Washing/drying your A2

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Rob Earl

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OK, washing it is not really the problem. The problems start when I come to chammy it dry. Water seems to get behind the bumper inserts, in/under/around the spoiler, in the boot crease etc and it is a right pain to dry completely.
This becomes especially apparent if you then go on to polish the car as water keeps on appearing from various cracks & crevices. Does anyone have a quick and simple way of getting the water away? I've tried with kitchen roll but this was only partially sucessful. I've thought about going for a drive to blow dry it but then it will have got dirty again before the polish is applied.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a 1.4SE petrol. http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk14.htm http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/safety.htm
New A2 - Ebony Black, Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.
 
I know what you mean. I use Mer polish which can be applied to a wet car, and the application rag soaks up most moisture, and then the buffing rag takes off the rest-but there is always water in the mirror casings that drops down!.

You could try a J-Cloth, which is stiffer than paper towels and therefore gets into the gaps better. Failing that, if you have a garage, it's a wash in the evening and a polish in the morning.

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
 
I use the edge of the chammy to get in the gaps, as for those areas you can't get at I spend large amounts of time wandering around and wiping up the drops. If I need to polish its wash in the morning, move A2 to sunnier spot and leave to dry, then move the A2 to a shady spot to do the polishing.

Lee and Sheridan,
TDI SE, Build 11/01, Dolphin Grey
50% Brighter Bulbs : Audi 6 CD Changer : Rear drinks holder : Floppy Wiper : Centre Tray : Elasticated Belt System : Chrome Numberplate Surround : A3 Transmission Nets
 
Rob, I take it that you are planning for the big pre-Castle Coombe car washing session today. Mine is scheduled for this afternoon, I have the Karscher and chammy at the ready!

I know what you mean though about the drips and dribbles, they do get annoying. The boot I don't have such a problem with as if you open it up and chammy the metal and plastic areas inside the boot door, it virtually stops all drips. But from the boot spoiler and wing mirrors, I have no solution, except to run round the car about 12 times chammying the same places!

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2001 TDi SE:http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk1.htm Cobalt Blue Metallic | Open Sky Roof | Kenwood Mask CD | Front Centre Armrest | Front Centre Tray

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If I'm just washing and drying, I chammy off and then go round the car several times. If I'm waxing I chammy and then take the car around the block, that gets most of the water from those awkward places running off (this helps get the brake discs shiny again as they discolour at the slightest hint of moisture if not used).

The worst areas are around the front grille, the base of the fixed side windows, mirrors, rear spoiler and base of hatch where it meets the top of the bumper, for some reason the off side is worse than the nearside with regards the hatch area.

I've had black cars before which look great when washed but are a bit of a pain to keep that way. I find silver much better in that respect.

Shaf

Nov 2002 TDi Sport, Silver,Black/grey interior,climate. Replaced previous Mar 2001 TDi SE
 
hello everyone
Quick tip when i clean my A2 i usually blow using my breath in the cracks and that usually defuses all the water away so you can polish without getting water caught in your polish cloth.
Don't do this if anyone is watching does'nt look healthy but hey gets rid of the water.

cheers [:p]

A.D.Simmons
 
I follow the tips on the Autoglym site - open and close the doors a couple of times as you leather off the car - dislodges most of the standing water!

Ian

2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are NEARLY all the A2s in Lichfield are silver ? ? ?
 
That's a really good common sense idea, one of those you say, now why didn't I think of that.

Shaf

Nov 2002 TDi Sport, Silver,Black/grey interior,climate. Replaced previous Mar 2001 TDi SE
 
My best tip for washing is get someone else to do it. If you've
got the time and money Zymol is the best polish i've ever come across
It takes a while to apply as you have to remove the old polish but
the results are out of this world.

One tip never use silicon based products, if you ever have paintwork in the future it causes HELL with the painting process.
 
One tip never use silicon based products, if you ever have paintwork in the future it causes HELL with the painting process.

What??? are you talking about. Bodyshops always degrease bodywork before painting. Most polishes in the retail sector and trade sector have silicone in them

2002 1.6 FSI Azure Blue DIS Blue Interior
 
I work in the motor industry (25 years +) and many a dealer/garage and even these mobile guys (including some approved bodyshops) do not 'degrease bodywork' or even wash your car before prepping the paintwork as time is money and with so many claims via insurance companies they like to nail every penny out of the bodyshop. If you have a bodyshop that spend that much time on your car you've done well.

Yes you're right many polishes do contain silicone, but there are good ones that don't.
 
The key is wax and not polish - major difference in what they do to your paintwork. Trying to find a link to an excellent site I found, but cant right now. You need to find a wax product with a high % of quality wax in it (not cheap but a little goes a very long way) that actually builds a protective layer on the paint rather than using chemicals to strip back layers of your old paintwork to reveal the gloss.....and then use it regularly.
 
here's the link I mentioned above. Some good tips and superb products. Those silicon blades are awesome for getting the water off your car - 100% better than a chamois IMHO. I got a cheap one from TMC and i would never go back - not quite so good for the A2 roof though with the ridges......
 
I agree about those silicone blades, excellent for removing most of the water but I still need to mop up with a chammy at the end due to all the nooks and crannies - would you agree.
Shaf

Nov 2002 TDi Sport, Silver,Black/grey interior,climate. Replaced previous Mar 2001 TDi SE
 
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