Auto Express spring gift guide

Spring has sprung, and with warmer weather on the way, now is the ideal time to treat yourself or a loved one. If you’re in need of the ideal gift for the passionate petrolhead in your life then we’ve got it covered.

We have a fantastic selection of ideas to suit all budgets, featuring everything from dash cams to the very latest cleaning products to help keep your car in the best possible condition all year round.

Take a look below for some inspiration...

Overland and Overland + jump starters

Winners of four Auto Express Best Buy reviews, the Overland and Overland + are excellent expedition-proven power banks that can also jump start any engine from 0.1 to 5.0 litres. The units can be recharged via either mains or an optional fold-out solar panel, and are supplied with their own 12V lighter-style socket.

Price: From £89.95

Contact: mobilesolarchargers.co.uk / 01935 824918

GYEON Q2M Iron and Q2M Tar

GYEON’S Q2M Iron is one of the fastest-acting, most efficient iron removers you can buy for a keen detailer’s toolkit. It’s used for decontaminating harsh ferrous deposits like rail dust (small, rusting metal particles which can become embedded in paintwork) and brake dust. Despite its effectiveness, Q2M Iron is pH neutral, which means it’s still suitable for sensitive materials or polished wheels.

Meanwhile, tar and other asphalt contaminants are also something that should be kept off a car’s paintwork to keep it in tiptop condition. This is where Q2M Tar steps in, helping speed up the decontamination process, which will often involve the use of a clay bar and a lot of time. By combining Q2M Tar and Q2M Iron, this usually arduous task becomes a whole lot easier. Each product is available in 500ml, 1L and 4L bottles, and prices start at just £14.50, proving that professional-grade detailing products don’t have to be expensive.

Price: From £14.50

Contact: mycarcleaning.co.uk/collections/gyeon

AlcoSense Elite 3 Breathalyser

The AlcoSense Elite 3 breathalyser provides results that can be trusted, helping you accurately check you’re safe to drive the morning after. The unit works via a premium 28mm2 semi-conductor sensor, providing a reading that goes down to two decimal places delivered in just a few seconds. This is combined with clear colour coding - green, amber and red. A memory recall function makes it easy to check the previous nine results, while the Elite 3 can be set to any limit used in the UK and Ireland. The unit is also discreet and pocket-sized, so it can be taken anywhere.

Price: £69.99

Contact: alcosense.co.uk/elite3

Nilfisk Core 130 Bike & Auto pressure washer

With spring just around the corner, a pressure washer is perfect for keeping your car looking as good as new. Nilfisk’s Core 130 Pressure Washer for Cars and Bikes has adjustable power control and four additional car-cleaning accessories that make cleaning your car even more efficient and effective.

Price: £174.99

Contact: shop.nilfisk.com

15% OFF with Discount Code: NILFISKAUTO15 (valid until 12/04/2024)

Autoglym Ceramic Wash & Protect

Autoglym Ceramic Wash & Protect is an all-new, easy-to-use triple-action ceramic car shampoo that delivers a deep clean - creating a smooth high-gloss shine and leaving a durable water-repellent layer of protection. The sophisticated new formulation helps to lift dirt and stubborn grime from paintwork and ‘capture’ it in the solution for easy rinsing, while shampoo-specific ceramic (Si02) technology creates a powerful protective barrier. Ceramic Wash & Protect also cuts the time and effort that is required to dry the car, and ensures that the next clean can be completed more quickly and easily.

RRP: £24.99

Autoglym Advanced All Wheel Cleaner

Autoglym Advanced All Wheel Cleaner safely and effectively removes contaminants from all lacquered wheel types. The efficient cleaner contains active ingredients that react with any ingrained metal particles – turning a deep red as they do so – and lifts them from the wheel surface so they can be easily rinsed away. Autoglym’s new foaming formula also clings more effectively to the wheel surface, delivering an intense clean while reducing the need for agitation with cleaning tools.

RRP: £19.99 (1-litre spray) £29.99 (2.5-litre screw-top bottle)

Visit: Autoglym.com, Amazon.co.uk/Autoglym, or visit Halfords outlets or independent car care retailers.

Bilt Hamber Double-Speed Wax

After you’ve finished meticulously cleaning your car, it’s important to make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste. That’s why a premium wax is a vital part of any home-detailing kit - providing a layer of protection over the paint while also giving a glossy shine. Bilt Hamber’s Double Speed Wax is an award-winner that’s both water-repellent and detergent-resistant, producing impressive, long-lasting results. It’s better value than the more expensive paste waxes, too, with Double Speed Wax coming in at £16.95for a 250ml tin that also includes an applicator pad and a microfibre cloth.

Price: £16.95

Visit: bilthamber.com/product/double-speed-wax

All new Nextbase iQ Smart Dash Cam

Introducing the all-new Nextbase iQ Smart Dash Cam - the world’s most connected aftermarket in-car camera. The two-camera system, with the option to add a rear camera, features AI powered sensing technology and a 4G connection that is always working to help you stay safe. Advanced features will track the speed and movement of other vehicles and road users, and using the LiveView function via the iQ app means you can see what’s going on around your vehicle at any time. Available in 1K, 2K or 4K versions, the Nextbase iQ Smart Dash Cam provides complete safety and peace of mind - just like a home-security system for your car.

Price: £349

Visit: halfords.com and nextbase.co.uk

Sealey PC102HV - 10L Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner 1000W/230V

If you’re after a practical wet and dry vacuum that’s ready to take on the toughest jobs, then Sealey’s powerful cleaner could be the one for you. The lightweight wet and dry unit features a blower setting, along with a robust 1000W motor that’s capable of dealing with a range of cleaning duties; ideal for use in the home or workshop and even for revitalising your vehicle’s grubby interior.

The cleaner consists of a durable 10-litre, high-impact composite drum, with an equally tough head unit that includes tool and hose storage points. Set on four casters to aid manoeuvrability, Sealey’s Wet and Dry vacuum comes supplied with crevice and floor tools, a washable cloth filter and a useful three-metre cable.

Price: £80.34

Visit: sealey.co.uk

Join evo on track this summer!

Are you raring to get on track this year? Team up with our sister magazine evo this summer at one of their thrilling evening track events. Early bird tickets start from £189 and include complimentary photography, free helmet hire and access to the track for you and an additional driver.

Join us on one (or more) of the following dates:
10/05/24 - Bedford Autodrome
07/06/24 - Bedford Autodrome
19/06/24 - Donington Park - NEW for 2024!
14/08/24 - Brands Hatch

Price: from £189

Visit: evotrackdays.co.uk