What car wax to use with vintage MB

[gmask]

Trying to decide with car wax to use..

I made the mistake of trying a carnuba wax and it has taken me forever to get the stuff out of the crevices of my car. The paint is not original but I guess I'm looking for something that is not going to collect and dry a light color after the next time I wash the car. ARGH!!!

[psfred]

Gmask:

Meguires (sp?) is till the best, but I don't expect that you will ever cure the problem of the crazing in the paint short of a complete re-paint. Try some of the stuff that claims not to dry white (it has silicones in it, so if you are planning to get it painted any time soon, DON'T use it! Paint won't stick.....) and that may help.

Peter

[gmask]

Originally posted by psfred
Gmask:

Meguires (sp?) is till the best, but I don't expect that you will ever cure the problem of the crazing in the paint short of a complete re-paint. Try some of the stuff that claims not to dry white (it has silicones in it, so if you are planning to get it painted any time soon, DON'T use it! Paint won't stick.....) and that may help.

Nah.. won't be repainting anytime soon and if I do it will neeed to have this paint removed or sanded. I'll check out Meguire's I've been iusign alot of their products and for some reason I decided to use this wax I found in my garage. The is not crazing but is chipped and scuffed and has many imperfections. I need to have the hood and fender replaced at some point .. I dunno if I will ever do it but it'd be nice if the car was a little shinier in the meantime

[psfred]

Gmask:

If it isn't actually cracked or worse, oversprayed with cheapo paint, a good professional buffing will make it gleam. There is lots of paint on there originally, and the Glasurit especially buffs beautifully.

Mine got a coat of crap paint after a fender repair (which means, of course, I have to replace the right front fender someday), and the original paint is now cracked through and starting to peel. Ugly.

So is the yellow hood on a navy blue car, but I hope to fix that shortly....

Peter

[240 Ed]

Gina is a beige car (actually Mercedes calls it 'gray-beige') and I have had lovely results with cutting the paint with fine compound (1500), then treating with Zymol car wax.
I was skeptical at first though, after all it has no synthetics in it, all natural, and it smells great so how good could it be! But it sure works well on old german paint!

AND it doesn't make that white stuff on the black parts! Like wiper arms, rub strips, etc.

[gmask]

Originally posted by 240 Ed
Gina is a beige car (actually Mercedes calls it 'gray-beige') and I have had lovely results with cutting the paint with fine compound (1500), then treating with Zymol car wax.
I was skeptical at first though, after all it has no synthetics in it, all natural, and it smells great so how good could it be! But it sure works well on old german paint!

This car has silver paint over the original brown paint so is using cutting compound a good idea?

[240 Ed]

1500 grit is pretty fine. I don't think it will cause any problems. For instance, it would never be powerful enough to take out orange peel.
It is just right for bringing back the shine before the wax.

OR you could buy one of the many cleaner waxes for sale out there... Might be the way to go for a quick shine.

and carnuba waxes last the longest . Griots sells a good one.

[sublettd]

I'm surprised more folks aren't aware of Liquid Glass. It's far and away the best wax I have EVER used on any of my automobiles.

Took the SL to the Mercedes dealership a few months back for an external detailing...claying and the whole nine-yards. Came out of the shop looking as good as new with the Meguiars products they used on it. I then began using Liquid Glass to maintain the shine.

Neat thing about Liquid Glass is that you can apply additional coats after four hours. I've always waited at least twenty-four hours before waxing again, just to let it cure. One small caution: if you have a dark color paint job (mine's red), then it may streak. If this occurs, take a damp/wet cloth and rub it out. Use back-and-forth motions, not circular ones. Read the directions on the can.

I NEVER take the car out that somebody doesn't compliment me on the wax job. It simply sparkles.

Cheers!

[LuckyF8]

I have used pure carnuba for years, lasts a long time.

Harleys is the brand I keep in my trunk, one can lasts about 10 years!

BUT THERE IS A SECRET TO USING PURE CARNUBA!

[gmask]

Originally posted by LuckyF8
I have used pure carnuba for years, lasts a long time.

Harleys is the brand I keep in my trunk, one can lasts about 10 years!

BUT THERE IS A SECRET TO USING PURE CARNUBA!

Do tell ?

[LuckyF8]

OK here goes.........

The tempature has to be right, a cloudy day about 72F or better.

#1 The finish has to be clean and pure, as carnuba won't even remove a water spot! Use clay or whatever you need to clean it.

#2 You apply the wax with an old terrycloth towel, I keep a small piece in the can of wax. Only do about 2 to 3 sq ft at a time. (I only wax the upper surfaces of my cars on a regular schedule.)

#3 Let the wax dry. This takes about 3 to 10 min depending on the temp, and weather conditions (hot direct sunlight is not good!)

#4 Buff the wax, it will shine!

The trick to it is buffing the wax, use a old terrycloth towel, one that has some stiple to it from being through the washer for a few years (these are the best for washing and drying too!)

When using carnuba most people rub it off leaving a small part on the finish and a lot on the towel, you have to take care not applying wax where it doesn't belong, this stuff is awesome, but misunderstood.

It takes some time to do but the results are well worth it, and you can do it once or twice a month at your leasure in small areas.

#5 Buffing the wax, the goal here is to leave the wax on the finish, not the towel. About 25 years ago I learned this by fate, I was waxing as usual rubbing all the wax off on the towel, that left me with a caked up towel I would have to throw out. Up walked a stranger admiring my 108, we BS'ed for a few minuites about Bla Bla Bla, I was lightly rubbing the towel over the wax and to my suprise Bang! The wax glossed off on the finish, not on the towel.

This told me that "Hey I have been taking all the wax off rubbing so hard" My towel is clean today, I have used it for over 10 years.

You need to be carefull where you apply carnuba, but it is the best by far. Use lite pressure, let the weight of the towel do most of the work.

Your results will be worth it, and it's easy if you do small areas at a time.

My 108 has never seen soap, I just use a small trickle of water and the old terrycloth, to wash and dry Her.

A little carnuba from time to time, looks like a show car, and my neighbors love it, ask a lot of questions, and envy me for having this hobby that has been my ride for so many years.

So take the time to do it right.......it's easier than you think!

[240 Ed]

I used to use a product called Blue Coral. It was the devil to get off the car (like you were talking about...), but lasted forever seemingly...