What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[nextelbuddy]

After getting my car painted and Polished and buffed to get rid of all the orange peel.. I ended up going with sonax cc36 ceramic coating and I couldn't be happier with the beating and hydrophobic properties. It's only around $79 on Amazon and was really easy to apply.

[stephenkirsh]

Rotated the ol' ARC-8 + PSS



Not particularly enthused about the amount of wear on the outside edge on the front wheels. Hoping the lower PSS10 suspension will produce a more even wear pattern for track use.

Rears look just fine.

[Vas]

I want to try the polymer netsheild. You like it?


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Love it.

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[zhpnsnv]

After getting my car painted and Polished and buffed to get rid of all the orange peel.. I ended up going with sonax cc36 ceramic coating and I couldn't be happier with the beating and hydrophobic properties. It's only around $79 on Amazon and was really easy to apply.

I'm really hesitant to put on a coating, maybe with the exception of the McKee's 37 SiO2 Enhanced version. The prices are a little bit crazy, and I just don't have enough confidence in my polishing abilities to put something semi-permanent on top of it. Also, I like tracking the life of whatever product I have on there then reapplying when necessary.

One thing I love is the McKee's Hydro Blue. Easiest application ever (spray on wet car, spray off with hose), and it adds a nice layer of protection for a few weeks. My process for washing will be wash, hydro blue, then a drying aid QD. Should keep the protection lasting a while.

Other option is to get the McKee's coating on there before winter.

[nextelbuddy]

I'm really hesitant to put on a coating, maybe with the exception of the McKee's 37 SiO2 Enhanced version. The prices are a little bit crazy, and I just don't have enough confidence in my polishing abilities to put something semi-permanent on top of it. Also, I like tracking the life of whatever product I have on there then reapplying when necessary.

One thing I love is the McKee's Hydro Blue. Easiest application ever (spray on wet car, spray off with hose), and it adds a nice layer of protection for a few weeks. My process for washing will be wash, hydro blue, then a drying aid QD. Should keep the protection lasting a while.

Other option is to get the McKee's coating on there before winter.

i'm not sure why you would be hesitant to put on a coating such has a ceramic coating but not the Net Polymer shield. the ceramic coating is like an extended polymer shield option with coverage for they say 2-3 years (i think a year is more realistic).

its literally just a clear liquid wax essentially that comes in 2 layers. one is the ceramic coating which is clear and applies very easy and smooth.... the 2nd layer is the glossy shine layer.

once both are on, there is no thickness or anything. you cant even tell its there unless you wash the car where waster beads right off OR you get something like bird poop or road grime etc.. that wipes off very easily now.

now I just wash the car when its "dirty" then dry it with a water blade. in between washes if its dusty I just use a California brush OR liquid spray detailer which only adds to the hydrophobic properties even more and has more shine.

[zhpnsnv]

Sounds like it's working out well for you. I'll continue researching and obsessing over the choices, which is a large part of the fun!

[BMWCurves]

Does the water blade work well? I've never seen anyone use one before.

[704sw]

Does the water blade work well? I've never seen anyone use one before.

If you have a very light and gentle touch, it can work very well. I like the one with the semi-flexible, rubbery handle more than the original "California Water Blade" with the plastic handle.

[Rovert]

Sounds like it's working out well for you. I'll continue researching and obsessing over the choices, which is a large part of the fun!

My ceramic has lasted over two years with hardly any time to maintain which has been perfect. The time I have gotten back from cleaning and detailing the car is worth the price whether it be economically or your own time to install.

I don't need to clean with soap, just "running" water and a soft towel. If the car is super caked on with dirt and muck then I may use some soap to keep things more lubricated as the towel/not runs over the dirt. Most spring/summer/fall times I can just dry the car after a good rain shower and the car is clean and scratch free. Every couple months I'll just spray some Carpro Reload on my damp drying towel and just run it over the whole car. Bi annually I'll use iron X to pull solid iron deposits off the ceramic which takes more or less the same time as washing the car. Today it still beads up and I don't feel any OCD need to clean my car in any special "detailer" way that adds complexity or the water bill. A few times this summer I just sprayed waterless wash on the car to wipe away dust/dirt to no ill-effect. I love ceramic.

Does the water blade work well? I've never seen anyone use one before.

I have the blade! It's wonderful to wipe water away from large wet and clean surfaces. You obviously don't want to it over a wet dirty car. It takes me 5 swipes to do the roof which will be done in 20 seconds. I use light pressure just to hold the super flexible blade against the surface. Again, I don't worry very much because it's all ceramic coated. If I'm too aggressive it's still fine.

[slater]

My ceramic has lasted over two years with hardly any time to maintain which has been perfect. The time I have gotten back from cleaning and detailing the car is worth the price whether it be economically or your own time to install.

I don't need to clean with soap, just "running" water and a soft towel. If the car is super caked on with dirt and muck then I may use some soap to keep things more lubricated as the towel/not runs over the dirt. Most spring/summer/fall times I can just dry the car after a good rain shower and the car is clean and scratch free. Every couple months I'll just spray some Carpro Reload on my damp drying towel and just run it over the whole car. Bi annually I'll use iron X to pull solid iron deposits off the ceramic which takes more or less the same time as washing the car. Today it still beads up and I don't feel any OCD need to clean my car in any special "detailer" way that adds complexity or the water bill. A few times this summer I just sprayed waterless wash on the car to wipe away dust/dirt to no ill-effect. I love ceramic.

man............ all of this, but mainly the bold bit, is why i should seriously consider this. once i get my paint issues sorted.