How often should I have exterior detailing done in Wilmslow?

Most Wilmslow vehicles benefit from a full exterior detail with decontamination twice a year — typically spring (to address winter salt and de-icing chemical accumulation) and autumn (before the salt season begins, after the tree sap season). Vehicles with ceramic coatings need decontamination less frequently as the coating prevents much of the bonded contamination.

What is iron fallout removal and why does it matter?

Iron fallout — tiny metallic particles from brake dust, rail dust, and industrial sources — embeds into clear coat and causes invisible oxidative damage. Left untreated, it creates pinhole corrosion in the paint surface over time. A chemical iron remover (identifiable by the purple reaction it produces on contaminated surfaces) dissolves and encapsulates these particles for safe removal. It's a key stage of professional exterior detailing that washing alone cannot achieve.

Does exterior detailing include wheel cleaning?

Yes. Wheel cleaning with dedicated iron fallout remover and wheel brushes is included in all exterior detailing services. Alloy wheel faces, spoke crevices, and barrel faces are all treated. Brake dust accumulation on Porsche, AMG, and BMW M vehicles is particularly heavy and benefits from the chemical iron treatment as part of every exterior detail.

How long does exterior detailing take?

A standard exterior detail with decontamination, single-stage polish, and sealant application takes 4–6 hours. Adding ceramic coating extends the process to 6–8 hours with additional cure time required. We provide exact timing estimates when booking.

Exterior Detailing Wilmslow | Paint Decontamination & Protection SK9 | SRV Detailing

Exterior Detailing Wilmslow in Wilmslow — snow foam pre-wash applied to a Porsche by SRV Detailing — Exterior Detailing Wilmslow — serving Wilmslow and surrounding areas

What Exterior Detailing Involves

Exterior car detailing is a systematic, multi-stage process that thoroughly cleans and protects every painted and finished exterior surface on your vehicle. It goes beyond washing by addressing contamination that washing cannot remove — bonded iron fallout embedded in the clear coat, tar deposits on lower panels, industrial and environmental fallout that accumulates through regular driving on Cheshire roads.

The process begins with decontamination: chemical iron fallout removers are applied to react with and dissolve ferrous particles embedded in the paint surface, followed by tar remover on lower panels. A clay bar then physically removes any remaining bonded surface contamination to achieve a glass-smooth substrate. Machine polishing follows to correct any paint defects and enhance gloss. The final stage — protective coating — seals the corrected surface and maintains the finish for months or years depending on the product applied.

Exterior Detailing Process — Stage by Stage

Pre-wash rinse to remove loose surface contamination and road debris

Snow foam pre-soak — pH-balanced foam applied with lance, left to dwell and encapsulate contamination

Two-bucket hand wash — microfibre mitts, pH-neutral shampoo, grit guard method on every panel

Iron fallout removal — chemical spray applied to all painted surfaces and wheels; reactions chemically dissolve embedded ferrous particles

Tar spot removal — panel by panel tar spot treatment on door sills, lower panels, and wheel arch areas

Clay bar decontamination — lubricant applied and clay bar worked across every panel surface

Rinse and drying — thorough rinse of all chemical residues; panels hand-dried with plush microfibre

Machine polishing — single or two-stage correction to address swirl marks and restore paint clarity

Protective coating application — ceramic coating, paint sealant, or carnauba wax per your requirement

Wheel cleaning — alloy faces, spokes, and barrels treated with iron remover and wheel brushes

Final exterior detail — trim dressing, glass clean, tyre dressing, door shut wipe-down

Why Wilmslow Vehicles Accumulate Specific Exterior Contamination

Ferrous rail dust and iron fallout from the railway lines through Wilmslow station and Handforth — embeds into clear coat and causes corrosive oxidation

Airport de-icing chemical fallout from Manchester Airport operations — glycol and potassium acetate deposits on vehicles in Styal and northern Wilmslow

A34 and Knutsford Road winter road salt — white sodium chloride deposits on lower panels, sills, and wheel arches from October to March

Agricultural run-off from Cheshire countryside lanes — mud, silage, and organic contamination on vehicles using B-roads around Lindow Common and Styal

Tree sap, pollen, and honeydew from the extensive canopy along The Carrs, Water Lane, and Wilmslow Park Road — particularly active in spring and autumn