Do you guys see a problem using an alchohol solution clean before waxing. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blau · #1 10-21-2002, 04:21 PM

Hay,

Guys, I could get alcohol wipes really cheap. The are 70% alcohol with 30% DI water wipes.

Do you guys seeing these wipes harming the paint or clear coates.

I plan to wax my ML before the winter. I plan on regular wash and then use these wipes and then wax.

Do you see a problem using these wipes on the window.

I have use alchohol before to get off spots on the car, but only on selective areas.

blau

suginami · #2 10-21-2002, 06:22 PM

I would not use alcohol on the whole car. Too strong and hard on the paint.

If you want to give your car a good cleaning, wash it with Dawn. Dawn is different from other liquid detergents in that it is very alkalyne, and will safely remove old wax / dirt from your paint without harming it.

Then, I'd clay the car. Purchase detailing clay from a store like Pep Boys / Autozone, etc., then apply Meguiar's Gold Class Liquid Wax.

Your car will never look better.

G-Benz · #3 10-22-2002, 02:39 PM

Alcohol will probably discolor the factory tint on the inside rear windows on your ML...

#4 10-23-2002, 09:14 PM

Not sure why you want to use Alcohol on a car's finish before waxing. I have been using the Meguiars Dual Action Polisher for years and love the results.

I first start out with their #83 followed by the Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner, then #9 Swirl Remover, then #7 Show Car Glaze, and finally a high quality wax.

I strongly believe in NOT NOT waxing a car unless the finish is absolutely clean (and not with just a wash).

Rich

blau · #5 10-28-2002, 07:11 PM

But, here is the question what is in the paint cleaner. If there is no harm using alcohol to clean before waxing then why spend $9 a bottle when you could spend $0.90.

On hard to get off spots 100% alcohol works. great.

blau

#6 10-28-2002, 10:19 PM

Not to be an a**, but to me when you own two MBs worth almost $100,000, then I would tend to want to use the best products to make my paint look the BEST and protect it from the elements the BEST.

My recommendation would be to call Meguiars and ask them for suggestions. All I know is that Ive been doing this for years and get so many compliments when I'm done.

I think the difference between $9 and $.90 is silly. Spot cleaning with alcohol is probably ok, but why not use P21S Total Auto Body Wash and then clean your paint with #83, Medallion, #9, #7, and a good wax!!!

Rich

dieseldude · #7 10-28-2002, 11:49 PM

I've heard some respected detailers use Mineral Spirits. They are much gentler than straight alcohol and will strip any old wax build-up.

I'm not sure if it will pull out imbedded contaminants that clay will grab, but it will remove residues and films that don't wash off.

Regards,
- Ryan

William420 · #8 10-30-2002, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 280FanMN
Not to be an a**, but to me when you own two MBs worth almost $100,000, then I would tend to want to use the best products to make my paint look the BEST and protect it from the elements the BEST.

My recommendation would be to call Meguiars and ask them for suggestions. All I know is that Ive been doing this for years and get so many compliments when I'm done.

I think the difference between $9 and $.90 is silly. Spot cleaning with alcohol is probably ok, but why not use P21S Total Auto Body Wash and then clean your paint with #83, Medallion, #9, #7, and a good wax!!!

Rich

Maybe his finish still looks ok and doens't need the swirl removing products yet? #83, Medallion Paint Cleaner & #9 will abrade the paint while alcohol will not. Alcohol can also be diluted, so as long as you don't use it like in weekly basis, it should be ok and not as detrimental as you might think .

I agree with Suginami. If your intension is to give the car a very good cleaning and to remove the old wax, just give it an alkaline wash with Dawn.

Blue Devil · #9 10-30-2002, 11:06 AM

Not sure exactly what the alcohol wipes were intended for but...

The pros recommend the use of a 50 alcohol / 50 water mist when polishing / swirl removal. The 50 / 50 blend is used to quickly remove the compound to see if you were successful in getting the swirl or oxidation off.

Not intended for use after waxing as it will strip wax.

There are lots of great products to help those quick wipes in between wax jobs such as Meguiar's Quik Detailing, which will not harm your precious wax job.

suginami · #10 10-30-2002, 02:05 PM

I went through the Meguiar's training course at their world headquarters in Irvine, California that they sponsored for the members on this site several months ago.

Just to clear up a few things - #82 and #83 are extremely non-aggressive compounds / polishes. Both products use both chemical and mechanical abrasives to remove blemishes in the paint. Medallion Paint Cleaner is basically a chemical cleaner with very little abrasives. It will be nearly impossible to leave noticeable abrasions in the paint with these products. You'd have to use a rotary polisher anyway for these products to be effective. A dual action random orbital will remove virtually no paint imperfections, because this machine is really a "jiggle machine", and is best to apply pure polish and / or wax.

What you will notice when you use #83 and then step down to #82, is that you will be improving clarity in the paint, while at the same time adding depth and gloss.

Alcohol or a 50/50 mix is used to remove all polishes / waxes / oils in a specific area so that you can see if there are any surface scratches, swirl marks, etc. in the paint as polishes make imperfections less easy to see.

Meguiar's compounds are significantly less aggressive than other brands because the composition of Meguiar's compounds are much more uniform, and diminish as you work the product into the paint, minimize abrasion marks. They made a big deal of the concept of diminishing abrasives and what it means when polishing paint.

William420 · #11 10-31-2002, 12:21 AM

Those are very good infos.

Just so we don't get confused, the original question of thread was "Do you guys see a problem using an alcohol solution clean before waxing". I don't see a problem.

As far as improving clarify, adding dept & gloss, #83 is overkill. #82 alone or #9 alone can achieve this. Unless there are paint defects you wish to correct, I see no need to step up to #83.

Yes, Meguiar's compounds are significantly less agressive. Most importantly, easier to use. I only have experience with Meguiars & 3M, and in my experience #9 is much easier to use than 3M 39009, and #83 is much easier to use than #39003. Although Meguiars is not the only good company out there that makes quality products, it is definitely my choice of brand on polishing products.

ML Dude · #12 10-31-2002, 07:22 PM

I agree with the comments about sparingly applying alcohol, spot only or once in awhile.
However, I can't imagine why anyone would want to apply the alcohol to their cars using those sealed wipes?!?!? It doesn't seem to me you would get very far very fast....spending as much time opening and disposing of metallic packages as removing wax buildup.

Perhaps tomorrow it will DAWN on you to try something else, good luck!

jmho, Ed