Clay bars

[David Lake]

Just wondered if anyone has used clay bars. the paint on the Z is very good but someone has told me that the final touch would be to Clay Bar it. I read a few reviews and a couple of people had said it has lefft swirl marks but wondered if perhaps they hadn't cleaned it properly first. I am tempted to give it a go, I know that it could take many hours to complete it if done well.
I was told that the paint would have a deeper finish.
Any thoughts ?

 

[billz]

If used right it should not leave swirls. Should make the paint feel like glass.
Its always best to use it before giving it a good polishing with a DA Machine

 

[David Lake]

I sadly polish it most weeks with Autoglym but not by machine, does it matter that it's heavilly polished already

 

[billz]

Claying will take all the polish off and will need re applying

 

[billz]

The process is normally. Wash, dry, clay, polish then wax on top. Always use a good quality lube though

 

[David Lake]

Thanks.

 

[David Lake]

You, by the looks of things Had a Z3 then swiched to a Z4 or had both, do you prefer it, only I have been looking at a Z4 Coupe, the only thing is that it is an SE and I really wanted MSport but has only covered 20,000 miles, albeit would prob hold on to the 3 as well, but not sure how I would get on with it being in daily use. Currently drive a 530e which of course is very quiet, and a soft ride which would have to go.

 

[Fender2004]

Have a look on YouTube as there are lots of videos on how to apply it.

 

[billz]

You, by the looks of things Had a Z3 then swiched to a Z4 or had both, do you prefer it, only I have been looking at a Z4 Coupe, the only thing is that it is an SE and I really wanted MSport but has only covered 20,000 miles, albeit would prob hold on to the 3 as well, but not sure how I would get on with it being in daily use. Currently drive a 530e which of course is very quiet, and a soft ride which would have to go.

Yes had the Z3 3.0 for 4 years and still had it for a year when we got the Z4 only reason we got rid of it was we had no room to keep it or store it. They are completely different cars driving wise. A lot more boot space in the Z4. Ours is the 3.0si so its quite quick

 

[David Lake]

Do you prefer the 4

 

[billz]

If i had had the room i would of kept them both. They are both excellent cars in there own right

 

[FRANKIE]

Just wonrered if anyone has used clay bars. the paint on the Z is very good but someone has told me that the final touch would be to Clay Bar it. I read a few reviews and a couple of people had said it has lefft swirl marks but wondered if perhaps they hadn't cleaned it properly first. I am tempted to give it a go, I know that it could take many hours to complete it if done well.
I was told that the paint would have a deeper finish.
Any thoughts ?

I had never used a clay bar before and always wondered what it was. As I had never seen one, I sort of imagined it as almost like a stone of some kind. I finally bought a kit and used it on my 2000 Acura that I had just bought. I was a bit shocked at the results. It really removes all the grime from the finish and the result is extremely smooth. You wouldn't think a piece of clay would work so well!!! The kit came with 2 clay bars but I only needed one of them for the 4 door Acura. It was quite used by the end of the treatment and couldn't be used again. I then put on some Turtle Wax polish. The surface still feels good after having done it last fall...............Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

Hit reply by accident

 

[billz]

I then put on some Turtle Wax polish.Frankie

Have you no shame Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

Have you no shame Frankie

I have to use it somehow. When Sears closed they were blowing it out for next to nothing..............Frankie

 

[David Lake]

Thanks all
I will give it a go

 

[t-tony]

Thanks all
I will give it a go

Hi David, the main difference you'll notice, which hasn't been mentioned, is the polish buffs off 10 times easier after a good claying.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

Hi David, the main difference you'll notice, which hasn't been mentioned, is the polish buffs off 10 times easier after a good claying.

Tony.

Hey @Grumps ....there he goes talking about Polish butts again....................................Frankie

 

[David Lake]

Thanks Tony
I'm going to give it a go

 

[g8jka]

You will be amazed at the difference. It's much easier and quicker with a clay cloth. I've always suffered with marring after claying any car and it will require a decent polish and wax afterwards. But then it's so much easier to clean and dry once done.