Amazing results from clay bar...

[alexman]

Ok, so I had a couple of tiny dents on my drivers and passenger side door so got these seen to when I was at the main dealer for £70. When I picked up the car, the dents were gone, but I noticed that there was a light 3-4" scratch on the drivers side door and a few of what looked like very tiny white stone chips on the bottom of the door that I'm sure were not there before. I kicked up a fuss, but ended up paying as it had been a long day and the dents had gone after all.

Anyway, for the first time I used Megulars Clay Bar package when washing the car the other day (for anyone that doesn't know, you use this after washing and drying and consists of a detailer spray, a bar of clay that you rub on the paint after spraying to remove tiny impurities and dirt on the paint that standard washing doesn't get rid of, and a detailer to wipe off). I was shocked how many areas on the car did have impurities on the paint (which you can tell by the sensation of rubbing the clay bar when the paint isn't smooth).. then waxed it with my favourite Collinite 910 wax and, oh my god, the results are *stunning* and the doors looks stunning now.

Since doing this, I've driven around 200 miles but somehow the car looks like its just been washing. Tbf it hasn't rained, but even so, it usually gets dusty and a little bit mucky on the bonnet from motorway driving, but its still pretty much spotless. I suppose that where dirt used to hit the paint and got stuck inbetween the tiny impurities, its now more likely just to bounce off the paintwork.

Anyone else had such similarly stunning results after a claybar + wax?

 

[Z4 Beemer]

Yes, claying really does make the paint feel incredibly smooth. 8)

I have just bought this: http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=647 and I'm keen to give it a try. I previously used the Megs clay and QD spray, its very good.

EDIT: sorry, your car looks amazing! 8)

 

[Dads203]

Thats an amazing finish
I'm just waiting for the weather to buck up before I do mine, I bought the AG clay bar kit and I'm hoping that it comes out as good as yours, very nice.

 

[Andy]

That really does look brill, gonna have to do the same.

Not sure I've ever seen your car before - what's the colour combo, black and red ?

 

[Lucy]

Fancy doing mine?
It hasn't looked as shiny as yours in months

 

[sixspeed]

Sort it out Lucy! lol

White is a killer for showing up tiny marks such as road tar and heavy dirt, so I tend to spot-clay my car almost every month, but it is amazing how effective clay is at removing these spots.

Car's looking good in the pics!

 

[alexman]

That really does look brill, gonna have to do the same.

Not sure I've ever seen your car before - what's the colour combo, black and red ?

Yes black with red seats.. fully loaded (almost) apart from extended leather and parking sensors.. considering now putting black alcantara on the dash and doors with red trim. I've got the material - its just a case of finding a good trimmer now who doesn't charge the Earth in labour!

 

[BigT]

Looks fantastic. I really should look after mine a little more, but know very little about detailing. I might give this a go, especially if doing it protects the paintwork as well and keeps it looking good for longer. Black is such a pain to keep clean.

I have the same colour combo, so if you can post where you got that black alantara I'd be grateful as I think it would look great in the car. I had extended leather on my old MB CL500 and it did give a lovely feeling of luxury, but I believe it was very, very rarely specified on the Z4 so I could never find an example of an M for sale with it when I bought mine.

 

[mcbeee]

I plan on trying the clay bar kit as soon as it warms up so I can do it in the driveway and the beer doesn't freeze on me.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I had a couple of tiny dents on my drivers and passenger side door so got these seen to when I was at the main dealer for £70. When I picked up the car, the dents were gone, but I noticed that there was a light 3-4" scratch on the drivers side door and a few of what looked like very tiny white stone chips on the bottom of the door that I'm sure were not there before. I kicked up a fuss, but ended up paying as it had been a long day and the dents had gone after all.

Anyway, for the first time I used Megulars Clay Bar package when washing the car the other day (for anyone that doesn't know, you use this after washing and drying and consists of a detailer spray, a bar of clay that you rub on the paint after spraying to remove tiny impurities and dirt on the paint that standard washing doesn't get rid of, and a detailer to wipe off). I was shocked how many areas on the car did have impurities on the paint (which you can tell by the sensation of rubbing the clay bar when the paint isn't smooth).. then waxed it with my favourite Collinite 910 wax and, oh my god, the results are *stunning* and the doors looks stunning now.

Since doing this, I've driven around 200 miles but somehow the car looks like its just been washing. Tbf it hasn't rained, but even so, it usually gets dusty and a little bit mucky on the bonnet from motorway driving, but its still pretty much spotless. I suppose that where dirt used to hit the paint and got stuck inbetween the tiny impurities, its now more likely just to bounce off the paintwork.

Anyone else had such similarly stunning results after a claybar + wax?

I have never used anything like that but is there not a chance you could scratch the car or put "swirl" marks on it ?

 

[a11y]

I have never used anything like that but is there not a chance you could scratch the car or put "swirl" marks on it ?

Nah, used correctly and using some sort of lubricant (like in that link above) you won't scratch the surface or add swirl marks at all. It really is easy stuff to work with - I switch between the Meguairs Qwik Clay and Sonus Green clay (milder/less abrasive) as required. It's vital to wax the paintwork afterwards though as claying strips any existing wax right off.

Woots, don't even think of trying this mate


Tar and road grime shows up very badly on lighter colours and my white van is shocking at the moment. Partly due to the time of year and all the tar around on the roads. I'm waiting another month or so before claying the van again.

 

[GAZA62]

Looks great i have been using clay for a while now and the finish i get is superb as they say its all in the prep no good buying expensive waxes if you do not clay and polish first.

Works well on glass

 

[mcbeee]

Looks great i have been using clay for a while now and the finish i get is superb as they say its all in the prep no good buying expensive waxes if you do not clay and polish first.

Works well on glass

What do you use for a polish before the wax? Would a detail spray work ?

 

[sammyz]

I have never used anything like that but is there not a chance you could scratch the car or put "swirl" marks on it ?

Nah, used correctly and using some sort of lubricant (like in that link above) you won't scratch the surface or add swirl marks at all. It really is easy stuff to work with - I switch between the Meguairs Qwik Clay and Sonus Green clay (milder/less abrasive) as required. It's vital to wax the paintwork afterwards though as claying strips any existing wax right off.

Woots, don't even think of trying this mate


Tar and road grime shows up very badly on lighter colours and my white van is shocking at the moment. Partly due to the time of year and all the tar around on the roads. I'm waiting another month or so before claying the van again.

Clay bar and a good wax can do wonders for the paintwork. Your car looks 8)

 

[Darren M]

Think I need to do that with mine. I washed the car the other day for the first time since Christmas (oops) and even with two washes it was like running the sponge over sandpaper - the paint isn't as smooth. In spring I need to spend some time on it as it's got loads of tar specs on it also.
The car looks fab by the way. A good effort and top result.

Tried clay last year to remove some tree sap (or something) from the paint and was less impressed, ended up using some BMW polish with a bit of elbow grease to remove the damn stuff. I had loads of small yellow circles all over the rear passenger side of the car.

 

[GAZA62]

Looks great i have been using clay for a while now and the finish i get is superb as they say its all in the prep no good buying expensive waxes if you do not clay and polish first.

Works well on glass

What do you use for a polish before the wax? Would a detail spray work ?

This the last big detail i did http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12175&p=184540&hilit=+detail#p184540

I work by hand so still have some swirl marks on my car but the Autoglym SRP polish helps to fill the lighter ones and topped off with AG EGP makes a good durable base by hand for a wax.

 

[Anonymous]

[/quote]This the last big detail i did http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12175&p=184540&hilit=+detail#p18454.[/quote]

What was the product you used on the fabric top ?

 

[GAZA62]

This the last big detail i did http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12175&p=184540&hilit=+detail#p18454.[/quote]

What was the product you used on the fabric top ?[/quote]

http://www.autoglym.co.uk/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=GG&Range=1 available in Halfords


Good results but does not last that long and if you get any on paint or glass needs AG SRP to remove recently applied Renovo much easier to apply but not impressed with protection so far as i have notice mildew on top of hood never had that before but could be due to snow and ice on roof for long period will try another application and see how it goes

Renovo http://www.renovointernational.com/products/uproof.php

 

[Smokin]

Think I need to do that with mine. I washed the car the other day for the first time since Christmas (oops) and even with two washes it was like running the sponge over sandpaper - the paint isn't as smooth. In spring I need to spend some time on it as it's got loads of tar specs on it also.
The car looks fab by the way. A good effort and top result.

Tried clay last year to remove some tree sap (or something) from the paint and was less impressed, ended up using some BMW polish with a bit of elbow grease to remove the damn stuff. I had loads of small yellow circles all over the rear passenger side of the car.

Think of clay as sticky tape--just sticks to the imperfections(grit, dirt, embedded stuff). Tree sap is really, really stuck to the paint so needs a polish to wear it away.

alexman, car looks great!