What's In ALM's Garage?

[5.0ALM]

Wow. Was surprised by this one. Trace-less is supposed to be life changingly excellent. I have a bottle I've not tried yet. I'm hoping I didn't waste $50 only to have it be useless.

@DFB5.0 has a theory about Trace-less.
We should be able to prove this theory in 5-6 months time!

It's not useless, just disappointing for the money.

Sponsored

 

[bfets]

@DFB5.0 has a theory about Trace-less.
We should be able to prove this theory in 5-6 months time!

It's not useless, just disappointing for the money.

I think @DFB5.0 is still recovering at hospital after seeing Earth Choice in a Mustang

 

[5.0ALM]

I think @DFB5.0 is still recovering at hospital after seeing Earth Choice in a Mustang

"Earth Choice" for the screens is my contribution to help reach net zero!
You're welcome.

 

[bfets]

Here's Matt from Obsessed Garage on Trace-less.



Now he is selling this stuff so he might not be all that objective in this video but I've always kinda valued what he says. I'm going to have to try my bottle now to test it out. I bought it and saved it for use on my Dark Horse up to now.

 

[DFB5.0]

Here's Matt from Obsessed Garage on Trace-less.



Now he is selling this stuff so he might not be all that objective in this video but I've always kinda valued what he says. I'm going to have to try my bottle now to test it out. I bought it and saved it for use on my Dark Horse up to now.

After seeing Matt talk speak so enthusiastically about Trace-less over the last 12-months, I felt like it would be a safe bet, so I ordered the 5-liter bottle of it. Sadly, considering the price, it just hasn't lived up to expectations, and not from a lack of trying.

Taken from the Sin-Bin section of my awards thread -

Bilt Hamber Trace-less
I really, really don’t want to put this here, but……………………….I just couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room………………….this stuff DOES leave traces behind. My initial use of this product was impressive, it evaporates almost instantly, making glass cleaning seemingly simple. But I noticing streaks left behind after use. I continued trying it using different methods but kept getting the same problem………………ghosting and streaking. The problem here is the product flashes far too quickly in this climate, meaning it doesn’t actually absorb properly into the towel to remove what you are trying to clean away. I suspect this product would be fine in the winter, or in its natural UK environment. I bought a gallon of this stuff……………….all virtually useless.



Having said that, I've found it to be excellent on stainless steel.

 

[DFB5.0]

PoMS Day

Today was PoMS day.

Piece of Mind Service is a complimentary inspection performed at the 2 ~ 3 month mark, just to make sure there is nothing obviously wrong with your new car.

The checklist:

Whilst it was in, I got them to disable the wretched double-honk.

(LOL - that should be upon exiting)

And yes, I did ask!
Dealer-level action to address the 24C35 Recall hasn't filtered down yet.
They haven't been told anything, yet.


Expecting the loaner to be some clapped out shitbox, I was pleasantly surprised it was an Everest Trend. The Trend must be the big mover in the range, (one up from the poverty pack), because their lot had quite a few of these.

As optioned with the $2,500 Touring Pack, a brand new MY2025.25 drive away is ~$75K.

Coincidentally, one of these is on my wish list, but in the Tremor trim that has the 3.0L V6 turbo diesel, and not the sluggish 2.0 bi-turbo diesel that was in the Trend.

Here's a novel concept...

Physical HVAC controls!

That will never catch on.

Did you have the oil changed?

Back when Ford had good supply of Mustang's, I would occasionally get a like-for-like service loan car. Been a long time since that has happened though.

 

[bfets]

After seeing Matt talk speak so enthusiastically about Trace-less over the last 12-months, I felt like it would be a safe bet, so I ordered the 5-liter bottle of it. Sadly, considering the price, it just hasn't lived up to expectations, and not from a lack of trying.

Taken from the Sin-Bin section of my awards thread -

Bilt Hamber Trace-less
I really, really don’t want to put this here, but……………………….I just couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room………………….this stuff DOES leave traces behind. My initial use of this product was impressive, it evaporates almost instantly, making glass cleaning seemingly simple. But I noticing streaks left behind after use. I continued trying it using different methods but kept getting the same problem………………ghosting and streaking. The problem here is the product flashes far too quickly in this climate, meaning it doesn’t actually absorb properly into the towel to remove what you are trying to clean away. I suspect this product would be fine in the winter, or in its natural UK environment. I bought a gallon of this stuff……………….all virtually useless.



Having said that, I've found it to be excellent on stainless steel.

Yikes. Not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping to not waste $50. Maybe I'll save it for winter.
Did you try just using more product @DFB5.0 ? I'm wondering if using much more of the stuff will mean it takes longer for it to evaporate.

 

[DFB5.0]

Yikes. Not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping to not waste $50. Maybe I'll save it for winter.
Did you try just using more product @DFB5.0 ? I'm wondering if using much more of the stuff will mean it takes longer for it to evaporate.

Just be grateful you didn't spend the $120 for the 5-liter bottle, broke my own rules on that one.....................................................

I tried a variety of methods, spraying direct, spraying into the towel, less product, more product, different towels............................... all that did was alter the amount of streaking it left behind. But, I'm one of the very few who have made this observation, most people universally like it. So, don't write it off just yet, "your milage may vary".

 

[prestj1]

Dash Cam Install

I've been putting this off for over three weeks now.
Probably the thought of pulling off trim pieces, but know this, it's an easy install, especially if you utilise the rear view mirror USB port.

I make no apologies for the length, 21 minutes, as the aim is to show everything that's involved.
A lot of install videos gloss over things.

Timecode chapters are there, if you want to skip through bits.

Grab a beer, coffee, whatever takes your fancy...

Luv the video thanks for doing it...Quick Q are there any issues with airbags we need to be aware of?

 

[5.0ALM]

Quick Q are there any issues with airbags we need to be aware of?

I was expecting an airbag in the A-Pillar, and treaded carefully accordingly.

But perhaps that question should be directed to your Ford dealer?
The "Ming Mole" was onto me pretty quick trying to up sell dash cams etc, but I suspect they would outsource that install to the cheapest local they can find.

The only information I could find, is a YT crash test video of a 2016 LHD.
Not too unreasonable to expect the S650 is similar (or exactly the same as an S550).

The LHS and RHS curtain airbags deploys from the rear.
I've taken a few screen shots of this video to show the sequence:

Nothing in the A-Pillar.
It seems to blow out from under the headliner.
I ran the cable in that small channel you would have seen, and the rubber holds it in place.

After seeing Matt talk speak so enthusiastically about Trace-less over the last 12-months, I felt like it would be a safe bet, so I ordered the 5-liter bottle of it. Sadly, considering the price, it just hasn't lived up to expectations, and not from a lack of trying.

Having said that, I've found it to be excellent on stainless steel.

I'm becoming increasingly cautious about these people on social media that sell things.
There's a reason why some of them have become millionaires.

Having said that, I've found it to be excellent on stainless steel.

Good to have a summer-time use for it!

Did you have the oil changed?

No, that's not on the PoMS schedule, and I didn't ask for it.
I thinks it's universally accepted that modern engines are pretty damn good, and don't need the first oil change at 1,500 like the good 'ol days.

 

[DFB5.0]

I was expecting an airbag in the A-Pillar, and treaded carefully accordingly.

But perhaps that question should be directed to your Ford dealer?
The "Ming Mole" was onto me pretty quick trying to up sell dash cams etc, but I suspect they would outsource that install to the cheapest local they can find.

When I placed the deposit for my S650 in September 2022, the next day the Ming Mole rang with much gusto to congratulate me on my new car and had I thought about ceramic coatings, window tinting and dash cams. I was like, "honey, the car is a pre-order and it will be at least 12-18 months away, I don't even know the RRP on the car yet. And in any case, I will be doing the detailing....................."

I was expecting to be put in front of her once the pricing was announced and the contract properly written up, but I missed out on meeting Miss Ming.

I'm becoming increasingly cautious about these people on social media that sell things.
There's a reason why some of them have become millionaires.

I'm VERY particular in who I trust on social media.

In terms of OG, Matt is pretty much spot on with most of what he delivers in terms product assessment, and ultimately what goes in his store. I've learnt about a lot of products and tools by watching his content. Having said that, some of his favorites don't align with my methods or preference.

In recent times I've found that when it comes to detailing products, sometimes personal preference, climate and expectation play a heavy role product assessment. There are products I hate for specific reasons, yet others won't understand my critique. I always took that the wrong way, but I've adjusted my thinking based on the personal preference. I always struggled to understand why nearly every UK brand left me feeling underwhelmed, I only recently discovered those products are primarily designed to work in cold, damp UK climatic conditions.

 

[5.0ALM]

Simply, Yum!

Gotta love your mum!
Part of the Christmas swag, fast disappearing.

These butter shortbread biscuits in collector's tins apparently came from Coles, but unfortunately are a festive season only thing.

The unmistakable XB hardtop.

Both made in Victoria.

... and here's me thinking, the best thing to ever come out of Victoria was the Hume Highway!


Having just checked the Bisko website, they appear to cater for the strange Holden people as well.

Now, what to do with the tin.

 

[5.0ALM]

It's Cryptic Friday

Or, nobody gives a crap if it's cryptic Friday.

 

[5.0ALM]

Manual Shift Knob replacement

@bfets, I owe you a beer Steve.
That banter here on December 31 about autos and manuals prompted me to do a test fit the following day... and lucky I did!

 

[bfets]

Manual Shift Knob replacement

@bfets, I owe you a beer Steve.
That banter here on December 31 about autos and manuals prompted me to do a test fit the following day... and lucky I did!

Wow, good timing on that adapter order. Would have really sucked if you missed it and couldnt fit that knob. It looks really good. No mistaking it for an auto anymore!

Sponsored