thanks....too bad black only stays looking that nice for a day or two before the pollen takes over!

I went outside today and did the sides and tailgate of the truck with the #2 (polish) and #3 (wax)... I did the hood and front fenders last weekend, but used dishwashing soap and went all the way with all three steps, since it gets the most abuse... I rewaxed these bits today, just for good measure while I was at it.

Next nice day, I'll hit the roof with all three, since I usually don't wax it as often as I should.

I like to use #1 in the Spring and Fall and usually take all the wax off before doing so, just to really clean the paint of contaminants and make sure there's a nice coat of wax for the oncoming, and just-ending Winter. Seems to work well... The flat, horizontal surfaces of the hood and roof are the most prone to this, since stuff just sits on it, as opposed to the vertical bits.

Click here to see this shiny bitch when it's all done up...

Lookin good Phreak! Solar yellow looks sweet all polished up!

Long, long ago, someone mentioned Collinite as one of the best waxes you can get. This stuff started out as a heavy-duty wax coating for power line insulators, and someone figured it might work on autos. I've never tried it, but it sounds promising.

Brent

Thanks, man! But Super Black still wins in my book, heh. I just don't have the patience for such a color...

I have, it is great, it lasts forever. I wax the X 2-3 times a year, and the water never stops beading up between waxes. Its expensive, $35.00 for a can, but I thinks its worth since it last's so long (I'm still on the first can I got in August of 2000).

Has anyone used NuFinish? I've used it on every auto that I've owned. Two - three applications per year is all it takes, and the water never fails to bead up!

After it's first wash / wax and bug shield installation

Sorry about the driveway shot but I've yet to get off road (a situation I hope to rectify this weekend), there aren't many areas to go in Southern Wisconsin, and I've only had my X for a week.

I've used NuFinish on older cars that couldn't really sustain their own gloss, heh... But it seems to work pretty good!

As I understand it, it's not so much wax-based as it is silicone or something?

Zaino works for me.
On the X I've used the Meguiar's 3 step, on my Black Gran Prix, I use Zaino. The Zaino holds up much better and longer than the Meguiar's

I used a clay bar last weekend and then did the Meguiars 3 step. Came out awesome. But alas, it rained like 2 days later.

The drawback to Meguiars is that it doesn't last that long (a month or so). The good thing is that it's loaded with UV protectants to prevent sun damage. There are a lot of waxes out there (like Liquid Glass) that will bead up forever and ever, but they don't have any sort of UV protectant to prevent fading. Not sure about the Rain-X wax. I just stick with Meguiars since it works. And with the orbital buffer I can wash, dry, and wax in about an hour and half total. Longer if I clay it.

Mother's California Gold Carnuba Wax works awesome.

The best wax I have ever used is a product called "Finish First", made by Liqui-tech http://www.finishfirstpolish.com . This product is completely different than any other wax or polish I have ever used. You can actually layer this wax (its synthetic) as much as you want. In fact, the more coats you apply, the deeper the gloss. They actually recommend leaving the first coat on for 24hrs, then 90 minutes for each additional coat for proper curing. I recently put 7 coats of it on my X and it looks better than when I drove it out of the dealer lot. It also works extremely well on Windows, basically giving them a Rain-X effect. If you don't mind paying $19.95 a can, this stuff cannot be beaten.

After following this posting for quite a while and having some spare time, I purchased the Meguire's 3 step products. (It seems as if the bulk of you all suggest Meguires). After three hours (washing, cleaning, polishing, and waxing the vehicle and yes, using B2B on all the trim), the X looks better than it did when I picked it up off the lot.

However, I just dont know if all that time was worth it. There must be an easier and less time consuming way. By the way, my wife called me crazy, she cant tell the difference, but, I can!

Anyway, just wanted to post some feed back

Zowman
Lehigh Valley, PA
2002 XE 4x4
Molten Lava

Something about the Meguiars is that after you have used it a few times it really starts looking great with little effort. My last application lasted all winter.

Omahabus,

Liquid Glass is the same way, you can build it up in multiple coats.

Brent

I've given up on Meguiar's step 3 (wax). 1 and 2 (cleaner and polish) are still awesome products, but for the final protection I'm switching to Mother's California Gold.

My latest test was to apply fresh coats of both waxes to different parts of the truck before going offroading this past weekend. The parts done in Meguiar's were dirtier (the dirt stuck to the paint easier), and after a washing this morning only the Mother's wax kept the water beading. In fact, the parts waxed with Mother's barely even needed a washing, just hosing them off cleaned everything up.

I've had a similar experience once I replaced #3 with #26, so far...

That hi-tech yellow #26 is some pretty good stuff. I alternate between that and the Gold Class for step number 3.

Well... You could just take it to a professional detailer if you want easier. Probably more expensive though.

Hmm, aaahh, okay. Y'all were s'posed to tell me this before I bought the Meguiar's 3 step this past weekend . The shine was very pleasing to my eyes once I finished the 2 1/2 hour job though! I'll probably just use up the #3 before I switch...

Ok guys, I started out with Nu-Finish, and while I do like it, I think I'll go with Meguiar's comprehensive process as my usual wax. Now, after seeing Boarder's damn nice truck , here is my thought process on this:

Use Paint Cleaner (I think it is step 1 in the three step) for general cleaning of the paint after I wash. Like Boarder, I have the feeling the pro line might be too abrasive.

Use #7 glaze to get the shine and depth.

Finish with # 26 as my final layer.

I could use just the three step, but it seems as if that doesn't last as long as I might like it too. Since the X is relatively new for me, I don't think claying would be of much help, but I will clay when the time comes. Also, I have heard good things about their #20, which is a polymer sealant. It is not a polish, but could i use this after the polish and before the wax as extra protection, or do you think it is meant as a polymer alternative to # 26, in which I have a "one or the other" scenario?

This is the first new auto I have owned, so I want to take good care of it from the get go.

Any advice or suggestions?

ChrisW

ps - Air B, if you read this, where did you find most of your stuff locally, or did you mail order? I know Pep Boys on Colorado Bl. has a decent selection, just wondering if any other places around us have a better assortment of products.

i too use the meguires 3 step on my superblack x, and its awesome. call me crazy but i used some masking tape around all the plastic before waxing and dont worry about getting wax on the trim. and it only takes 5 or 10 mins. to do it.

Well damn... Thanks a lot!

I think that other "polymer/sealant" is an alternate product to the #26. Rather than the pure caranuba route, that one uses more silicones and voodoo magic. I'd be interested in a bake-off betwixt the two - I'm curious.

I think I'm going to replace the #2 (polish) with the prof. glaze as well - since the move from #3 to #26 was so positive.

Hi there,
Was wondering about car wax, I heard that Mother's canuba was wonderful. Question tho, do you recommend the paste or the liquid?
Thanks.
Linda

Linda -
I've found that the liquid version of a product is better if your paint has tar, bug or other surface crud. Seems to remove them with less effort than paste wax. If the paint is free of contamination then paste wax *might* be better - but maybe not enuf to matter.
There are several good products/brands out there. Everyone has their favorite. It can depend on the exact vehicle and paint color. In other words, what works on my T.Bronze may not be the best for your X.
Application and removal should not require a lot of effort. Water should bead for 3 months or more. If a product does not satisfy these simple requirements, try another.

dave and xtoy - we have a shelf full