Waxing?

[wraunch]

What do you guys use to wax your MS3s? Just put in my 2 weeks at work and I have a nice paid 2 week vacation before my new job so I think the 3 will get a wax job. What brand/type of wax and what applicators?

[elderlycoffee]

I just used these two on my car today. After a nice wash of course. and if you're curious I use Turtle Wax Supreme wash soap.


http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f134/frontplayaDM5/100_9024.jpg

After the wash and dry I apply a thin coat of ICE, smooth it on with a waxing mitt then I use the 3M Finish restorer all over, nice and thick and again I use the waxing mitt. Finally I finish up with another thin coating of ICE and again with the waxing mitt.


Looks pretty Eh?

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f134/frontplayaDM5/100_9025.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f134/frontplayaDM5/100_9026.jpg



I should note that the Finish restorer also removed a scratch that I created by using a damaged brush on my hood. It was pretty big and it got it out, It claims to remove all hairline scratches and most paint level medium scratches, Did a pretty nice job I think.

[MadOzodi]

Zaino, until it became a huge pain in my ass. Haven't hand washed the MS3 yet; dealer washed it for me when I had the car in for the CEL. Last time I washed my stang I just used my Mr. Clean Autodry and spray-on Armor All wax.

IMO, Zaino was a whole weekend ordeal...I just want something that can be done quick. Definitely gonna pick up one of those microfiber wash mitts though.

[elderlycoffee]

Zaino, until it became a huge pain in my ass. Haven't hand washed the MS3 yet; dealer washed it for me when I had the car in for the CEL. Last time I washed my stang I just used my Mr. Clean Autodry and spray-on Armor All wax.

IMO, Zaino was a whole weekend ordeal...I just want something that can be done quick. Definitely gonna pick up one of those microfiber wash mitts though.


a microfiber wash mitt works real nice

[MSAxela]

Autoglym wax on lighter color cars and Meguiars NXT Tech wax on dark color cars. Just from what I have seen that is. I have a Black Mica MS3 so I go with the NXT.

[dread]

zymol, it has gotten many scratches out of my ms3 and makes the color look so much deeper. It is like $15 a bottle but its all natural and completely worth the money. The only problem is it doesn't last as long as I would like, but it makes scratches and swirls disappear even ones that were white on my black ms3.

[elderlycoffee]

I've got a question, Do these special remover waxes actually repair the scratches or just hide them till the wax wears off?

[ariana]

I used the Ice today too. It's my favorite for now.

[clicknext]

I use ICE normally and the results are decent, but nothing mind-blowing. It's very easy to apply and remove, though.

A wax or detailer will not do anything to scratches/swirls, they may hide them a bit. But the polishes that claim to remove swirls and oxidation WILL. They will not "repair" the scratches, they are abrasive and will take off a small layer of paint so that the good paint underneath shows through. The results can be good, but use care and make sure you apply a good wax afterwards.

By the way, isn't the ICE spray detailer different from the stuff that pours out of the bottle?

[MadOzodi]

Ice for touchups between washings, huh? I'll have to look into that. If I had 2 weeks vacation, I would definitely Zaino the hell outta my MS3.

ZAINO (http://www.zainobros.com)

[elderlycoffee]

I get my ICE from target.
Cost like $5.00 and works really well in between regular waxing. also seems to stretch out the life of waxing.

[elderlycoffee]

I get my ICE from target.
Cost like $5.00 and works really well in between regular waxing. also seems to stretch out the life of waxing.

[andrew.savage]

i go mother's carnuba wax, it's a pain in the ass and your arm hurts after but it looks freaking awesome when it's done.

[Olestra]

I've got a question, Do these special remover waxes actually repair the scratches or just hide them till the wax wears off?

As someone already posted it will remove a thin layer of paint. That stuff you have most likely has an abrasive.
Pure waxes like the carnauba wax will just hide scratches by filling them in. Once the wax wears off, the scatches are visible again.

Just be careful not to use an abrasive too often. I'd use it like 3 times a year max - if you use it everytime you wash, you won't have a clearcoat left after a few years. A true polish will be more abrasive than your polish/wax combo.

[elderlycoffee]

I just bought some of this today, Saw it for the first time decided to try it. Any dangers in using it?

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1,5

[ariana]

I have been using the ICE liquid polish and the spray for quick detail. I haven't tried the paste yet.

[Olestra]

Not too familiar with that product but most products that say polish will contain an abrasive. Usually it will explicitly say non-abrasive on the bottle.

Turtle wax's wax will be a non-abrasive I believe. I also forgot to mention that synthetic waxes should last longer than carnauba wax.

[ch77]

Meguiar's Gold Class paste wax.. Yeah, it makes my arm a bit sore after a while, but it looks nice on all our cars. I will be trying the Mother's Caranuba when I run out of the Meguiar's in a few months.

Usually I use Meguiar's Gold Class car wash as well; seems to do the trick. As for bug & tar remover, I've got some from the 80's that I use sparingly. Not that anyone asked about that, but doesn't everyone still need some on hand?

[elderlycoffee]

So After this tub I shouldn't get any more polish?

[soilsample]

I highly recommend Zainos.
You will be very pleased with the results. A very small amount will go a long way toward protecting the finish and enhancing the shine.

I've used on my new MZ3 and on my motorcycle as well as on the Mini CooperS that I had before the Mazda.
Excellent product.
Follow the directions and stand back to enjoy your work when you're done!

[MM3Canuck]

I have been using the ICE liquid polish and the spray for quick detail. I haven't tried the paste yet.


Same here. Very happy with it

[utopia]

I use Meguiars yellow wax. I think it's #27. It smells like bananas and keeps the car spotless for a long time!

[Vixen]

I use Meguiars yellow wax. I think it's #27. It smells like bananas and keeps the car spotless for a long time!


Oh shit! Bananas? This is definitely the wax for me(monkey)

[CTGrey02]

Oh shit! Bananas? This is definitely the wax for me(monkey)

All their products smell good. You guys should be clay barring the car, especially the front of it to remove the bugs, glass, sand and other contaminents from your paint prior to waxing it.

[Vixen]

All their products smell good. You guys should be clay barring the car, especially the front of it to remove the bugs, glass, sand and other contaminents from your paint prior to waxing it.

I've always used Meguires products. Very good. I just thought the banana comment was funny.
Is it really necessary to use a clay bar on a new car?

[Euphorism]

I've always used Meguires products. Very good. I just thought the banana comment was funny.
Is it really necessary to use a clay bar on a new car?


its a good idea to at least run one along the front every so often to pull the sand, bugs, etc. out of the clear coat that washing doesnt get out.

[utopia]

I've always used Meguires products. Very good. I just thought the banana comment was funny.
Is it really necessary to use a clay bar on a new car?

it's a nice surprise :)

and correction it's yellow #26!

black magic for interior and rims FTW!

then these neat little air freshner things that go inside the vent and a little tab pokes out..new car all the time!

[CTGrey02]

Is it really necessary to use a clay bar on a new car?
Either that or rub what is there into your paint creating more problems. Give it a try. You'll be amazed at what you pull off that fresh paint. If the paint doesn't feel like glass before you wax it, you should clay it.

[ZoomVT]

CTGrey, that is great advise. I didnt believe in it before but i have seen it and now i am a firm believer.

I have always used Turtle Wax soap and wax; mostly because its easy to apply and it gives good results.
I really liked the wax; but i think as far as waxing your car; you dont get what you pay for; you get what you spend the time for.
If you have time to clay and use Zaino; you will never look back; but if you wash your car weekly or so and dont have time to do the whole thing then get something like the ones mentioned above.

[CoachZed]

Either that or rub what is there into your paint creating more problems. Give it a try. You'll be amazed at what you pull off that fresh paint. If the paint doesn't feel like glass before you wax it, you should clay it.


A word of caution here. There is no way anybody should be clay barring every time they wax their cars. Even using soapy water or detailing spray, the clay is still an abrasive. If you clay every time you wax, you're going to run out of clear coat at some point. Conventional wisdom says clay no more than 1x or 2x a year.

Also, just because there are contaminants on the paint (road tar, overspray, etc) that you can feel, doesn't mean you'll be rubbing those into the paint. A good washing will take off anything that would move around and actually rub the paint.

As for wax, I'll 2nd everybody's recommendation of Zaino. I'd also suggest P21S (aka S100) paint cleanser--a non-abrasive cleanser that makes dark paint look stunning. They make a carnauba wax that is also fantastic and really easy to apply, but doesn't last too long.

[CTGrey02]

I'll agree with that. Claying also strips wax off cars, so if your using a wax that allows you to add layers on like NXT or Zaino, your also removing the protective layers of wax you spent all that time applying. If the car is driven through the winter though, a good wash, clay and waxing is a nice way to start off the driving season.

[MM3Canuck]

Has anyone every heard of this product?

1. "5 Star Shine" -> http://www.cardetective.com/best-car-wax.html (scroll all teh way down for the link)

2. "Klasse Wax" -> http://www.autogeek.net/klashiggloss.html

3. "Wolfgang Series" -> http://www.autogeek.net/wg5500.html


I have been using the Turtle Wax ICE stuff, and it works really well. I just think the waxes mentioned above will ensure for a longer protection. Especially in the winter time, when waxing is impossible.

[CoachZed]

1. "5 Star Shine" -> http://www.cardetective.com/best-car-wax.html (scroll all teh way down for the link)

---I'm not familiar with this stuff

2. "Klasse Wax" -> http://www.autogeek.net/klashiggloss.html

---Very durable, not the best optically. Good way to go if you only want to wax a couple times a year, or are doing a coat of wax before winter.

3. "Wolfgang Series" -> http://www.autogeek.net/wg5500.html

---Nice optics, very easy to use. More durable than a carnauba wax, less durable than another sealant like Zaino. Looks more glossy than Zaino does.

[MM3Canuck]

So is there anything that does it all???

Or just use Klasse before the winter, and Wolfgang for the summer for the glossy look?

[MM3Canuck]

Just ordered some Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant and Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Paste Wax.

They both have good reviews, are one of the longest lasting products with the best shine, and one big thing, both of them can be layered (no abrasives)! Was kind of expensive to have it shipped to Canada, but I like my car and motorcycle shinny!

[SAVAGE70]

Hey all Speed3ers what s the happs? I am new to this waxing business. I was just at Meguiar's website and I came across some stuff. So does spray on waxes provide the same results and protection as liquid waxes and paste waxes? And are the polishers equivalent to the waxes?

[MM3Canuck]

Hey all Speed3ers what s the happs? I am new to this waxing business. I was just at Meguiar's website and I came across some stuff. So does spray on waxes provide the same results and protection as liquid waxes and paste waxes? And are the polishers equivalent to the waxes?


Go to this site: http://www.autogeek.net/carwax.html

Scroll down, and there are a number of sections, one compares waxes to synthetics etc. It tells you about everything you need to know. Its a good site.

[Olestra]

^Right, if you want a wax that lasts longer, use a synthetic. It will also seal the paint better. Carnauba is nice but it probably is gone in 3 days.

As for clay barring, I agree with CTGrey, it's really important. I have never done it yet, because I have only owned my car for 6 mths, but after a canadian winter, I can see there is sand and tar embedded in my paint that doesn't come off even after doing a handwash. I didn't even bother waxing the whole winter, as much as I wanted to. I was too afraid to seal contaminants into my paint.

Anybody know where I can get a good claybar for not 50 bucks in some starter kit? =)
I'm looking for maybe 20 bucks or less.

[protojason]

When I clayed my car for the first time, i used something called "mothers california gold' claybar kit. Right in your price range around 17.99ish at autozone. Comes with the claybar, quickdetailer as lube (smells like redhots), and a sample of their polish.

Works well...paint smoother than glass. One tip I read, cut the clay bar in pieces/ or in half. A little clay goes a long way, and your sure to drop it at least once. Dont use clay once you dropped it. I still have half the bar leftover that i saved in a plastic baggy. Still pliable for use again.

Heres what the product looks like :

http://www.autogeek.net/motcalgolcla.html


Jason



^Right, if you want a wax that lasts longer, use a synthetic. It will also seal the paint better. Carnauba is nice but it probably is gone in 3 days.

As for clay barring, I agree with CTGrey, it's really important. I have never done it yet, because I have only owned my car for 6 mths, but after a canadian winter, I can see there is sand and tar embedded in my paint that doesn't come off even after doing a handwash. I didn't even bother waxing the whole winter, as much as I wanted to. I was too afraid to seal contaminants into my paint.

Anybody know where I can get a good claybar for not 50 bucks in some starter kit? =)
I'm looking for maybe 20 bucks or less.

[MM3Canuck]

^Right, if you want a wax that lasts longer, use a synthetic. It will also seal the paint better. Carnauba is nice but it probably is gone in 3 days.

As for clay barring, I agree with CTGrey, it's really important. I have never done it yet, because I have only owned my car for 6 mths, but after a canadian winter, I can see there is sand and tar embedded in my paint that doesn't come off even after doing a handwash. I didn't even bother waxing the whole winter, as much as I wanted to. I was too afraid to seal contaminants into my paint.

Anybody know where I can get a good claybar for not 50 bucks in some starter kit? =)
I'm looking for maybe 20 bucks or less.


Protojason was refering to the site. Thats where I ordered my products, however, it gets expensive after shipping costs.

I found the clay bar at Canadian tire.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672466&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441890219&bmUID=1175731488506&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true