I find myself doing it every 2-3 months. I just put 2 coats of Meguirs Gold Class paste wax on in the middle of March and by the begining of June I bet I have to redo it. But my car stays outside and is blue so the wax has its work cut out for it.

I was just wondering how often people wax. I only did my Toyota twice a year, but I really didn't care about a perfect finish on that car.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I used to wax my car once a week, usually on Saturday and at the end of the month strip the wax off and start all over. Those days are over. I like to wash my car at least once a week and wax my car once a month these days.

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

I find myself waxing the cars in 1.5 to 2 month intervals. I'd like to do it more often (at least once every month), but just don't have the free time.

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1990 190e 2.6 - The only one I can really call "My Car".

1987 190e 2.3 - The donor car's up and running, only mods are Euros and a Sony headunit. My Dad's runabout now.

1990 300e 2.6 - The parents' ride.

Once every couple of months, usually. When I used to use Gold Class, it lasted about a month to a month and a half, but my car is always parked outside. I use Meguiar's #16 now, and that went through a good 4+ months in the wintertime before it stopped beading...!

Both cars get at least one wash per week (maybe more if one of em gets driven alot and has collected tons of bugs, or has been nailed by sap or bird crap. But thats not often. Tires and trim are dressed with every wash, and paint is treated with Meguiars NXT speeed detailer to maintain the just waxed look. I like to wax both cars at least 3 times per month. The C280's paint is much easier to take care of. The 300D is darker and shows dirt more, but it pays off with deeper reflections and a bolder shine. Not to menton a 21 year old car that has paint that looks new makes it look even better.
My favoriite produucts are Meguiars NXT wax, NXT Spray wax (nice for use after a wash- quickly shines and revives), NXT Speed detailer, Color X (excellent for cleaning paint, removing oxodiization, fine scratches and swirls, and really brings out thhe richness of the paint color. And I just came across Meguiars NXT Insane Tire Shine, and I LOVE it. Havent seen the tires look blacker or shinier EVER before. And I always throw a coat of 303 Aerospace protectant on the interiors of both cars once a week.

Happy car cleaning! Keep em shiny!

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

The wax will show you when to re apply the wax. If the paint does not feel "slick" any more or if the rain doesn't make "tall beads" then its time to wax.
I personally use Klasse All In One and Klasse High Gloss Sealant glaze as my paint protection. They last months instead of weeks.

Another option is the new spray on waxes. These help prolong the life of your wax and leaves the paint slick again.
Remember it's better to apply wax to often then not often enough.

Let the look and feel dictate when to wax.

Read about waxing by clicking "How to articles" in my signature.

Jon

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Detailing Products

What about wax build up? I would think that if you wax it once a month or more you would get a pretty good build up.


My car is washed whenever it is dirty, sometimes that is once a week sometimes 2-3 times a week if it rains a lot. I do my wheels every couple of days because they collect tons of dust. I waited a week once and they turned black! That was a pita to clean up.

I 303 all of the trim and interior, along with the tires every week. Vacuum once a week and clean the glass whenever it is dirty.

I like using Meguirs Quick detail on the door jams, it seems to clean them up real nice.

My problem is keeping a daily driver perfect just takes so much time. If it was a toy car then keeping it clean would be simple.

Jonw440 every use Griots paste wax?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

No I have never tried their paste wax.
I use P21S as my paste wax. it wipes on like butter and wipes off like a dream.
Just wipe on wipe off. No need to let it dry to a haze.

It looks great on Klasse sealed cars!!

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Detailing Products

Anyone here use a clay bar to get the accumulated grime off the top coat? I bought a bar via post and will give it a go on a 15 year old black paint job.

Mike.

ps I wax when the moon is blue! (mainly due to combination of poor weather and lack of daylight)

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http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0...nd_sig_pic.jpg

1990 Euro 190e 2.0l Petrol Now Sold Maybe a w116 280se next

There is two ways to use detailing clay

Here is the first way.



To prepare the clay, break the bar into two or three smaller pieces.

Then flatten one piece into a small pancake.(keep the other pieces as a back up if the first piece becomes to contaminated)



Use the detailing clay lube that comes with the clay. Work one small 3’x3’ area keeping the paint saturated with the lube. If you feel the lube not gliding easily, spray more lubricant.

With the paint lubed, rub the clay with “slight” pressure. You will feel the clay grabbing the contaminants as it may feel like you are rubbing over “sand” Keep rubbing until the paint feels smooth as glass. Now once each section has been clayed, wipe the lube off with a micro fiber towel.



The second way to use detailing clay is to use car shampoo.

Simply mix up a bucket of car wash and wash the car as you normally would.

Now go back and re-apply the soapy water and take a piece of clay and rub over the soapy water. Once the paint feels smooth, simply rinse the soap off with water. Now move onto the next section.



. I find using the car shampoo method easier.
Sonus Detailing Clay
Sonus Detail clay lube

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Detailing Products

Cheers for that.

Mike.

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http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0...nd_sig_pic.jpg

1990 Euro 190e 2.0l Petrol Now Sold Maybe a w116 280se next

I usually do it once a month. Two layers of NXT paste and then a layer of S100.

I suppose the folks at Meguires have done a phenomenal marketing job and that's why their wax products appear to be so popular. However, I wouldn't give you fifteen-cents for a lifetime supply of their product. It just doesn't last.

Might I suggest you give Liquid Glass a shot? It both applies and removes easily. You can apply multiple coats and there is no build-up...other than an improved shine. I probably have twenty or more coats on my SL and it literally shines like glass. It sometimes streaks on darker colors, but you just buff it out with a damp cloth. (I found that technique also works with other waxes that streak.)

Liquid Glass will run you $20.00+ for a 16 oz. can, but Performance Products has it on sale for $12.49 at present. I just ordered another four cans myself.

I don't know why they don't advertise Liquid Glass, but I've never seen an advertisement for it. I learned of it when I went into a 3-M products store and asked what wax they recommended.

The stuff works.

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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000

I have tried probably about every brand of wax on my cars that is out their. None of them lasts for me, but Meguires does work wonders on the paint. Now granted it is not the super high end stuff you have to order, but it does a pretty good job. When I get my car repainted in a few years I will use the real expensive stuff but for now I couldn't be happier with the shine I am getting.

I need to wax my car at the end of next week for a show and since I am out of Gold Class paste I will give the NXT a try.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Someone should try this:

http://www.zymol.com/vintage2.htm