Same like detailing.....a decent enough quality paint job is worth more than that......

This post has been edited by KrisMas: Mar 10 2015, 05:00 PM

Depends on the quality of workmanship/results. Sounds like a decent price for a good enough quality paint job including all the necessary preparation (removing/sanding off existing paint). If the quality is not there then that price is a bit on the high side. Better check out the cars that they've finished doing to see the quality/results just to make sure.

Use a stronger dilution of shampoo/water mix to wash or use a mild APC as pre-wash. Using a sponge or mf cloth as wash media/mitt would also sometimes help. Depending on the coating you're using, it might or might not remove the hydrophobic layer (assuming it's a coating) or the protection (wax/sealant).

Errr...not really...unless you know your chemistry well, better stick to those meant to be used for automotive paintwork/car care and 'safe' for paintwork. Or you can try very mildly diluted dish washing detergent like Sunlight or something, which is also, in a way, an apc. Just make sure you wash and rinse a section at a time and not let it dry on the surface. Wash again with normal car shampoo afterwards just to wash off any leftover residue.

Plenty. They're a little bit more expensive then 'normal' apc, but it's just a small price to pay for some assurance. Meguiars, Mothers, Duragloss, Optimum, 3M, Sonax and plenty of other car care brands has apc in their product lineup. Just go to the car care section of any supermarket and find one that says 'safe for paintwork' or 'would not harm paintwork'. But try to stick to well established brands like Soft99, TurtleWax, etc. and not the 'no-name' brands....

WOW!!! Looks like there are a lot of imitation 3M Clay bars!!! Even those selling at the Official 3M Website are also fake ones.....

Bro, read between the lines...I was being cynical

I have one 'original' and one 'cheapo' (fake?) version of the 3M clay. Without taking the clay out from the container/packing/box/whatever, I don't know whether anybody can notice any differences or not. Maybe somebody would post something about how the packaging of the originasl as compated to the fake ones. But all I can say is this, based on my own personal observations. The 'original' (hopefully it is) I bought from ACE Hardware and the 'cheapo' version I bought from a friend who bought them in bulk from an online seller. From the look alone, no discernible differences. But the 'original' one felt more pliable (more rubbery) and finer as oppose to the 'chepo' one which has a perculiarly 'powdery' feel and also a little bit less pliable. The 'cheapo' one also seemed like has lightened in colour a little...became slightly light blue...after a few uses. Oh...it also turned the lube/water I was using a little bluish. I don't know wheter it's fake or just a bad batch or had been on the shelf for too long, but I've stored it aside after a couple of use cuz I noticed some clay marring and clay transfer onto the surface of the paint. Nothing a light polish cannot handle but it's a bit of a nuisance. Conclusion: it does work but not as good as the 'original' that I purchased for ACE.

So, to answer your question, if you're concern about the genuinity and fear of low quality of the fake ones, better buy them from a reputable store like ACE Hardware or the like. I haven't been able to find any other reputable hardware shop selling them, even the local 3M supplier doesn't carry them...but that was when I asked around 5 years ago la....

Like I said, it was quite a few years ago when I purchased mine from ACE. Not sure if they still carry them.

I'd suggest Soft99 if you're concern of price, decent enough quality. Used to see them around AEON, Jusco, ACE, etc. But, again, been a while since I've done window shopping for detailing related stuffs...

Sonax HQ is in Subang Jaya.

I threw away my pg after using it on less than half of my front hood.....nuff said....

Crumbled already. Maybe frm storage, or wrong lub used, or just plain low Q, etc...etc.....

If what you've gotten is a 'proper' foam lance, then any car shampoo would do fine, and all the shampoo that I've tried, including some cheapo ones from local brands in supermarket shelves also work. But if you're looking for the cleaning power frm the foam whilst it's dwelling on the paint, then I'd suggest you get the branded ones as oppose to those locally made/supplied to be used for air compressor type foamer that you see in 'commercial' car wash places. Most of them contains TSP which are good in cleaning but would also harm the paint if use often enough. My fav in my foam lance if I'm looking for some cleaning strength is Megs Hyperwash. But, be warned, strong cleaning also means portion of existing wax/sealant *might* go down with the foam and also, in our hot weather, it's not too paint-friendly to leave the foam on the car for too long....even under shade.

Nice save. Happened to me before and I did the same. Only thing is, there was some whitish haze leftover residue on the paint surface after the vinegar wipe but easily removed with a little bit of mild polishing.

Can't see too clearly. But looks like the paint is heavily contaminated and oxidised. That'll need some heavy compounding and polishing. Not a job for DIY unless you have the correct tools/machine and products.

.....and why's that? Oh....hello and welcome back....

That's Megs pro line....they don't advertise them to public. You'd need to walk in to purchase them in Hypercoat or their dealer in Klang.

Consider the option of getting DAS6Pro/Osren Ultramate....half the retail price of a brand new Megs G220 but better performance. If I'm not mistaken the retail price for the G220 is RM1600....

RM40 - RM60.. ....nah...I think it's more like RM4 - RM6. Products are cheap per usage...time/man-hour is what makes commercial detailers charge a high price....

OMG....now you're frightening me!! Let me see how much I'm spending for my normal/regular weekly wash.

1. Shampoo, assuming Hyperwash @ rm230/gallon (128oz), I'd normally pour 1oz into my 20L paint bucket so - RM 0.55
2. For wheels & tires, APC @ 1:10 @ RM130/gallon. I'd normally use around 750ml (diluted or lets just say around 3oz concentrate) per wash - RM 3.00
3. I'm still using the 2 grit guards that I bought almost a decade ago for around RM20 each inside a used paint bucket so cost would be negligible.
4. Wash mitt, RM40 can last me for around 8 months (34 weeks) - RM 1.30
5. Drying towel I'm using Osrens @ RM25/pcs can last for around 6 months (26 weeks) - RM 0.90
6. Topping up with Sonax BSD using around 25ml each time, alternate weeks @ RM80 for 750ml bottle - RM 1.30
7. Water...well...I'm lucky I live in selangor and for the last 5 years I only had to pay my water bills twice - negligible
8. Pressure washer, I'm using a 1700W machine and at the tariff of RM 0.22/kWh assuming using it for a whole 1h non-stop - RM 0.37

Total for the above for my regular weekly wash (assuming I didn't miss anything) - RM 7.42. for a moment there I thought I was spending more than RM40....might as well send my car every week to Autodetailer for washing for that price....

Ok...I have to admit I was wrong saying it to cost RM4 - RM6...but close enough though....

This post has been edited by KrisMas: May 11 2015, 09:53 PM

There use to be a place in PJ where I can get the 303 stuffs a few years back.....but can't seem to find their number/address....

Oh'oh....don't like the look of that backing plate. Lots and lots of cases of 'dissintegration' of that type of yellow foam....including 3 of mine....

Well...the thing is...mine dissintegrated with age cuz I don't really use them much....