Wax for McLaren

[SimonOcean]

For folks that clean and maintain the paintwork on their McLaren themselves, what wax do you use?

I was thinking about buying some Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0 Paste
http://www.meguiars.co.uk/shop/nxt-tech-wax-2-74
I believe this is supposed to be Meguiar's top end product.

Are there hugely diminishing returns (or zero additional returns) in going for premium branded waxes like Zymol, Definitive Wax (who seem to sponsor the McLaren life website) or Mitchell and King.

I don't mind paying a bit extra for a wax that is more effective at protecting the paintwork, throwing off rain and giving a nice shine, but I don't want to pay for a) marketing bullst, b) pretty glass tubs and wooden display containers with brass plaques, c) tropical Hawaiian island coconut, kiwi and sea breeze fragrance or d) extra metallic flakes suspended in the wax (yes really).

If it makes any difference, my Mc is metallic silver. Thanks for any constructive thoughts folks.

[xjay1337]

I would use a ceramic sealant.
Pretty pointless waxing without doing some preperatory and corrective work first. This will also help the wax last longer.

If you want a good cheap wax look at Collinite 476s.

[Yipper]

A "coating" is best if you want to maximise protection of the paintwork. Something like Siramik. Takes time and skill to do. May last 1 year.

A "sealant" is best if you want something easier to apply but longer-lasting. Something like Sonax NPT. May last 3-6 months.

A "wax" is best if you want therapeutic oily rubbing and glossier paintwork. Something like R222 Carnauba. May last 1-3 months.

However, the most important part of the process is "polishing" and "pre-wax cleansing" and "glazing". Those three steps will get it proper shiny. The wax is just 10% of the full process and is really just the topper for the polishing.

Have a look at www.detailingworld.co.uk and post your request on there. You will get a million suggestions, but they know their stuff.

For buying, Cleanyourcar is a good, user-friendly website to start:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/cat_4.html

Post pics when done...

[Juno]

I would use PPF !

[EpsomJames]

After having ceramic nano coatings applied to my cars (after preperation of course) suddenly waxes seem very old fashioned and really the returns on protection from a wax just doesn't seem worth the effort in comparison.

[RamboLambo]

I use a lot a Zaino products Z2 polish, Z6 gloss and Z8 detail spay and seal and find them absolutely brilliant. Not cheap but not silly expensive either.
Also poorboys Black Hole glaze is amazing on dark colours but they do an equivalent for light colour cars as well.
I find the glaze makes the biggest difference to the finish

I have layered waxes and compatible sealants as well so the water beading is amazing and just runs off anything other than a flat surface.
Im not a fan of PPF because despite the improvements in the film you just can get the same shine, reflection and depth of colour with plastic clingfilm over the paintwork and I hate joins/edges

[MOD500]

I think the ceramic treatments are the way forward based on recent experience. Unless of course you have the time, skill, and motivation to detail your own car using waxes and co.

Some detailed (pardon the pun) photos of mine getting ceramic treatment just after Christmas. Was very, very happy with the results:

https://m.facebook.com/pg/tonyautoshine/photos/?ta...

[MOD500]

I like this pic under the heat lamp:

[SimonOcean]

Great feedback guys. Thank you for all the constructive opinions shared.

I checked out detailing world before... While it is a great resource, some of the folks there are a bit evangelical about various voodoo wax products costing between 10-1000x the Meguiars cost that sound suspiciously like bullst that is probably not much better than the Meguiars product.

I was aware of these modern coatings and was thinking about getting my car fully detailed and treated with one of these at some point. Issue is the car is already in terrific shape, so at the moment I really only need to maintain the car. I been using foam pre wash, paint cleaner, occasionally light polish, clay bar and so far a mid-range Meguiars liquid wax. The Meguiars stuff has worked really well and is priced sensibly rather than being priced like a "Giffen good". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giffen_good).

Also I was interested in paint care that I can apply myself rather than pay some other guy to do.

[m33ufo]

MOD500 said:

I think the ceramic treatments are the way forward based on recent experience. Unless of course you have the time, skill, and motivation to detail your own car using waxes and co.

Some detailed (pardon the pun) photos of mine getting ceramic treatment just after Christmas. Was very, very happy with the results:

https://m.facebook.com/pg/tonyautoshine/photos/?ta...

That's a neat lift.

And an incredibly thorough job. Looks fantastic.

[Anjum]

Juno said:

I would use PPF !

Agreed!

[xjay1337]

SimonOcean said:

. Issue is the car is already in terrific shape, so at the moment I really only need to maintain the car. I been using foam pre wash, paint cleaner, occasionally light polish, clay bar and so far a mid-range Meguiars liquid wax. The Meguiars stuff has worked really well and is priced sensibly rather than being priced like a "Giffen good".

Is it really in good shape? Because most people can't spot swirl marks for the life of them until they have them pointed out.
If you have been washing drying etc and claying you would almost certainly have some marring and swirls for sure.

[MOD500]

m33ufo said:

That's a neat lift.

And an incredibly thorough job. Looks fantastic.

Thank you

Lift is cool and makes job much easier so Tony @ Autoshine tells me.

[JonChalk]

xjay1337 said:

Is it really in good shape? Because most people can't spot swirl marks for the life of them until they have them pointed out.
If you have been washing drying etc and claying you would almost certainly have some marring and swirls for sure.

My TTS looked good until it caught the light - it has always been carefully hand washed, by me only, since new - there's no escape from swirl marks:



Took a little light machine polishing this morning to get back to:



Wanted to use Gyeon Mohs on it, but forecast isn't dry enough & I have to work outside, so used Autoglym HD which will do for a couple of months until warmer and dryer.