How often do you detail your vehicles

blkZ28Conv · 05-04-03, 04:05

I detail the "garage queen" to some degree after every use but the daily driver at least once every 2 weeks ( weather permitting).

TurboCat · 05-04-03, 04:20

Well since my car is a daily driver, it gets a good detail once a week on the exterior. I also wipe out the door jambs, etc. and clean the door panels and wipe down the dash if it is needed.

My interior stays pretty clean (except for the driver's side floormat), so I only vacuum or shampoo carpet when it needs it.

I also use gummi-pfledge on the seals as needed.

In the winter it's more like every chance I get!!!

Luster · 05-04-03, 06:05

Daily....

(obviously, not a full detail daily...but like ejant, doing some detailing work almost every day)...

Accumulator · 05-04-03, 07:43

Like blkZ28Conv as far as garage-queen vs. daily drivers, only a bit less frequently on the dailies. But the Volvo wagon only gets a FULL detail about twice a year, and it's outside 24/7! That Collinite is virtually self-cleaning. Note: poll response refers to Volvo, I get compliments on IT all the time

But note that even a "quick wash" includes the wheel wells, door jambs, undercarriage, under hood, QD'ing, dressing tires, etc., etc. Fastest I've ever done the S8 was 3.5 hours. Full details take days or even weeks.

bretfraz · 05-04-03, 08:17

I fully detail my Saab about 3 times a year. It gets washed every 7-10 days. I used to work on my cars daily but now its just to get them decent by my standards.

Aurora40 · 05-04-03, 08:58

I don't tend to do a full detail type thing on my car. It's sort of a little at a time continuously. I probably polish it 2-3 times a year, and have thus far only clayed the whole car once (though that will likely be an annual thing). I try to wash it once a week or so, and I usually QD it every day unless it has gotten rained on or something. I probably apply something to the paint about once a month, and do the interior a few times a year. I am very neat with the interior so it rarely even needs a vacuuming. But, I'll clean the interior or leather more often if it got at all dirty from anything. I need to get off my butt about the engine bay as it is starting to get a little bit gritty.

My wife's car gets the interior treatment probably about twice a year, though it is really just when the mood hits me since she doesn't really care. I try to wash it at least once a month, though generally it's every two weeks or so. I also try to put something on the paint every month since it sits outside more. I used to use Klasse on it, but now I just use whatever I feel like at the time (from GC wax, #26, Klasse, Power Shine, old formula Blackfire, MPPP...) Hell, I might have to start using Souveran on it just to use it up before it goes bad...

I am really content with BF on my car, and don't want to top it and prevent future apps of BF...

Accumulator · 05-04-03, 10:13

Aurora40 - Heh heh, be careful about using Souveran on your wife's car. I used to use it on MY wife's Audi. She was commuting every day and applying it every other week got old, so I switched to something more durable. OH MAN did she notice the difference! Took me a while to find something (durable) that she liked as well as the Souveran.

bretfraz- I know exactly what you mean. "Decent" by some standards is "show quality" by others.

Zealot · 05-04-03, 10:17

I give my car the full treatment when I'll be entering a car show that's judged, probably every 3 to 4 months. All last week, my car went without any QD or being washed because it rained a good amount of time 3 days of the 5. My car was dirty, so this morning I washed it and wouldn't you know it there are now swirl marks on the hood. I finally resolved - F it. I'll layer Z5 on it like there's no tomorrow, but I absolutely will not take the PC to it again. It's a black car that, while kept in a garage at night, is driven daily and parked outside all day. More than likely it will be the last black car I own. If I can swing the '05 Mustang next year, rest assured it will most likely be yellow

Lynn · 05-04-03, 10:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Aurora40
I probably polish it 2-3 times a year, and have thus far only clayed the whole car once (though that will likely be an annual thing).

Aurora40, you've been here lots longer than I, and I sense you're lots more scientific about this detailing than I am, so I hesitate to offer you any advice. But ... I had clayed in late fall, then clayed early spring. Last month, getting ready for a concours, I assumed surely I would not need to clay again (since it had only been a month-6 weeks). Boy, was I wrong! I tried some clay on one section, and then the "feel" compared to the un-clayed sections was awesome. I'm starting to think that every serious detailing outing oughta start with claying. It's so cheap and low-effort compared to the procedures you all use with PCs etc.

Nick T. · 05-04-03, 11:58

Z3 - after every use

Suburban - as infrequently as possible

ML320 (wife’s) - company car, goes through car washes

Sebring convertible (wife’s) - as infrequently as possible

paco · 05-04-03, 12:27

Girlfriends, she just now started asking so about every 3-4 weeks. She really know's how to make a mess of the interior so I try to keep on it a bit more.

My car: haven't replaced my write-off as of yet.. hopefully in the next few weeks. My personal vehicle, about every 2-3 weeks.

AMP01 · 05-04-03, 12:36

blkZ28Conv,

I like to think of my black BMW is in a constant state of detail!

I am doing something to it almost every day. I probabaly wax at least every 14 days, wipe down the wheels and windows daily, and dust with CCD and QD every day. The interior gets done at least once a month.

I love to keep my car looking great!

Cheers,
My Black 7 Series