Piano Black instrument panel surround: as good as it looks?

[Smith837]

I agree that the glossy black exterior bits are swirl magnets. Guessing (hoping!) the Piano Black interior trim is somewhat different though or uses a more resistant coating (lacquer). A fantastic professional car detailer that I know has a 2010 S4 with the Piano Black center console and he tells me it's held up well -- with no discernible swirls or scuffs even after nearly 3 years. All he does is wipe it down with a microfiber. That, and what others here have added, makes me feel a bit better (in the absence of firsthand experience).

[Bacardi Jo]

nickyboy try this http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ its addictive and smith837 i guess your going with the piano black I've read and commented on your posts on other forums I'm sure you'll enjoy the S4 when it arrives

[Nickyboy]

Yes I already read stuff from there and cleanyourcar.co.uk (that's where I order my stuff from). I get a lot of comments from my neighbours regarding 'he's always cleaning his car'. Can't have a 43k car that's dirty now can I.

[Smith837]

nickyboy try this http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ its addictive and smith837 i guess your going with the piano black I've read and commented on your posts on other forums I'm sure you'll enjoy the S4 when it arrives

Yes, blackphantom, it appears so. Currently have Mesh + Piano surround on order, and it's getting close to going into production so time is running out to change it (if it hasn't already). So unless I can find a good reason not to stick with it -- and as you've seen, I've tried -- I'll probably roll the dice and leave it alone. Definitely not 100% on the decision, but I keep coveting what I see in the pics (over the Carbon Atlas + silver surround). Trusting in that a bit. I'll miss the carbon fiber, but thinking a change will do me good.

Really appreciate all your posts and support!

[Bacardi Jo]

Yes I already read stuff from there and cleanyourcar.co.uk (that's where I order my stuff from). I get a lot of comments from my neighbours regarding 'he's always cleaning his car'. Can't have a 43k car that's dirty now can I.

can't have any car thats dirty

[Nickyboy]

can't have any car thats dirty[/quote]
Can I ask what you use to clean your interior, the lunar silver seats and the black bits on the grill? Everything else I need I have.

[Bacardi Jo]

can't have any car thats dirty

Can I ask what you use to clean your interior, the lunar silver seats and the black bits on the grill? Everything else I need I have.[/quote]
every 2-3 months the seats Simoniz Protection Leather Treatment all of the rest of the interior Poorboys Natural Look interior dressing in-between just dust with a micro fibre cloth i dont have a black edition but wax mine .

[longdog]

My wife is getting sick of having to constantly polish the trim with my cloth........................while I'm driving!

i said polish because of your post,i don't mind piano black but they're not practical for me I've got OCD [obsessive car detailing} and dark colours are the worst to show swirl marks ,there are piano black plastic inserts on the outside of the doors on the S4 and they are F***ers to maintain swirl free .ill spend two days detailing my car and enjoy every minute of it {even those piano black inserts}.

Nothing wrong with a bit of detailing OCD, my wife questioned why i need to clean mine every week! My B7 S4 was phantom black and was a bugger to keep clean which is why I went for Lava grey this time - which is just as bad!!
Have you tried Maguiars Hyper wash? awesome as a snow foam and won't strip your wax. I'm using mainly Autoglym products at the minute due to having the Lifeshine thrown in with the car, a lot of people (who haven't had it done) slate it but I am very impressed, the car comes up pristine with a great shine when washed and i top it up with the aqua wax (great product) followed by the gloss protection. The interior was done as well and that just wipes clean.
One thing I'm not sold on is the poorboys wheel sealant as it's a pain to apply, I'll stick with it though plus the bilberry wheel cleaner I use is superb.

[Smith837]

Best "snow foam" product I've used is Lusso Auto Bathe. Amazing. Smells great too.

http://www.lusso.com/auto_bathe.htm

[Nickyboy]

I may invest some snow foam and a pressure washer.

I highly recommend carlack 68 NSC and LLS as two sealants that are superior to most reasonably priced waxes. The NSC also polish slightly without any abrasives. Both keep the tailpipes looking clean and are great on the wheels and windows also. Read the reviews on detailing world and cleanyourcar. They create lovely water beading as well. I had been blown away by these products.

[Nickyboy]

I heard bilberry wheel clean is good. I'm using very cheery by autobrite, got slightly better reviews. Heard good things about both though. Trouble I had is I diluted it way too much.

I need to get a decent tyre dressing as the spray on I have from autoglym is awful as it makes the wheels attract grime in certain spots leaving it looking like my wheels have chicken pox.

[Smith837]

Nickyboy, will follow up with the names of some great wheel and tire products. Do you by any chance have detailed/up close pics of your piano black surround? Really trying to get a sense of what it looks like from 1-2 feet away when sitting in the car. Cheers!

[Nickyboy]

I don't but I can get some.

[Bacardi Jo]

My wife is getting sick of having to constantly polish the trim with my cloth........................while I'm driving!

i said polish because of your post,i don't mind piano black but they're not practical for me I've got OCD [obsessive car detailing} and dark colours are the worst to show swirl marks ,there are piano black plastic inserts on the outside of the doors on the S4 and they are F***ers to maintain swirl free .ill spend two days detailing my car and enjoy every minute of it {even those piano black inserts}.

Nothing wrong with a bit of detailing OCD, my wife questioned why i need to clean mine every week! My B7 S4 was phantom black and was a bugger to keep clean which is why I went for Lava grey this time - which is just as bad!!
Have you tried Maguiars Hyper wash? awesome as a snow foam and won't strip your wax. I'm using mainly Autoglym products at the minute due to having the Lifeshine thrown in with the car, a lot of people (who haven't had it done) slate it but I am very impressed, the car comes up pristine with a great shine when washed and i top it up with the aqua wax (great product) followed by the gloss protection. The interior was done as well and that just wipes clean.
One thing I'm not sold on is the poorboys wheel sealant as it's a pain to apply, I'll stick with it though plus the bilberry wheel cleaner I use is superb.

not tried megs hyper wash I'm using valet pro ph neutral snow foam, bilberry wheel clean and poor boys wheel sealant,black hole glaze and natty blue on top {summer}.Black hole glaze and collinite 915 on top {winter}.have used dodo juice purple haze and blue velvet on my previous car {designo blue SL} with good results.

[longdog]

i said polish because of your post,i don't mind piano black but they're not practical for me I've got OCD [obsessive car detailing} and dark colours are the worst to show swirl marks ,there are piano black plastic inserts on the outside of the doors on the S4 and they are F***ers to maintain swirl free .ill spend two days detailing my car and enjoy every minute of it {even those piano black inserts}.

Nothing wrong with a bit of detailing OCD, my wife questioned why i need to clean mine every week! My B7 S4 was phantom black and was a bugger to keep clean which is why I went for Lava grey this time - which is just as bad!!
Have you tried Maguiars Hyper wash? awesome as a snow foam and won't strip your wax. I'm using mainly Autoglym products at the minute due to having the Lifeshine thrown in with the car, a lot of people (who haven't had it done) slate it but I am very impressed, the car comes up pristine with a great shine when washed and i top it up with the aqua wax (great product) followed by the gloss protection. The interior was done as well and that just wipes clean.
One thing I'm not sold on is the poorboys wheel sealant as it's a pain to apply, I'll stick with it though plus the bilberry wheel cleaner I use is superb.

not tried megs hyper wash I'm using valet pro ph neutral snow foam, bilberry wheel clean and poor boys wheel sealant,black hole glaze and natty blue on top {summer}.Black hole glaze and collinite 915 on top {winter}.have used dodo juice purple haze and blue velvet on my previous car {designo blue SL} with good results.

What's the best way to apply the wheel sealant?