How to Wash your Smart Inside and Out?

[jwight]

Steve, just wash 'em really well with any car wash liquid or Simple Green, let 'em dry and then apply whatever wax you use on the car to the wheels - a time consuming job. A good coat of wax makes the next wash a lot easier. There are products sold to "repel brake dust" but I have no idea if they are effective or not.

[bazman]

Hi

Dont know if these things are available in the USA but for keeping brake dust off wheels I find the best thing is a physical barrier such as "Weigl Pro disc covers"

For the bodywork I NEVER use a car wash - doesn't matter how gentle they look you WILL find small scratches if you look close and these will only get worse over time.

I do understand that self-cleaning in temps of -10 is not sensible so would reccommend a "sealing" type polish such as "Diamondbrite". This means that after applying you only need to rinse the car and let it dry.

Check out the link http://www.jewelultra.co.uk/

As far as waiting for some time before applying a wax this is not something I have ever heard, in fact "Diamondbrite" is an option offered by many dealers here on both brand new cars and second-hand.

hope this helps

[stuberman]

Originally Posted by ladybugb

Good question about the Plexus. And do you use it on the tridiron cell as well? or stick with Liquid Glass?

I am using the Plexus on the roof and the plastic trim around the rear window.

I am using the Liquid Glass on the body and Tridion cell.

I am using Turtle Wax's "Clear Guard" on the blask plastic pieces below the body (front, sides and center) as well as misc black plastic like door handle areas and antenna. I have used this stuff for many years to give black plastic a nicer 'wet and shiny' look.

[timhood]

Originally Posted by ladybugb

Now that the weather is getting a little nicer (fingers crossed) I'd love to handwash my Smart. Interested in what products people are using on the plastic panels and if you're using anything different on the panels and for the roof. Also, leather interior Smarties...what are you using to clean and condition the seats. What about the dash? Thanks in advance.

I bought a large bottle of Meguiar's Gold Class quite a long time ago and it's been lasting me well. For washing, just about any auto wash product will do the job**no dish soap. For polishing, I've been very happy for years and years with polyurethane-based products like NuFinish/Finish 2001. I also recommend getting a claybar kit and doing a claybar job about once a year. You'd be amazed at the crap that gets in your paint.

For the leather, I highly recommend Lexol. I've been using this since my first car (all but one of my cars has had leather). They have a separate cleaner and conditioner. Use the cleaner as necessary and condition probably quarterly to keep everything supple.

The dash is a new beast for me, being fabric covered. I would vacuum occasionally with a clean brush tool attachment and use a fabric cleaner with a wet-dry vac to resolve any spills/stains that (hopefully don't) arise.

[belkin666]

for more than a year, I've been using the Meguiar's products, [clay bar, #7 polish and NXT wax] recommended on:

Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia

tried some Mother's and turtle wax products but they were not as good.

also, the meguiar's #40 vinyl and rubber cleaner & conditioner on interior and exterior rubber and plastic and tires, and, the #39 Heavy duty vinyl cleaner works fantastic on all-weather floor mats. And, using PlastX on the rear wing windows.

[pwbapro]

Now my smart was assembled July 11. It is August 2. Should I be thinking about polishing from the get-go, or wait a period for the paint to "cure"? Anybody?

[SylenThunder]

Originally Posted by stuberman

...... I have heard that it is a very bad idea to use Rain-X on the roof!.......

I am curious about where you heard this. I looked all over and couldn't find anything about using rain-X on the roof, but I tested an area, and have since applied it to all of the windows, roof, and headlamps. So far I have had no bad results, and even after a good rain the roof looks just washed. None of the water spots that I would get before. As for the rest of the car... I pretty much just scrub the front wheels and lightly soap the rest of the car.

[jefferios]

I heard that using rain-x continuously will create a white haze on the roof, and my possibly peel off the finish as the alcohol dries it out. It does the same thing to headlights where it can peel off the finishing coat. I'm not letting rain-x get near my roof.

[saronian]

Originally Posted by pwbapro

Now my smart was assembled July 11. It is August 2. Should I be thinking about polishing from the get-go, or wait a period for the paint to "cure"? Anybody?

For most modern new car paint I would say apply wax or sealant right away. But the smart clear-coat seems on the soft side compared to some other cars, Mercedes-Benz and Audi for example. I'm only guessing, but the clear-coat may have been formulated to match the flexibility of the polycarbonate panels and as such could be slightly more susceptible to scratching when new.

I would suggest applying a spray wax/sealant right when you get the car, something easy to apply like Meguiar's NXT Generation Spray Wax or Wolfgang Deep Gloss Spritz Sealant.

Then after a few weeks you can stick with the spray if you like the results, or switch to a paste or cream wax.

BTW - The Tridion cell is not clear-coat but power-coat and should arrive fully cured.

[Rmichael1]

I'm using Zaino products on my smart and am very happy with the results.