Wolgang sealant on perfect paint. Should I use polish enhancer and top with wax?

[DavidM235ily]

I saw a test a while back from a guy who put something like 40 waxes and sealants on an rv that got heavy use. 4 months later, there were only a few left standing and wolfgang sealant was one of them.

One of the others was zaino and I had a bad experience with that about a decade ago - my car got some normal water on it under normal conditions and it got water spots so deep that it never really looked right again even after machine polishing - I sold the car a year later. Can't know for sure it was the zaino, but I've never experienced anything like that in 25 years, 43 cars, and probably a million+ miles so am not taking that chance. --- Soo.... Wolfgang it is.

Car is 3 years old, but paint is perfect dark grey metallic BMW paint. No swirls.

Obviously, I will wash and clay bar first.


My question now is how I should best go about this.

1) I bought the wolfgang polish enhancer



Do I need to use this?
It sounds like it's not going to cause any damage, but would it wear at the clear coat at all?


2) While the main purpose of doing this is to protect the paint (I drive a lot in southern california and the car is parked in the sun while I'm at work), after going through all this effort I'd like for it to look amazing also.



Wolfgang is supposed to have a very carnuabay (sp?) look for a sealant, will an additional wax on top really make much difference to the appearance?
The only wax I've ever used that I felt really made the paint look different from any other wax was zymol carbon. There are plenty I have not used though and the shine doesn't last all that long with Zymol, so I'm curious other suggestions for this specific application? What waxes have you guys put on top of grey metallic / wolfgang sealant and had great long lasting deep shine results?


3) If the sealant far outlasts the wax and I want to reapply wax for the shine, would I potentially do damage to the paint by not starting back from clay bar or will the sealant totally shrug off contaminants?

[FUNX650]

•IMO:

-There's no need to use any of the
Polish Enhancer if the paint is perfect.
What's it going to enhance?

-I'd apply a second coat of the
same Sealant (instead of a Wax).



Bob

[DavidM235ily]

Thanks Bob

The polish enhancer is described as a kind of cleaner/prep for the sealant as well as enhancing the appearance. I want to be sure the sealant has a clean surface to adhere to properly, but maybe the clay bar handles that sufficiently?



•IMO:

-There's no need to use any of the
Polish Enhancer if the paint is perfect.
What's it going to enhance?





Bob

[FUNX650]

The polish enhancer is described as a
kind of cleaner/prep for the sealant as
well as enhancing the appearance.

I want to be sure the sealant has a clean
surface to adhere to properly, but maybe
the clay bar handles that sufficiently?
•Claying can introduce some
"imperfections" to the paint.

-Break out the inspection light(s):
the Polish Enhancer could now be
a necessity to, once again, have
perfect paint.



Bob

[WillSports3]

A wise man once said if you clay, be prepared to machine polish.

[Bruno Soares]

Depending on the clay you might cause some marring on the paint and then will need polish. I've never used clay and not polished afterwards. The paint enhancer is probably just a cleaner wax so it will not cut, just remove light oxidation and previously applied products. Others will chime in but I think if you're going to seal, you have to make sure the paint is 100% good.

[DavidM235ily]

Ok, #1 is decided.

I've determined from your feedback and this article (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to-polish-a-car.html) I was reading on autopia that I will use the polish enhancer.


I saw a test a while back from a guy who put something like 40 waxes and sealants on an rv that got heavy use. 4 months later, there were only a few left standing and wolfgang sealant was one of them.

One of the others was zaino and I had a bad experience with that about a decade ago - my car got some normal water on it under normal conditions and it got water spots so deep that it never really looked right again even after machine polishing - I sold the car a year later. Can't know for sure it was the zaino, but I've never experienced anything like that in 25 years, 43 cars, and probably a million+ miles so am not taking that chance. --- Soo.... Wolfgang it is.

Car is 3 years old, but paint is perfect dark grey metallic BMW paint. No swirls.

Obviously, I will wash and clay bar first.


My question now is how I should best go about this.

1) I bought the wolfgang polish enhancer



Do I need to use this?
It sounds like it's not going to cause any damage, but would it wear at the clear coat at all?


2) While the main purpose of doing this is to protect the paint (I drive a lot in southern california and the car is parked in the sun while I'm at work), after going through all this effort I'd like for it to look amazing also.



Wolfgang is supposed to have a very carnuabay (sp?) look for a sealant, will an additional wax on top really make much difference to the appearance?
The only wax I've ever used that I felt really made the paint look different from any other wax was zymol carbon. There are plenty I have not used though and the shine doesn't last all that long with Zymol, so I'm curious other suggestions for this specific application? What waxes have you guys put on top of grey metallic / wolfgang sealant and had great long lasting deep shine results?


3) If the sealant far outlasts the wax and I want to reapply wax for the shine, would I potentially do damage to the paint by not starting back from clay bar or will the sealant totally shrug off contaminants?

[Belair]

I'm with Bob, apply a 2nd coat of sealant and let it go at that. It should withstand the sun better than a wax.

[Rsurfer]

I want to know how you got "perfect" paint on a 3 years old car?

[Route246]

I want to know how you got "perfect" paint on a 3 years old car?

Uhhh, maybe very little driving and 24x7 time in the temperature-controlled garage?

[Rod73]

Uhhh, maybe very little driving and 24x7 time in the temperature-controlled garage?

I would say if you are happy with the condition of the paint with respect to non noticeable marring the following steps are appropriate:

a.) Fine grade clay bar. Fine grade with ample liquid on the surface, I personally don't worry about paint marring.
b.) Wolfgang Polish Enhancer

Then Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0

[engineerwolf]

Wolfgang sealant is a great product. I have topped it with Pinnacle Souveran paste wax and P21S and could not tell a difference with either added. From now on I will just stay with the Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant, and experiment with 2 coats.

As for polish enhancers, it is too hard to say. You will have to inspect the paint after claying to determine if you need/want to use the polish enhancer. As far as clay goes, I would do the baggie test first; you may not even need to clay, and that could save you a few steps. Just my opinions though.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline

[HCF]

Wolfgang sealant is a great product. I have topped it with Pinnacle Souveran paste wax and P21S and could not tell a difference with either added. From now on I will just stay with the Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant, and experiment with 2 coats.

As for polish enhancers, it is too hard to say. You will have to inspect the paint after claying to determine if you need/want to use the polish enhancer. As far as clay goes, I would do the baggie test first; you may not even need to clay, and that could save you a few steps. Just my opinions though.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline

ditto, I like WGDGS leaves nice slick finish and looks great, I have applied 2 coats with curing 12hrs between coats. I've also topped it with Pinnacle souveran an couldn't tell much of a difference. Very easy to apply and remove.

[DavidM235ily]

I know, this is the amazing part. I wish I could take credit for it or even explain it, but I bought the car CPO and it was already like that. It was owned in a less populated area of southern california, so if it was garaged it would be possible that it had very little outdoor/weather exposure. It's also possible that the prior owner gave it a proper polish just before trading it in or that the BMW dealership has a really good detailer on staff who prepped it, but given the remarkable overall condition of the car he may have just maintained it that well. I'm super anal about this stuff and my condition on buying a used/cpo car was that it truly was 'like new' condition. I've had several months to really go over it inside and out and I can't find one flaw on any part of the entire car.


I want to know how you got "perfect" paint on a 3 years old car?

[DavidM235ily]

It seems fairly unanimous then that I should just do two coats of wolfgang and call it a day. I will give that a try and see how I like it. Will worry about wax later if I am not pleased, but so far I've not heard anyone unhappy with that stuff so I'm optimistic.


ditto, I like WGDGS leaves nice slick finish and looks great, I have applied 2 coats with curing 12hrs between coats. I've also topped it with Pinnacle souveran an couldn't tell much of a difference. Very easy to apply and remove.