Waxing?

[wraunch]

What do you guys use to wax your MS3s? Just put in my 2 weeks at work and I have a nice paid 2 week vacation before my new job so I think the 3 will get a wax job. What brand/type of wax and what applicators?

 

[elderlycoffee]

I just used these two on my car today. After a nice wash of course. and if you're curious I use Turtle Wax Supreme wash soap.

After the wash and dry I apply a thin coat of ICE, smooth it on with a waxing mitt then I use the 3M Finish restorer all over, nice and thick and again I use the waxing mitt. Finally I finish up with another thin coating of ICE and again with the waxing mitt.


Looks pretty Eh?

I should note that the Finish restorer also removed a scratch that I created by using a damaged brush on my hood. It was pretty big and it got it out, It claims to remove all hairline scratches and most paint level medium scratches, Did a pretty nice job I think.

 

[MadOzodi]

Zaino, until it became a huge pain in my ass. Haven't hand washed the MS3 yet; dealer washed it for me when I had the car in for the CEL. Last time I washed my stang I just used my Mr. Clean Autodry and spray-on Armor All wax.

IMO, Zaino was a whole weekend ordeal...I just want something that can be done quick. Definitely gonna pick up one of those microfiber wash mitts though.

 

[elderlycoffee]

Zaino, until it became a huge pain in my ass. Haven't hand washed the MS3 yet; dealer washed it for me when I had the car in for the CEL. Last time I washed my stang I just used my Mr. Clean Autodry and spray-on Armor All wax.

IMO, Zaino was a whole weekend ordeal...I just want something that can be done quick. Definitely gonna pick up one of those microfiber wash mitts though.

a microfiber wash mitt works real nice

 

[MSAxela]

Autoglym wax on lighter color cars and Meguiars NXT Tech wax on dark color cars. Just from what I have seen that is. I have a Black Mica MS3 so I go with the NXT.

 

[dread]

zymol, it has gotten many scratches out of my ms3 and makes the color look so much deeper. It is like $15 a bottle but its all natural and completely worth the money. The only problem is it doesn't last as long as I would like, but it makes scratches and swirls disappear even ones that were white on my black ms3.

 

[elderlycoffee]

I've got a question, Do these special remover waxes actually repair the scratches or just hide them till the wax wears off?

 

[ariana]

I used the Ice today too. It's my favorite for now.

 

[clicknext]

I use ICE normally and the results are decent, but nothing mind-blowing. It's very easy to apply and remove, though.

A wax or detailer will not do anything to scratches/swirls, they may hide them a bit. But the polishes that claim to remove swirls and oxidation WILL. They will not "repair" the scratches, they are abrasive and will take off a small layer of paint so that the good paint underneath shows through. The results can be good, but use care and make sure you apply a good wax afterwards.

By the way, isn't the ICE spray detailer different from the stuff that pours out of the bottle?

 

[MadOzodi]

Ice for touchups between washings, huh? I'll have to look into that. If I had 2 weeks vacation, I would definitely Zaino the hell outta my MS3.

ZAINO

 

[elderlycoffee]

I get my ICE from target.
Cost like $5.00 and works really well in between regular waxing. also seems to stretch out the life of waxing.

 

[elderlycoffee]

I get my ICE from target.
Cost like $5.00 and works really well in between regular waxing. also seems to stretch out the life of waxing.

 

[andrew.savage]

i go mother's carnuba wax, it's a pain in the ass and your arm hurts after but it looks freaking awesome when it's done.

 

[Olestra]

I've got a question, Do these special remover waxes actually repair the scratches or just hide them till the wax wears off?

As someone already posted it will remove a thin layer of paint. That stuff you have most likely has an abrasive.
Pure waxes like the carnauba wax will just hide scratches by filling them in. Once the wax wears off, the scatches are visible again.

Just be careful not to use an abrasive too often. I'd use it like 3 times a year max - if you use it everytime you wash, you won't have a clearcoat left after a few years. A true polish will be more abrasive than your polish/wax combo.

 

[elderlycoffee]

I just bought some of this today, Saw it for the first time decided to try it. Any dangers in using it?

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1,5

 

[ariana]

I have been using the ICE liquid polish and the spray for quick detail. I haven't tried the paste yet.

 

[Olestra]

Not too familiar with that product but most products that say polish will contain an abrasive. Usually it will explicitly say non-abrasive on the bottle.

Turtle wax's wax will be a non-abrasive I believe. I also forgot to mention that synthetic waxes should last longer than carnauba wax.

 

[ch77]

Meguiar's Gold Class paste wax.. Yeah, it makes my arm a bit sore after a while, but it looks nice on all our cars. I will be trying the Mother's Caranuba when I run out of the Meguiar's in a few months.

Usually I use Meguiar's Gold Class car wash as well; seems to do the trick. As for bug & tar remover, I've got some from the 80's that I use sparingly. Not that anyone asked about that, but doesn't everyone still need some on hand?

 

[elderlycoffee]

So After this tub I shouldn't get any more polish?

 

[soilsample]

I highly recommend Zainos.
You will be very pleased with the results. A very small amount will go a long way toward protecting the finish and enhancing the shine.

I've used on my new MZ3 and on my motorcycle as well as on the Mini CooperS that I had before the Mazda.
Excellent product.
Follow the directions and stand back to enjoy your work when you're done!