im contemplating whether i should clay my car before i wax my car...

my car is jet black..with 95% condition...just paint corrected about 5 months ago... but washing has always been careful... no swirls and very little minor scratches... thinking of skipping another round of polish..

the problem is that the bottom half of my car feels rough... and i heard claying will scratch the paint ( i have a notorious jet black BMW)

to clay and cause a little scratch on the car then wax

or

forget the claying... just use pre-wax cleanser and wax the car

any tips is greatly appreciated.

 

Claying SHOULD not scratch the paint... it should be done after a proper, thorough wash so that all loose contaminants are off before the claying, but with enough lube and a gentle enough clay bar, there should be no scratching whatsoever... so if that's the only concern, you should clay it.

I don't see a reason not to clay and it should be done a couple more times per year than full detailing, meaning polishing included... then again, there are way too many variables, and some people need to clay once a month to keep the car in good shape

 

Claying doesn't cause scratches if it is done correctly.

The most common defect that arises from claying a car is clearcoat marring, which is more of a result of using an inadequate amount of lubricant than anything else. If you don't use enough lubricant the clay grabs hold of the clear more strongly than it should and it basically scuffs it, which leaves an almost cloudy appearance.

So if you are thinking about it, I would do it. Just make sure that you have the proper lubricant for the clay that you are using, and go for it.

 

make sure you have plenty of clay lube on hand!

make sure you don't put a ton of pressure on the clay bar.

and remember to keep folding it to get a clean side on the paint.

 

yes sir!

going to buy quick finish and paint rubber later!

 

should i wash my car again after claying? i see some people just wipe it dry with MF cloth

 

I never do, and some people always do it... I guess try both and see what process you like more... to me, since the car is already washed and clean, and all other contaminants are within the claybar, the surface is clean enough for waxing, or polishing if you're doing that, after you wipe it down with a QD and m/f towel

 

definitely clay the car. BMW paint is very hard, and if you use a light clay bar you should be fine. Just make sure to use plenty of clay lube. The car will finish much better, and also you will remove all that grime on the paint that you don't really see until it's gone.



John