New car...how long to wait before claying and waxing

[helix139]

I'm the proud owner of a new black 2008 Bullitt Mustang. How long do I need to wait for the paint to cure before claying and waxing?

[Nappers]

You should be able to clay and wax away

and welcome to MOL!

check out the list o' links made by Ryan aka:lilblkblt04, upper right on the home page. Lots of information to keep that Bullitt shiny.

Aaron

[Derrick]

since the is your first post welcome to MOL and the paint is baked on at the factory and is ready before it ever sees a car lot so you are good to go . I would like to suggest NXT tech wax 2.0. I personally love the way it looks on a black car. It leave a slick and real wet look

[dasiknes803]

Do i have to claybar? Im kinda scared. I do wax like every 2 weeks though.

[Derrick]

Do i have to claybar? Im kinda scared. I do wax like every 2 weeks though.

Even on some new cars right off the lot you will be shocked of what can be removed by claying the car. Not saying all new cars need to be clayed but you should properly inspect the paint to see for yourself. Just simply run your hand over the clean finish and if it does not feel as smooth as glass then it needs to be clayed. Waxing every 2 weeks is a little overkill. You should only have to wax about once every 2 to 4 months depending on the conditions and contaminants the car is exposed to and maintain the car with something like UQD after every wash to restore that just wax look.

[dasiknes803]

But it wouldnt hurt to wax as much right?

[Mike Phillips]

I'm the proud owner of a new black 2008 Bullitt Mustang. How long do I need to wait for the paint to cure before claying and waxing?

The paint was fully cured before the Mustang left the assembly line so you can treat it just like you would any cured and dried paint.

If the car has been damaged somehow while it was being shipped and the dealership that you bought it from re-painted any of the panels then this would be fresh paint and you would want to let it completely dry and cure for about 30 days before applying a wax.

Just because a car is new doesn't mean it doesn't need to be clayed or that the Dealership hasn't swirled it out. Wash the car and then feel the paint with your clean hand, it should feel 100% smooth and glassy. If you feel little bumps you need to clay the paint.

Look at the sun's reflection in the paint and hope it doesn't look like this,

DISO = Dealer Installed Swirl Option



Cobweb Swirls vs Rotary Buffer Swirls


Hopefully it looks clear and swirl free and you can go right to washing and waxing.

[J. A. Michaels]

Do i have to claybar? Im kinda scared. I do wax like every 2 weeks though.

I was scared at first also. Taking it up a notch on how I detailed. After trying a section with the clay. I was amazed at how easy it was. It was also cool. How after lubing the section rubbing the clay on the paint. Then looking at the clay and seeing all the bonded dirt just lift away and transfer to the clay. It was great.

I would inspect your paint, like Mike says. If not completely smooth , getthe clay kit. I bet you will see a big difference.

[Zarcero]

I'm the proud owner of a new black 2008 Bullitt Mustang. How long do I need to wait for the paint to cure before claying and waxing?

I'm also an '08 Bullitt owner and post over at IMBOC.com, they are the guys that turned me on to these products.

I don't believe it is necessary to clay a new car unless, as stated below by Mike...

...Wash the car and then feel the paint with your clean hand, it should feel 100% smooth and glassy. If you feel little bumps you need to clay the paint.

Look at the sun's reflection in the paint and hope it doesn't look like this,

DISO = Dealer Installed Swirl Option



Cobweb Swirls vs Rotary Buffer Swirls


Hopefully it looks clear and swirl free and you can go right to washing and waxing.

Some of the cars will pick up a lot of dirt in the rail transport, etc. Just do as Mike Phillips says if any of the above is true in your case.

My car came in smooth, and I told the dealer ahead of time not to jack with anything on it. I then washed and waxed using Meguiar's method, but without the claying, as it did not need it. It's important to buy the right products, especially the terrycloth and/or microfiber towels. I keep all my stuff in a Tupperware tub in the trunk. In addition, I have found the Meguiar's Quik Detailer to be great as a maintenance tool for bugs/dirt between washes and waxes.

These Bullitt cars look so damn cool when they are glassed out like this! I can look at mine for hours!

[helix139]

I washed, clayed, and waxed today and wow, what a difference! This car just looks and feels fantastic with a good clay and a coat of Gold wax. Take a look...