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      04-16-2017, 06:58 PM   #1
coloradojordan
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Do you clay bar, polish and wax your X5?

For those of you who detail their own X5 please chime in. I have a black sapphire metallic X5 with about 35K miles on it. Wondering if I need to just clay bar and wax my X5 or if a polish if necessary. My vehicles paint is in good shape just not sure how easy it is to damage the clear coat and how hard or soft the paint is. In any input is appreciated.
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      04-16-2017, 08:03 PM   #2
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I have an oscillating buffer. I wash, clay, polish & wax.
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      04-16-2017, 08:34 PM   #3
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After washing and drying your X5, run your hands over the paint and if you feel tiny specks and bumps then you need to clay your exterior.

I used the nanoskin mitt with a detail lubricants instead of the traditional clay and it works very well.
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      04-16-2017, 10:01 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kzang View Post
After washing and drying your X5, run your hands over the paint and if you feel tiny specks and bumps then you need to clay your exterior.
This ^^^

I claybar all of my vehicles usually 1x or 2x per year. Not as often as some but more than almost every other car owner.

A truly helpful place to figure all of this out is AmmoNYC's website particularly their videos/. Only bought their interior cleaner. I've been buying Chemical Guys stuff off Amazon for a few years and been happy but AmmoNYC videos are very useful.
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      04-16-2017, 10:13 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kzang View Post
After washing and drying your X5, run your hands over the paint and if you feel tiny specks and bumps then you need to clay your exterior.
^^ Yup ^^

I also clay my vehicles a couple times a year, always before I polish/wax. For light color cars, it is the only non-abrasive thing that takes off the orange spots (they look like rust spots, but aren't) that we get after a hard, chemical filled winter. While I use Zaino products exclusively for the paint, I find their clay bar a bit too soft for me. I now use a Simoniz clay bar as I find it to be best. I use a diluted detail spray as a lubricant and wear nitrile gloves to help keep the clay from sticking to my hands.

There is nothing like smooth, slick feel of a freshly clayed and polished/waxed car!
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      04-16-2017, 11:21 PM   #6
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I actually just put a lovely layer of Swissvax on my BSM today. I clayed it when I got the car last summer. Definitely makes a big difference, although it's rather tedious to do.
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      04-17-2017, 12:22 AM   #7
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i to have the same color x5 an my paint is also in great shape.everytime i wash, i polish then wax and if needed i clay.the clay bar itself sucks get the mitt or the synthetic clay bar
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      04-17-2017, 02:10 AM   #8
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All the comments regarding clay bar or Nanoskin Autoscrub (that's what I use - DA pad vs mitt) are spot on. To answer your other question... a BSM car with 35K miles will absolutely need polishing to correct at least some of the swirls before you wax and/or seal.
You could use an AIO, but don't expect much correction power as compared to a true polish.
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      04-17-2017, 04:47 AM   #9
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Tip: YouTube channel: Chemical guys you wil see all the things you should and would do. Just maintain!
Good luck
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      04-17-2017, 08:28 AM   #10
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I clay at least once a year and then use Iron-X to maintain six months later. I try to give the car an application of a good sealant once every couple of months but I don't stress to much about it since it's a high mile daily driver.

Lately I've taken to using a spray on/spray off paint sealant (not the same as a touch up spray detailer) as my last step product because it's damn easy and I'm not too concerned about getting an ultra-deep concours-level shine.

My X5 is mineral white so I jut focus on good wash hygiene and don't worry too much about polishing.

I wouldn't worry too much about damaging the X5's paint with polishing, etc. Claying is probably a necessity if it hasn't been done before due to the mileage. Keep the clay or mitt lubricated and don't reuse the clay if you drop it, etc. and the risk of damage is close to zero. Polishing is a different story - you only need to get that done if there are enough swirl marks on the car to annoy you.

Above all else, follow the traditional detailer rules of thumb...use the least aggressive product possible to get the job done and try to minimize 'touches' to the car during the detailing process.
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      04-17-2017, 09:14 AM   #11
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Search decontamination in some of the detailing forums like autogeek or detailedimage and you will find hundreds of tips and tricks.

Claying will produce marring on BSM no matter how you cut it and it must be followed with some light to heavy polishing.

A Griot's Garage 3rd gen dual action polisher with Lake Country orange cutting pad with Menzerna Fast Gloss 400 is guaranteed to have perfect results on a BSM.

Add Menzerna 4500 on white or black Lake Country polishing pad and your paintwork will look spectacular.

For protection, use Menzerna Power Lock will give you enough protection for a few months or so.

If you like your paint to look deep and wet, Einszett 1Glanz wax is deadly on black paintwork.

...if you have 20-24 hours of spare time
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      04-17-2017, 10:50 AM   #12
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I have a black sapphire M4 and my wife just got a X5 the same color. It can be a tough color to maintain so I had CQuartz FINEST applied to my M4 and it makes the maintenance a lot easier. It helps protect the paint and clear coat. It could be worth looking into if you have a detailer in your area that's an authorized installer.
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      04-17-2017, 01:00 PM   #13
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Honestly, I think BSM can take a quite a beating from lack of proper care and STILL look decent in the direct sunshine. I think it's a low-maintenance colour. My Alpine White and Jet Black BMWs are much more annoying to keep clean.
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      04-17-2017, 01:48 PM   #14
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Look into ceramic pro on your BSM.
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      04-17-2017, 02:10 PM   #15
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I too clay bar my X5. My X5 is parked outdoors 100% of the time. Annual claying is a must and makes the biggest difference.

IMO though, no need to spend extra money on fancy machines, polishes, materials. I use the classic Mothers or Meguier's clay kits (including their detailer spray), and do it all by hand. Takes forever on SUV..but the results are worth it.

Depending on how much junk is on the paint, you may need to a prewash, clay, then another wash again before wax.
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      04-17-2017, 02:18 PM   #16
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I clayed my x5 after i took delivery. There was already contamination on the paint as the clay came out dirty. Afterwards, I used a yellow foam pad on rupes for a one step polish to remove some of the dealer installed swirl marks. Once the paint was in good condition, I followed up with Gyeon Mohs coating.
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      04-17-2017, 02:49 PM   #17
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I do clay every 6 months, would do it every 4 but I am lazy. It is worth the effort though
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      04-17-2017, 02:56 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Ace View Post
Takes forever on SUV..but the results are worth it.
That is why the nanoskin is perfect and pretty much replaces the traditional clay bar. Look at the size of the surface of the mitt vs the small dinky clay bar. Also if you drop the mitt on the floor, all you have to do is rinse it. If you drop the clay, it is useless and into the trash it goes.
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      04-17-2017, 03:01 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kzang View Post
That is why the nanoskin is perfect and pretty much replaces the traditional clay bar. Look at the size of the surface of the mitt vs the small dinky clay bar. Also if you drop the mitt on the floor, all you have to do is rinse it. If you drop the clay, it is useless and into the trash it goes.
i'll look into this nanoskin thing. I'm intrigued.
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      04-17-2017, 03:12 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Ace View Post
i'll look into this nanoskin thing. I'm intrigued.
Check it out and there are many other videos on youtube.

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      04-17-2017, 03:49 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kzang View Post
That is why the nanoskin is perfect and pretty much replaces the traditional clay bar. Look at the size of the surface of the mitt vs the small dinky clay bar. Also if you drop the mitt on the floor, all you have to do is rinse it. If you drop the clay, it is useless and into the trash it goes.
I will look into it! It really takes a lot of time to wash, clay, polish and wax. If I can speed up the claying process it would be great.
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      04-18-2017, 12:15 AM   #22
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i am OCD with keeping my truck clean and gleaming at all times...really stay ontop of the paint and never let the car get "filthy" even in the winter. Luckily i can wash the truck in my apt building's garage downstairs so that obviously helps a great deal.
I like to wash, clay, and then wax. i use a traditional clay bar, with either remaining car wash soap from my second bucket or a clay bar lubricant spray. The wax is use is 3M. results are phenomenal and i get compliments on the condition of the pain all the time.

Clay bar is key. you'll be amazed how clean, crisp, silky and sparkling the paint will be. i clay every 3rd to 4th time i was the truck and wax every 2nd wash . hope this helps !
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