Rule #1: if you wash your car yourself, leave your key a good distance away, otherwise the windows drop down when you near the handles and let water seep in and break the seal, messy.
what's your favorite detailing forum?There are forums that discuss in great detail how to wash, wax, clay, etc. I would suggest looking for these.
I heard some car washes have soaps that are bad for wax and will strip it off, how true is that?there are lots
autogeekonline and autopia are popular.
you clay before waxing usually. claybar once to twice a year.
i try to go for waxes that last long because I hate spending the effort to wax only to have it dissapear 2 months later.
Yes, cheap soaps will break down the wax or sealant rather then preserve it. Remember, the average car wash deals with all kinds of cars, from cheap crap to nice Maserati's, so they often will use a more abrasive chemical soup to help breakdown the dirt and grime on the guy who never waxes/seals and washes his car once a month. In the end, the car always comes out clean…but for the guy who waxs/seals his car regularly, only mild soap should be used as the stronger soaps literally break down the properties of the wax/sealant. Also, keep in mind a sealant is stronger then a wax (although don't shine as good generally speaking) and some sealants are stronger then others.I heard some car washes have soaps that are bad for wax and will strip it off, how true is that?
Thanks for the compliment and glad you find some of my posts informative.Anderson, we are so lucky to have you in this forum.
You are not getting the car fresh off of the production line. By the time it gets to you, it will be at least several weeks. You do not need to be concerned by "curing" time. Today's paint is cured very quickly. In fact, I would encourage a good polish and wax when you get the car if the dealer doesn't do it as part of their prep work.I remember sometime ago reading about not waxing or polishing new paint that come with new car right away until the paint is cured or "dried". Is there any truth to it? Can any one shed some light on this. My car is in production and I am expecting it to arrive in a month or so.
Thanks
No need to clay the new car. A light polish (they come in different strengths) perhaps depending on the condition of the car…some new cars need it some don't. Wax yes. I would look into Opticoat Pro if this is a daily driver for you.Thanks b76 for that reassurance. So do I need claying on the new car before waxing or is there also need for polishing? Appreciate your knowlegible advise.
Yes, in order for Opticoat to work you have to polish first, apply it and then wax it. Opticoat is a ceramic sealant and as such it need to bond to the clear coat of the car, it will not bond to the wax. There are two versions of Opticoat, there is 2.0 and the Pro version. Have a professional do the Pro version as it has a lifetime guarantee whereas the 2.0 is for consumer use and I believe only has a 2 year guarantee and I've read mixed results with it. Google Opticoat Pro and the city you live in to find a detailer that is certified by Opticoat, or you can visit the Opticoat manufacturer website; Optimum Polymer Technologies : Select State I would STRONGLY suggest getting this done on a black car. This will dramatically discourage the dreaded swirls that are inevitable on a black car and maintain the overly cleanliness of the paint. My Ghibli is dark blue (Blue Passione) and is almost as bad as black is in keeping it clean. Get it done as soon as possible because the cleaner it is from the manufacturer, the less polishing that needs to be done before applying Opticoat and as such the cost is cheaper…cost is heavily dependent on how much polishing the detailer needs to do. Mine is $595 for the application of it, but the detailer said he had a week old Tesla that came in right before me and the paint was already swirled (likely from the shipping process to the customer) and they had to spend extra time doing two levels of polish which ran up that customer's cost to $895. The car's paint and clear coat have to be perfect before applying Opticoat to it.Anderson, i will pick up my nero ribelle S Q4 tomorrow. I've never heard of Opticoat before. But it sounds a right choice for my car. Would you do opticoat first and then wax? And what else would you consider doing for a new, daily driver?