['10-X5-35d]

Originally Posted by DavidN

That's great advice! Thanks for posting.

Great advice.
As I was starting to clean my car, looked at my wrist and noticed I've forgot to remove my metalic watch.
Almost scratched my roof...

[ctv]

Originally Posted by DavidN

How to: Properly Clay your Car

Make sure you have thoroughly washed and dried your car prior to claying.

Cut the clay bar in half. Take the half and cut it into 15 equal pieces:

2 for the hood
2 for the roof
1 for the trunk lid
1 for the trunk rear and rear bumper
2 for the rear quarter panels (1 per side)
4 for the doors (1 per door)(if you have a sedan)
2 for the front fenders (1 per side)
1 for the front of the car

Take the piece and roll it in to a sphere. Take the sphere and flatten it out into a circle so that it covers the top third of your first two fingers. Spray the first section of the roof with quick detailer. Glide the clay across the area in a front to back motion applying some pressure. Work in 2x2 areas. If you feel your fingers going through the clay, then you are pushing too hard. If the clay is streaking on the paint, then you need more QD. While gliding, you should hear a slight noise and feel some resistance. This is the grit being lifted from the paint. When the resistance and noise stops, dry the QD off with a quality towel. Move onto the next 2x2 section and do the same thing. Once half the section is done, flip the clay over and do the other half of the section. Once the section has been completed throw the piece of clay away. It is too contaminated to use on another section. If you do use it, you will most likely put micro scratches in your clear.

Keep working your way down using each dedicated piece for its area. Flip the clay over when you have completed half a section. Throw the clay away when the section is done.

When complete your car should be as smooth as glass. The next steps should be to remove the swirls (if necessary), remove any hazing from polishing/bring out the full gloss, and seal in the rejuvenated finish with a wax or sealant.

I've never clay bared my car and I want to try it. What exactly does QD mean?

[Wckd]

Originally Posted by ctv

I've never clay bared my car and I want to try it. What exactly does QD mean?

Quick Detail spray. You can also mix some car soap and water in a bottle to use as well.

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by Wckd

Quick Detail spray. You can also mix some car soap and water in a bottle to use as well.

Thanks, Wckd!

Originally Posted by ctv

I've never clay bared my car and I want to try it. What exactly does QD mean?

Yup, QD = Quick Detailer. You use it as the lubricant. It allows the clay to glide over the paint without sticking to it.

[tpabimmer]

damn !!!! im picking up my first BMW this friday ... an 07 328 ... after taking most of my second childhood just reading this, i have to give it major props !!!! !!! OUT "FREAKIN" STANDING write up !!!! i will admit ...i read all of the first post ... then skipped to the last ... might i ask if there were any new developments that i may have missed in the last FIVE yrs ... ????

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by tpabimmer

... might i ask if there were any new developments that i may have missed in the last FIVE yrs ... ???? [/size]

yeah, it stopped being cool to use distracting fonts... heheh

[DavidN]

Thanks for the kind words, tpabimmer! Glad you like the post.

[hdrewh]

do you guys use quick detailer to actually remove a light layer of dirt from the finish, or only when the car is already clean?

Sometimes after a few days of driving I get a light coat of dirt but don't want to bother getting the buckets out for a full wash (I use QNR, but still...), can I use quick detailer in these situations?

Thanks,
Howard

[Weaselboy]

I would never do that Howard. You are just going to end up with lots of swirl marks from dragging that dust around on the towel while you wipe off the QD.

[Tuff Gong]

Really exceptional information on this post David. Has been extremely helpful in getting my car to look its best in the Caribbean environment with salt spray, dust and mud.

[spiike32]

How does meguiers m105/205 compare to zaino polishes? Wanted to get some opinions prior my prewinter detail.

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by hdrewh

do you guys use quick detailer to actually remove a light layer of dirt from the finish, or only when the car is already clean?

Sometimes after a few days of driving I get a light coat of dirt but don't want to bother getting the buckets out for a full wash (I use QNR, but still...), can I use quick detailer in these situations?

Thanks,
Howard

I personally would not do that. I'm too paranoid about putting swirl marks in the paint.

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by Tuff Gong

Really exceptional information on this post David. Has been extremely helpful in getting my car to look its best in the Caribbean environment with salt spray, dust and mud.

Thanks for the kind words, Tuff. I'm glad you found the 101 helpful!

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by spiike32

How does meguiers m105/205 compare to zaino polishes? Wanted to get some opinions prior my prewinter detail.

I've personally never used the 105/205, so I can't give you a comparison.

[salbrecht]

Hi everyone. I wrote up a rather lengthy post in a different thread that some of you may find useful.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1353

Cheers

[BrianMN]

Just searched the thread about the Klasse Sealant Glaze amount to use. The OP wrote to use 1 OUNCE for the entire car...is that correct or did he mean 1 ounce per section? 1 ounce/shot glass just seems very very small to cover over a normal car.

[rayoflight82]

Awesome post!
Just wondering if you had specifics on how to brush snow and ice off your car in the winter... Canadian winters!!! LOL!

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by BrianMN

Just searched the thread about the Klasse Sealant Glaze amount to use. The OP wrote to use 1 OUNCE for the entire car...is that correct or did he mean 1 ounce per section? 1 ounce/shot glass just seems very very small to cover over a normal car.

Yup, one ounce for the entire car. I know it sounds crazy, but it works. The stuff spreads really thin. Give your applicator a shot of QD every once in a while. This will help it go on thin. For Zaino, I'd use Z6. For Klasse, you can use a bit of tap water on the applicator to just dampen it.

Originally Posted by rayoflight82

Awesome post!
Just wondering if you had specifics on how to brush snow and ice off your car in the winter... Canadian winters!!! LOL!

You're gonna laugh at this, but I have a long tube sock covering my snow brush, so that the bristles won't scratch the paint! It looks idiotic, but it works! And it's inexpensive too.

[zzzbullseye]

Okay...moronic question... I know the Klasse AIO is applied with a buffer, but do you apply Klasse SG by hand or with a buffer also? The instructions don't explicitly say.

"Apply a couple of drops of SG to your applicator and apply it to a section of your car (1/3 of the hood, half of the roof, etc) in a front to back motion. Once you have covered the whole section with SG, immediately wipe off the residue with a DRY MF towel in a front to back motion."

[DavidN]

Originally Posted by zzzbullseye

Okay...moronic question... I know the Klasse AIO is applied with a buffer, but do you apply Klasse SG by hand or with a buffer also? The instructions don't explicitly say.

"Apply a couple of drops of SG to your applicator and apply it to a section of your car (1/3 of the hood, half of the roof, etc) in a front to back motion. Once you have covered the whole section with SG, immediately wipe off the residue with a DRY MF towel in a front to back motion."

I do SG application and removal by hand. I personally think it is easier than dragging out the machine and doing it that way.

AIO can be done by hand or machine. If you want more bite, use a machine. I should have stated this in my reply PM to you.

[zzzbullseye]

Originally Posted by DavidN

I do SG application and removal by hand. I personally think it is easier than dragging out the machine and doing it that way.

AIO can be done by hand or machine. If you want more bite, use a machine. I should have stated this in my reply PM to you.

Thanks for the advice!

[gizmo335i]

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