Hi All -

I am looking for a wax or paint protectant that has UV shield? I have an 05 Hyper blue that I purchased recently. I pulled the OEM bonnet strips off to get the car ready for some new graphics and the paint was slightly faded. Personally I don't think the previous owner ever did anything but was it. I need to find something the will slow if not stop the fading.

TIA,

Mark

 

That is one of the main features of any wax; UV protection. Especially the synthetic polymer waxes (zaino, epic, etc...read around). Though for a bonnet stripe you are fine to wax right over it, for a large piece of vinyl like a roof graphic I would instead use 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Reading again you said you purchased the car recently though, and I wouldn't expect the paint to fade noticeably in just a year. It may instead just be slightly "worn" from flying dirt and dust where not protected by the vinyl, and that can be fixed with some clay and polish.

 

^^ +1. I think you're looking at swirls and hazing from toweling.

i would try polish and rewax. is there a wax without UV protection
these days?

 

Ditto that on all points!

-Heather

 

The car is an 05, but it was delivered in November 04. It was almost two years old by the time I got it. And again, I don't think the previous owner put a lick of wax on it.

I do know the wax, by nature is a UV protectant. However I am looking for ther best protection I can get.

Thanks,

Mark

 

Definitely go with a synthetic/polymer wax for the best protection then. Examples:

Klasse All-In-One & Sealant Glaze
Prima Epic
Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection

Prima Epic is the most durable we've tested. However, all of the are as, if not more, durable than most others you can find out there. You can't go wrong with any of them for strong, durable protection.

-Heather

 

That helps Heather....Thanks. jwardell mentioned that if I have a large graphic, I should consider the 303 Aerospace Protectant. The graphic that I am installing is the same size as the Checker Bonnet strip. Is that getting into a size of graphic that requires special treatment?

 

I agree with jwardell all the way. 303 has an incredibly strong UV protectant in it which will help minimize (possibly eliminate) color fading in your graphic.

I woudn't say that the size of your graphic requires special treatment... all graphics should have some kind of UV protectant applied to them. You can protect them with a wax (again, ideally synthetic for the best UV protection) or a vinyl protectant like 303. The 303 will likely offer a stronger UV protectant than most waxes (vinyl is more sensitive to UV than paint so it needs a stronger protectant).

I think jwardell was thinking that with small graphics it's easiest to just wax right over them as you wax your paint and call it done. With larger graphics you might as well just appy the 303 directly on them instead.

Does that make sense?

-Heather

 

Yep...thanks! So can you put a care kit together for me? Just kidding. Although I need to get all the goodies for the car of the paint and rag top.

Thanks again for the input!

Mark

 

Of course I can put a kit together for you! I will PM you with a list of some suggestions specific to your MINI and graphics. (although give me some time... I'm about to step away from my computer for a little while and my current PMs are stacking up!)

-Heather

 

Exactly.

However I will also note that 303 is not very water resistant and will wash off in a few rains. Zaino and the other aformentioned waxes will not. So it may in fact be better to wax them.

 

Good point! I suppose the ultimate vinyl protection would be frequent applications of 303. Otherwise, waxing would offer decent protection and less work.

Very good point that I hadn't thought of!

-Heather