Having just got delivery of my Superb and given it its first wash, I noticed how harder it was to dry properly compared to my previous car that had a nano-ceramic coating applied, that made most of the water just run off on its own.

As this time I would rather spend the coating money on a anti-chip paint protection (thin film applied to the front of the car) I was thinking whether I should give waxing a try for the first time. I have been washing my cars for a few years now, pressure washer with foam lance for pre-wash, various soft mints for various areas, two buckets etc. so I have some appreciation of the "proper" washing/cleaning methods, but I haven't really investigated in the waxing and polishing  fields that seem more intimidating to get right.

How hard is it to start with waxing? If more stuff than simply the wax and some applicator pads are required (like polishing rotary machine) I would simply skip it, otherwise please send suggestions as to how should I proceed. The detailing shop I purchase most stuff recommends Collinite but I have no idea what level of expertise it requires to apply it well.

Edited 25 February, 20197 yr by newbie69

If you want a shiny finish then you can just go ahead and wax after you wash the car. 

 

If you want a long lasting durable finish, that will take time and effort. All do-able by hand. 

 

Rinse car all over with garden hose, or pressure washer at a low setting. 

Cover vehicle with snow foam and allow to dwell, but not dry on vehicle. 

Rinse. 

Wash using two bucket method. 

 

Use a spray on fallout remover like Bilt Hamber Korrosol

https://www.bilthamber.com/car-cleaning-and-degreasing/korrosol

or something similar

 

Use a clay bar to remove stubborn deposits. The ones by Bilt Hamber just require a spritz with tap water. Other manufacturers require a dedicated lubricant. 

 

**You can omit this stage, but I found it made the finish more durable, and as an added bonus it clears up any clay bar residue. 

Use BH Cleanser Fluid

https://www.bilthamber.com/cleanser-fluid

 

Finally, the wax. 

I use either BH Double Speed Wax or Finis Wax. 

 

Stand back and admire! 

 

That should last you at least 12 months, and all it should require after that is;

Rinse. 

Snow foam. 

Two Bucket Method

Dry. 

 

 

Edited 25 February, 20197 yr by Guest

I used the above procedure last April and this was the result on a 8yo car approaching 100k;

 

Edited 25 February, 20197 yr by Guest
I made my car older than she is!

Fin69 has pretty much covered it there

 

You don't need a machine to apply wax, you can do if you really want but it's overkill

 

I've owned a proper machine polisher (not a £14.99 plug into the 12V socket from halfords jobbie) for about 12 years now, never once used it to apply wax.  Collinite 915 is excellent stuff.  I've had the same tin for about the same time as I've owned my machine polisher and there's still some left.  Really really easy to apply, just rub a light covering over the paint work and buff off, you can literally do a panel at a time, wax on, wax off if you want.  This time of year I'd probably cover the whole car then buff off as it's cooler.

 

Polishing is a whole other (and expensive) ball game if you want to do it properly.  You'll need a decent machine (range from around £60 up to however deep your pockets are) a couple of different polishes (usually one that's got a fair bit of cut to it then a finishing polish) and different grade/size pads i.e. if you have two different polishes, you want a different pad for each polish then a 5/6in and 3/4in and possibly some spares/different grades depending on how much of a polish you need to give it.

 

The guys at www.detailingworld.co.uk are full of great advice.  VAG paint is usually pretty hard, when I machine polished my Octavia for the first time last year, I had to use my heaviest polish and hardest pad to make in roads and still only corrected it to around 70%-80% although when I can rely on the weather a little more I'm going to have a go at it again

Cheers guys, I think I might actually give waxing a try then. As with the washing process, I'll start off the simple way of just waxing after my next wash and once I feel confident enough I might expand into claybar and fallout remover products, the car is almost in mint condition anyway as it's only done 300 easy km so far.

And I'd most certainly skip polishing for the time being, one extra step at a time. I was just wondering whether just wash + wax is acceptable or whether polishing is imperative before waxing.

Would Collinite 476S be up to job or 915 is my best bet? Just thinking of sticking to those items as they are easier to get hold of where I'm buying from.

I have Collinite 845 and use it on everything from bodywork to wheels to the bbq.  Easy to use and a bottle lasts for ages.

I also have a couple of clay mitts.  Do 90% of the bar in a fraction of the time.  Took me 15 mins to clay the car the other week (1hr the first time last year).  I'm sure someone told me its takes 3-4 hrs to do it with a bar.