steveb008 Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 I am confused. Do I go down the AutoGlym LifeShine or DiamondBrite route? I have been looking around the web, contacted valet companies but I think that made it worse, so I end up with a choice of the two. But which is really the best as they almost seem different products – one (DB) a true sealant and low maintenance, the other (LS) I’m not sure but seems to be a sealant that you still have to wax. The car is a black (metallic) BMW 3 series. I travel over 35,000 miles a year. I want a car that’s easy to clean, smooth to the touch, beads water nicely, have longevity, and looks really shiny. I don’t mind the idea of polishing when it’s nice outside (i.e. not the winter!!). Would like to hear your experiences and thoughts – oh yes I know waxing etc will give better results, but I have to go to work so don’t always have time! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 In my opinion they are a good idea if you are not keen on polishing / waxing your car regularly. The problem is the cost...You can buy the sealed Lifeshine kits on ebay for £20-£30 and the paint sealent is easy to apply. I originally gave my car two coats of this stuff when new. I don't honestly think they are worth the money valeters often charge for an application of these things. (£200-£300??) If you don't want to work on your car yourself, I'd get a good valeter / detailer to prepare your car and apply a couple of coats of Collinite 476 wax. If applied in Sept / Oct, 476 should see it through the best part of winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Hello Ok, DB requires maintenance. You need to apply the conserver every month or so after you have washed the car. Lifeshine DOES NOT require waxing. Its a long life durable sealant that doesnt require any special action. There are numerous products you can apply on top Lifeshine, be it a wax or spray detailer or spray sealant when you dry the car. Extra shine for no extra hassle! The question always with these products is the cost the dealers charge as TT has mentioned. IF you can justify the cost then go for it, but personally i would buy the kit and apply myself or just stick with applying a durable wax or sealant once or twice a year! Zaino, Collinite, 1000p. There are prettier looking waxes and sealants if you are able to do it 4 or 5 times a yr! Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Thanks guys for your quick comments. I am in a very fortunate position in that the cost will be covered – and with a proper valet not a dealership – how lucky am I :D. I have looked on ebay and see both products available, this is nice to know if ever I need to ‘touch up’ the protection - you know in case a trolley at the supermarket gets a little too mobile! I like the idea of the ‘full time’ protection of Lifeshine and being able to ‘top-up’ the shine. Having said this I have seen a car that is DiaomondBrite protected and it looks very good (but it’s only a couple of years old). I guess if Lifeshine provides the same level of protection as DiamondBrite, doesn’t need regular waxing to keep the protection but gives the option, quite possibility this edges ahead. Steelwind – you seem very knowledgable on these products. AutoGylm don’t promote the ‘never polish again’ theme, is this to sell more of their product and do you think the overall protection and finish is as good as the ‘lower’ maintenance DiamondBrite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Hello Steve, Was the DB application you saw on Detailing World? I know there was some pics of a car with it applied. If the car is polished first, to a high level of correction then they look really good either Lifeshine or DB. Over time each "sealant" is likely to change in how well it beads and looks depending on how it gets treated. I think the idea behind the Autoglym Lifeshine is that they probably do want to sell you more of there own products! ALso it probably covers up if the original sealant begins to fail early! Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 I saw for real a DB’ed car, it was a neighbours car. He had the work done on a previous car and it always looked good. I have spoken to him this morning and apparently he got a kit from ebay and did it himself – he said it was very easy. The car is now 2 years old and still looks good and shiny. I think you got it right with LS continuously topping up the protection. It’s a marketing thing I guess and the fact so many dis-like AG, but I’ve always thought they were very good and been pleased. Does the LS sealant really have the durability of DB? I might buy one of each on e-bay and test before deciding which to get done in full properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Hi Steve, I have used Lifeshine when i worked at Toyota, it certantly stayed beading for 2 yrs! As for DB i cant say how long it would last i have never had a real world senario with it. I would suspect they are both pretty similar though. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 I have got one of each from ebay and will try them on my old car to see. I will report back in a weeks time on the application and then later on the early stages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 What are you going to do? One half with one, and the other with the other one Looking forwar to seeing the results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 What are you going to do? One half with one, and the other with the other one Something like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Both packs have arrived. I will apply to my car over the weekend and report back on the applicaiton of each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Look forward to hearing how you got on. My new car arrives Sunday and I think I am going to go with the Autoglym Lifeshine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Iam going to apply tomorrow, so I'll report back on that. I am to 'age' them quickly by repeated washing during the week ... plus I've got over 1200 miles to travel during the week too. The process I'm going to follow will be: wash, clay, wash, sealant. Booster, what colour car you getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Quartz grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Ok, I washed the car with a very warm soapy solution to help remove as much of the old wax as possible, clayed the vehicle, washed normally, plenty of rinsing and dryed off (ran to Tesco's for lunch to blow out any moisture!) Split the car into four quarters and diagonally applied sealants (bonnet diamondbrite, boot/roof LifeShine). LifeShine: went of just as EGP would - looks like EGP but with a stronger yellow colour and a stronger smell too. Wait till it's gone dull before wiping off - very easy. 7/10 for easy of application, lost marks because I has to avoid plastic (or at least think I have too). the little bottle will do the car again if needed. DiamondBrite: two stages. Stage 1, nice and easy and can go over plastic. Very clear liquid sometimes difficult to see if you've down a place. 8/10 for Stage 1 application; lost marks for hard to see but gained for going over plastic. Wait a while then Stage 2, a creamy solution. The bottle said put on in straight lines, which was easy enough. 8/10 for Stage 2, just the straight lines to loose it marks. Overall the application of the sealant was easy, the prep is the hard bit, and the bit you pay for (it seems worth it too!!!) The finish: Very little to pick between the two. The DiamondBrite seems a little deeper in colour, but only by a fraction, although the paint work looked a little more 'orange peely' under extreme inspection as a result. I think the DiamondBrite covered very minor inperfections (small stone chips) better. I would challenge anyone to tell the difference. When I asked friends and neighbours their preference there was no winner. Infact you can not tell where the split was (I can 'coz I done it!). I am now going to wash the car every day for a week. I also have about 1200 miles to travel. Hopefully the washing and mileage will help determine the better sealant. I will report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Looking to get a Lifeshine kit. Is ebay the only place you can get them from? They seem far too cheap to be real. eg £6.50 with £6.50 p&p. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Hello Booster, The dealers make huge mark ups, there was reports people were filling these bottles with EGP etc. The ones you get should be sealed with foil across the top, thats an untampered genuine bottle. Personally if your paying £350 for these treatments, i would see about a proper detail with correction that on a 3 series, fresh from a dealer would run at about £200 depending on the wax you choose. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted September 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Now half way through the week. Have jet washed the car every evening (neighbours now know I'm mad!!). The initial silkyness of both sealants has gone, but both still very smooth - put this down to the claying. I'd like to report back on the condition of shinyness etc but it too dark to tell at the moment, will have to wait until the weekend. Beading of water is identical as far as I can tell. Will report back at the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Cheers Geoff, I have bought a kit from a bloke on ebay that has sold about 30 in the last couple of weeks (his work must be missing some stock:rolleyes:) and they state that the bottles were sealed. Am I ok to use the window stuff on the windscreen even though I have aero wipers? I know that Rain X and the like and aero wipers makes for a very smeary windscreen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Looking forward to hearing / seeing the results of this sealent test. I'm not sure beading should be the complete deciding factor as to the best product though (although probably the best). There are some excellent waxes which tend to 'sheet' water rather than bead it. All down to surface tension I guess. I can confirm that the properties of Lifeshine should create beading though. Does / should Diamond Brite do the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Hello Good to see the test is progressing! Im not sure power washing every evening will give the same sort of results as most people will probably wash every 2 or 3 weeks. Beading will probably depleat before protection does, these products often say they have 90% of the shine in the first yr, 60% in the second and X% in the third etc. The best method to test if protection is there is to wash the car, dry the car with out using a QD, then taken an MF and turn it ot a ball, screw it gently against the paintwork, if it squeeks you are rubbing on bare paintwork! Booster, i suspect that the dealer would apply the glass protectant if you had aero wipers or not. The LS window protector is alot like the AG Glass Polish, i never had a problem with it, but i dont have the aero wipers. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Looking forward to hearing / seeing the results of this sealent test. I'm not sure beading should be the complete deciding factor as to the best product though (although probably the best). There are some excellent waxes which tend to 'sheet' water rather than bead it. All down to surface tension I guess. I can confirm that the properties of Lifeshine should create beading though. Does / should Diamond Brite do the same? The tests so far are indiciating DiamondBrite beads - either that or I got some duff mix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb008 Posted September 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 It's Sunday and my test week is over. Am I any thew wiser. Er, no. But I am pleased I carried out the test. I have decided to go with LifeShine. Overall I think on the idea of being able to top up the shine is appealing. I like the idea of putting some AutoGlym High Definiation Wax on top and also having the knowledge of a paint sealant under it. It's only for this reason that I will go for LifeShine. I see Booster commented on the Lifeshine glass protection - may personal advice is NOT to put it on your windscreen. It has worked well in the side windows. I am not a fan of things like rainx even on the front screen (although I do use it on the side and rear). For those that thought DiamondBrite would be better - you know what, you may be right, there was so little to choose between the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I guess a test like this only really delivers a conclusion after 6 months! Although hang on...haven't we had 6 months worth of rain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Got my kit and weather permitting, it wil be applied this weekend. Once I have done it, what's the best way to keep it in good condition? Wax then polish or polish then wax??? And which ones?? AG SRP and AG HD Wax? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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