ML Dude,

I've not tryed the Mequirer's brand clay so I've no input on it's effectiveness. What I can say is that I have not heard one good thing about it, maybe they need to rethink their formula as it seems to give many users and bad experience?

The "Clay Magic" brand I found at a local Pep Boys, and following the advise of others on this board I was very surprised at the results. The paint took on a glass like surface, and that was without any wax. I used the Mequirer's Quick Detailer as the lub and just made it a point to stretch and fold the bar often, making sure that the surface was always slippery. I didn't notice any scratch marks in the paint and I liiked very closely, maybe Mequier's is just to soft, forcing added pressure from the user?

The think I need to clay the car again as I haven't really had the chance to make the paint shine being up hear in rain belt country. It should take me about 30 minutes, plus the time it took to wax, so it looks like this weekend may be detailing day?

JPL, do try it, you'll love it.

One word of caution though, Claying is not something you will want ot do on a "regular" car cleaning basis. I'm talking not more than once a year, usually doing the wax at the same time. Claying the paint is actually removing contaminants from the clear coat as well as the high peaks in the clear coat it self. I've no idea just how much clear coat is being remove to get the glass like surface, but I would imagine that once a year would not be too hard on the paint over the life of a average Benz (30-40 years ).

Any opinions?