Aussie S650 Paint protection and detailing thread

[xrs]

No busy last week took a trip with the fam to the blue mountains sydney. I wanted GsF first but got AS for a future move with your forum guidance to upping my detailing game with professional products. I have been eyeing KC and have a small bottle of polish from Poland through ebay because you could not buy it here but now its time finally

Sponsored

 

[DFB5.0]

No busy last week took a trip with the fam to the blue mountains sydney. I wanted GsF first but got AS for a future move with your forum guidance to upping my detailing game with professional products. I have been eyeing KC and have a small bottle of polish from Poland through ebay because you could not buy it here but now its time finally

Just know that AS doesn't foam much, probably best suited to bucket washing. Being slightly higher pH, its great for wheel cleaning too.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

@DFB5.0

I have a question. All detailers around me only use the same product. I have no other option than going for the Undr Dog Pro coating.

The professional who has a garage, with airconditioning and all sorts of stuff asks 1500 USD.

Another professional who does everything at home in his small garage asks 1000 USD.

That's a little too high for that treatment right?

 

[DFB5.0]

@DFB5.0

I have a question. All detailers around me only use the same product. I have no other option than going for the Undr Dog Pro coating.

The professional who has a garage, with airconditioning and all sorts of stuff asks 1500 USD.

Another professional who does everything at home in his small garage asks 1000 USD.

That's a little too high for that treatment right?

Those prices seem reasonable to me. Keep in mind that price you pay is not necessarily the application of the coating, but the prep work that goes into the car before the coating is applied.

 

[VB50GT]

Those prices seem reasonable to me. Keep in mind that price you pay is not necessarily the application of the coating, but the prep work that goes into the car before the coating is applied.

After getting my car done last year, I fully agree with DFB - I was a little sceptical about the extra cost to prep the paintwork (thinking it was a brand new car, it should be perfect...), but after a reality check from DFB I went with it, and the result was stunning.

 

[DFB5.0]

In light of yesterdays news, let's have a closer look at a few key Koch Chemie products that I think are worth having, starting with GSF.

GSF Backstory -

When Gentle Snow Foam GSF hit the market four or five years ago, it and Koch Chemie quickly became the new "it" brand. Back then, it was certainly a premium priced product, retailing for $39.95 for a 1-litre bottle. Many said that was too much, even though Carpro Reset was exactly the same price. I actually screenshotted this image back in late-2021.

That screen shot was taken because The Detail Store were paying for Facebook advertising on a product that was out of stock, and would be for another 6+ months. And so, this is where things started to go wrong with Koch Chemie in Australia.

Despite the products being in high demand, the local importer was struggling to keep up with demand. Now, there were outside factors at play here, a little thing called the Covid-19 pandemic, and the associated shipping and supply chain constraints certainly played a role. But even as the Covid situation eased, the Koch Chemie lineup was still under nourished. At one point, they even air freighted stock into the country.................. with the cost passed on to the consumer. This took a $40 bottle of soap up to $75!

Then at some point in the last two years, the distribution changed hands and the situation only got worse. Where GSF was once $39.95 per 1-litre bottle, in 2024 that same bottle was priced at $53.95. The same markup played out across the range, most notable with the larger 5- and 10-litre bottle sizes. And even if you could get past the price, more often than not various products were out of stock and would be for months. In this age of "I want it now", this just isn't good enough.

I mention all this because despite being a brilliant product, a soap that I had within my top 3 recommendations, the price was so ridiculous that I stopped recommending it. In fact, for a while I stopped buying GSF. For someone who values the user experience so much, even I couldn't justify it at those prices, not when Carpro Reset is just as, if not better than GSF.

Now that Waxit are buying directly from Germany, the price of GSF has settled back down to $34.95, and suddenly, GSF is back in the game for me.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...mie-gentle-snow-foam-ph-neutral-cleaning-foam

Why GSF?

I first used GSF on Christmas day 2020, it's divine cherry scent immediately impressed. Likewise, it's easy pour formula and terrific foaming ability. A few images from back then...................

From one of my posts at the end of December 2020 -

"The dilution rate from Koch Chemie asks for 20ml of product added to a 1lt foam lance bottle. At this rate, and with the hydrophobic coatings on my cars, the foam was too runny and had trouble clinging to the paint.

Today I added approximately 80ml to my foam cannon, the result being thick, shaving cream like foam."

From then on, I settled on between 100 - 150ml of GSF in a foam cannon. At that rate, you will get thick, luxurious foam with decent cling and exceptional slickness. You will also get high on that lovely cherry scent as it spices the air while you work your way around the car. This is a product that nails the user experience!

The only main drawback to GSF is the lack of ultimate cleaning ability, meaning its best used on well-maintained vehicles that have a nice layer of protection on the paint, be that a coating, wax or sealant. But then, that's the whole point of GSF, its pH neutral formula is designed to be gentle and ultra lubricated. Compared to say Carpro Reset or NV Snow, if your vehicle is waxed, GSF is going to preserve that wax for longer.

How To Use -

1. Start by filling up your foam cannon with about 850 to 900ml of tap water.

2. Add 100 - 150ml of GSF to your foam cannon. I always fill with water first to avoid the soap frothing up and overflowing the bottle when trying to do it the other way around.

3. Fill you wash bucket with water. Throw in your wash media, then add a generous slug of GSF directly onto the wash media.

4a. For light maintenance cleaning, rinse the car down thoroughly, then foam GSF by using slow, sweeping motions. Aim to use most of the foam cannon volume.

4b. For heavier cleaning, I'd suggest foaming the car from dry using a stronger soap first. Think Carpro Lift, Bilt Hamber Touch-less or Koch Chemie Active Foam. After allowing to soak, rinse thoroughly. From here, you can then foam with GSF.

5. Empty any remaining soap from the foam cannon into your wash bucket. Soap that has remained mixed up in a foam cannon for more than a day won't foam as well next time, this is because the minerals in the water attack the soap chemistry.

6. Go ahead and wash the vehicle. Work from top to bottom, rinsing your wash media in the bucket as you go. Avoid circular motions, instead work in straight lines.

7. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Final Thoughts -

I feel like GSF is back in the game. As I said, I've always loved using this soap, but became quite jaded by the excessive price premium that was being asked. It's now priced to the point where I would say GSF is a bargain for the user experience it delivers. In fact, its now cheaper than Reset, while also offering more soap for the money when compared to various American brand competitors in 473ml bottles.

 

[bfets]

In light of yesterdays news, let's have a closer look at a few key Koch Chemie products that I think are worth having, starting with GSF.

GSF Backstory -

When Gentle Snow Foam GSF hit the market four or five years ago, it and Koch Chemie quickly became the new "it" brand. Back then, it was certainly a premium priced product, retailing for $39.95 for a 1-litre bottle. Many said that was too much, even though Carpro Reset was exactly the same price. I actually screenshotted this image back in late-2021.

That screen shot was taken because The Detail Store were paying for Facebook advertising on a product that was out of stock, and would be for another 6+ months. And so, this is where things started to go wrong with Koch Chemie in Australia.

Despite the products being in high demand, the local importer was struggling to keep up with demand. Now, there were outside factors at play here, a little thing called the Covid-19 pandemic, and the associated shipping and supply chain constraints certainly played a role. But even as the Covid situation eased, the Koch Chemie lineup was still under nourished. At one point, they even air freighted stock into the country.................. with the cost passed on to the consumer. This took a $40 bottle of soap up to $75!

Then at some point in the last two years, the distribution changed hands and the situation only got worse. Where GSF was once $39.95 per 1-litre bottle, in 2024 that same bottle was priced at $53.95. The same markup played out across the range, most notable with the larger 5- and 10-litre bottle sizes. And even if you could get past the price, more often than not various products were out of stock and would be for months. In this age of "I want it now", this just isn't good enough.

I mention all this because despite being a brilliant product, a soap that I had within my top 3 recommendations, the price was so ridiculous that I stopped recommending it. In fact, for a while I stopped buying GSF. For someone who values the user experience so much, even I couldn't justify it at those prices, not when Carpro Reset is just as, if not better than GSF.

Now that Waxit are buying directly from Germany, the price of GSF has settled back down to $34.95, and suddenly, GSF is back in the game for me.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...mie-gentle-snow-foam-ph-neutral-cleaning-foam

Why GSF?

I first used GSF on Christmas day 2020, it's divine cherry scent immediately impressed. Likewise, it's easy pour formula and terrific foaming ability. A few images from back then...................

From one of my posts at the end of December 2020 -

"The dilution rate from Koch Chemie asks for 20ml of product added to a 1lt foam lance bottle. At this rate, and with the hydrophobic coatings on my cars, the foam was too runny and had trouble clinging to the paint.

Today I added approximately 80ml to my foam cannon, the result being thick, shaving cream like foam."

From then on, I settled on between 100 - 150ml of GSF in a foam cannon. At that rate, you will get thick, luxurious foam with decent cling and exceptional slickness. You will also get high on that lovely cherry scent as it spices the air while you work your way around the car. This is a product that nails the user experience!

The only main drawback to GSF is the lack of ultimate cleaning ability, meaning its best used on well-maintained vehicles that have a nice layer of protection on the paint, be that a coating, wax or sealant. But then, that's the whole point of GSF, its pH neutral formula is designed to be gentle and ultra lubricated. Compared to say Carpro Reset or NV Snow, if your vehicle is waxed, GSF is going to preserve that wax for longer.

How To Use -

1. Start by filling up your foam cannon with about 850 to 900ml of tap water.

2. Add 100 - 150ml of GSF to your foam cannon. I always fill with water first to avoid the soap frothing up and overflowing the bottle when trying to do it the other way around.

3. Fill you wash bucket with water. Throw in your wash media, then add a generous slug of GSF directly onto the wash media.

4a. For light maintenance cleaning, rinse the car down thoroughly, then foam GSF by using slow, sweeping motions. Aim to use most of the foam cannon volume.

4b. For heavier cleaning, I'd suggest foaming the car from dry using a stronger soap first. Think Carpro Lift, Bilt Hamber Touch-less or Koch Chemie Active Foam. After allowing to soak, rinse thoroughly. From here, you can then foam with GSF.

5. Empty any remaining soap from the foam cannon into your wash bucket. Soap that has remained mixed up in a foam cannon for more than a day won't foam as well next time, this is because the minerals in the water attack the soap chemistry.

6. Go ahead and wash the vehicle. Work from top to bottom, rinsing your wash media in the bucket as you go. Avoid circular motions, instead work in straight lines.

7. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Final Thoughts -

I feel like GSF is back in the game. As I said, I've always loved using this soap, but became quite jaded by the excessive price premium that was being asked. It's now priced to the point where I would say GSF is a bargain for the user experience it delivers. In fact, its now cheaper than Reset, while also offering more soap for the money when compared to various American brand competitors in 473ml bottles.

I bought a bottle of GSF that I've saved for my Mustang. The wait has been that long that it's probably past its use by date now.
Looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately I bought mine at the crazy $50 price. Had I known the situation was going to change I would have waited.

 

[DFB5.0]

I bought a bottle of GSF that I've saved for my Mustang. The wait has been that long that it's probably past its use by date now.
Looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately I bought mine at the crazy $50 price. Had I known the situation was going to change I would have waited.

Yeah, I didn't see it coming either.

 

[DFB5.0]

Very fast turnaround from Waxit on this order!

I’ve been working through a backlog of products in recent months, mainly soaps that were bought purely to write about, but also because I’ve been occupied elsewhere. I’d also say that not much has caught my eye either. The recently launched Labocosmetica and MAFRA's Maniac Line don’t really grab me for some reason. And frankly, with how good the ADS stuff is, it's been a case of why keep looking for the next big thing?

But then Waxit threw a curve ball with Koch Chemie and suddenly I was excited again. Why, well because many of the products I ordered are new to Australia or new to me. Of those pictured above, only GSF and AS I have used before. The below is my current KCx collection, although Fresh Up and Speed Glass are absent.

Shop Koch Chemie Australia | Waxit Car Care

I really love the KCx branding and bottle design system, it's clean, clear and simple. Naturally, this doesn't determine how the products work, but it certainly looks appealing and stands out from the crowd. It's a complete contrast to the busy, overdone labels of P&S and Meguiar's.

The KCx brush sets are also new for Australia, in my case I went with the exterior set. I really like the thought put into these, the head and handle can be configured with or without the angle piece. They also have a rubberized handles.

Koch Chemie Exterior Brush Set – Waxit Car Care
Koch Chemie Interior Brush Set – Waxit Car Care

KOCH CHEMIE Exterior Brush Set – Car Supplies Warehouse
KOCH CHEMIE Interior Brush Set KCX – Car Supplies Warehouse

There are four different bristle grades -

Red: Stiff nylon, probably best left to heavily neglected wheels.

Orange: Boars hair, ideal for wheels and unpainted plastics. I'd also consider it for interior cleaning as well.

Yellow: Medium stiffness synthetic bristles, ideal for plastics and rubber.

Green: Soft synthetic bristles, use on sensitive surfaces, think chrome or piano black or gloss black wheels. This one would be fine for interior work as well.

And finally, after reading so much positive feedback, I've decided to give the Carpro Dab Dab wash pad a try.

CARPRO DabDab Wash Mitt – Waxit Car Care

CARPRO DabDab Wash Tool

 

[DFB5.0]

Koch Chemie GS Green Star and Koch Chemie PO Pol Star

I’ve decided to highlight these as a pair. I suspect many don’t know where or when to use these two similar looking products.

PO Pol Star-

Koch Chemie (PO) Pol Star | Textile, Leather and Alcantara Cleaner – Waxit Car Care
Koch-Chemie - Pol Star | The Rag Company

Pol Star is a dedicated textile cleaner which was primarily designed for fabric, carpet and leather. It can also be used on Alcantara and suede materials. Overall, I’ve found Pol Star to be an excellent general interior cleaner as well, meaning it could be a one-stop-shop interior solution.

What I like about Pol Star is the pH neutral formula, so it’s safe to use across multiple interior surfaces compared to an alkaline all-purpose cleaner. It’s also highly dilutable, meaning that 1-litre bottle will last you for years! Koch Chemie recommend dilutions between 5:1 for heavy cleaning, right out to 20:1 for light duties. I tend to have it mixed pretty strong at 6:1.

I originally bought this for its carpet and fabric cleaning abilities as I didn’t have such a product in my arsenal. I’ve since found it to be an exceptional leather cleaner, especially dealing with un-maintained vehicles that require the use of a lot of product, Pol Star’s economy makes a lot of sense in that regard. Teamed with the VLB brush or a medium leather brush, its an extremely capable leather cleaner.

Another aspect I love about Pol Star is how it will lather up under agitation when using a brush or scrub pad. This aspect helps when it comes time to wipe off the product/dirt emulsion. You can also put Pol Star in a small finger pump foamer, which can be useful when dealing with Alcantara or suede as it prevents oversaturation of the material.



Something to remember when cleaning fabrics is that the removal of the cleaning solution is as important as the cleaning solution itself. If you fail to remove this chemical/dirt emulsion, well the dirt doesn’t actually go anywhere, rather you’ve just moved it around. Usually, you follow with a clean, damp towel to lift this emulsion into the towel, but extractors, steam or a wet-dry vacuum can also be used.

GS Green Star –

Koch Chemie (GS) Green Star | Universal Cleaner – Waxit Car Care
Koch-Chemie - Green Star | The Rag Company

Green Star is one of the many all-purpose cleaners in the KCx lineup. With a pH value of 12.5, this product is considerably stronger than the pH neutral Pol Star. While Green Star can be used for interior cleaning, I would suggest restricting it’s use to exterior surfaces due to that alkaline nature. KCx even suggest using it as a workshop floor cleaner as well.

Green star is phosphate and solvent free and will easily break down and lift away dirt, oil and other greasy substances. It also contains corrosion inhibitors, making it safe for a variety of metal materials. Like Pol Star, Green Star is highly concentrated and can be used at the following dilutions -

Minimum dilution: 3:1
Automotive exterior: 5:1 - 30:1
Automotive interior: 10:1 to 20:1
Workshop and industrial floors: 40:1 to 120:1

For me, I don’t use a lot of APC. In fact, I probably use it more to clean my cleaning tools than I do cleaning cars. Thing is, when I do use APC, I want it to pack a punch. For that reason, I have Green Star mixed at 6:1 and use it for engine bay cleaning, removal of tyre dressings from my brushes and general surface cleaning. What I love most about Green Star is how it lathers up under agitation, which is both a practical and phycological thing, to me, it just makes it look and feel like you are achieving something.

I know many use it for interior cleaning. I prefer not to use it on interiors as alkaline products like this can be too harsh on sensitive materials, and frankly, pH neutral interior cleaners do everything I need without posing that risk.

For professionals, an all-purpose-cleaner like Green Star would be a staple of their routine. Why? Because they can buy one product, then mix it up at a couple of dilution rates to serve multiple roles, thus negating the need to stock different products. This could include the following -

- Pre-treating dirty lower panels
- Tyre cleaning
- Wheel Cleaning
- Bug removal
- Interior cleaning
- Engine bay cleaning
- Wheel arch cleaning
- Added to a pH neutral soap to create a decon/strip soap
- General workshop/floor cleaning

Final Thoughts -

Hopefully that explains the difference between these two. While you can interchange these products, I think there are benefits to having both. For example, I would never clean leather with Green Star, but then I would never use Pol Star to clean tyres. Both are non-scented, meaning they are purely designed to get the job done without fuss or fanfare.

 

[DFB5.0]

Koch Chemie GUF Gummifix

I love super-specific products like this! Gummifix was designed to provide protection and enhancement to plastic surfaces that are prone to becoming slippery. Where would this be necessary? The most obvious would be rubber all-weather floor mats and cargo trays, or even SUV/Ute side steps with a plastic or rubberised footing. When these area’s are treated with a typical rubber and plastic dressing, this can make these surfaces a slip hazard.

Koch Chemie (GUF) Gummifix | Interior Plastic Care 1L – Waxit Car Care
Koch-Chemie - Gummifix | The Rag Company

Gummifix is not unlike isopropanol alcohol in how it smells and acts. The beauty of the product is how it flashes away to provide a subtle enhancement without creating slickness. I will say though, if you want a more noticeable before and after, then this probably isn’t the product for you. In which case, I’ve found P&S Swift to provide more enhancement while remaining slip free. Having said that, I’ve found all rubber mats to respond differently, so use these suggestions as a guide not gospel.

How To Use -

The first thing you need to do before applying Gummifix is to thoroughly clean the surface. Sticking with the Koch Chemie theme, this would be a great use for Green Star. Personally, I much prefer to use Mckee’s Floor & Cargo Mat Cleaner. I don’t know why, but after using a variety of APC’s and even tyre cleaners, this McKee’s product is the best I’ve found for the job.

1. Remove the mats from the vehicle, shake off the debris, then rinse.

2. Apply your cleaner generously, then scrub with a firm brush. I’ve found the medium stiffness Detail Factory tyre brush to be a perfect pairing here.

3. Thoroughly rinse, then dry. You can use your blower here, but I just put the mat in the sun while I clean the rest of the vehicle, but the time you are ready to put the mats back in the car, they are usually dry by that stage.

4. Working with a clean and dry mat, apply Gummifix. You can spray it directly and work in with a towel, or add to an applicator and spread across the surface. I’ve found you need to be generous with the product to get consistent coverage, especially if you have a surface like these Maxtrac items pictured here.

5. Once applied, allow to dry. Gummifix flashes away and self levels, but you can go back with a towel to remove any high spots if you wish.

Usage Notes –

- When it comes to cleaning rubber mats, I think the combination of the McKee's with the specific bristles of the Detail Factory brush make the difference here.

- I tend to prefer spraying directly onto the mat and working in with a towel, this seems to provide superior coverage. However, you can also use a foam or microfiber applicator, or even a brush.

- Koch Chemie ship this product with a dispensing bottle insert, which would suit the brush or applicator application method. You can also remove the stopper to fit a spray head, but you need to order that separately or use one you already have.

- Speaking of spray heads, this product kills them so choose wisely. I ruined a nice Kwazar spray head, which also turned the soft rubber pickup tube rock hard. It even killed the Koch Chemie spray head. Therefore, I’d use a cheap spray head knowing you will need to replace it often, and/or empty the sprayer back into the bottle and run some water through to purge the lines.

- Know that this product has a strong IPA aroma, so I’d apply in a well-ventilated area. If you can, let the product fully dry before re-installing the mats.

- Know that the finished result is an “as new” appearance. If you are looking for something more prominent, then consider using Capro Perl at 6:1 (heavily diluted) or P&S Swift, both remaining slip-free.

- You can also use Gummifix for refreshing the appearance of your pedals.

Final Thoughts -

Gummifix is not a product everyone will need. However, if you have rubber floor mats, I think its well worth having both this and the McKee's cleaner on hand.

 

[DFB5.0]

Koch Chemie All-round Surface Cleaner ASC

As the name suggests, ASC was designed to be used across multiple interior and exterior surfaces. Compared to the surfactant heavy cleaners such as Pol Star or Green Star, ASC is much milder and will deliver a streak-free finish.

Koch Chemie (ASC) Allround Surface Cleaner | Waxit Car Care
Koch-Chemie - Allround Surface Cleaner | The Rag Company

Looking at the SDS, ASC has an alcohol formula, which helps deliver a clean and clear finish where others would leave behind a streaky residue. ASC would be similar to other interior detailers such as Carpro InnerQD, Meguiar's Quick Interior Detailer and Gyeon Interior Detailer. As such, don't expect high levels of cleaning ability, these products are for maintaining interiors. And unlike those, ASC doesn't contain anti-static or UV inhibitors.

The main drawcard though is the streak-free results. I've found ASC great on glossy trims such as piano black, glossy woodgrain, painted trim accents and even infotainment screens. ASC is ideally suited here as it will easily lift dust and fingerprints into your towel, before flashing away to a streak free finish. Koch Chemie also recommend using ASC when cleaning around switches and buttons as it will flash-dry and won't cause damage to electrical connections if you were a little heavy handed. They also say you can use it on glass and mirrors, and its safe for use on leather and Alcantara. All accompanied by that classic KCx scent.

How To Use -

ASC is a ready to use product, be that in the small 500ml bottle or the large 10-litre container. Application is a simple spray and wipe procedure, the ability to flash away means you don't have to be precise with it. Apart from that, there isn't much else to say, other than the following tips......................

- You can spray direct or into a towel. I like to load up a towel with multiple sprays, then wipe over the areas needing attention. This way you better control where it goes.

- Know the limitations of ASC. If your interior is filthy dirty, then ASC won't do a lot for you. In which case, you would be using Pol Star or similar.

- If you have needed more serious cleaning with something like Pol Star, ASC can still be beneficial in finishing off those streak-prone glossy surfaces or screens.

- ASC is a great household/office cleaner as well, in particular cleaning/dusting computer and TV screens, stainless steel and glossy benchtops ect.

Final Thoughts -

I think a lot of people get hung up on needing an interior cleaner, when in fact most only need something like ASC to maintain interiors. I shudder when I read of people wiping down their interior with APC on a weekly basis to remove a fine layer of dust. In those situations, a product like ASC is all you need.

 

[bfets]

I should have taken more photos, but I was having too much fun.
Here is my new baby getting it first GSF bath. I just took one photo and then forgot about the rest!

 

[DFB5.0]

I should have taken more photos, but I was having too much fun.
Here is my new baby getting it first GSF bath. I just took one photo and then forgot about the rest!

Nothing like the first wash! An important bonding moment for sure.

 

[5.0ALM]

Glad you finally have your car, Steve.

We have the same bucket set!

And I must admit, even though Bowden's isn't given much credit, I do like their Big Green Sucker towel. I can get around the RAV4 (more surface area than the Mustang) including all glass, without wringing it out at all. I think it's brilliant.

Now that I use Bead Maker on both cars, the hydrophobic properties allow the EGO blower to get most of them dry, but I still find myself finishing off with the Big Green Sucker.

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