Hi everyone, my first proper post.
I use Colllinite 476 - tried lots of stuff since september last year but this is the one that eases the washing in my experience. Keeps it gleaming and beads beautifully. It also feels silky smooth.
I tried the autoglym HD wax for a few washes. It leaves a nice wet look finish but it doesnt seem to be as hardy as collinite and doesnt bead as well after the first week.
I also tried the autoglym extra gloss protection which is the easiest to apply - looks good when fresh but isnt great for keeping the dirt off it. This is very to the above two as it is synthetic and its in liquid form.
I've got a bottle of mer as well - used once didnt take to that - lots of powder - didnt hold up great either.
I concur with the view that new paint shouldnt be polished. I seem to recall I read some years back in the manual of a Saab I had that the piant took several months to harden fully (from memory upto 4 months). Logically polishing doesnt seem to sit well with the concept of not having fully hardened paint. Maybe merc paint is different and paint technology has moved on this was about 6 years ago.
Got my first Benz back in September last year in Calcite White. Absolutely love it.
Every spec of dirt shows up. I also get lots of stuff sticking to the paint despite the dealer Starguarding it (Starguard appears to be totally useless; they gave me a really fancy looking kit but the sponge and wheel brush look like they are from a £ shop !).
After spending about four hours on my first wash I went out and bought some Snow Foam and a foaming dispenser for prewashing for keeping those swirls to a minimum, only the remnants of the hardiest of stuff (some wierd species of tree near my office) now stick which I remove with some megs bug and tar remover. I was skeptical about the snow foam but it does work if left to soak for about 5-10 minutes, takes off quite lot of the dirt. It doesnt strip the existing wax as some people have claimed on some detailing forums. I use it neat. I also use a separate bucket and sponge for the sill areas, wheels and wheel arches o stop the bucket becoming contaminated with fine particles.
I avoid (weather permitting) letting other people wash it as I heard some of those hand wash places use things like washing up liquid (typically £1 a bottle - 1 bottle washes loads of cars) instead of car shampoo (typically £5 plus a bottle - 1 bottle doesn't wash loads of cars) .
I'll post some pics soon.
Problem areas are at the front wheel arches on the faces of the side skirts immediately behind the front wheels which have been peppered with stone chips. Anyone got any suggestions re film coatings or any other protection for those areas?
