Hello out there!
Two weeks ago I clay bared, polished and waxed my black 90' 420 SEL. Came out great, no swirl marks...beautiful. I just washed it and was wondering when I should clay bar it again? Is this an every time you wash thing or once a month or...? Does clay barring remove the wax?

Thanks

Put you finger inside a plastic bag and lightly run it across your newly clay ed car. Remember how it feels. Check it again in 3 to 4 months and see if you still have that smooth feel. When it starts to get gritty it's time to do it again. The plastic bag just amplifies the surface you touch.

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I was amazed the first time I tried it. It seemed to really bring out the beauty of dark, metalic paint.

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1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
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Yes, it removes wax. You'll probably want to clay bar at least once a year; but probably not need it more than 2x per year as long as you keep good wax on it and wash 1-2x per month.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
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Where do buy clay bar--anyone?..........

It's available from any car care products supplier. Try Internet sites like Meguiars, Griot's Garage, Zaino, Autopia, or look for it in many auto parts or car care stores locally. When using clay bar, it is necessary to use a lubricant, or the clay will stick to the finish and leave tacky blotches. Anyplace that sells the clay will also sell commercial lubricant spray, often called detailing spray. But you can save yourself some money and make your own. Use your favorite car wash shampoo to prepare a mild dilution solution in a spray bottle. Works well, then just rinse the car after you're done to remove the shampoo residue.

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1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

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a little bit of dish soap in water works fine too, just like when wet sanding.

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81 300SD daily driver/project
86 420SEL (sold)
85 380SE(in the graveyard)

Thanx guys.........

guys,

the original purpose of clay bars was to remove paint overspray. detailers found that it also removed surface contaminants that bonded to wax, polish, etc. while it removes wax, it is not the ideal product to remove wax.

as ive learned from the many good folks at autopia, the procedure is this (many variations, but this is the basic one):

- wash with Dawn to remove wax
- while still wet, use a clay bar with spray to remove surface contaminants. keep folding/turning the clay bar and pick out any big rocks, pieces, etc
- wash again with Dawn
- polish
- wax

And its not the wax that makes a car shine, its the polish.

As far as "how often", that depends on your compulsiveness. As one person above said, run your hand across the car's surface. usually, you can feel it with just your fingertips. to me, twice a year is more than enough. and usually, its the horizontal surfaces that need to be done twice a year, vertical only once

I thought overuse fades the paint?

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

No.

__________________
1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

Some aggressive clay bars may cut paint a little, but those marketed for ordinary car owners' would not cut paint.

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1992 300D 2.5 turbo diesel. 319 k miles.
124.128 chassis, 602.962 engine, 722.418 tranny.