Best products for LeMans Blue BMW

[davyk31]

With spring sunshine on the way, hopefully, my mind is turning to getting the cars shining for the better weather. My X5 is Lemans Blue which is quite a dark blue and my 335 is a similar colour but slightly lighter. Given both colours are similar I reckon whatever I buy will do both. Given time is generally tight and I don't often get to spent too much time on the cars altho they do get proper wash and dry every week I want some recommendations.

Generally I use Autoglym SRP and probably will still use this. Whats best after this given I really want as few coats as possible. Have used Extra Gloss Protection before and then a Collinite wax but keen to try something new. My 335 was detailed after i got it using Zymol Carbon wax which the guy reckoned was easy to put on.

So any advice and recommendations guys, how many coats and what should I apply each time please.

[steelwind101]

The blue will show up swirls easily, a good combo is always 845 over Super Resin Polish. Bright reflective and pretty durable!

It being so big i would have thought something durable and easy to remove would good. Personally im a huge fan of Wolfgang Sealant 3.0, looks like a top end Nuba wax but lasts a long time and sheets really well! It goes on easy and wipes away with out dust or fuss.

Alot of people are in to FK1000P right now, personally i always thought Pink Wax also from Finish Kare lasted a long time and looks much warmer!

A couple of layers of any product for even coverage. SOme products do increase the looks with layers, but not really the durable ones IME.

Geoff

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

You can't go too far wrong with SRP really but I've achieved great results from Clearkote Vanilla Mousse hand glaze (which is a filling polish similar to SRP, mixed 50/50 with Clearkote Red machine glaze. This forms a pink liquid.

This fills well and leaves a deep wet look. I'd stick to Collinite waxes for durability given you've got a couple of fairly large cars to maintain and possibly don't want to 'top up' wax every month. I applied 1 coat of Colli 845 on my sisters car and another coat of 476 later the same day without any hologramming etc. The car stands outside and it's still beading well after all the rain / snow / road salts!

[davyk31]

Sounds like I need to try Colli 845. As you say I don't really want to be topping up wax too often as time isn't always available. gone are the days when I used to spend every Saturday morning waxing my car, marriage and 2 kids seem to have taken that time away....... which is of course right but I still like a clean car as well !!!

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Yeah, detailing / clean cars definitely come 2nd and family 1st these days.

Colli 845 is sooo easy to use and very durable - not quite as durable as 476 but not a huge amount in it.

[steelwind101]

Building on what TT says I think 845 is more vibrant and will give a better look on your colour paintwork!

TT, cars are part of the family!

[davyk31]

[TT, cars are part of the family![/quote]

Sometimes its nice to get a bit of time to go to clean the car in the garage where it is nice and peaceful.

So my planned routine is a wash, then clay, wash , one coat SRP ( is this enought ) and then a coat of 845 ( again is one coat enough?) Do I need to leave time between applying the SRP and the 845 and if I go for 2 coats of 845 does it need time between coats ?

[steelwind101]

Hi!

Time away is good!

One coat of SRP, then apply 1 coat of 845. I would come back after 24 hrs, like next week or something if its conveniant and apply a second layer of 845. I cant remeber exactly but it think it needs a min. of 12 hrs between layers.

Geoff

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Longer time between wax layers is definitely always better but unfortunately I don't always have that luxury of time these days. I've often applied a couple of layers of 845 on a warmish day within 3 hours. With Colli 476 this can induce some hollogramming effects on flat panels but i've never had this with 845. I guess the real danger is that the solvents in the 2nd layer of wax kind of remove the initial layer if they've not been allowed to harden but i've always seen good durability from 2 layers of 845 applied in 1 day.

[steelwind101]

If solvents are not able to gas off the layer you apply over the top can look less clear.