Clay bar advice/polishing/wax etc

[Hamperman]

Hi, new to trying detailing so any advice welcome on what to do and products to buy!
I have bought myself some snow foam and lance and a microfibres drying towel and having done it 3 times yesterday it's come up great. I also have some tar spot remover so got rid of all them.
After this I'm a bit lost as to what to do. Normally I would apply AG super resin and that would be job done but I'd like to do a bit more.
I was thinking of a clay bar and then polish/wax. Can anyone offer tips as to what clay bar to use and how to use it and then if I apply polish next or wax next and also some recommendations of which polish and wax to buy?
I'd also like to spend some time getting the wheels right so will remove them one by one and then what products should I use on them for best results? They are painted black with no scuffs or kerbing but the paint looks a little flat as thought it just needs a good polish/wax!
Thanks in advance,
Hamperman

[Hamperman]

Also should have added the car is 4 years old and had a swissvax treatment when new but not done since I don't believe. The front of the car also has Armourfend so presume I leave this part well alone? Or can I polish this?

[Alex_225]

Generally clay is graded but a fine or medium clay would work absolutely fine. If you're wanting to buy something off the shelf the Meguairs or Autoglym clay will work really well.

In terms of lubrication, I initially went by the rule of using a quick detailer but got through a lot of it and it made it a really long task. A friend (who details for a living) recommended using soapy water and it made it so much easier. Can have a mitt in hand which provides more than enough lubrication.

After you have clayed you could easily use Autoglym Super Resin Polish as by hand it leaves a great shine (and fills swirls etc). Then top up with a decent wax. Best stuff you'd probably get off the shelf is Autoglym HD Wax (£40) but there are sub £20 waxes you could buy online which are similarly good (Collinite 476 or 845/Finishkare 1000P etc).

[belleair302]

Jump online to buy clays and lube. I love Bilt Hamber Auto clay which doesnt need a lube, just water. Not too hard and not too flaky. Loads of decent polishes available and as for wax, the world is your oyster from cheap and cheerful through to hugely expensive. Hard and sot waxes are available plus man made sealants....which are also very good.

[Hamperman]

Thanks for the clay brand - heard good things about that so will buy that.

As for the wax and polish my problem is there are so many brands so was looking for some good recommendations. I want a very lite polish that is non abrasive as I don't think the car needs more than that so was thinking AG super resin and then as for wax I was going to use AG HD wax. Can anyone advise of something different/better?

If I do this then when I next wash etc. do I re polish or re wax?

[LordHaveMurci]

Hamperman said:

Thanks for the clay brand - heard good things about that so will buy that.

As for the wax and polish my problem is there are so many brands so was looking for some good recommendations. I want a very lite polish that is non abrasive as I don't think the car needs more than that so was thinking AG super resin and then as for wax I was going to use AG HD wax. Can anyone advise of something different/better?

If I do this then when I next wash etc. do I re polish or re wax?

I used a clay mitt then AG SRP & HD wax on my 996, looks & feels amazing & is still beading up nicely a few months on.

I'd never 'detailed' a car before either.

[Alex_225]

AG Super Resin is a winner, I've been 'into' detailing for nearly ten years now and it's a product I've never not had in the cupboard.

Heard good things about that HD Wax although don't own it myself.

There are an awful lot of brands and products out there, all I will say is don't get caught up in the snobbery that if it costs more it's better. A lot of products are produced in the same labs and vary wildly in price!

[belleair302]

Dodo Juice Lime Prime before waxing. For the winter I like a good decent sealant on my paintwork. Jetseal 109 is still an epic product (Chemical Guys) and Collinite 476 is a good winter wax too.

[rallye666]

If your buying the clay from Bilt hamber, why not buy it in a kit with some BH Cleanser Polish (instead of AG super resin polish) and some Finnis wax? You'd save a bit of money buying it in a kit and it's all good stuff.

Alternatively Auto Finesse Tripple and whatever wax of theirs takes your fancy.

I'd lean to BH myself though

[Craikeybaby]

Hamperman said:

If I do this then when I next wash etc. do I re polish or re wax?

I clay/polish/wax once a year, then most other washes I just use a quick detail spray to top it up. Then another coat of wax if water stops beading.

[SteveS Cup]

I've recently got a bit more in to detailing / car cleaning in general.

I've got loads of AG products and recently purchased some Meguiars stuff including their new 3 step polish and wax.

I recently spent half a day on the Z4and this was my process...

Rinse
Snowfoam
Rinse
Wash
Rinse
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Step 1 meg polish
Step 2 meg polish
Step 3 meg wax

I was quite happy but the car got dirty quickly.

I recently purchased Dodo Juice Future Armour Nano Spray Sealant and applied it on Saturday. Since then I drove to Goodwood etc, used a tank of petrol and the car is still looking good!

Water beads off of it like I've never known before!

I got a bit trigger happy when applying it and thought it was ok to spray in glass... it really isn't! I also used half the bottle which I now know was completely stupid! I believe I should of applied it to a cloth and then wiped it on to a panel at a time.

I'm still learning and building my collection of cleaning products. Since getting the Z4 (2014 e89 28i in Alpine White) I'm anal about keeping it clean!

Have fun!