RX8 XTC

:D well am just thinking about it, is it bad to wax the car every 2-3 Months ?

Pkskull77

If you know how to clean, and wax a car properly, then no its not a problem. If you don't know what your doing, and you don't have the proper equipment, then you will scratch you clear coat. Nothing looks worse than swirl marks.

My adivice to you, is to look around the internet, find the right materials and techniques. Then wax as often as you want.

markd

PK: Good advice.

XTX: If your question is directed more towards whether it would cause some kind of bad accumulation, then the answer is no. Most mass-produced waxes/sealants last, at most, 6 weeks, so if you're going to detail your car, you almost have to wax sooner than every 2-3 months. Like PK is saying, though, the more you touch your paint, the greater and greater the probability that you will hurt it (through scratches, etc.). If you're extremely careful and articulate in your detailing, then by all means, flaunt your 8 with the showroom shine it deserves. But if you're inexperienced and think all you need is a bottle of wax and a terry cloth, you'll almost certainly make it look worse than before.

RX8 XTC

NO man i don't wax it my self but i would like too tray and see if I can do it, I take it to get waxed by professional's out side and in side believe me I see the car still brand new its nice and i want to keep it that way

bigblockbeater

i recomend two brands, Megiuar's and Mother's. i personaly use the former. they have a 4 step wax deal. first is a cleaner second a polish third is a wax. the last is optional but i would use the quick detailer with every wash. do not wash your car with dish soap. use specific soaps for washing cars. the dish soap will break down the wax on your first wash. the bottles have instructions but they also have a website if you have a q the instructions do not cover.

XDEEDUBBX

i do just that...i wax the 8 once a week...over 50 coats of wax...no swirls, no sratches, just nice smooth body...i use nxt tech wax...2 terry towels per wax and i never use the same towel twice..

Pkskull77

You can use the same towel 2x you just have to wash it. Here is the advice I would give to ensure a good result:

1. Spend some money on your towels, the higher quality they are the less likely you are to scratch your car. Just remeber they are the key element in prevent scratches. If they have no napp, then they are going to push dirt around on your cars paint.
   
2. Never Wax in a hurry, the faster you try to go the more likely you are to f it up. It's like anything else, if you do it fast your going to make mistakes. Plan on taking the whole day to wash and wax your car, if you get done early so be it.
   
3. Always use high quaily products on your paint. You can go cheap on the wheels, windows, and plastic interior, but get high quality waxes and soaps. Good waxes last longer and look better, if your gonna take the time to wax you should get the most out of it. Soaps are important because cheaps ones eat wax, and don't lubricate your car, which of course leads to scratches.
   
4. Finally, look for ways to eliminate actually rubbing the paint with a towel. Use a leaf blower to dry the car, apply wax in thin layers so it's easier to remove. The less you touch the less likely you are to make a mistake.

Good luck and have fun. Just remeber the 8 is a good looking car, you should want to keep it looking great, but at the same time you don't want to do any damage.

markd

I'd be careful with the leaf blower idea. There was a guy on here who posted that he used to do that, but one time a tiny rock got lodged in it, and when he turned it on to dry his car, it caused irreparable damage.

I've also done completely away with terry cloth towels and since converted to MF towels. Oddly enough, I seem to have developed more scratches since then, but I've been told by almost everybody on this forum that MF towels are far better than terry towels. Maybe I should switch back--what brand do you use, DeeDubb?

Also, chiming in on BigBlock's comments, if your paint is in perfect condition, you shouldn't need Step 1 (paint cleaner). I'd only use it if you're trying to strip the previous layers of wax completely. I'd continue to polish and wax, however.

Pkskull77

Lesson learned, run the blower some time before pointing it at the paint. If you only use the blower for your car you should have no problem with rocks and debris, just be careful!

markd

Since you don't have experience with detailing, I'd recommend subscribing to Autopia (http://www.autopia.org) and downloading their Guide to Detailing. That site, generally, offers some great advice, tips, and recommendations. Good luck.

RXE16T

Not waxing your car enough is bad........ regular waxing, whether it be weekly. monthly or bimonthly is fine.

xxdevilzeroxx

is it bad? of course not, you just need to know what your doing! this is what i do, i wax my car 3 times a month, first of the month, the middle, and then the last day of the month. i use a 5 step system: one more thing, i use 4 micro fiber towels i get at Pep Boys ( the really thick ones)

1- wash
2- cleaner wax
3- swirl 2.0
4- Glaze
5- NXT

and here is the outcome.........silver doesnt get any sharper than this....

RXE16T

It goes to show it's not how often you wax your car, it's the technique and preparation which will define whether the finish is good or bad.

RX8 XTC

markd thanks a lot for the link now i know its not just wax and that's it lol i was thinking its more like waxing ur car is like Washing ur Car :D

xxdevilzeroxx that is a nice Job u did on that Car IT almost blinded me LOL GOOD job man

and thanks a lot guys For Directing me to the right way :D

markd

XTC: No problem. There's A LOT of information to sift through on Autopia, so go through their Guidebook first (which you will get once you register on their site) and then go through the threads to fine-tune whatever you need.

Devilzero: I forget what glaze you told me you were going to use. Is it the #7? And are you using the Swirl remover as a polish or actually to remove swirls and scratches? If it's just for polishing, I wonder if you're only duplicating the job of the cleaner wax. Unless you're taking a great liking to detailing your 8, you probably only have to do the cleaner wax/scratch 2.0 once a month. As often as you wax your car with the NXT, it might actually be just as beneficial just to layer the NXT rather than to remove the previous layers (which the cleaner wax does). Just a suggestion! Otherwise, your car looks great.

XDEEDUBBX

good point...

kmg1186

you wax on the first of the month and the last of the month....so that means you wax two days in a row???

markd

PS. Is it legal to CF up your side markers??

czr

iTrader: (3)

I don't think it would be illegal because some cars don't even have side markers. Even if they were illegal, no right-minded cop would pull over someone simply for blacked out side markers.

8_is_enuf

xxdevilzeroxx ---

If you do it at the first of the month, then in the middle of the month, then the last day of the month.. Aren't you doing it back to back at the last and the first of the month?

markd

That's what kmg said above but never got a response.

G-ReX

I think some of the markers are integrated into wrap-around headlights, but I believe DOT requires amber side markers and amber reflectors on the front. It may not get you pulled over, but it might be a second ticket along with your 20 over citation.

Watch the polishing. I knew a guy who, over years, polished right to the primer of his black Trans AM. He hit it with a buffer almost every weekend. Had to get a repaint done eventually.

xxdevilzeroxx

lol i didnt think about what i was typing, i meant 1st and then middle =) my bad, stu[id rain messed up my waxing days, imma do it tomorow!! Sat. MarkD didnt u give me advice on my Sub setup? if so i have the pix. 2 10" rockford T1's S700 AMP and a Cap all RF =) this thing HITS! i also have a new lighting system my Color Morphics www.digitalcarlighting.com