I’ve had my RRS since December, it’s a 2014, so I’m starting from an unknown start point regarding coatings, previous wash care etc.

So where should I start, do I
a) find a local detailer - any recommendations in the west Kent/m25 border region great fully received - take it to their workshop and throw myself on their mercy. I’m a little worried as I know nothing about this so might get suckered into a lot of unnecessary work that either isn’t required or is overkill for the age of the car.
b) Get the locally recommended ‘detailing at your home’ chap round to do his £90 full detailing clean - clay bar etc.
c) Do something myself, noting that I’ve never done anything like this before. My previous car was brand new and had a paint coating applied, which I was pretty happy with and even after 8 years make cleaning easy. Although now reading this forum I suspect people would scream about my idea of a good clean!

What I would ideally like to get to is a car that is coated in some way to protect the paintwork and make it easy to clean going forward, from here some sort of ceramic coating looks to be best. What is the recommendation and would that change depending on what option I go for from above list.

Also, what at home cleaning process should I adopt and what should I buy.
I’ve read a lot here already but given I’m starting from scratch I’m a bit confused and have zero equipment already. A simple step by step process would be great as at the moment while it looks like everyone uses autofoam/snow foam I’m at a loss as to what you then do next. Is it rinse and dry or rinse, another wash then rinse?

Where I currently am is a car that after a work trip to the flood affected areas in Wales is caked in a combination of mud, river silt and associated s**t, road grime from the motorways and potentially road salt from the gritters and no idea really what to do for the best, rather reluctant to use the local car washing facility I normally use who say they do a foam wash (although they take it into a covered bit on a moving platform so you can’t actually see what they do) given that what I think is on it this time is likely to contain some pretty abrasive particles and I really should get myself in gear and set up myself.

Sorry for long post but as you can tell I’m a bit lost. MY14.5 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Dynamic Corris Grey

Might be worth joining here
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Thanks Andy I have had a look on there before posting here, as it was mentioned in previous threads and got the impression it was for folks who had the first idea what they were doing rather than a complete novice. MY14.5 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Dynamic Corris Grey

Not really,when I first joined I was only a novice to cleaning cars,it’s surprising how much I’ve picked up in the years I’ve been on. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

I found 'Ammo NYC' on YouTube very helpful.

This one might help:

https://youtu.be/uWmtLSQYbys

Plenty of other on YouTube also though.

You have a plan of what you want to get to, but to get there you're going to either have to spend the money or loads of time and effort (and still money if you don't have any of the kit).

In honesty, I'd get it done properly by a detailer, then get yourself a good maintenance wash regime to keep on top of it.

That wash may look something like this (this is really a bare minimum, you can go further than this):

Equipment required:
1) Jet wash with snow foam lance
2) 2 buckets
3) wash mitt (either lambs wool or microfibre) and plenty of microfibre cloths
4) Wheel brush
5) Drying towel (proper car one, bot one from your kitchen )
6) Snow Foam
7) Shampoo
Wheel Cleaner
9) Glass Cleaner
10) All Purpose Cleaner


Method:
1) Jet Wash Rinse
2) Snow Foam and dwell for 5-10 mins
3) Jet Wash Rinse
4) Clean wheels using wheel brush and cloths/wash mitt (not the same cloths/mitt you'll be using for the bodywork)
5) Rinse Wheels
6) 2 bucket method wash (1 bucket with clean water, 1 bucket with shampoo water - in to the shampoo, clean car then rinse in clean water, repeat)
7) Jet wash rinse
Open hose rinse
9) Dry
10) Use All purpose cleaner and cloths for door shuts etc
11) Clean glass
12) Drink beer


Like I say, it's a bit bare bones, but if the car is already detailed that will give you a good starting point to keep it looking good.

Detailing world forum is brilliant and they are very welcoming to newcomers.

Most people will pop along to Halfords and pick up a load of Meguairs or Autoglymm - nothing wrong with that to start out, but there are far better performing products out there.

I get all my cleaning stuff from www.cleanyourcar.co.uk but there's plenty of other places.

Octane85,have you not considered a DI vessel.? One of the best investments I made when it comes to cleaning cars. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

I used to have one... although that was for my marine fish tank
I never got around to using one for detailing though, I kinda feel out of love with it all a few years ago after having a couple of company cars that I didn't really enjoy.
I'm picking up detailing again more recently, and have the kit ready for giving the RRS a machine polish when the weather picks up.

Before DI, I think my next upgrade will be a blower rather than towel drying.

Thanks octane, that’s exactly what I was looking for, I can now research each of the steps as to the exact process, what product is needed and pros/cons of different manufacturer products for each step.

In terms of the cash, not saying money is no object but I know that like anything you need to invest in good products/equipment and sometimes experts to get a good result and I’m more than hoppy to do that to get to my end goal. It’s just all a bit overwhelming when you have no idea where to begin.

Also happy to invest my time to learn the techniques, but didn’t want to waste my money going down the wrong route if that makes sense.

Andy - I’ll take a further look, it’s good to hear you were a novice there to start with. As I’m notoriously useless at forum searches I couldn’t find any similar threads on the detailing forum you suggested so I may have underestimated its help to a novice, I saw a lot of threads debating (in great detail) the merits of different products/tools when I didn’t have the first idea what their purpose in the process was, so got rather daunted and stopped lurking. MY14.5 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Dynamic Corris Grey

RE detailing world forum...

Check out this post: https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4637

It's an old post so the images no longer display, BUT, the content there is a very good start.

DaveKG was a great member over there - you could pretty much just read through all his posts and you'll get exactly what you need.

Link to the best sub-forum for getting started: https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=17

Thanks octane that’s a great link, spent more time than was sensible last night reading through that section think I’m getting hooked on this idea. MY14.5 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Dynamic Corris Grey