NEW (to me) mk5 GTI and I need your help

[Legolas1981]

Hello all,

I'm New here and was wondering If you could offer some advice?

  Had my mk5 gti for two weeks now and I love it
Trying to make it love me back by sorting out its personal appearance issues!
Basically, it looks great.. untill you check out a few little details <-- i'm just being fussy really 

Anyway, Wondered if you guys had some advice on detailing, two problems...

1. Exhaust,
Think the image talks for itself. Can get most of it to look quite good, but around the bottom it is so caked on the methods I have tried dont work; metal polish!!! I bet the first owner never cleaned this!!! They look crap when all black!




2. Paintwork,
In general this is pretty perfect considering it is a 05!
What I really would like your advice on is how best to make it that little better...
My mates raving about dodo juice and clay bars etc... but I dont know where to start!




3. Fuel,
Is there a noticeable difference between 95, 98, 99 RON for an unmodified car?


Your advice is very much appreciated, nice cars btw, the ones I have seen!

Thanks!

[Cooper]

Get some fine wirewool to clean up your exhaust should shift all that black off it

I've just clayed and waxed my car today, took about 6 hours but it's never looked so clean so was definately worth it!

As for fuel, try and stick to the high octane fuels such as Shell V-Power or Tesco Super as it's better for the car and performance and mpg will be improved 

[rdfcpete]

1. As Cooper says, wirewool, some engine degreaser and some Meguirs will sort the exhaust. I was out doing mine this very evening pal and have had a mare getting them to look nice. They're much better now, but still a long way off. Takes a lot of elbow grease and I spent a good 25 minutes before I even saw the silver on the section where yours is particularly caked up, at the bottom (just like mine!)

2. Take a look at the Sticky threads in the Detailing/photography sub forums. I'm a complete rookie when it comes to a clean looking car, I haven't even polished mine yet in 2 months of ownership but these will be my source for guidelines and tips.

3. I ONLY use Tesco and Shell fuels generally and I do find it runs ever so slightly happier on a 98/99 ron fuel. As previously mentioned, Tesco Super unleaded and Shell V-Max are the only two that meet the 98ron standard I understand  

[Legolas1981]

holy crap! fast replies!!!!!! thanks!
It seems we've all been washing our cars today!

hmmm... wire wool will that scratch? Should I try the meguirs and other chemical based things first??
next fill up will try something with a little more umph the 95.

[Cooper]

As long as you use fine wire wool you'll be fine

[rdfcpete]

I think it's grade #00 they call it. I'm not even sure mine is that grade, but it's doing the trick and is really effective.

Again, stolen from a thread elsewhere on here, I do the following to get them looking decent:

Best steps would be
- Spray degreaser on pipes and leave for a short time
- Scrub down pipes with wire wool or a stiff brush
- Apply metal polish with wire wool
- Apply metal polish with cloth
- Buff clean
- repeat if necessary

[Gene Hunt]

Bin the exhaust & get a Milltek  .

[stealthwolf]

HAve a read of how I clean my zorst: clicky

Detailing is something you'll pick up whilst reading through the forum and have a look over at detailingworld too.

[Boothy]

When I first came on here I was dubious about spending the extra coin on using a higher octane fuel as my car is totally standard engine wise. I have to say though that the Shell V-power makes quite a big difference IMO. The first time i filled it to the brim and I didn't really notice anything but the second time I filled it (straight after the first tank) I noticed quite a bit of difference.
 Also I might be wrong but I'm sure somebody on here mentioned Tesco juice is Shi*e. Something to do with the amount of additives or something that eats away at your gaskets and stuff.

If you want an explanation of the clay bar and what it does go to the Meguiars web site. They have loads of videos about there products that explain what they do, including the clay bar.

[DanoGTI]

Firstly, welcome

I've been using Autosol (like jif cream but for cars) - this goes a LONG way cleaning the pipes up.

Detailing is a minefield, as EVERYBODY is right!!!  Personally, I'm using alot of the Meguiars stuff. Clay-baring is good, but hard work, and it must be done right, otherwise you can cause paint damage.

Mine's an 05 (there's pic on here somewhere if you want to look),  and the paintwork isn't too bad. But I'm going to treat it to a proper detailing and valet with a professional. Then I know that the paint is good, and my role is to maintain, rather than repair....

I've only used 95 RON once, and never again. The MPG was awful - lost nearly 10 mpg 
I live in the middle of nowhere, so I'll take SUL in whatever format I can get, even if it's 97....

So, steer clear of it imho :)

Dan

[RedRobin]

Bin the exhaust & get a Milltek  .

....But unless you get Milltek's black satin ceramic coated tips you'll still have to be using elbow grease.

[Gene Hunt]

........but with a brand new exhaust you can keep on top of them.

[RedRobin]

........but with a brand new exhaust you can keep on top of them.

^^^^ That's the theory!

Not always so easy in practice.