Help picking a sealant / final stage product

Hey everyone.

I've spent a lot of time doing bits and bobs on the Zed the last couple weeks.
Now I am starting full paint correction.

Have already done a full decontamination with clay and magma etc.

Compound today. Hopefully followed by polish too depending on time but I expect that to take a couple days to get right.

I am struggling to choose a LSP, or last stage product. I normally use Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection but have none left.

I'd buy more but I feel like it doesn't last as long as I'd expect it to.

I am after something pretty durable but mainly I want maximum gloss!

Suggestions welcome please?
 
Give it a few days you will have a choice of probably 10 or 15 different products.
Il start you off with one I've always found gives decent gloss & decent durability
Kiwami fusso 99.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/28009829189
 
If you want warm gloss go wax, if you want protection go ceramic coating. As Mr W said, loads to choose from, all about personal preference.

I'm in the ceramic coating and Carbon Collective camp. You get the gloss and protection, just not the warmth a wax brings.
 
How much do you want to spend?

Do you want to apply once and leave it or like myself do you just whip over it fortnightly time keep it nice?

At the moment I use P&S bead maker by Renny Doyle, it’s like a polymer sealer
It’s cheap, easy to use and leaves a deep gloss, lovely feel and good water behaviour

I must have 25 waxes and sealants here from £10 to £8000
But Kiwami extreme is a good wax at sensible money with decent duration
 
As above really...I actually quite like the process of waxing every 2 weeks, so if I went ceramic coating then you'd miss that part of it.

For bang for buck the Bilt Hamber double speed is a very good wax at £20.

I really want to see a Z4 with an £8000 wax on now....double the value of the car :rofl:
 
Angelus666 said:
As above really...I actually quite like the process of waxing every 2 weeks, so if I went ceramic coating then you'd miss that part of it.

For bang for buck the Bilt Hamber double speed is a very good wax at £20.

I really want to see a Z4 with an £8000 wax on now....double the value of the car :rofl:

95% of the finished result is in the preparation not the product... but I’m sure you know that :thumbsup:
 
Thank you all for the replies so far!

As expected everyone has their favourite :D

I think I will be ordering Bead Maker for the first time.

But won't use for a few days so in the mean time I'll probably finish up the Hybrid Ceramic Wax I have too. Once I've finally finished polishing that is!!
 
Angelus666 said:
As above really...I actually quite like the process of waxing every 2 weeks, so if I went ceramic coating then you'd miss that part of it.

For bang for buck the Bilt Hamber double speed is a very good wax at £20.

I really want to see a Z4 with an £8000 wax on now....double the value of the car :rofl:

Nah.. its never been put on any Z4 i have had...

Been used a C63,Cayman and a Jag....

Edit to say,there are a couple of new kids on the block... Megs ceramic wax and Turtle wax sealant wax,they get a lot of good reviews but i have tried them both and i didnt like either.
 
I have used meguiars NXT generation liquid tech wax 2.0 for the first time and happy with the results and will use it again.
 
Z4M-2006 said:
Angelus666 said:
As above really...I actually quite like the process of waxing every 2 weeks, so if I went ceramic coating then you'd miss that part of it.

For bang for buck the Bilt Hamber double speed is a very good wax at £20.

I really want to see a Z4 with an £8000 wax on now....double the value of the car :rofl:

Nah.. its never been put on any Z4 i have had...

Been used a C63,Cayman and a Jag....

Edit to say,there are a couple of new kids on the block... Megs ceramic wax and Turtle wax sealant wax,they get a lot of good reviews but i have tried them both and i didnt like either.

I've tried the Megs Ceramic wax and there really is a very specific way to use this product, or if you just follow the bottle instruction you end up wasting a whole bottle in just two/three washes. IMO you are best applying it as per normal spray wax, dry the car and spray this on and spread with a microfibre towel, it's a sticky product and doesn't really go on that nice, nor does it wipe off that nice either. However, it does give very good shine, water beading and dirt repellency (much better than most other waxes IMO). Also, it lasts a long time when applied like this...it'll take a few good washes before it's power fades, much better than any other £20 wax IMO

The spray-on whilst it's wet then spray off does work, but you use loads of product and it's only 20% as effective as applying in a normal manner. You can use this method for a top-up during maintenance washes.
 
I just didnt like its stickyness,streakyness and didnt really give me anything over any other product.

That said i didnt test longevity, i had it back off within days.
 
Another fan of Soft99 waxes here. Almost finished a tin of Fusso Coat Dark which I find absolutely superb on our Disco4 and the Z4. Excellent gloss, insane water beading and longevity. I reapply approximately every 6 to 8 weeks with regular maintenance washes in between using Sonax Xtreme Brilliant Shine Detailer as a drying aid. Very happy with this combination but may try Kiwami next which has a higher gloss level at the slight expense of longevity. Also use the Fusso Coat as a wheel sealant on both sets of black alloys as it's so good :thumbsup:
20200329_175114.jpg20200420_192851.jpg
 
Wowzers, that's some decent detailing right there! How long did it take to get the disco into that shape....looks amazing!
 
Angelus666 said:
Wowzers, that's some decent detailing right there! How long did it take to get the disco into that shape....looks amazing!
Why thank you Sir :D There's a weekends work there on the Disco. Bought it last October and it had just had some paintwork mainly the bumpers, front grille and bonnet, so it was a case of making the finish on all panels match using a DA and couple of Sonax compounds. The gloss black wheels, door handles, mirror backs etc were fitted new by myself so didn't require much attention. I've been in and out of the valeting/detailing trade since 1985 so I know my way around a pressure washer, a DA and tin of wax etc :thumbsup:
 
idej_z4 said:
If you want warm gloss go wax, if you want protection go ceramic coating. As Mr W said, loads to choose from, all about personal preference.

I'm in the ceramic coating and Carbon Collective camp. You get the gloss and protection, just not the warmth a wax brings.

So can you layer with ceramic products? I've just about got my routine sorted around DA polish, seal, wax and then top up periodically with detailer (Sonax being what's on the shelf at the moment) - but what if your sealant is a ceramic based product? Do you/can you/should you still wax on top? If you go ceramic sealant, should anything you layer on top be ceramic also? I'm not talking a 'permanent' professional ceramic coating here, just the off the shelf stuff the hobbyist can work with.
 
The diy off the shelf ceramic coatings are usually a complete waste of time and money imho. Even the expensive ones like Gtechniq.
 
z4pilot said:
idej_z4 said:
If you want warm gloss go wax, if you want protection go ceramic coating. As Mr W said, loads to choose from, all about personal preference.

I'm in the ceramic coating and Carbon Collective camp. You get the gloss and protection, just not the warmth a wax brings.

So can you layer with ceramic products? I've just about got my routine sorted around DA polish, seal, wax and then top up periodically with detailer (Sonax being what's on the shelf at the moment) - but what if your sealant is a ceramic based product? Do you/can you/should you still wax on top? If you go ceramic sealant, should anything you layer on top be ceramic also? I'm not talking a 'permanent' professional ceramic coating here, just the off the shelf stuff the hobbyist can work with.

It all depends on the ceramic you use Shaun and what desired finish you're looking for.

An off the shelf ceramic spray, such as Meguiars, will last around 2-3 months depending on the number of washes (I've used this stuff on my daily prior to a full detail so have tested it's durability). A GYEON or Carbon Collective £50 job (still in the hobbyists realm I think) will form a barrier that last 2 years minimum. It hardens the paint and forms a semi permenant barrier. A wax, such as the one Mr W uses, lasts around up to 6 months in my experience. That is the one I used prior to using ceramic coatings.

Waxes tend to give a warmer glow and ceramics a mirror finish. There are different types of waxes designed to do different things though. Zymol wax that I've used in the past is all about getting that extra 10% show shine and the warm glow you only get from a wax but offers little in terms of protection (Clean Your Car recommended this to me). For that reason, I add it over the top of my ceramic coating and use it from time to time to get the desired finish. I don't worry about the protection side of things because the ceramic coating does that (and probably lasts longer that the stated 2 years on the label on mine with it being garaged and under cover).

I've seen videos that advises using a ceramic spray (the off the shelf type stuff) between full details to keep it topped up but have never needed to due to applying the semi permenant stuff. If you are using the off the shelf spray type stuff as your main sealant, expect to be topping it up more regularly that with a full ceramic or proper wax.

I never use the quick detailers anymore as the shine is achieved during polishing. The quality of the shine is dependant on time and stages (cut, refine, enhance) of the polish. After that, if you've sealed it properly you're only applying a water based polish on top of your sealant...youre not actually hitting the paint, and I've found just a good buff with a dry microfibre after washing and drying is enough to get the sealant popping again.

There are some really exciting new products coming out offering ceramic protection, like the Mequiars, which claims to be a wax as well (personally wasnt impressed with it though) - the one I'm most interested to try is the new Auto Finesse Snow Foam Ceramic Coating. You wash the car as normal, probably with a citrus snow foam pre wash as well, then, when it's still wet, apply the ceramic snow foam to finish and just wash off! Reckon this will get greater coverage compared to the sprays, but again, think it will only last 2-3 months. Also Carbon Collective have just brought out a 5 year protection ceramic coating that has self healing properties! I've seen a video of it actually working! Doenst appeal to me though as it means I would only get to get my polisher out every 5 years. :wink:

I'm not sure with this rambling I've even answered your question!! Great thing about this stuff is it so subjective and my thoughts are only what I've learnt from watching countless videos and about 6-7 major details.

I'm sure some actual professional detailer will be along to tell me I'm talking utter b****cks. :D

Looking forward to the finished pics Shaun! Hopefully get to see you out on a run when this sh1t storm is over (so 18 months from now then). :P
 
Love the discussion here! Going to post a more detailed story tomorrow about everything I have done. But for now... The finished Zed. Sorta! Still gotta go tidy up all the little bits of edging and rubber.
 

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z4pilot said:
idej_z4 said:
If you want warm gloss go wax, if you want protection go ceramic coating. As Mr W said, loads to choose from, all about personal preference.

I'm in the ceramic coating and Carbon Collective camp. You get the gloss and protection, just not the warmth a wax brings.

So can you layer with ceramic products? I've just about got my routine sorted around DA polish, seal, wax and then top up periodically with detailer (Sonax being what's on the shelf at the moment) - but what if your sealant is a ceramic based product? Do you/can you/should you still wax on top? If you go ceramic sealant, should anything you layer on top be ceramic also? I'm not talking a 'permanent' professional ceramic coating here, just the off the shelf stuff the hobbyist can work with.

You can put wax over a ceramic sealant, but it isn't going to last long as it won't stick properly. Ceramic sealants create a very slick surface, the only thing that really goes on top of them are 'top up' sprays. For instance, my other car is coated in CarPro cQuartz ceramic coating, when I wash it I use a quick spritz of CarPro Reload before drying to help dry and add a bit of protection.
 
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