Bilt-Hamber Auto-Clay Medium clay bar

Price: £10.95 (200g)
Contact: 01277 658899, www.bilthamber.com

Winter weather means filthy bodywork. But while dirty water and mud can be easily shifted with a bucket and sponge, to remove contaminants such as brake dust before polishing you need a clay bar.

Bilt-Hamber’s Auto-Clay is our current favourite, and a new Medium smoothing clay bar has been added to the range to slot in between the Regular (our 2011 Best Buy) and Soft (for more frequent use) versions.

This bar is presented in a handy storage case, which prevents the clay from drying out and ensures it lasts longer.

We tore off a 15g chunk from the 200g bar, then set about our panel. The Bilt-Hamber doesn’t require a dedicated lubricant, just lots of water, so we kept the bonnet soaking wet while rubbing the clay back and forth. We then dried the bodywork with a microfibre cloth.

Afterwards, we ran a finger over the treated and untreated panels, and were impressed at how smooth the Auto-Clay had left our car. As you don’t need a lubricant, the £11 price equates to 55p per 10g of clay, so the Bilt-Hamber Medium is great value.

Verdict

Rating: ★★★★
What is it?
Bilt-Hamber's latest clay bridges the gap in its lineup between the Regular and Soft clay bars.
Problems?
Not as aggressive as rivals, no lubricant included.
Why buy?
Only need to use water to apply, great at shifting grime, top value for money.