Purchase Meguiars from US and ship to UK?

[LeaUK]

Hi all

Products are so expensive here in the UK, so I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can purchase the Meguiars range from a US based retailer that will also ship to the UK?

I've done a comparison between Meguiars UK and Meguiars US and the difference is astonishing especially if we consider the 2:1 exchange rate too :-)

Any recommendations?

Currently been looking at Autopia..... http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

Also, I'm still left confused about which cloth type to use to apply polish/wax!
I'm thinking of NXT paste with a Ultra Plush Super Terry to apply then buff off with Supreme Shine Microfiber? Any thoughts?

One last thing, I can't decide between Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner (inexpensive by volume) and a Clay detailer to remove contamination before the NXT paste - again, any thoughts chaps?


Thanks
Lea

[mike65]

try autogeek

I suspect the handling costs + duty would mean the savings are minimal if any.

Mike.

[jonw440]

We will always try to put the fairest minimum price on customs form!! I trust you will be pleased.



We only ship USPS Express. USPS doesn’t request/require additional brokerage fees like other shipping partners. Order is tracked until received and gets there in predictable and reliable timeframe – 5-10 business days.

I have sent at least 10 PC kits to the UK (big heavy package) and my customers are ALWAYS happy!!
PM me for detailed instuctions on sending to the UK.

[jjrodger]

I have purchased Meguiars NXT (before it was available in the UK) and some other stuff from Autopia and shipped to the UK. No customs duties (although it took about 3 weeks to clear customs). Shipping was quite pricey. I can only recommend Autopia, excellent service. Meguiars UK has most of the stuff here, though.

[LeaUK]

Thanks for the replies guys.

With the current 2:1 exchange I suspect that even when duty is applied it will still be significantly cheaper, although I wish I had a clear understanding of how duty is calculated - anyone care to enlighten me?

Meguiars UK does carry equivalent product range when compared to their US branch but you got to admit it's extremely tempting to buy from the US at the moment, no matter what product

BTW - Any thoughts on Deep Crystal Cleaner V's Clay detailer for use say every 4 months or so?

Jon - I'm guessing you represent Autopia? I'll send you a PM...


Cheers
Lea

[jjrodger]

Lea, I use Meg's clay and deep crystal system. Although I wax the SL quite often and wash it even more, I only give it an Autopian-style works treatment about twice a year. For this reason I have never gone beyond Meguiar's consumer range.

I used the clay to remove all of the tar stains, encrusted horse ***** and stubbon flies. It works amazingly well at removing this stuff quickly and easily. It's amazing just how speckled the lower body gets with this kind of difficult-to-shift stuff. I'm still on my first clay bar. You can use it with the detail spray or just with water as a lubricant.

I have used the deep crystal paint cleaner and polish, too. Again, these products have impressed me. They definitely hide very minor cosmetic defects and add depth to the paint. I find ScratchX better at hiding swirls, though. I'm not convinced I could ever get ride of all the swirl marks in my paint, though.

My spring clean routine is this:

Wash
Clay
Scratch X
Deep Crystal cleaner
Deep Crystal polish
NXT tech wax
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Zymol carbon wax

I have found Meguiar's Quick Detailer to be an excellent way of removing dust and light dirt from my finish. I prefer it to Final Detail. On a regular basis I wax with NXT and do the "highlights" (eg bonnet, boot lid, wheel arches and waistline) with the Zymol. I went off the Zymol for a long time but think it tops NXT very well.

My wife can't stand me even washing the car, so normally I have to do some serious DIY before I can get away with it!

I would have thought you will save a lot buying a bulk order from the US. I don't know how customs duties are charges (try www.hmrc.gov.uk) but I never had to pay any on my Autopia shipment.

[LeaUK]

Hi JJ

Wash
Clay
Scratch X
Deep Crystal cleaner
Deep Crystal polish
NXT tech wax
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Zymol carbon wax

WOW - serious detailing JJ. Why the Autoglym and Zymol over the NXT? That's three layers of wax and the WHOLE weekend - not that's a big issue when escaping from the wife though...


For spring I'm hoping to:

Wash
Crystal Cleaner/ScratchX
Polish
NXT

Regular:

Wash
Clay
NXT Paste

But I'm confused over which towels to use

Applicators or polishing cloths for applying Crystal Cleaner/NXT?
Buffing cloths for removing Cleaner/NXT?

My current feeling is:

Blue Perl Microfiber applicator for applying Cleaner/Polish/NXT
Meguiars Supreme Shine Microfiber for removing..

Any thoughts? I'm finding the towels the most difficult to decide upon.

Cheers
Lea

[jjrodger]

I use foam applicators to apply any product, whether it be cleaner, polish, wax, tyre dressing, window polish. And then microfibre towels to remove/buff, with wax generally one to remove and a clean one for a final buff. I just get whatever is cheapest. I bought a box of 3M Scotchbrite microfibres at Costco for next to nothing, they were really good, but now Tescos do microfibres for 94p or something ridiculous like that. No doubt they're not the best, but you can take these things too far.

I've also got an orbital polisher from Halfords, it was only 40quid, which I sometimes use to apply cleaner, polish and wax with, using a terry cloth bonnet. But it is a bore getting it all out, so most of the time I just whiz over with NXT and an applicator pad (you get an applicator free with NXT).

It takes me about 3/4 of a day to do a spring clean. Subsequent clean ups are much quicker: about an hour once a week. It takes me about 20mins to wax with NXT and only 5mins to do the Zymol. I find the Zymol on top of NXT looks incredibly good, a really soft, natural and deep finish on my paint. Reading the Autopia forum, you start to get a bit obsessive...

The other products I'd recommend are Meguiar's Hot Rims: just spray on, leave for 30 seconds, and jet wash off, really effective, even does the inside of the wheels; and Auto Glym Fast Glass, spray on the windows and wipe off with a microfibre, removes bugs and dries without streaking. I keep a spray of Fast Glass, Quick Detailer and Auto Glym Autofresh and a couple of cloths in the boot and if I'm hanging around I'll quickly zip over the car (only if no one is looking, as it is kind of sad ).

Under the bonnet, spray Auto Glym Clean Machine liberally, allow to soak and blast with a hose (put a plastic bag on the alternator). Once you've got the engine clean, it's really easy to keep it that way, just a quick wipe with the chamois. Sad, I know. But I do like the SL to be tip top.

I'm hoping to get permission (ha!) to go to the MB owners club SL day on 28 August at Woburn Abbey in Beds (not too far from you?), but I'm under pressure to sell the "Golden Slug" to raise cash for a holiday house in France... but what is the point of going to the sun in a jalopy?

[LeaUK]

Hi JJ

Found the duty link http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageImport_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001454&propertyT ype=document -thanks for the url..


I've always been a bit hesitant of the foam applicators as to me they just seem as though they'll scratch. I couldn't bring myself to use the freebie one supplied with my Gold Class, but maybe they are ok. I guess Meguiars wouldn't supply them otherwise!

I've been using Terry's 100% towels to apply, but I find I loose significant amounts of polish within the towel and it seems rather wasteful, hence I'm swaying to an applicator pad of some description!

Thanks for the tips.

BTW - I happened to be in my local Benz dealer last week (buying a new Viscous Fan Clutch) and asked about your rear struts. I should of guessed the answer "there's goto be something different between the two part numbers mate, so we wouldn't recommend it". They would reveal the manufacturer and didn't have any further info - sorry.

Lea

[jjrodger]

Thanks for pursuing my struts query, I'm just sitting on them for a while, I'll probably sell them on ebay again soon. I need new tyres desperately, but Mrs R is putting the blockers on any "unnecessary" expenditure (her new BMW 120d is not unnecessary, of course).

As for the applicators, use without fear. They don't scratch, although the foam is supposed to have a very slight "cut", but not enough to mark the paint. Also the product acts as a lubricant. You won't regret switching to the foam pads, much better, and it doesn't ruin your towels. You can put the foam pads in the wash, too, and they come up OK.

[LeaUK]

They would reveal the manufacturer and didn't have any further info - sorry

Whoops that should have read:

wouldn't reveal - but I guess you realised that.

So now my decision is microfiber applicator or foam applicator...LOL...sometimes too much choice causes more problems than it resolves