gone mad - Meguiars vs Bilt Hamber

[Orangecurry]

I've used a load of products over the years for protecting the paintwork on a car, and had settled on Meguiars Gold Class 'clear coat liquid car wax' as the best compromise - easy to apply and buff, relatively cheap, and quite long lasting.

However I was tempted by Bilt Hamber Auto Balm a while back, but as I didn't like the way it beads on paintwork, I use this for only protecting my car wheels (which is does exceptionally well).

I've just bought some Meguiars Hi-tech Yellow Wax to see if it's any better than the Gold class, and thought I'd put this up against the Bilt Hamber.

Today the surface was prepared using 3M Imperial Hand glaze. Two coats of each 'wax' was then applied to each half of a rear spoiler, gently buffed to a deep shine between coats. It has now started to rain, so I took some photos.

I'm going to judge how long the products last and keep you informed. You don't care? I should get a life? Why have you read this far?

Day 1

Meguiars Hi-tech Yellow Wax (fabulous uniform/circular beading)



Bilt Hamber Auto Balm (very good beading, but many are odd-shapes rather than circles, and the beads don't seem to be quite as tall as the Meguiars..... look carefully at the reflection of the flash in each of the water droplets - the Meguiars beads have the flash reflected 'higher-up', whereas from the Bilt Hamber side the flash is reflected back from the very bottom edge of the beads = this implies to me that the BH beads are flatter.)

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 6th January 21:06

[PJ S]

BH Auto Balm is not carnauba wax based, so the droplets are not formed like 'naubas tend to - it's more of a sealant than wax, since it's purely synthetic.
The nearest compromise is the Collinte ones, which are like BH, but also have a blend of 'nauba.
Wouldn't worry, as it's an aesthetic thing - beading doesn't actually mean anything.
You'll find when washing, the Auto Balm will sheet water more than the Meg's will, leaving less to mop up with the towel.

[Neil_Sc]

The sheeting is probably why the beads are not so uniform, the water should more readily, slide off the car than stick.

[Tony@Cherished]

Good review.

As Pj's said, beading doesn't really mean protection, as some sealants don't bead at all. However, I love to use Carnauba because of the beading. It looks just great.

I like the beading from Collinite 476s.

[Orangecurry]

Honours even? I think this proves erm.... I'll have to do another test.

wash on 10th Feb
Meg Yellow Wax


Bilt Hamber


Wash on 23rd Feb
Meg Yellow Wax


Bilt Hamber

[David H]

Try it without the Handglaze, this'll be hazing the results slightly. An IPA wipedown before LSP application in your test area will show more controlled results.

[Orangecurry]

actually this is a fairer photo - again just after a shower of rain, so directly comparable to the photo taken on Jan 6th.

I think it shows they are both very good products, though I've only washed the car (gently) three times in seven weeks.

Wash on 23rd Feb, photographed 24th Feb (the car hasn't moved)
Meg Yellow Wax


Bilt Hamber

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 24th February 19:25