[M3350Z]

Would you guys recommend claybar and wax when you take delivery or think it's not necessary. I know there are other similar posts but I wanted to make a simple yes/no poll so see how people generally feel. :rocks:

[oneshare325]

Read this..http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41760

Do it!

Look at the clay pic down the page, that stuff won't come off with regular washing!

[M3350Z]

My pops and I bought some Perma-Seal products at the recent car show but the "claybar equivalent" powder is only for cars 4 years old or more. Can anyone recommend a good claybar brand (meguiar's, mothers, zaino, etc.). Or is it again just a matter of personal preference and not much of a difference

[OC Guy]

Most are relatively the same since Clay Magic owns the patent or something like that. I would personally get a fine bar and a medium bar. Clay Magic works well and is readily available otc.

[328i]

I like Sonus Ultra Fine Green Clay and I think for a new car it should be enough, its more gentle than other clays.

[Detailed Image]

Picus has a great thread here on new car prep that I feel everyone should take a look at and follow. Using a clay bar on a new vehicle is very important to remove stubborn contamination that may have occurred during transit of your new vehicle. Quite often we see new vehicles with lots of tiny specs of rail dust that will not typically come off with a normal wash and dry. Prepping your new vehicle will help remove these pieces of rail dust and other contamination as well as help reveal your true clear coat underneath.

Lets be honest, dealerships do not care about your car the same way you do. They are trying to get you in and out of the door as fast as possible and have every trick in the book to help hide imperfections so you do not notice them until a later date. They often use products that are heavy in fillers and can hide and conceal things such as swirl marks, water spots, bird dropping etchings, etc. By using a clay bar on your paint you will help reveal the true condition of your clear coat and then decide if it needs more attention to remove imperfections.

I always recommend stripping down what the dealer put on and starting with a fresh coat for a couple of reasons. First you do not know what type of product was used, how long ago it was applied and how long it should last. If they used a natural carnauba wax, chances are it won't last longer than 2 - 8 weeks. You also wouldn't want to apply a sealant over the wax because the sealant is not going to bond correctly to the wax and the durability will only be as long as the coat underneath. By starting fresh, either by washing with Dawn, using a clay bar, or polishing, you can be sure you are adding a fresh coat of sealant or wax, which in most cases will be much higher quality form of protection than what the dealership put on.

In general, I feel it is very important to do both the clay bar and re-seal or re-wax.

George