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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > First time Clay Bar!
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      08-15-2020, 09:27 PM   #1
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First time Clay Bar!

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Took 5 hours!!!!
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      08-15-2020, 10:21 PM   #2
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Looks killer. Which clay bar kit did you use?
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      08-15-2020, 11:04 PM   #3
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      08-16-2020, 12:05 AM   #4
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Nice! What paint protection did you apply?
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      08-16-2020, 12:13 AM   #5
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I've seen a detailer say it's generally it's best to clay bar before a paint correction as you're just swirling your paint with the clay bar. Yes it feels smooth, but that does not mean a better finish.
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      08-16-2020, 04:45 PM   #6
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Nice! What paint protection did you apply?
Nu Finish. Not sure what to think of it.
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      08-16-2020, 04:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
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I've seen a detailer say it's generally it's best to clay bar before a paint correction as you're just swirling your paint with the clay bar. Yes it feels smooth, but that does not mean a better finish.
Maybe true, but my car looks A LOT better than before.
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      08-16-2020, 05:58 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328iX View Post
I've seen a detailer say it's generally it's best to clay bar before a paint correction as you're just swirling your paint with the clay bar. Yes it feels smooth, but that does not mean a better finish.
clay bar's action is to lift / remove surface contaminants from paint, it has virtually no 'abrasive' action on painted surface.
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      08-16-2020, 06:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328iX View Post
I've seen a detailer say it's generally it's best to clay bar before a paint correction as you're just swirling your paint with the clay bar. Yes it feels smooth, but that does not mean a better finish.
clay bar's action is to lift / remove surface contaminants from paint, it has virtually no 'abrasive' action on painted surface.
Actually it does. The contaminants you're lifting are the same ones you're rubbing around your paint.

I saw it under a microscope with full clay lube being used.
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      08-16-2020, 07:16 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wgosma View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 328iX View Post
I've seen a detailer say it's generally it's best to clay bar before a paint correction as you're just swirling your paint with the clay bar. Yes it feels smooth, but that does not mean a better finish.
clay bar's action is to lift / remove surface contaminants from paint, it has virtually no 'abrasive' action on painted surface.
Actually it does. The contaminants you're lifting are the same ones you're rubbing around your paint.

I saw it under a microscope with full clay lube being used.
agreed, however I think the percentage of car owners who are willing to fork out the bucks for a professional detailer to do a first rate paint correction is relatively small, it's not cheap to have done and not all that simple to DIY. Clay bar yields pretty darn darn results, it's a virtually goof-proof and painless method to clean/prep cars paint of surface contaminants before applying a wax or sealant.
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      08-16-2020, 07:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wgosma View Post
Clay bar yields pretty darn darn results, it's a virtually goof-proof and painless method to clean/prep cars paint of surface contaminants before applying a wax or sealant.
Clay can cause some marring depending on your technique, how abrasive the bar is & how liberally you use the accompanying lube. It should not take 5 hours.
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      08-16-2020, 09:03 PM   #12
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Clay can cause some marring depending on your technique, how abrasive the bar is & how liberally you use the accompanying lube. It should not take 5 hours.
The clay portion was about 45 min to an hour.
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      08-16-2020, 09:26 PM   #13
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Car looks fantastic!
Love the Red.
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      08-17-2020, 04:03 PM   #14
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Car looks amazing!!!
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      08-17-2020, 04:21 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wgosma View Post
clay bar's action is to lift / remove surface contaminants from paint, it has virtually no 'abrasive' action on painted surface.
The simple act of sliding the clay bar over the surface will induce marring because you're rubbing an object across the clear coat.

If you're lucky and use plenty of lubrication, the marring will be minimal. If you don't and/or the paint is really soft you can end up with some serious marring. Been there, done that. Seen the results under the lighting on my own vehicles and others.

Like other have said, I'll never clay bar unless I'm prepared to grab my polisher and correct the paint. I do it at the same time as the pre-detail wash, so takes me about an hour to do both

All that said, your car looks good!
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      08-19-2020, 09:32 AM   #16
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You can also clay bar using your car wash solution for lubrication. I have done this for years. I foam cannon the entire car, then rinse. I then use the Clay bar with soapy water solution. it provides lubrication a lot easier than detail spray. I have done this for years on several Porsches that I owned and, for which, I received a lot of compliments. Black, Mahogany Metallic, and Dark Blue Metallic colors. I now have done it on my blue F30.
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      08-19-2020, 10:42 AM   #17
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just make sure you don't use the same side of the clay bar to do the whole car.
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      08-19-2020, 01:54 PM   #18
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Constantly turning it in on itself as directed in instructions to keep an unsoiled surface.
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      08-19-2020, 03:44 PM   #19
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Nice work! It looks great
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      08-19-2020, 07:34 PM   #20
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Do yourself a favor and drop the clay bar and get a speed clay. I do a foam canon spray and then a wash and then I use the wash solution as a clay lube. I just drop this thing in the bucket and then use it after every small section I put it back on the bucket and rub the face with my hand to make sure it's clear.
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      08-20-2020, 01:18 AM   #21
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The reflection was so good in one pic the hood appears f80 bulge
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      08-20-2020, 06:08 AM   #22
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How the hell did it take 5 hours?????
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