What we watch for on a audi
- Hard clear coat: safe wash prevents new marring, but old swirls need polishing
- Singleframe grille honeycomb cleaned with soft detail brushes
- Aluminium-look and matt silver trim treated without abrasive cleaners
- S line and RS wheels have tight spokes that trap brake dust
The Audi paint reality
Audi's factory clear coat is notably hard. In practice that means an Audi kept on a safe wash routine stays looking sharp for years — but a car that has been through rollover washes carries swirls that shampoo will never fix. Every car here is washed by hand using the two-bucket method — one bucket of pH-neutral shampoo, one of clean rinse water with a grit guard — with wheels cleaned first using separate brushes and mitts so nothing off the road ever goes back onto the paint.
Grille, trim and glass
The Singleframe grille is the face of the car and collects the most road film and insect debris of any panel. We work it with soft detail brushes rather than blasting it, which protects the honeycomb mesh and the sensors sitting behind it. Aluminium-effect window surrounds are cleaned with a neutral shampoo only — metal polishes and abrasive pads will haze anodised trim permanently.
Interiors: Alcantara, leather and piano black
Alcantara is the one material where technique matters most. It should be brushed dry to lift the nap and spot-cleaned lightly, never saturated, which is what leaves those darkened patches you cannot get out. Audi's piano-black console panels are also a magnet for fingerprints and micro-scratches, so we use a clean dry microfibre and no chemicals at all.
Which package suits an Audi
A Wash & Go at £9 is enough for a fortnightly clean on an A3 or Q2. For an A6, Q5 or anything on a lease agreement, the Super Valet at £25 covers the interior properly, and the Gold Valet at £35 adds a hand polish and wax that makes hard Audi clear coats really pop.
Frequently asked
Can you clean Alcantara trim and seats?+
Yes, carefully. Alcantara is dry-brushed and spot-cleaned rather than soaked. If a panel is heavily soiled we will tell you what is realistically achievable before we start.
My Audi has swirl marks already — can a wash remove them?+
No wash removes swirls; they are in the clear coat. A hand polish as part of the Gold Valet from £35 reduces the appearance noticeably. Full removal needs machine paint correction.
Do you clean quattro badges and grille sensors?+
Yes, by hand with detail brushes. We keep pressure well away from parking sensors and radar units in the grille.