Auto Express Product Awards 2012

Posted on May 11, 2012 by sarahmc

Every week motoring magazine Auto Express perform tests on a selection of products from across the aftersale market and give their verdict, commending and recommending as they go.  Once a year they give their overall verdict for all products tested over the course of the previous 12 months, covering everything from vehicle cleaning, maintenance and protection, to navigation aids, security and safety.  We’re pleased say, many winning products feature as part of the Ultimate Finish portfolio.

The Best….

Pressure Washer Shampoo – not to be confused with snow foam such as Ultimate Snow Foam, which requires a foam lance to diffuse the product, a pressure washer shampoo is simply a foaming shampoo which is put into the pressure washer reservoir bottle. Key criteria for this test were grime lifting abilities, concentration and price. Bilt-Hamber Surfex HD came out on top:

A clear win for Bilt-Hamber’s Surfex HD as nothing got close to matching its performance…good foam that clung on well and lifted away more grime than any of its 11 rivals.

Wheel Cleaner – always a tricky one as ‘tough’ wheel cleaners usually means a low, or a high pH level which can easily strip lacquer if not applied correctly. Well maintained wheels require less aggressive or pH-neutral wheel cleaners, however this test was designed to test ground-in brake dust. And again Bilt-Hamber’s Auto-Wheel stole the top spot:

Just spray and leave the thickish cleaner to work and turn dark red. Then rinse away to leave just a few spots to take off with a mitt or sponge….you get plenty for your money…

Clay Bar – 12 were tested for their ability to leave paint feeling silky smooth. As some clays require a quick detailer whilst some only require water, this was also taken into account as part of the judging criteria, along with price.  Bilt-Hamber Auto-Clay Original came out on top with Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit being “commended”:

Auto-clay…cheaper than most rivals…was also one of the most effective on our test panel and on paint overspray on glass. An unbeatable combination.

Smooth Surface Clay Kit…not the cheapest option, but you get everything you need in one pack….the kit isn’t only comprehensive; it’s effective too, starring on the overspray and proving to be one of the best performers on paintwork.

Battery Charger – the best of 10 for charging a flat battery. These units were assessed according to how they charged, cold temperature performance and their number of charging modes. Leads and clips were taken into account as were their various safety features such as short circuit, spark-proofing and reverse polarity protection. Not surprisingly, CTEK units took the top two spots!

There’s a lot to like about the MXS 3.6….it’s the attention to detail…like the nylon storage bag and the lead for the permanent connection. The clips are fully insulated and no amount of careless use made a spark. We also liked the clear indicator lights. It can charge quickly from very low levels – much faster than it’s similarly rated rivals. A class act all round.

CTEK MXS 5.0….has a more sophisticated charging cycle than the MXS 3.6…well thought out package of bag, leads, clips and safety measures…if money is no object this is our charging kit of choice.

Of course “The Best” can mean different things depending on a particular situation and requirements; what works for one person may not be another’s choice. At Ultimate Finish we’ve got a huge range from more than forty leading manufacturers, so we’re confident we have the products you love to use to look after your car.

 

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Meguiar’s Wheel Polishing Kit – It’s Revolutionary!

Posted on May 4, 2012 by sarahmc

Most cars in the UK sport alloy or powder-coated wheels, however for those with polished or chromed wheels looking after them can really be a trying affair!

Meguiar’s came up with a Brilliant Solution! The Wheel Polishing Kit. Specifically designed for polished or chrome wheels, the Wheel Polishing Kit contains All Metal Wheel Polish and the DynaCone Polishing Tool which fits to the end of your drill. The pyramid-shaped foam pad fits easily through spokes and spindles to make light work of cleaning and polishing even the hardest to reach areas. All Metal Wheel Polish actually stays wet, rather than drying out as most wheel polishing agents do, to allow for better, more even polishing of wheels, whilst its active ingredients make light work of brake dust, tarnishing, oxidation and staining.

Included in the kit is the DynaCone Cleaning Solution. It works quickly to release oil, dirt and grime picked up from the wheels, so you can clean the DynaCone foam after each use, ensuring it’s ready to go the next time you need it.

When you’ve finished don’t forget to give the wheels a layer of protection with a decent sealant such as Poorboys Wheel Sealant, Swissvax Autobahn Wheel Wax or Auto Finesse Mint Rims.

Now owners of polished and chromed wheels finally have a solution that makes it easy to keep those bare wheels gleaming!

Available to pre-order now from the Ultimate Finish for delivery week commencing 7th May.

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More Than Just A Detailing Service – Jaguar XJ Sovereign

Posted on April 30, 2012 by UF Team

The common perception of the Ultimate Detailing Studio is that we’re just about restoring paintwork and making cars look their best. Of course this is the key component but the package we offer is far more comprehensive and more akin to a concierge service. When cars arrive their needs are catered for holistically, so if dents need removing, wheels need refurbishing or the battery needs a boost, we can deal with it all whilst the vehicle is in our care. We can even have it MOT’d or install ICE equipment if the customer so desires! Recently a Long Wheel Base Jaguar XJ Sovereign came in for an Enhancement Detail. We first detailed this vehicle four years ago and the years since we last saw it were etched all over the paint and bodywork. The rear bumper, driver’s door, passenger-side front and rear doors all bore the typical marks of ‘car park damage’. As the damage was beyond the point where even Master Detailer Rob Tomlin could magic it away, we arranged for these panels to be repaired and re-sprayed.

The remainder of the bodywork had heavy marring from an automatic car wash and needed some paint correction work. Once again, 3M’s Fast Cut Plus came out of the bag. Jaguars, like Porsches are renowned for having ‘sticky’ paint, meaning the machine polishing pad does not glide smoothly over the surface making them tricky customers to machine polish. Rob selected the Sonus Yellow Polishing Pad for the cutting part of the operation, then used 3M Extra Fine Compound with the 3M Yellow Polishing Pad. Menzerna Final Finish with the Sonus Black Sealing Pad left the paintwork ready for two layers of Swissvax ‘Swissvax Best of Show’. Rain-X Rain Repellent went on to the glass and Meguiar’s All Metal Polysh with fine wire wool made short work of the carbon deposits on the tail pipes. The interior was in pretty good shape so all it required was a wipe down with AutoSmart G101, followed by Gtechniq L1 Leather Guard. As the customer preferred the interior to retain its natural satin look the dash was treated with Gtechniq C6 Matte Dash. When the customer arrived to collect his car he was amazed at the change in it, commenting:

It looks fantastic. I won’t be leaving it another four years before I bring it back! It’s just a shame it’s wet outside and I’m going to have to drive it home in the rain!

We agree, it was a shame but unfortunately the one thing we can’t fix – is the good old British weather!

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New Car Protection – The Next Generation

Posted on April 20, 2012 by sarahmc

Buying a brand new car is always exciting. There are many cost options currently offered by dealerships including various paint protection products, usually described as “a sort of Teflon coating for paintwork, which means you won’t have to polish your car for about three years”. As anyone who’s ever bought one of these “coatings” knows, they’re usually more trouble than they’re worth! We’ve seen vehicles where the “protection” has worn off in patches, allowing water ingress under the remaining layer causing paintwork staining.  And once it’s there is very difficult to remove!

Welcome to the revolution! A New Car Protection revolution where Gtechniq C1 Crystal Lacquer + is very much taking the scene by storm.

Crystal Lacquer + is a quartz based sealant which dries very, very hard (hard as quartz, surprisingly!) to form a truly long lasting protective layer over your paintwork. In fact, during testing it was found to last up to TEN TIMES longer than dealer-applied products. The sub-micron crystalline layer is extremely resistant, inhibiting scratches and swirls from finding their way on to new paintwork.

Talking to Gtechniq Managing Director, Rob Earle, he commented:

“What’s so different about C1 + is that it actually forms a chemical bond with your paintwork, essentially becoming the new surface. The older style polymer sealants are inherently much softer and simply adhere to the surface which is why the durability isn’t there. C1 + actively protects the paintwork from staining and the anti-stick properties mean tree sap, tar, road grime, etc don’t adhere to the treated surface. This also means you won’t have to wash the car so often or so vigorously. As the wash process is where scratches are likely to be introduced this obviously is an added bonus!”

And it’s not just paintwork that can benefit from this kind of protection; alloy wheels can benefit from C5 Alloy Wheel Armour, glass gets the treatment with G1 ClearVision Screen Kit, and plastic trim is protected with C4 Permanent Trim Restorer. There are treatments for the interior too with I1 SmartFabric Coat and L1 Leather Guard. When it comes to all-surface protection Gtechniq products have everything covered!

For some time now the Ultimate Detailing Studio has offered a New Car Protection Detail service incorporating Gtechniq products. The latest gem to receive the full treatment at our Brands Hatch Studio is this fabulous example of the Fiat 500 Abarth, in Passadoble Red.

Further images of the Fiat 500 Abarth can be viewed here

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It’s Only A Microfibre, Right?

Posted on April 14, 2012 by jezg

Wrong! The humble microfibre is often taken for granted, but innovative German Company Microfiber Madness is about to change this forever.

Microfiber Madness is all about microfibres. In fact, they ONLY manufacture microfibres! Their premise is simple – different jobs, different requirements. A glass towel requires different properties to a buffing microfibre. A microfibre drying towel should have different properties to a general purpose microfibre.

Thomas Hackner, founder and creative genius behind Microfiber Madness has just one goal, to manufacture the plushest, softest, highest quality microfibre towels currently available anywhere in the world. And everyone here at Ultimate Finish thinks that he has achieved just that!

The extensive Microfiber Madness range for 2012 includes -

Rob Tomlin, Master Detailer at the Ultimate Detailing Studio had this to say about the Microfiber Madness Summit 800.

The Summit 800 Towel is one of the plushest buffing towels I have ever used, it’s ideal for removing sealant and wax residues. It’s also entirely edgeless and tag-free, which makes it safer for sensitive paint finishes. Microfiber Madness towels are by far the best currently available in the UK, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

So next time you’re getting ready to detail your car, make the job easier by ensuring you’ve got the right microfibre for the job, because it’s not “just a microfibre’!

The Full range of Microfiber Madness products can be found here

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Easter Delivery Dates & Holiday Opening Times

Posted on April 5, 2012 by UF Team

We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support and wish you a very Happy Easter.

Listed below is a schedule of when you can expect your order to arrive during Easter.

Order Date Delivery Date (EXPRESS) Delivery Date (STANDARD) Delivery Date (FREE)
Thursday, April 5 Tues, April 10 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12
Friday, April 6 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12 Fri, April 13
Saturday, April 7 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12 Fri, April 13
Sunday, April 8 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12 Fri, April 13
Monday, April 9 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12 Fri, April 13
Tuesday, April 10 Wed, April 11 Thurs, April 12 Fri, April 13

Easter Opening Times: 

  • Friday 6th April: Closed for Bank Holiday
  • Saturday 7th April: Closed (Annual Stock Take)
  • Sunday 8th April: Closed
  • Monday 9th April: Closed for Bank Holiday
  • Tuesday 10th April: Open as normal 8am-6pm

Happy Easter from all at

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Ultimate Finish Wash & Rinse Buckets with ScratchShields

Posted on March 30, 2012 by UF Team

Washing a car – whether you’re looking to achieve a showroom finish or whether you simply want your daily driver to look cared for, a bucket is where it all starts.

The wash process is also one of the more perilous times for paintwork when you’re most likely to inadvertently introduce swirls and scratches, so ensuring you have the right equipment for this most basic task is essential.

Introducing….. Ultimate Finish Wash Bucket & ScratchShield and Ultimate Finish Rinse Bucket & ScratchShield. ScratchShields are a bucket filter system – they’re a grill that sits in the bottom of the bucket. Brushing your mitt or sponge across the ScratchShield releases dirt particles which sink to the bottom and the grill traps them there, helping to prevent transferring dirt and grit back to the mitt or sponge and then back onto the paintwork.

So the Wash Bucket & ScratchShield are essential car cleaning equipment. Some would argue the Rinse Bucket & ScratchShield are equally as important. Owners of dark coloured cars or cars with soft paintwork, (particularly susceptible to swirls and scratches) have long argued the benefits of employing the Two Bucket Method. Simply put, one bucket contains water and shampoo, the rinse bucket has plain water. The mitt is dunked into the Wash Bucket and then put over a panel on the car. Then, dunk the mitt into the Rinse bucket, releasing dirty water and contaminants into the Rinse water. Then return the cleaned off mitt to the Wash bucket to re-load with soapy water for the next panel. Keeps the Wash water cleaner. Makes sense, doesn’t it!

ScratchShields have been teamed up with our own branded buckets – 20 litre buckets made from a tough white plastic (so you can keep an eye on the state of the water). We’ve also created an Ultimate Finish Wash & Rinse Two Bucket Set with their corresponding ScratchShields. If you already have a bucket or two and think the ScratchShield Bucket Filter System is a good idea then don’t worry – they’re available individually in Black, Blue and Red, and because they have adjustable ‘legs’ will fit most bucket sizes.

For the best opportunity to keep your paintwork swirl and scratch-free, start the wash process with the Ultimate Snow Foam & Lance Kits, for non-contact pre-wash cleaning, removing larger dirt and grit particles. Follow with the Two Bucket Method and finish with the Aqua Gleam water filtering system which allows your vehicle to air dry – no need to chamois off afterwards and no spot-marks either. Put together it really is the ultimate in car wash protection.

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Easter Charity Wax, Limited Edition Carnauba Cream Egg Launched

Posted on March 20, 2012 by UF Team

has released a small product launch of a very important wax – the Dodo Juice Carnauba Cream Egg, launched in association with leading detailing forum, Detailing World.

It’s a special Limited Edition wax for Easter, with a £20 donation being made by Dodo Juice to Sebastian’s Action Trust (a UK charity supporting the families of ill children) for every wax sold.

Bill Rogers from Detailing World approached Dodo Juice last year to see if they could help create a charity wax for their chosen charity (Sebastian’s Action Trust). Because Easter was approaching and they had been tempted to create a ‘wax within a wax’ before, they thought that an ‘Easter Egg’ theme wax might work well. It was also inspired by a chocolate egg sold in the UK market! They were certain that Sebastian would have liked chocolate and therefore would have given his thumbs up to their fund raising exercise.

The wax is actually two waxes. A traditional carnauba soft wax (the white part) with a yellow hybrid wax semi-synthetic wax ‘yolk’ in the middle. These waxes can be mixed upon application, or carefully applied separately. Dodo Juice are certain that no-one has created a ‘wax within a wax’ before now.

Due to the complexity of pouring these waxes, they are a strict limited edition of 274 jars (100ml size). 274 refers to the number of days that the Sebastian’s Action Trust family support holiday home has been open, up until Easter Sunday this year.

Please help Dodo Juice raise their target of £5,500 and buy one now, the price of the wax is £39.95 and we are asking you to buy it if you can, and help Dodo Juice with this very worthy cause.

You can read more about Sebastian’s Action Trust here

Dedicated to the memory of Sebastian Gates, a brave little boy with a special wish.

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New & Improved Ultimate Snow Foam Lances

Posted on March 16, 2012 by UF Team

Ultimate Snow Foam and Lance Kits have been taking the market by storm for some time now. As popular as the “2 Bucket Method” particularly with owners of dark coloured vehicles which are prone to showing every swirl, scratch and imperfection.

Ultimate Snow Foam is a non-contact, high foaming pre-wash cleaner designed to lift larger dirt particles away from the surface of paintwork thereby minimising the chances of introducing scratches into paint work during the washing stage. Whilst Ultimate Snow Foam can be used in conjunction with a hosepipe attachment best results are achieve using a Snow Foam Lance attached to a pressure washer. Snow Foam and high pressure water are mixed in the lance and, together with the diffuser in the end of the lance, create a thick, clinging foam.

The lances have changed very little over the last couple of years, but for 2012 we are pleased to introduce a completely new foam lance. The new design features stainless steel internal components which make it more durable, a twisting dial for selecting horizontal or vertical spray patterns, as well as a new reservoir bottle with 100ml increments embossed on the side. These new lances have been tested for use up to 3626psi of pressure! And of course you can still adjust product / water ratio to affect the thickness of the foam – simply twist the body of the funnel to alter the mix.

Available with attachments for most pressure washers including Karcher K-Series (Domestic), Karcher HD/HDS (Commercial), Nilfisk-Alto, Lavor,  Bosch and Kranzle.

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Gtechniq Release C1.5 Silo Seal

Posted on March 16, 2012 by jezg

Smart Surface Science strikes again with the release of ’s new C1.5 Silo Seal quick detailer.

Gtechniq has now revamped C1 to become C1 Crystal Lacquer + where the ‘+’ means ‘plus C1.5′, so C1 is now supplied with Silo Seal as top up coating for .

Silo (pronounced see-low) Seal can also be used as a stand-alone sealant and is great to use on metallic and solid paintwork, all types of wheel finishes, plastic trim and even on matte paint finishes. Whilst C1 Crystal Lacquer still stands top of the leader board in terms of durability, C1.5 is much easier to use – squirt a bit on the panel, spread it around with a microfibre, buff it off with another microfibre. It has identical hydrophobic properties to C1 and offers around six months durability during tests on ‘daily drivers’.

Like C1, Silo Seal is a quartz-based sealant with chemical binders which are extremely resistant to UV and acid, so it’s ideal for use on wheels, although its longevity can’t match that of C5 Alloy Wheel Armour. Not bad for a quick fix though! Its high heat tolerance also means it can be used in engine bays. In fact, can be used on any hard surface including glass and dashboards.  Apply two or more layers for added shine and durability.

 

 

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