Autoglym Lifeshine

[SamF]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has been asked before, can't seem to find anything specific on the search.

As above, has anyone had it done? What is it? Is it worth it? Does it do any damage if applied incorrectly?

All in all, what experiences do you have with it or similar products?

Thanks,
Sam


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[Guest 2]

If you're considering it for a new car then don't do it, get a professional detailer in for a New Car Prep and don't let the dealers wash it before and after.

Apparently with life shine you have to 'top up' the coating every so often.

[SamF]

It was for a new car, so thanks for pointing that out, the dealer added it in the price without yelling me what it was all about.

Any recommendations for a Pro Detailer?

I read the thread about the dealer washing before and after service and complimentary trashing of your paint work!


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[johnsimcox]

Also the cost to the dealer is far lower than the price to you for this. Lifeshine along with GAP Insurance are amongst the most profitable things a dealer can sell you (and hence the sales guy gets a lot of commission!)

[SamF]

Cheers, the dealer has thrown 4 years GAP in FOC, granted they prob just flexed the cost of the car to cover it anyway.....

With regards to the Lifeshine, I have been looking around any the general consensus on other forums is don't under any circumstances let the dealer do anything to the car - to the point of even taking the shipping wrappers off! Get a Pro Detailer in to the dealer when the car gets delivered.

I am more that happy to do this so any suggestions for Pro Detailers in the Grimsby area (dealer location) or Leicester? Not sure how I would get it home without getting it dirty?!


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[Whippy53]

Puts hands up! I did it! But i kinda trusted the dealer to do it right. When I picked the car up I paid particular attention to the paint finish, the salesman thought I was a loony squinting along the surfaces under the showroom lights, 'cos believe me I would have thrown it back at them at the first sign of hazing, scratching, buffer trails etc. It was perfect. It will add some additional protection to the paint but yes you still need to wax twice a year. I do mine anyway so it's no hardship.

In the end it's up to the individual. But if not 100% sure, yeah get a detailer involved. At this point may I add that the finish on an Audi appears to be leagues ahead of the comp, looked at a friends brand new 6 series the other week and it looked like a satsuma it had that much orange peel on it.

[SamF]

Damn you for providing a balanced argument! :D


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[Whippy53]

Whoops!

[ukgroucho]

Had it thrown in on mine and I assume the dealer actually did it.

The car looked fabulous when I collected (see pic) it and comes up lovely after a wash - I probably need to detail it properly right now ... July collection... but with the current weather it is just filthy.23578

[SMILEMAN]

Same as whippy and groucho, my dealer done it and the finish on collection was perfect.
I went for alcantara seats so I was quite keen on the lifetime stain protection.....

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[johnsimcox]

Cheers, the dealer has thrown 4 years GAP in FOC, granted they prob just flexed the cost of the car to cover it anyway.....

With regards to the Lifeshine, I have been looking around any the general consensus on other forums is don't under any circumstances let the dealer do anything to the car - to the point of even taking the shipping wrappers off! Get a Pro Detailer in to the dealer when the car gets delivered.

I am more that happy to do this so any suggestions for Pro Detailers in the Grimsby area (dealer location) or Leicester? Not sure how I would get it home without getting it dirty?!


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Some dealers will allow a professional detailer of your choosing to use their site to do the work. Worth asking.

Also there was a post on here a while back ( complimentary cleaning - avoid avoid avoid (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?149509-complimentary-cleaning-avoid-avoid-avoid&highlight=lifeshine+car+wash+dealer)) from someone who had Lifeshine done and then found his dealer had put the car through a car wash when it was serviced thus apparently invalidating the Lifeshine guarantee.

[Necroscope]

I've seen it applied correctly and I've seen the mess when they get it wrong as well.

Yes I've had it done previously as well, but I've never paid and never would.

When my car arrives it's going to beau technique for a new car detail the following week.

Some dealers will let detailers in, most will not due to insurance, you can always ask though.

[retired99]

When I ordered my car I declined the Autoglym offer because

(a) it's too expensive, as others have said the money is better spent with a detailer and / or other options

(b) I was concerned about damage.

When I collected the car the salesman apologized that they'd applied the Autoglym treatment by mistake.

I had a good look at the car and I thought the finish was excellent, no damage that I could see. A couple of days later picking a friend up from a detailer the detailer had a look at my car and was quite complimentary about the finish.

I suspect this is down to the individual doing the work rather than the product.

I still wouldn't spec it on a new car as the price is too high, but as mine was free I was quite happy.

[SamF]

Thanks all for your replies, for ref, the dealer added £290 for the Lifeshine.

So, to summarise, I take the risk with the dealer and hope that the individual doing it knows and cares about what they are doing.

Get a Detailer in to the dealer when delivered, if they will let me.

Pick the car up, get it pro detailed at home.

What are the pros and cons for the last option?


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[stuart]

I was offered this when I purchased my new car 3 years ago, but I declined, but they did the exterior paintwork anyway... no charge...

For the dealer to do the whole car they wanted £300, this included the interior and exterior, plus the 10 year Autoglym warranty and the fancy bag with all the Autoglym products inside...

I went on Ebay and purchased a full, unopened, unused kit including the fancy bag for £50.00 from a detailing company... I do not get the 10 year Autoglym warranty, but I have done the whole car, more than once from the same kit, and saved £250.00 :)

This also shows what a rip off it is at dealer level... as I say you pay £300 ish to get your car done... the dealer may do 2-3 cars from one kit....

Stuart

[Passatier3]

I bought my car before visiting this forum and so had it done as part of the deal.

As with others they did a really good job. When I gave it a wash and wax I ran my fingers over it and you could feel the odd particle in the finish but not worth the trouble of claying etc.

I just give it a coat of Autoglym HD Wax now and again and sometimes after a wash use Rapid Detailer and it comes up a treat.

Car's going into the repairers later this week to have the bumper scratch done (delayed due to hospital visit) and I'd already produced signs to put in the car saying do not wash, particularly with an auto car-wash. But having made enquiries of a friend who works in head office they don't have an auto car-wash on site anyway and he's going to keep an eye on the work. Still wish the car wasn't going in but at least I have the best chance of no problems.

[rickerby]

I've had cars with it and cars without it and it didn't make a damn of difference. Now like extended warranties on electrical appliances and gap insurance I tell the salesman this is something I want off the agenda before we even start negotiations over a new car.p

[SamF]

Just a quick update and I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask :D

I asked the dealer about the Lifeshine treatment, it is done in house but they do have a pro detailer (not a spanner monkey) and all he does is pre-delivery detailing and treatment. Allegedly, they take 12 hours, does this sound about right??

I'm going to take my chances and leave them to do it, I do have faith and some element of trust in the dealership, which is why I traveled 200 miles round trip and placed the order with them in the first place.
One can hope that as I have specifically mentioned it, they may take that little bit of extra care over it. Ultimately, if I'm not happy they can either do it again or pay me back and I get someone else to do it.

[M1tchy]

I had it done to a car a few years ago and may as well have set fire to my £300. I think it is a waste of money and is essentially just a coat of wax which I do regularly anyway.


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[Necroscope]

"Sounds like" youre in better hand than most Sam. Lifeshine is never going to be as good as any of the pro solutions like Gtechniq or Polish Angel, but im sure you will be happy enough.

[Passatier3]

I think that for most of us, not showing our cars etc., that as long as it is shiny we are happy.

Particularly, as mostly our cars have to put up with the rigours of everyday use, stone chips etc.

[SamF]

shiny is good!

I will be traveling a minimum of 2k miles a month and was hoping the benefit of getting this done is a quick blast with a jet wash will have it looking good again.
About once a month I was hoping to give it some more love and wash it properly by hand and then maybe once/twice a year get it professionally cleaned.

You might think Im barking mad and you probably right :biglaugh:

[Passatier3]

It ain't that easy!

Lifeshine is really only the starting point and you really need to get some wax on. As I've said I use Autoglym HD Wax and am surprised how clean the car stays in these atrocious conditions - the rain and dirt just seems to run off. The colour helps though.

A quick clean makes it look even better. No jet wash for me though!

[SamF]

Thanks, so after I get it lifeshined and drive it home, can I just put the HD wax or any of the other products mentioned over the top (following a clean obviously)? And of course, that's if they dont balls up the lifeshine application!

[fest0r]

All this talk about lifeshine made me look into DIY products and I ordered CarPro CQuartz. Looks quite easy to apply and gets good reviews. If it does last anywhere near 2 years (as advertised) I will be delighted. Some conflicting info out there so I’m still not clear if I can clay/wax the car first then apply CQuartz or just clay it then apply, but I will RTFM when it arrives :D

[ScottyA6]

Thanks, so after I get it lifeshined and drive it home, can I just put the HD wax or any of the other products mentioned over the top (following a clean obviously)? And of course, that's if they dont balls up the lifeshine application!

I don't think so, the kit you get with Lifeshine includes a bottle of Super Resin Polish and some Aqua Wax so they must expect you to use them. Personally I have always liked SRP as a polish, good filling qualities and easy to use. I would only use the Aqua Wax as an intermediary top up between 'proper' waxings though. After a play with Finishkare 1000P I am back to my old faithful Collinite 845 for winters and Race Glaze 55 for Summer.

[JimC64]

Lifeshine is a waste of money Sam, Stuart & others hit that particular nail on the head.....IMO anyways.

Do yourself and your car a huge favour and get a pro detailer to do the job for you, it'll be the absolute best starting point for your vehicle.

[SamF]

When my car arrives it's going to beau technique for a new car detail the following week.



Hey Necro, I have been looking at Beau on the net, it turns out they are only 40 mins away from where I live.
Love to see the results, Can you say what they quoted for the new car detail and what are you going for?

Cheers!

[SamF]

OK OK! :Blush:

I have in the past through my own mistakes and stupidity, tried something out only have it bite my in the ***!

You lot have (in the nicest possible way) 'decades' of knowledge and experience far beyond mine and I entirely agree with what you all say.
It might as you say be based on personal opinion, but opinion is based on experience......

I have to say, this one of the most engaging and diverse forums I am a member of and thank you all for your support - and guidance!


Next - email to dealer saying no thanks.
email to Beau (or others if you can recommend a Leicester area one) for new car detail!

I assume it is OK for me to drive the car straight out of the dealer and get it properly seen to a week or so later?



Thanks again VWAF! :beerchug:

[ScottyA6]

You should push for Lifeshine for free if for no other reason you get a nice bag of kit with it ! (there must be £30 of microfibres in there if you went down ********* to buy them) I had to take the external treatment of my bonnet because they hadn't let it cure and it looked like an oil slick from certain angles but beyond that it is something between muck, bird poo and my paint that I didn't have to put there myself !

I don't think it is in any way an alternative to decent car care, either inside or out but if you can get it for nowt (as I did) whats the harm ? Paying for it... I don't think so !

[Necroscope]

Sam, give Scott a call at Beau, how will set you straight on all of the above ;-) For reference I'm going for cosmic glass coat 9h and only the interior protection. You can talk cost with Scott, he's a top bloke. Check out his work on Facebook and detailingworld.com

If the dealer adds the life shine it will be something more for your detailer to remove before correction and sealant.

Yes you can drive the car for as long as you want, it gets a full snow foam, clean and clay before any other work is started.

FWIW I think you're doing the right thing.

[Johnny31]

I politely declined dealer's offer on this stuff; at the time, took my car to Paul from Shineon (the bloke who featured in FifthGear :) ) and he did his magic (after two weeks from me picking up the car from the dealer). I know GTechniq products were used throughout, including C1 Crystal Lacquer on the paint. The car looked magical afterwards (garnet red really took it fantastically well). Even after 8 months, the valeter doing our cars in the office cannot believe the finish after the simple wash. Hence, I'm happy...


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[Passatier3]

I don't think so, the kit you get with Lifeshine includes a bottle of Super Resin Polish and some Aqua Wax so they must expect you to use them. Personally I have always liked SRP as a polish, good filling qualities and easy to use. I would only use the Aqua Wax as an intermediary top up between 'proper' waxings though. After a play with Finishkare 1000P I am back to my old faithful Collinite 845 for winters and Race Glaze 55 for Summer.

I didn't get a bag of products with mine! :( Got my car in April so probably a little late to ask for one now!

Was trying to think back to when I first waxed the car and I'm pretty sure that I applied Super Resin Polish first - I've been using it on my motorcycles for years.

Bit arbitrary though now as it looks a s though Sam is gong down the detailing route.

[Passatier3]

I politely declined dealer's offer on this stuff; at the time, took my car to Paul from Shineon (the bloke who featured in FifthGear :) ) and he did his magic (after two weeks from me picking up the car from the dealer). I know GTechniq products were used throughout, including C1 Crystal Lacquer on the paint. The car looked magical afterwards (garnet red really took it fantastically well). Even after 8 months, the valeter doing our cars in the office cannot believe the finish after the simple wash. Hence, I'm happy...


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Not knocking those that have gone down the detailing route - I may do the same if buying another car, but I have to say that metallics tend to look good anyway, even after a few years and especially something like red.

My wife's Mini (metallic blue) is three years old and has no special treatment on it and yet after a quick wash it comes up a treat.

My personal view is that it's flat colours that benefit more from detailing. But as the discussion has been about Lifeshine v Detailing on a new car then if choosing the latter then fair enough.