Prepping to sell

longwalks1

My car is looking a bit tired, 2003 in Java Black paint, had her for the last 3 years and she always parked in a dusty, gravel driveway and probably hasnt been cleaned as often as she should of been, not so much mud, more dust from the gravel. I'm thinking of selling her and want to prep her for photos, without spending loads of stuff i wont use again. What should i use t get her looking as good as i can? Asked a guy in work and he listen a load of things to buy, orbital polisher, several different grade polishing pads, even different grade compounds to polish her with

Is there anything out there that'll make the job a bit easier?

scotsbob

Thorough soaking
Wash with washing up liquid to get rid of old wax
Clay bar
Polish
Wax
Clean glass
Polish glass
Dress tyres
Vacuum interior and boot
Spray interior with air freshner

Job done

vaio

or just pay to get a valeting guy to do it for you, likely be much cheaper then buying all the cleaning stuff for what is effectively a "one off"

DUTR

scotsbob wrote: »

Thorough soaking
Wash [STRIKE]with washing up liquid to get rid of old wax[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Clay bar[/STRIKE]
Polish
Wax
Clean glass
Polish glass
Dress tyres
Vacuum interior and boot
Spray interior with air freshner

Job done

I agree to a point, although I disagree that washing up liquid will remove wax (old wives tale)
Clay bar, was the rage but not required and waste of money, I agree polish, clean the glass vacuum, dress the tyres.
How little does the OP want to spend?
Supermarket all purpose cleaner for the wash, polish can be had for under a fiver, astonish glass cleaner for a £1, Zoflora citrus for the interior clean and pre vac spray oh and a set of microfibre cloths and some polishing cloth. However the OP may find a local wanna be detailer that will do the job for under £50 and will get the vehicle presentable enough for the early sale.

Weird_Nev

It's worth paying £50 to valet a car prior to sale, especially if you have no kit and aren't particularly into cleaning cars as a hobby.

Get it properly cleaned and waxed, then you can just clean it off quickly with car shampoo and microfibre cloths prior to a viewing, so it still looks as good in the photos.
A chamois is very useful to prevent streaks too.

forgotmyname

Throw some water over it and it will gleam in the photo's. Photo's do tell lies when it comes to cars.

What appears to be an immaculate shining looks like new car can have a terrible paint job and rust visible when inspecting it.

Buy a cheap shampoo and wax and an interior shine. Dont waste £50 + on a 10 year old car.

DigForVictory

If you're thinking of going into the car-care business, all of the original list may well be of use.
If you just want to clean it up enough to get rid, find a valet service.
Or take it to the carwash & hoover it yourself? (Bit depends on the hoped for selling price!)

OddballJamie

If you want to do it on the cheap then just pick up one of these sets
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-cleaning-accessories/exterior-cleaning/car-gift-packs/?542771400&0&cc5_598
and spend the afternoon on it.

Although I have a suspicion it's a Land Rover so still worth a bit at ten years, if that's the case then get a valet done.

fivetide

Would also go for a valet as they'll sort the inside as well as outside.

Essentially you'll spend £50 and could put £££££ on the value of the car.

It doesn't sound like detailing is your thing OP so I can't imagine you'll be looking to do the best possible job if you did it yourself. Not a criticism by the way, just an observation!

Also - I am pretty sure that washing up liquid has a high salt (sodium) content so would not wash a car with that. A decent cleaner like T-cut will strip back swirls etc, you'd then need to clay it, polish it and then wax it so a good few hours work!

motorguy

forgotmyname wrote: »

Throw some water over it and it will gleam in the photo's. Photo's do tell lies when it comes to cars.

What appears to be an immaculate shining looks like new car can have a terrible paint job and rust visible when inspecting it.

Buy a cheap shampoo and wax and an interior shine. Dont waste £50 + on a 10 year old car.

I totally disagree with this.

Speaking as a trader who regularly sells cars at this price point, you will more than get back your £50 investment in a good valet.

I would definintely get it done professionally though, rather than trying to get all the bits and doing a half arsed job at it.

Well worth it.

DUTR

fivetide wrote: »

Would also go for a valet as they'll sort the inside as well as outside.

Essentially you'll spend £50 and could put £££££ on the value of the car.

It doesn't sound like detailing is your thing OP so I can't imagine you'll be looking to do the best possible job if you did it yourself. Not a criticism by the way, just an observation!

Also - I am pretty sure that washing up liquid has a high salt (sodium) content so would not wash a car with that. A decent cleaner like T-cut will strip back swirls etc, you'd then need to clay it, polish it and then wax it so a good few hours work!

You can easily find the ingredients in washing up liquid, salt was used as a thickner before modern day chemicals, I am on another forum for detailing, I have done plenty of experiments with all sorts of stuff thrown over cars, I can assure you washing up liquid won't strip wax (after all wax is detergent proof) T-cut can work in skillful hands, clay is made from somechalk mateial (the name escapes me) but it's the same stuff that's in car polish (hence the white staining that can occur on trim) , I agree it's a good few hours work in experienced hands, hence why the OP may as well pay somebody to do the tasks for him.