How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

[BigJoe09]

Hey all, first time poster, long time lurker. Earlier this week, I picked up my 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300D from the bodyshop, glistening with a new paint job. I supplied the body guys with PPG paint per their request. I'm going to give it its first wash since Monday with your Deep Crystal car wash either this evening or in the morning. Now, I already know that you are not supposed to use wax or anything like that for 3-6 months so the paint can have time to cure. Before I got the repaint done, I would use Quik Detailer to extend wax life, remove bird droppings, bug juice, and road tar. But now, I'm not sure if Quik Detailer can be used on such new paint jobs, but I surely can't have etching occur on this new paint! Would it be alright for me to use Quik Detailer in between washes or to remove debris during these first 3-6 months?

[Lydia]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Yes it would be alright to use Quik Detailer on the paint as long as the paint has dried enough it won't be marred by the towel you will use to wipe the QD off.

[Murr1525]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Quick Detailer would be fine, but the UQD is not recomended.

#80 has a paintable polymer in it, not the same protection as a wax, but it would be a little something.

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Thanks for the replies!

[Andy M.]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Hey BigJoe,

Welcome to MOL!

Andy

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Hello and welcome to mol

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Thanks for the welcomes. Here's a pic of it the day I picked it up (Monday).

[benhui86]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

oooooooo shinny..... how much did the new paint job cost you?

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

It ran me about $1800. I supplied a bunch of the materials myself and did some of body trim removal myself, so that brought it down a bit.

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

I don't know if I should create a new thread or not, but while washing, I discovered a bit of road tar on the passenger's side next to the door handle. Gentle scrubbing wouldn't remove it. I got a little bit of it off gently with my fingernail, but the remainder of it just won't budge. Since the paint hasn't cured yet, what's my options since I can't clay it this early.

[benhui86]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

dont scrub it.... try quik detailer and if that doesnt work... try scratch X.....

[the other pc]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

If you want to be extra safe with the quick detailing try #34 Final Inspection. As the description says; “Its paintable, body shop safe formula is the perfect product for use before customer delivery.”

... what's my options since I can't clay it this early.

Who says you can’t clay this early? Clay is a lot more gentle than scrubbing or using a fingernail.


PC.

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

Who says you can’t clay this early? Clay is a lot more gentle than scrubbing or using a fingernail.


PC.

My car wasn't baked in a booth, so the finish is softer than most paint jobs. Claying this early could possibly mar the finish.

[the other pc]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

... the finish is softer than most paint jobs. Claying this early could possibly mar the finish.

As can:

... scrubbing wouldn't remove it. I got a little bit of it off gently with my fingernail, ....

Since you tried those and didn’t mar up the finish, claying (which is less likely to cause damage than either of those actions) isn’t likely to either.

You could also try a solvent type tar remover with a soft applicator (no scrubbing or scratching at it).


PC.

[BigJoe09]

Re: How to care for brand new (barely 2 weeks old) paint

As can:


Since you tried those and didn’t mar up the finish, claying (which is less likely to cause damage than either of those actions) isn’t likely to either.

You could also try a solvent type tar remover with a soft applicator (no scrubbing or scratching at it).


PC.

The key phrase there is less likely, which means a likelihood of damage occuring is still there, but not at a large degree, but still some degree nevertheless.

That bit of tar I was able to remove with my fingernail was less than half a cm. in length and even less in diameter and located behind the door handle. If any marring occured from that, it would be extremely small and virtually invisible. Correcting such damage would likely be easily done. Claying large areas and potential marring on panels such as the hood, roof, and trunk would be more work to correct if it is too bad. Don't set yourself up for more work than neccesary to maintain your finish in the future if by taking preventative steps now, am I right?