I've been dying to set about the Octy since i got it with the DA. Wasn't over the moon with the dealer prep, but i just couldn't find the time to tackle it. Decided enough was enough, i'm not going to get the time to do the car in one hit so i figured i'd do 2 doors and compare the best 2 finishes i've seen so far.

So before we start, my previous best attempt. There's no polish applied under this one. This is the Serious Performance Paint Cleanser, Serious Performance Super Polymer Sealant, topped off with Serious Performance Show Car Detailer v2. This combo is amazing on my silvery coloured BMW, but unfortunately it doesn't come out so well on darker colours.

Inspiration no. 1 -- m0bov / James' Clearkote products. Red Moose Glaze, Yellow Cream Wax (it's not an LSP wax, more a 2nd stage glaze), Natty's Blue LSP wax. Here's james' pictures. Impressive huh?

Inspiration no. 2 -- so then along comes MoggyTech to upset the apple cart with his perfect combo ok so life just got a whole lot harder. While James's finish seems slightly wetter, MT's finish seems to really bring up that Race Blue in the sunlight.

So on to my trial of both combo's...

Prep and Polishing

Before applying any of the products i washed the whole car, clayed the 3 test panels then after an 80% IPA wipedown to lift any remaining sealant etc. on the 2 doors, i burnished the doors with Menz Final Finish on a Menz Finishing Pad using my DA, followed by another IPA wipedown. What a difference that made best those doors have ever looked in their life. Forgot to take pictures of it all taped up with my test section taped out

Rear Passenger Door

Clearkote Red Moose Glaze: Wow, ok so the door looked great, nice and wet after the Menz FF but RMG took it to a new level. This stuff is incredibly easy to work with (i just applied it using a clean finishing pad on my DA) and after buffing it, wow! I did the door in 3 sections so i got a really good idea of before and after. RMG gets a mahoosive thumbs up from me. But to be fair my voice counts for nothing since a lot of the heavyweights over on Detailing World and a few other sites were already rating this just about the best thing you could do for a dark car.

Next up was the Clearkote Yellow wax, now i hadn't found any reasonable quality MF buffing bonnets for my DA so i improvised with an MF cloth and 2 elastic bands

Does the job, might cut an MF down to size for future, one MF will give me 2 bonnets but trying to figure out how to squeeze a 3rd out of what would be wasted. Again the Clearkote stuff just blew me away even further. Wow!!! This stuff again was so easy to use but critically really improved the finish.

Now at this point i was blown away, no matter how good the EGP / Megs Classic Wax would turn out to be, it just wouldn't beat this Clearkote stuff, no way no how.

Then things went pear shaped. I used Megs #16 (it's a good wax when used on my Silver BMW) over the clearkote glazes and i might as well just have sprayed bird crap on the door at this point. This wax really took away from what was shaping up to be a phenomenal finish. As i was buffing this stuff off, my heart was sinking. What happened to my beautiful finish.

The finished article:

Lesson learned, Megs #16 is not to be used on top of clearkote stuff. I'm still deflated about this. Knee jerk reaction was to go order some Clearkote LSP wax but i need to cool down on the product buying front, can't fit everything in my garage, really tight on space and i'm 2.5 shelves on cleaning stuff!!! So i'll have a go at another panel with Clearkote but top with Megs Classic.

Just want to say thanks to James for taking the time to post his finish with the Clearkote stuff. It opened my eyes to these products, and i'm blown away with them. Many thanks James

Front Passenger Door

Now it was the turn of MoggyTech inspired AutoGlym EGP topped off with Megs Classic Liquid Wax (again this is on top of Menz FF / Menz finishing pad via DA)

This combo was pretty easy to work with and with 1 less product, slightly faster to apply. Where the Clearkote stuff is applied by DA (and LSP wax by hand) this stuff is all applied by hand. EGP's super easy to use, can't make up my mind about the smell though -- i either want to drink a bottle of it or it's making me high, not sure which, maybe both

The Megs GC liquid wax smells pretty nice. Again dead easy to apply by hand, quick too. This combo definitely wins on speed and smell but could potentially mean getting stomach pumped in hospital if you succumb to EGP's allure

Again just want to say thanks to MoggyTech for taking the time to post his pictures, and just for generally being an all round good egg your posts are always top notch. (So are James' btw!)

Side by Side

A comparison of my previous best, the Serious Performance stuff vs. Clearkote and that wax that really did nothing for the Clearkote products:

Then Clearkote / Megs #16 vs. EGP / Megs Classic. Even though the Megs #16 really sold this combo short, it's really hard to tell between the 2 in person. I mean if you weren't comparing products side by side, you'd be disappointed with the Megs #16 still but you wouldn't call it a bad finish overall, i mean there's very little in it which is testament to the Clearkote stuff that it still put up a good fight even through a suffocating LSP.

The Final Verdict

A good few hours well spent, i enjoy doing this and working in front of a computer screen all week and half the weekend for my day job, it's a nice satisfying break. As you can see the 2 finishes i tried today are streets ahead of my previous best effort, the SP products really are more suited to lighter colours.

The Menz FF has a lot to answer for, the wetness was vastly improved after attacking with the DA and i'm really happy with the outcome there.

Clearkote didn't get the showing it deserved here, so i will be doing another clearkote panel with a diffferent LSP wax to top it off. Stay tuned for more

The practical side of me says that the EGP / Megs Classic finish, whilst it won today, probably wont hold the crown for best finish after i retry the clearkote with a different LSP. That being said, it will probably end up being the combo i use. Why's that? Practicality.

The EGP / Megs Classic combo is very quick to apply. It should also be quick to maintain, topping up that Megs Classic will be pretty quick thanks to it being liquid wax. It will work out slightly cheaper longer term but we're talking a couple of quid here so not exactly anything to sway a decision. Lastly and most importantly, i reckon this finish will probably last the longest of the 2.

I think the clearkote system i'll use for special occassions, when i want the best i can get finish wise. Or more likely i'll start using it when i get itchy feet and start wanting to swap the Octy for something else (long way off yet, still far too taken with it!!).

Edited 11 July, 201015 yr by Mute

Great write up mate Definitely tricky to get the best out of Race Blue. You got brilliant results across the board.

Nice little write-up there...........should post up on DW to get more feed back on it............

I would have used the Megs GC with the CK glazes, have you tried that??

I would have used the Megs GC with the CK glazes, have you tried that??

Yeah been planning to give that combo a whirl, provisionally tomorrow morning i should have a couple of hours going spare, will get some better pics up those ones above don't do justice to it.

surely you should use gold class first then extra gloss protection on top.

ive done done my car ( black magic), with poorboys black hole glaze and topped it with nattys blue paste , the finish is stunning really deep gloss , ive got pics but havent posted them up yet

Edited 13 July, 201015 yr by furn

surely you should use gold class first then extra gloss protection on top.

ive done done my car ( black magic), with poorboys black hole glaze and topped it with nattys blue paste , the finish is stunning really deep gloss , ive got pics but havent posted them up yet

Nah the EGP stuff warns you not to do this, it claims it's a strong solvent and will penetrate anything below it to ensure it gets a good bond itself.

My initial problem was gloss overload to the point the reflections were making it hard to pick out the shape of the body of the car. It's wetness i'm after (only just discovered the look i like is known as "wet").

ERP won't bond to a wax or oily glaze, so its best to stick with their SRP which is actually very very good.

Have done my new vrs with autoglym HD wax same day as i picked it from the dealers and must say it gives a good glossy finish and the water beading is unreal

I fancy giving SRP a shot too after reading about it. That topped with EGP then possibly HD wax. May as well just send my soul off in an envelope to AG headquarters

I dunno why but i just feel sceptical about something you pick up in halfords being very good, but AG seems to make really decent stuff, if a little over priced sometimes.

Flamin' hose pipe ban....car needs doing and several trips with a bucket isn't my idea of fun.

Try ONR, you only need to buckets and no hose, never used it myself try autogeek.

I don't think lots of combi is going to look at much differant, your better saving your cash and getting some pads/polish, 95% is in prep.