debris?

Thanks in advance
A2P
 
I'll take the last comment back regarding cleaning the car before using the Clay bar - of course you do!! :p Doh!
 
unless you're cleaning the actual aluminum surface, you're cleaning a car like most other cars. You're cleaning the car's surfaces which are lacqure/wax covered paint, rubber/plastic trims and glass. Unless of course, you have the polish aluminum A2 that was in one of the car show ;-)
 
humps said:
unless you're cleaning the actual aluminum surface, you're cleaning a car like most other cars. You're cleaning the car's surfaces which are lacqure/wax covered paint, rubber/plastic trims and glass. Unless of course, you have the polish aluminum A2 that was in one of the car show ;-)
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Thanks humps - mind at ease :cool:
 
remember that the aluminium, especially on the door skins, is thin. And that the wings are plastic, so a rotary should be used with care.

The A2 paint is generally pretty hard, though, IME.

Bret
 
bretti_kivi said:
remember that the aluminium, especially on the door skins, is thin. And that the wings are plastic, so a rotary should be used with care.

The A2 paint is generally pretty hard, though, IME.

Bret
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Thanks Bret, just based on the plastic bits, is it safe to use a clay cleaning product on the colour coded bumpers?

I've yet to use clay in general, I must have been a deprived child!! :eek:
 
I haven't used clay on the A2 yet, there are plenty who have. I see nothing that speaks against it, especially something that's not so aggressive, like the Bilt Hamber stuff.

Bret
 
Bilt Hamber clay is excellent and only needs water for lubricant. I dont clean our A2 any differently to any other car - more often maybe! :eek:
Welcome to the club.
 
The Paint is the same and you can clean it as you would any other car. Using the Clay i only clay mine twice a year just before winter then just after (unless it gets a hammering with flys and my sponge wont shift them).

Welcome to the club

Cheers Phil
 
Just cleaned my wife's A2. It's finished in Cobalt Blue, which to all intents and purposes looks like metallic black.

It had picked up a few scratch and swirls marks which tend to show up during the summer.:(

Washed car (2 bucket system) and left to drip-dry. Removed tar spots, then clayed car. Treated all panels with Meguires Scratch and Swirl Remover 2.0 using a rotary polisher at low speed setting. Cleaned off with microfibre cloth. Applied Menzerna 203S polish, again a low speed setting. Cleaned off with microfibre cloth. Hand applied Meguires Carnuba wax by hand with a damp cotton cloth, then buffed off with a microfibre cloth.

Glass treated with Autoglym glass polish. Trim treated with Simoniz Back to Black trim restorer. Wheels cleaned, waxed and sidewalls painted.

Looks fantasic, with mirror like finish and absolutely no hazing or holograms. Can't recommend Menzerna product highly enough.

Useful link, but beware - for OCD sufferers - you could spend a small fortune!:D

http://www.elitedetailing.co.uk/
 
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