Ferrari 458 Italia Detailed At The Ultimate Detailing Studio™

Posted on December 7, 2011 by sarahmc

The Ferrari 458 is the latest thoroughbred to emerge from the elite Italian stable. Apparently the successor to the F430 this car is built from an entirely new design and uses technology Ferrari has employed through its Formula 1 experiences!

Originally unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 458 was designed by Pininfarina and features a 4.5 litre V8 and deformable wings for better aerodynamics. The 458 currently holds the world record for power per litre in a naturally aspirated car. 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds, top speed of 325 km/h, braking distance of 32.5 metres from 100-0km/h – it’s a serious piece of engineering!

So understandably we were pretty excited to have one in the flesh (so to speak) arrive in our Ultimate Detailing Studio! A previous attempt at machine polishing this car had left it with holograms which were marring the beautiful red paintwork. Professional detailer, Rob Tomlin got to work with some 3M Fast Cut Plus, 3M Extra Fine Compound and 3M Ultrafina SE Polish. Having corrected the paintwork he applied 2 layers of Swissvax Scuderia (exclusive carnauba wax designed specifically for Italian paintwork). The glass was finished and sealed with Gtechniq G1 ClearVision Smart Glass. Bilt-Hamber Auto-Balm on the wheels to keep them shiny and protected and a spritz with Swissvax Motor Shine over the engine. Swissvax Metal Polish on the exhaust tips, Swissvax Pneu Glossy on the tyres….. sixteen hours later the 458 was looking absolutely fantastic – even if we do say so ourselves!

View more images of the Ferrari 458 Italia here

Tags: Bilt-Hamber Auto Balm, Gtechniq G1 ClearVision Smart Glass, Swissvax Metal Polish, Swissvax Motor Shine, Swissvax Pneu Glossy, Swissvax Scuderia, Ultimate Detailing Studio

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Christmas Delivery Dates & Holiday Opening Times 2011

Posted on December 7, 2011 by jezg

2011 has seen a record number of customers returning to us for , Car Detailing Products and accessories. We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support and wish you a very Happy Christmas.

Listed below is a schedule of when you can expect your order to arrive leading up to Christmas and the rest of the festive period.

Order Date Delivery Date (EXPRESS) Delivery Date (STANDARD) Delivery Date (FREE)
Monday, December 19 Tues, Dec 20 Wed, Dec 21 Thurs, Dec 22
Tuesday, December 20 Wed, Dec 21 Thurs, Dec 22 Fri, Dec 23
Wednesday, December 21 Thurs, Dec 22 Fri, Dec 23 Wed, Dec 28
Thursday, December 22 Fri, Dec 23 Wed, Dec 28 Thurs, Dec 29
Friday, December 23 Wed, Dec 28 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30
Saturday, December 24 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4
Sunday, December 25 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4
Monday, December 26 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4
Tuesday, December 27 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4
Wednesday, December 28 Thurs, Dec 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4
Thursday, December 29 Fri, Dec 30 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5
Friday, December 30 Tues, Jan 3 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5
Saturday, December 31 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5 Fri, Jan 6
Sunday, January 1 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5 Fri, Jan 6
Monday, January 2 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5 Fri, Jan 6
Tuesday, January 3 Wed, Jan 4 Thurs, Jan 5 Fri, Jan 6

Christmas & New Year opening times:

  • Friday, December 23 – Open as normal 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday, December 24 – Closed
  • Sunday, December 25 – Closed
  • Monday, December 26 – Bank Holiday, Closed
  • Tuesday, December 27 – Bank Holiday, Closed
  • Wednesday, December 28 – Open as normal 8am – 6pm
  • Thursday, December 29 – Open as normal 8am – 6pm
  • Friday, December 30 – Open as normal 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday, December 31 – Closed
  • Sunday, January 1 – Closed
  • Monday, January 2 – Bank Holiday, Closed
  • Tuesday, January 3 – Open as normal 8am – 6pm

Happy Holidays from Team Ultimate Finish !!

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Machine Polishing Kits For All Levels Of Experience

Posted on November 30, 2011 by sarahmc

Using a machine polisher has been a recognised way of efficiently restoring dull, faded and blemished paintwork but for many years it has been mainly in the domain of professional valeters and detailers. However, in recent years the machine polishing craze has taken off within amateur circles too, with the keen car care enthusiast looking for faster, more efficient ways of making paintwork perfect.

Dual Action Machine Polishers.
Dual Action Machine Polishers are perfect for the uninitiated, as they provide a safe way of polishing paintwork without fear of burning through and leaving unsightly blemishes. The backing plate oscillates on a spindle, dispersing the heat build-up and creating a gentler polishing action.

Dodo Juice Buff Daddy, Kestrel DAS 6 and the Kestrel DAS 6 Power Plus featuring a massive 850w motor! Meguiars G220 v2 featuring ‘cruise control’ technology for more even polishing action and the Flex XC 3401 VRG – the Dual Action (DA) choice of the professional.

Rotary Machine Polishers.
Rotary Machine Polishers provide a direct action, building more heat for correcting those more serious paintwork blemishes.

Kestrel SIM-180, Dodo Juice Spin Doctor and the Dodo Spin Doctor Pro, 3M Rotary Polisher, Flex L3403 Lightweight Rotary Polisher and the Flex PE14-2-150.

But with all the polishers, polishing pads, backing plates and polishing compounds on the market it’s a confusing place for the keen enthusiast looking to get started. Ultimate Finish has produced a comprehensive choice of Machine Polishing Kits, so whether you are a complete novice or an experienced detailer, there is a designed for you!

Decide how many products you require – whether you’re looking for heavier cutting compounds or simply wanting to give the paintwork a boost and apply some protection. Then choose from a Basic Kit, Advanced Machine Polishing Kit or an Ultimate Machine Polishing Kit. Each kit allows you to choose the machine polisher that best suits your experience or needs.

Basic Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Meguiars
Two stage kit with a polishing compound, a finishing polish, two pads and your choice of Dual Action Polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners

Basic Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Poorboys
Two stage kit with a polishing compound, a finishing polish, two pads and your choice of Dual Action Polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners

Advanced Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Dodo Juice
Three stage kit featuring two grades of polishing compounds, Dodo Juice Supernatural Machine Stick carnauba wax, cutting, polishing and finishing pads and your choice of Dual Action or Rotary Polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners and enthusiasts with some experience of Machine Polishing

Advanced Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Meguiars
Three stage kit featuring two grades of polishing compounds and Meguiars #20 Polymer Sealant, cutting, polishing and finishing pads and your choice of Dual Action or Rotary polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners and enthusiasts with some experience of Machine Polishing

Ultimate Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Sonus
Four stage kit for cutting, polishing, finishing and sealing paintwork. Choice of Dual Action or Rotary polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners and enthusiasts looking for a complete kit

Ultimate Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Poorboys
Four stage kit for cutting, polishing, finishing and sealing paintwork. Choice of Dual Action or Rotary polisher.
Recommended For: Beginners and enthusiasts looking for a complete kit

Professional Machine Polishing Kit Featuring 3M
Three stage kit featuring professional grade cutting, polishing and finishing compounds and pads. Choice of Rotary polisher.
Recommended For: Professionals & experienced users only

Professional Machine Polishing Kit Featuring Meguiars
Three stage kit featuring professional grade cutting, polishing and finishing compounds and pads. Choice of Rotary polisher.
Recommended For: Professionals & experienced users only

NEW – Meguiars DA Microfibre Correction Kit
A new kit from designed to give the cutting power of a Rotary with the safety of a Dual Action polisher. Polishing compounds have been designed specifically to be used in conjunction with the microfibre discs.
Recommended For: All levels of ability

So whether you’re looking for a polishing kit for yourself, or whether you’re looking for , a machine polishing kit is sure to be a welcome addition to any garage!

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Great Christmas Gifts For Men AND Women at Ultimate Finish!

Posted on November 17, 2011 by sarahmc

Stocking fillers, main presents, gadgets and gizmos – it’s that time of year again when we all frantically start searching for Christmas present ideas. It can be hard to come up with original ideas, particularly when trying to buy for those people who “already have everything”. Some people like “nice to have” presents, some people prefer “practical” presents. Presents for men are always more difficult to decide on if you’re female although men feel the same way about presents for their womenfolk! Whoever you have on your “to buy for” list you can be sure you’ll find the perfect gift at .

To help get you started we’ve put together some ideas and divided them in to price categories.

Christmas Gifts up to £19.99

Christmas Gifts £20 – £49.99

Christmas Gifts £50 – £99.99

Christmas Gifts £100 and above

There are for everyone – car enthusiasts, boat owners, caravan and motor home nomads, HOGs and sports bikers. So whether your mum wants a tyre inflator, your father needs a powerpack, or your brother just has to have a machine polishing kit? Perhaps your husband would love a fully tailored car cover, complete with embroidered logo? In which case order soon to make sure the Elves get busy quickly to deliver in time for Christmas! Or perhaps your favourite ‘person’ is your car – why not book it in for a paintwork pampering session in our Ultimate Detailing Studio – Spa days for cars! What ever you want this Christmas and whoever you want it for, find your perfect Christmas gift at www.theultimatefinish.co.uk

If you look through our site and just can’t decide which Christmas presents to buy– or you’re worried about buying the wrong present then why not buy Gift Certificates instead and let them browse our shop and pick out their own present? UF Gift Certificates are available from £5 up to £500 and can used across our portfolio.

Ultimate Finish offers FREE UK* Delivery on orders over £29.95 as well as other delivery options including pre-noon and Saturday AM services. If you’re not going to be home to take delivery don’t worry – simply add a separate shipping address at checkout and we can deliver to another address. And don’t forget Ultimate Finish has a Customer Loyalty Scheme which means buying presents for others accumulate discounts for you!

So this Christmas make life a little easier on yourself and let The Ultimate Finish take the stress out of Christmas present shopping!

Tags: Christmas Gifts For Men, Christmas present ideas, Christmas gift ideas,

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Dehumidifiers – Protect Your Vehicle From Damaging Damp!

Posted on November 11, 2011 by sarahmc

Anyone who has to store their car, boat or caravan knows moisture in the air causes a lot of problems, particularly over the winter period. Damp gets into everything, causing mildew on convertible tops, mouldy upholstery, rotting sails and degrading rubber seals and tyres. Most storage places are susceptible to damp – barns, garages, storage facilities, boat chandlers, etc, so for many it’s an on-going and unavoidable problem. Whilst car covers, caravan covers and boat tonneaus are very popular as indoor protection from dust, knocks and scrapes, they help alleviate the issues rather than tackling the root cause – the relative humidity.

The ideal solution is a dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture from the ambient environment. Meaco is a British designer and manufacturer of (and air purifiers) and has become a market leader in humidity monitoring and control systems. As well as their own designs they are also the original importer and distributor for Mitsubishi . Their most popular model in 2010 was the DD122FW Mk4 dehumidifier which won numerous awards including being voted “Best on Test” by Practical Boat Owner Magazine. This year the new and improved DD8L looks set to take the market by storm.

Like the , the Meaco DD8L and the brand new DD8L Junior both work on desiccant technology, a far more efficient system than compressor units particularly at lower ambient air temperatures. And because the desiccant models blow out warm air they eliminate the need for any extra heating. Plus because the air is drier it takes less to warm it up – so it’s a definite win-win situation!

The DD8L has some new and very useful features which the DD122FW MK4 didn’t have – primarily the DD8L and the new DD8L Junior, rather than running continuously will cut out when optimum relative humidity level has been reached, waking up every 30 minutes to take a sample of the air and going back to sleep again should the humidity levels still be at acceptable levels. This intelligent system means the running costs (which were minimal anyway) will potentially be about 1/6th of the original models.

The difference between the DD8L and the DD8L Junior? Well, Meaco removed the ioniser and the silver nano antibacterial filter to make the Junior. The ioniser is designed to trap pollen and dust, whilst the silver nano filter kills any bacteria present. Whilst these features are desirable dehumidifiers in the home or on a live-aboard boat they aren’t really necessary for vehicles in storage. By removing these two features Meaco were able to reduce the price, making the Junior a highly cost effective option for people looking to use their dehumidifier whilst their car, boat or caravan is tucked away for the winter months.

Dehumidifiers are also very useful in the home where every day activities such as cooking, washing, heating systems and laundry generate additional moisture. To assist with condensation in the home many of the Meaco dehumidifiers feature a “laundry drying” mode – reducing the moisture in the air allows laundry to dry faster. Keeping the relative humidity at optimum levels in the home also helps to control dust mites and asthma and allergy sufferers benefit enormously from the drier, purer air. Conservatory windows typically attract a lot of condensation and a dehumidifier will combat this issue too. You don’t even have to place it in the conservatory – a dehumidifier strategically positioned at the mid point of the home will draw moisture from all over the house. And with the desiccant models being so quiet and having slim line profiles you’ll hardly even notice it’s there.

Tags: Dehumidifiers, DD122FW Mk4, Meaco DD8l, Meaco Dehumidifier, Desiccant Dehumidifier, Car Covers

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Valet PRO Bilberry Safe Wheel Cleaner Gets Thumbs Up From EVO Magazine

Posted on November 11, 2011 by sarahmc

Those who are avid fans of will know they have a product review section, in which they put various products through their paces.

This month ’s and the Non-Scratch Soft Brush were tried out on a large set of multi-spoke alloy wheels (which we all appreciate, can be a real pain to clean!) Bilberry can be used neat on badly soiled wheels, but for regular maintenance can be diluted up to 1:10 (which makes it highly economical).

The verdict? Bilberry works “brilliantly” and “smells of berries” and the brush was “just hard enough to remove brake dust yet soft enough not to scratch alloy wheels”.

Sounds like just the ticket for hard-working alloy wheels!

ValetPro Bilberry Safe Wheel Cleaner available in 1 Litre or 5 Litres

Tags: Valet Pro, Billberry Safe Wheel Cleaner, Evo Magazine

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Dodo Juice Think INSIDE The Box

Posted on November 3, 2011 by jezg

Launch Limited Edition

This Christmas, Dodo Juice has thought INSIDE the box for a change, and is bringing out something VERY special.

A Home Brew Wax Kit which enables the lucky recipient to make a high performance Dodo Juice wax using just their stove at home, the wax ratios, solvents and special juices have all been calculated, measured and prepared beforehand. Just mix the contents together, heat up and stir, the next day you’ll have 250ml of premium carnauba car wax in a jar you can name yourself.

By simplifying the home brewing process, Dodo Juice haven’t just bought an innovative detailing product to market – they’ve hatched upon the ultimate Christmas gift for car lovers everywhere. Suitable for children over the age of 14 and all men who want to take over the kitchen for the evening, it’s the gift for people you’ve given to for years on end, and don’t know what to give them this year. Those annoying people who ‘have it all’ already. Why? Because no-one has ever brought a home brew car wax kit to market, and because making car wax is pretty good fun – even if they say so. Slap it on the lawnmower, the Veyron or the family runabout. Once you’ve named your home brew, it’s ready to give 2-3 months of protection on any suitable surface it touches.

Dom & pj @ Dodo Juice hope you like this new product as much as they do. A lot of thought and attention has gone into every aspect of the kit, from the glass jar that doubles as a melting pot, to the label kit and custom tin (complete with foam insert to help prevent breakages). They feel there’s no better product to reflect the spirit of Dodo Juice and what they are currently doing within the car care market.

Dodo Juice Home Brew Wax Kit (makes 250ml premium carnauba ), DJHBKIT, weight 1kg, RRP 39.95 GBP

Available now to pre-order, be quick though they are sure to fly off the shelf!!

Tags: car wax, Carnauba Car Wax, christmas gifts, Dodo Juice, Home Brew Wax Kit

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Michelin Easy Grip Composite Snow Chains

Posted on October 31, 2011 by sarahmc

Here in the UK we’ve become used to milder winters – lots of grey, lots of darkness but not much snow. However, recent years have seen a worsening of UK winter conditions and last year really caught a large number of us out! Not only did we have snow, but it snowed and it snowed and it snowed – and then it froze. And then it snowed some more! Getting about was a real issue as the country ground to a halt for weeks. The novelty wore off very quickly, and this year we need to be prepared for it!

Tyres are the obvious place to start. It’s all very well having road worthy tyres, but sometimes good tyres just aren’t enough to keep you moving! Continental Europe, more conditioned to harsh winter conditions, requires all vehicles to have winter tyres and / or Snow Chains.

Some of us probably looked at winter tyres during last years white-out, but were put off when we realised four new snow tyres (especially run flats) meant taking out an extension on the mortgage!

So what are the alternatives? Conventional are undoubtedly effective but unfortunately they do have a tendency to chew up tyres when running on tarmac. They also have the potential to put knocks and dints in expensive alloy wheels. Snow Socks are another alternative. But whilst they provide extra grip in slippery conditions, in Europe they’re not accepted as an alternative to and whilst they perform well in snow, there is some question about their performance on ice.

So Michelin came up with another option - Easy Grip Composite Snow Chains. Lightweight, easy to fit and made from Kevlar. The Easy Grips have a unique mesh structure coated with 150 steel clips which provide much better grip during snowy and icy conditions. stocks the whole range of Michelin Snow Chains available at competitive prices.

There are different sizes for different rim sizes, so they’re separated in to 14 inch, 15 inch, 16 inch, 17 inch and 18 inch. Then they’re sized according to tyre size and profile.

For the majority of drivers (these chains are not suitable for heavier / larger vehicles), Easigrips provide an excellent, hassle-free alternative to steel chains. Being lighter in weight they are a lot easier to fit than regular snow chains and to top it off, they comply with EU regulations so can be used in European ski resorts! So whether you’re packing up the car for a little ski and après ski fun, trying to get to work or facing the daily battle of the school run and the weekly shop, the Easigrips are a great alternative to chains.

Get the essentials!

Give your vehicle the same attention. Make sure you have anti-freeze added to the radiator water. Top up the water in your washer fluid bottle and use a windscreen washer additive or screenwash suitable for use in cold temperatures. Consider using a window or glass sealant for better driving visibility – Gtechniq’s ClearVision Screen Kit is an excellent example but Rain-X also do a variety of products designed to make driving safer. And finally and importantly, look over your tyres for signs of wear and tear and check they are inflated to the correct pressure with a digital tyre pressure gauge, more accurate than an analogue version. A tyre inflator is a good idea too; means you don’t need to be fiddling around in the dark at petrol stations!

+ Warm coat – even if you’re only popping to the shops
+ Blanket – just in case!
+ First aid kit (a good idea in any weather!)
+ Bottle of water – dehydration can strike even when it’s cold
+ A chocolate bar – or two! For energy
+ Jump starter or jump leads – cold weather can drain a battery very quickly
+ An LED torch – so you can see – and people can see you!
+ Windshield scraper and spray de-icer
+ Bag of sand – to pour on snow or ice for traction
+ Shovel – so you can dig your way out if you need to!
+ Can of tyre weld – gets you home and it’s easier than trying to change a wheel!
+ Yellow vest and a warning triangle (legal requirements on the continent but a good idea here!)

Last year we all heard the awful stories about people being stuck in their cars in freezing conditions for hours and hours, so this year make sure that story isn’t about you!

Tags: The Ultimate Finish, Michelin Easy Grip, Gtechniq, de-icer, screenwash, Snow Chains, Jump starter

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Detailing The Interior Of Your Car

Posted on October 18, 2011 by sarahmc

Total BMW enjoyed working with us so much on the ‘Detailing To A Budget’ feature they came back and we helped out with a feature on detailing the interior of a car.

Most detailing articles concentrate on the exterior of the vehicle, because it’s the most visible part of the vehicle – the exterior gives you the wow factor. However getting the interior part right is extremely satisfying to the owner – it gives you that “clean sheets” feeling!

Total BMW began their quest for a cleaner interior started with carpet cleaning. So they grabbed the Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner, diluted it using the corresponding APC Mixing Bottle with Heavy Duty Spray Head and gave the carpets a good spritz. Because APC has optical brighteners it works hard to not only lift out grime but to bring a ‘like new’ feel to them. Using it on the headlining works well too, not forgetting door shuts – this bit gets missed out a lot, but the build up of grease and dirt in these areas happens very quickly and gets unbelievably messy to sort out if not attended to regularly! Using a brush, such as the ValetPRO Sash Brush makes sure you get in to those tight nooks and crannies much more easily than a sponge or a cloth.

Dodo Juice new Basics of Bling range is aimed at simplifying the detailing process for the newbies and uninitiated, so the ‘Basic’ means ‘Easy’ rather than ‘Budget’. The Basics of Bling Drying Towel passed the test for Total BMW.

Door seals and rubbers should be treated too in order to maintain their appearance, keeping them from drying out and cracking whilst helping to maintain their “plumpness”, which helps reduce cabin noise. Total BMW used Meguiar’s Natural Shine Protectant, but other products to consider include ValetPRO’s Dionysus Trim Glitz and Swissvax’s Seal, specifically designed for rubber.

Seats, particularly the driver’s seat take a lot of wear and tear, so it’s important to clean them on a regular basis. Most BMWs have leather seats, so Total BMW gave Zaino’s Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner a whirl and gave it the thumbs up. Z-9 has a clean, natural smell and Total BMW said it left their leather feeling very supple. For older leather in need of extra care Zaino’s Z-10 Leather in a Bottle Treatment & Conditioner leaves a non-sticky, non-greasy finish and helps to keep leather supple. However, having tried Gtechniq’s Clear Vision Glass Kit, Total BMW wanted to try out their L1 Leather Guard and they weren’t disappointed! But if you’re looking for the pinnacle of leather care the Swissvax Leather Care Kit is hard to beat.

For the cockpit a ValetPRO Dash Brush works well on the air vents and the creases in the dash board whilst the Meguiars Natural Shine Protectant “is great because it doesn’t leave that tacky Arthur Daley sheen on any surfaces”. Wipe the dash down with Dodo Juice’s Mr Pink Interior Detailing Mitt for a subtle sheen result. Dodo’s new Clearly Menthol Glass Cleaner is an alcohol-based cleaner which really works a treat even for those who have trouble cleaning glass without leaving smears everywhere. For the finishing touch you need a decent air freshener. Total BMW gave Autoglym’s Clean Linen a try: “Hyper Fresh is a worthy replacement for a conventional ‘hanging’ and often useless, air freshener. It emits a ballistic amount of product at the touch of a button and the fragrance is …..nice and fresh”.

Getting your car spick and span means paying attention to the detail – shiny paintwork is only the start of it – together with Total BMW we hope we’ve shown you how to get the most from interior detailing. Now, take the lollipops off the kids and put the dog in the boot!

You can read the full article as featured in the Total BMW Magazine using the link below.

Ultimate Finish Interior Detailing Guide, Total BMW September 2011

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Aqua Gleam – A Users Personal Experience

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Simon Town

From time to time invites guests to contribute to the Car Care Blog, writing product reviews and expressing opinions. Simon Town, a long standing customer of Ultimate Finish, had heard about Aqua Gleam De-ionising Water Filters and decided to take a look for himself. And this is what he said:

I live near Ashford in Kent and have always had trouble cleaning the car in hot weather. No matter how much effort I put into the process – Ultimate Snow Foam, 2 bucket method, Poorboys Super Slick ‘n’ Suds Shampoo, wool wash mitt, Mothers Drying Towel – in the hot weather I always end up with a streaky finish. After a bit of researching on the net I discovered the root cause of my streaking problem: hard water. In fact, here in the South East, we have the hardest water in the country:

So what is the solution? I didn’t want a system that was going to add chemicals to the water; I needed something that was going to remove the impurities in the water to stop the water marks from happening. I’d heard about so thought it was time to take a closer look.

Initially I thought it looked a bit expensive, but then when I compared it to the cost of installing a full water softening system I discovered that it’s positively a bargain. So I gave The Ultimate Finish a call and in no time at all an box landed on my porch!

What’s in the box?

• 0ppm filter – leaves absolutely no contaminants in the water
• Short hose and two high quality Hoselock quick connectors
• Instructions (don’t worry very simple!)

Next step was to wash the car using my usual method:

Sorry, no real close ups but as you can see the car’s just been rinsed off with the trusted Kranzle, and would normally now be dried as quickly as possible with a Mother’s Drying Towel. This time though I connected the Aqua Gleam filter to my hosepipe and gave the car a good soaking with the de-ionised water.

The filter itself was really easy to fit particularly as it’s supplied with the two good quality quick connectors. Although the water in my area is very hard I do have pretty good water pressure, so I moderated the flow through the tap so that the output was a manageable stream and the filter media had time to work its’ magic on the water:

On this occasion I rinsed the car with a free flowing hose, but only really because my hose gun picked up some frost damage through the winter and needs to be replaced. (Forgive my presence in the photos; my 8 year old took the pics….)

It took me about 5 minutes to work around the whole car, although in fairness you probably don’t need to take that long.

On this occasion I decided to really push the system and simply let the car dry in the sun! Well, it did mean less work and a reduced chance of damaging the paint whilst in the drying stage:

The test was conducted in August, so it was pretty hot and it didn’t take long for the car to dry. And here are the results!

A close up of the wing; as you can see no streaks or hard water spots!

Over all, close inspection did reveal some very minor spots but subsequent uses have lead me to believe I may not have allowed the hose to adequately purge the unfiltered water before the de-ionised rinse phase. However, I can honestly say that the improvement is massive; there is absolutely no way I could have left the car to dry in the sun without the Aqua Gleam rinse. Well, not without coming back to a polka-dotted car!

Benefits:

• Quick and easy install
• Simple to use
• Very effective outcome

Disadvantages:

• Cost
• Cartridge needs draining after use and stored in the dark to protect the filter media
• Limited life in hard water area

In conclusion I was really pleased with the system. There is no doubt it is very effective and I will definitely be using it when the weather is hot and there is a chance that water could dry on the car. I have used the filter on our Polo and followed up with a drying towel and again the results have been a great streak free finish. So, in short – thanks to The Ultimate Finish! Aqua Gleam – ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’!

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