Looks like this question gets asked about 2-3 times a year. I did not see a thread on it within the last 10 months, so I figured I'll ask it with my specifics, to make sure that the theory has not changed.

I took posession of a brand new AB/AB MCS 3 days ago. The dealer told me to wait 1 month to do any wash / wax to it. Is it still the general consensus that this does not need to be adhered to?

As I said, it's AB/AB; it will be garaged when it's not being driven. I've got a clear bra on the front of the bonnet.

thanks for any info,

Brian

 

Your SA or whoever it was at the dealership sounds like an old fogie.

Waiting may have been necessary back in the 70s or even the 80s. But the way auto paints are cured in the factory now, you could wash and wax it the day it was "born".

Geez, most dealerships wash the cars on delivery day. Maybe you're lucky yours didn't because most of them use sponges and cheap towels and put swirl marks all over the car.

 

I waited ... 1 hour!

 

My memory may be going but shouldn't you wait for a couple of weeks after the clear bra has been installed before waxing?

 

I'd follow the clearbra installer's instructions.

I certainly would not use a buffer on the clearbra for a week or two until I was sure it has completely adhered. But wash and wax ? Can't imagine you could damage it that way, but again, ask the installer.

But as for the rest of the car... wash, wax, polish, use the buffer... detail to your heart's content.

 

As far as the paint goes, wash, claybar, polish, wax away from the minute you get it. The only reason you would need to wait is if the car needed to be repainted, as they do not use ovens at auto body shops, like they do at the factory. And what you would be waiting for is the paint to off-gas, or cure/harden.

As to the clearbra, I don't think there is a wait time, going 70-80 mph would be impossible right after it was installed, and I've never heard of a clearbra pealing off at speed. This leads me to think, once it's on, it's on as good as it gets.

Mark

 

fair enough. Thanks for all the responses guys; greatly appreciated.

cheers,

Verax

 

Thanks for all the replies and information. I wonder if my MINI was damaged in shipping and there was some body / paint work that the dealer is not telling me about. (which would require the wait for wash)

thanks again,

Verax

 

My clear bra installer did tell me to wait 10 days or so before waxing over it.

I don't remember if I actually took that advice, or not Probably not.

But the paint should be good to go from day 1.

 

^ What did I miss ? What happened to MLWagner ??

 

That would be rather shady on their part

Mark

 

As everyone else said wait to wash over the clear bra, but it is ok to wash and wax the paint, I would go ahead and clay bar it, polish then use a sealant to give it a nice protection from the sun.

 

We use an over to cure paint at our bodybnshop. Most modern shops do.
But it's not like the one the factory uses, so I usually recommend waiting a few weeks before waxing. This gives the solvents in the paint time to gas off. Trapping these with wax will cause the paint to get hazy.
As for factory paint on a new car. They should have waxed it before they handed you the keys.

 

The only concern I'd have about waxing / sealing a new car, would be if any repair including painting was done at the VDC... not uncommon for a bumper or panel to get a VDC repaint if paint was damaged in transit... and, in that case, you have "new" bodyshop paint which still needs to outgas, not "hard" factory paint... the dealer should be able to tell you (though they will probably NOT volunteer to tell you) if such a repair has been performed prior to delivery.

 

I think the dealer should disclose to you if the car was damaged in transit. It would show up if a paint thickness test was done, and that would look like you are trying to cover up an accident.

ajakeski, aren't the kind of ovens you are talking about help more with drying between coats, help with slumping, as apposed to"curing" the paint?

My car was not waxed by the dealer when it was new, just had the shipping stuff they spray on cleaned off.

Mark

 

I think my mini is one of the ones that f'ed up in tranist cause my rear quarter panel and hatch has been reapainted, they did one heck of a job but I did notice when I was polishing...