Autoglym Lifeshine

[Davidandbev]

Hello again, any views on Autoglym Lifeshine at £390. The dealer is recommending this when our new Ocean arrives. We have also seen posts re: ceramic coating. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks as always D&B.

 

[dspuk]

Don't bother. From a paint perspective you don't need it as OEM paint and all it's layers are just fine and fully warranted.

From a personal perspective if you want something like that it's better and cheaper to get elsewhere.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Woud say its worth it. Autoglym products are excellent & saves you doing it!

The products can also be applied by a third party (or DIY), but Lifeshine if applied by the dealer comes with a warranty. Also worth noting that decent detailing companies tend to have quite long lead times.

 

[Mowbotman]

Just had this on my new Polo which included floor mats, boot liner and the interior fabric protection and an extensive bag of polish, if anything is damaged ie paint or fabric Autoglym send there own staff out to sort or replace

 

[Borris]

We had it done on each of our three Cali's to date. Was it worth it? I just don't know.

In order to tell for sure you would need to buy two identical vehicles at the same time, have one of them treated with AG Lifeshine and the other not. Then subject them both to exactly the same usage, soiling and wash routine for a prolonged period before evaluating the results. Without doing that it's impossible to say. BTW the same goes for any other coating.

If you still fancy doing it here's a couple of tips:
1. On YouTube there are videos explaining how to apply Autoglym Lifeshine correctly.
2. The AG LS product kits can be purchased from Ebay at a fraction of the cost your dealer will charge you.

Finally, you will probably make a more thorough job of applying it. Your dealer will merely out source the job to a third party who will have time constraints. Besides, how would you know if he/she did a shoddy job?

Why did we have it done? That's a very good question! I suppose it was the guarantee.

The seat fabric protection is very effective though with any spilt liquid beading rather than soaking in. However we have waterproof seat covers so probably not essential.

 

[SusiBus]

You can Scotchguard the seats at £7 a tin from Amazon

 

[tedgina]

We had lifeshine done at VW Liverpool ,was not happy with the finish they did it again it was the same.we took the van to an independent valeting company they said it will not work on the fabric seats ,they also tried a different product and that did not work .we took it back to Liverpool and received a full refund.

Hello again, any views on Autoglym Lifeshine at £390. The dealer is recommending this when our new Ocean arrives. We have also seen posts re: ceramic coating. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks as always D&B.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I like Autoglym products, but I don’t like dealer applied coats. After having it on a few cars from new, I’ve decided it’s a waste of £000’s. I agree that you’re likely to do a better job yourself, and you get to learn about all the crevices and bits for when you’re cleaning it. For our Cali I did a bit of YouTube watching, and found product comparison tests using various ceramic coatings. The best all round for value and length of protection being the AG Rapid Ceramic Coat, with detailing first done with AG Rapid Detailer. You can buy both for under £40, and there will be enough for (at least) 4 applications. I didn’t need to do anything fancy like a clay bar. It seems to remain fully effective for 4 months (the product claims 3 months). I’ve done it twice so far on the Cali, and coated 2 other cars, including one that had a “professional” lifetime finish (which really was of limited use after 2 years).

I’d recommend YouTube research to make your mind up, and get detailing tips.

 

[Perfectos]

Autoglym Lifeshine?

Been offered it on the new van, is it worth it or should I just scotchgaurd the seats and polish it?

www.t6forum.com

 

[flying banana]

Drive it for a few years and then get it done properly. Can't see the point in doing it from new

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Look after it, clean it carefully, maybe even wax it from time to time . . . above all, enjoy it, and don’t get sucked in to salesmen or saleswomen trying to sell you snake oil - it’s a racket.

PS don’t buy gap insurance either; that’s another racket ;-/ !

 

[Snoopy23]

Alot of money for a half decent clean and a expensive bag of branded products nextime going for the ceramic coating from a good detailer instead.

 

[PeteS]

I had the Mercedes version Stargard applied to my car. It looked good when I collected the car but just after 2 years it looks like it was not applied. The water did not seem to bead up on the paintwork and and water on the rear carpets just soaked in. It has been replied by the dealer.
I friend of mine has an Audi and he had ceramic coating applied by a detailing company and the paint looks good and feels very smooth to touch after 2 years.
A detailer will do a better job of applying any type of finish and the cost may be similar to what you have been quoted for Lifeshine.
Just as a note these finishes will wear off in time even my Mercedes dealer admitted that but he did say that they would reapply it as required.
I am not sure I would opt for it again and I think that there are products out there that do a similar job that can be applied when cleaning your car.
Car pro do a product called Hydrolite and it is applied on to wet paint work and the you jet wash it off. In my opinion this is as good as Stargard but it does have to be done every three months. I am sure there are other products that do a similar job.

 

[Davidandbev]

Thanks to everyone for advice as always,

 

[Borris]

I like a clean van like the next person, in fact I have always been rather particular about thoroughly cleaning my vehicles to keep them in as new condition. However I take a rather different view than most in that I do not clean our vehicles every week. It's more like every month to six weeks. Yes I am always on the look out for such contaminants as bird lime and worst of all, smashed birds eggs which will quickly ruin the clear coat layer and probably the base coat as well if left for anything more than a few hours.

We currently have a hose pipe ban and bucket washing a Cali is both tedious and very time consuming so it hasn't been done for several months. Besides without the jet wash facility to remove surface grit and grime, hand washing would probably inflict more damage than leaving it until the ban is lifted. If I ever do decide to wash it I'll do it top down, panel by panel taking care to thoroughly rinse, wash. rinse and then towel dry before moving to the next panel.

I believe that no matter how careful you are, every time you wash a vehicle you will be inflicting micro damage to the paintwork. Accordingly our vehicles get washed sparingly but very thoroughly when they are. I use the two bucket method making sure to change the water regularly and toweling off with micro fibre towels. The only real consequence of going so long between washes are that I have noticed that spider or fly dirt can by stubborn to shift. So I use a small piece of clay bar if they are present being sure to rewax the spot afterwards.

Leaving aside my late father's seventeen year old Skoda which we keep as a general purpose family pool car, our other modern is a Mercedes convertible. This vehicle requires a whole different regime to keep the roof in pristine condition let alone the paint work. IMO doing this too often would lead to premature deterioration of this über expensive fabric covered roof assembly so again I try not to clean it too often.

I did have Autoglym Lifeshine applied by a third party via the dealer when we purchased our Cali but I cannot say with any confidence if it makes any difference.

 

[dspuk]

As per the above I tend to wash Mafalda every 4-6 weeks. After investing in a jetwash the task is easier (but still large!) and I’m a fan of using a good old fashioned chamois to wipe off water and check the bodywork.

I have no intention of spending up to a grand on some sort of magic ointment for the paint. Paint technology has come on leaps and bounds since the 60s and is designed to be pretty resilient.

I did though give it a spray with Dodo Juice Future Armour. Keeps it pretty clean with water beading off well and for a tenner I can do every 6 months.

 

[Beaker]

Local companies around Bristol are quoting over £1000 to apply similar. They said that even from new there was still a lot of work to buff the paint before applying. I bet the VW dealer does not do that.
Had it done from new at the dealer anyway. It does not appear to be any more hydroponic than paint or wax. Bird droppings and sap are still just as hard to remove.
The window coat is not like Rain X either.
Some interesting you tube videos to watch on the benefits and coat to have it recoated as you have to remove it, prepare the paintwork and the reapply.
if you cannot wax your van yourself and do not trust the local car wash then probably worth it.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Local companies around Bristol are quoting over £1000 to apply similar. They said that even from new there was still a lot of work to buff the paint before applying. I bet the VW dealer does not do that.
Had it done from new at the dealer anyway. It does not appear to be any more hydroponic than paint or wax. Bird droppings and sap are still just as hard to remove.
The window coat is not like Rain X either.
Some interesting you tube videos to watch on the benefits and coat to have it recoated as you have to remove it, prepare the paintwork and the reapply.
if you cannot wax your van yourself and do not trust the local car wash then probably worth it.

That sounds more paint correction, where they actually remove a small layer of paint before applying product. It gives a better finish but is far more labour intensive hence the ££.

Car spray jobs are full of small imperfections, so the detailer will make the finish better…but this can be done at any time so maybe better to do it when the van it’s say 5 years old and it will then look better than new.

Life shine is just applying the usual autoglym products that you can buy at Halfords (they are excellent products). Advantage is that it’s done before the van first goes on the road so you start with a protective layer all round from day1. You can then just use the same products every now & again to keep it looking nice.

 

[ArunAlec]

That sounds more paint correction, where they actually remove a small layer of paint before applying product. It gives a better finish but is far more labour intensive hence the ££.

Car spray jobs are full of small imperfections, so the detailer will make the finish better…but this can be done at any time so maybe better to do it when the van it’s say 5 years old and it will then look better than new.

Life shine is just applying the usual autoglym products that you can buy at Halfords (they are excellent products). Advantage is that it’s done before the van first goes on the road so you start with a protective layer all round from day1. You can then just use the same products every now & again to keep it looking nice.

Having seen a good few YouTube videos of paint correction I’d be wary of any process that involves removing layers of paint/lacquer.

 

[B J G]

VW price will include commission as they sub it to a Valeting outfit.

You can do it yourself if time and weather permits. Interior is just a spray job.

I've had various cars done in the past and all needed doing after a year. Warranty used to say that an annual check/service needed to be done.

 

[Our bus Albus]

I've recently discovered Autoglym Rapid Ceramic spray, my other car is black, which is a nightmare to keep clean.

Rapid Ceramic Spray

A tropical scented, highly efficient way to apply a durable layer of protection to your car’s paintwork. Rapid Ceramic Spray will quickly become your ‘spray and buff’ go-to.

www.autoglym.com

Anyway, this stuff is incredible, much quicker to apply and polish and leaves the paint smoother than glass. If I'm feeling lazy I just do Albus' nose so I can get the bugs off easily.

Great stuff, add a bit of elbow grease and you're good

 

[Hawthorn37]

I like a clean van like the next person, in fact I have always been rather particular about thoroughly cleaning my vehicles to keep them in as new condition. However I take a rather different view than most in that I do not clean our vehicles every week. It's more like every month to six weeks. Yes I am always on the look out for such contaminants as bird lime and worst of all, smashed birds eggs which will quickly ruin the clear coat layer and probably the base coat as well if left for anything more than a few hours.

We currently have a hose pipe ban and bucket washing a Cali is both tedious and very time consuming so it hasn't been done for several months. Besides without the jet wash facility to remove surface grit and grime, hand washing would probably inflict more damage than leaving it until the ban is lifted. If I ever do decide to wash it I'll do it top down, panel by panel taking care to thoroughly rinse, wash. rinse and then towel dry before moving to the next panel.

I believe that no matter how careful you are, every time you wash a vehicle you will be inflicting micro damage to the paintwork. Accordingly our vehicles get washed sparingly but very thoroughly when they are. I use the two bucket method making sure to change the water regularly and toweling off with micro fibre towels. The only real consequence of going so long between washes are that I have noticed that spider or fly dirt can by stubborn to shift. So I use a small piece of clay bar if they are present being sure to rewax the spot afterwards.

Leaving aside my late father's seventeen year old Skoda which we keep as a general purpose family pool car, our other modern is a Mercedes convertible. This vehicle requires a whole different regime to keep the roof in pristine condition let alone the paint work. IMO doing this too often would lead to premature deterioration of this über expensive fabric covered roof assembly so again I try not to clean it too often.

I did have Autoglym Lifeshine applied by a third party via the dealer when we purchased our Cali but I cannot say with any confidence if it makes any difference.

I get what you’re saying, and without a doubt each time you take a sponge or cloth to paintwork, there is a real potential, if not an inevitability, that micro scratches will occur. It’s a balance, not overly washing a vehicle but still removing environmental contaminants that will also age it.

Quite a while ago I decided applying conventional wax polish was causing more abrasion than it was giving protection. I only use this now to take out scratches.

I am a believer of using something like Aqua Wax to wet bodywork and getting that added protection is worth doing. I’m a recent convert to ceramic coating spray to give longer term protection and hygroscopic action - which in itself helps to keep the car clean and reducing washing frequency. Just did this to our cars and van last week, and we’ve today been through a rainstorm on a 3 hour trip, and our (black) car still looks pristine.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I've recently discovered Autoglym Rapid Ceramic spray, my other car is black, which is a nightmare to keep clean.

Rapid Ceramic Spray

A tropical scented, highly efficient way to apply a durable layer of protection to your car’s paintwork. Rapid Ceramic Spray will quickly become your ‘spray and buff’ go-to.

www.autoglym.com

Anyway, this stuff is incredible, much quicker to apply and polish and leaves the paint smoother than glass. If I'm feeling lazy I just do Albus' nose so I can get the bugs off easily.

Great stuff, add a bit of elbow grease and you're good

Agree!! A further step., which I do every 4 months or so, is first use AG Rapid Detailer to remove dirt (after washing) and all of those dead flies and tar spots. Then I use the Rapid Ceramic Spray. As I say, this is lasting around 4 months regarding hygroscopic action.

 

[Paul G - 2022 Ocean]

We took the AG Lifeshine from the dealer mainly due the the promised warranty. And it is applied before any real road contaminants gets to the paint that have to be removed first.
Had the van 10 weeks and 1,300 miles now and it still doesn’t need a wash and is still looking like new. Having said that, my son also took his around the same time and he’s had to take it back to the dealer to have the windscreen cleaned back and reapplied because in the rain he was just getting smears on the whole screen making it difficult to see. We both used the same dealer so I guess the quality comes down to who they use to apply it.
Is it worth it? Only time will tell but as someone else has said, you need an identical side by side comparison to know for sure. I’m happy with it so far and I wouldn’t trust myself to have the patience (or have the ideal facilities) to do it myself.