Took delivery on my Laser Blue Clubman (Bernard) on Sept 1, two days before Gustav.... once that settled down, I had to wait for the lovebug invasion to abate and then my invisishield install to get rescheduled. FINALLY last Friday I was set to do my first big detailing with my plethora of Prima products (say that fast ten times )

I did the Dawn wash, dried with my wafflemicrofiber after blotting a little with a new Absorber. Then I almost decided to skip the clay.... feels slick to me I thought and I'll admit that I was a little intimidated by the whole idea. Just when I about had myself talked into going straight to the Epic, I decided to cut off a piece of clay and try a 2x2 area and see if I could feel a difference. Wow!!! I had thought the car was slick, but the area that I clayed was..... I don't even have words for it.... like greased glass. And it was so easy that I couldn't believe it.

Used Mother's clay with the spray that came with the clay bar. Cut it into five pieces and only used 3.

Then I moved onto Epic which I put everywhere except the black parts including the glass and over the invisishield. Easy to put on with the skinny pad and came off simply with the monster fluffies. I resisted the temptation to put it on too thickly!

Next I used the tip from here about the Kiwi applicators to put on the Black Wow. I can't stand Wal-Mart and had to make a special trip there just for the foam applicators.

I had used the Nero on the inside earlier in the week and had already used Clarity on the insides of the windows. Still have to use the Wheel Armour but I think the results are great. After 4 days the amazing thing is that the dust isn't sticking!

THANKS for all of the tips that I've gleaned here over the past weeks of lurking. Bernard still looks stunning and I can't wait to join the Hydro Club when I wash this weekend!

Cloud reflections:

 

Nice job

 

looks gooood!

 

Wow. I got sucked into the Prima vortex a few days ago after reading the sticky about detailing. I did a quick wash this past weekend until my order arrives. I was totally going to blow off the clay, now I guess I'll have to pick some up tonight.

I am encouraged to hear that the dust doesn't stick to your finish. That is the one thing that bothers me now, but since I have virtually no wax of any kind on the car I guess that will have something to do with it. I picked up my car a week ago Saturday and they did such a poor job detailing it I seriously doubt they put any wax on it. In all fairness, I somewhat pushed the process to get my car right away, and since I figured I would detail it right away I didn't care too much.

Anyway, glad to hear the results were worth the effort. I'll remind myself of that this weekend while I am laboring away.

 

Ohh, I am basking in the glow of praise from the King of Hydro! Thanks Kenchan and JeffreyC

Don't skip the clay! I was so close to blowing it off and the difference even on my brand new car is well worth the little bit of time. It is almost effortless. I was sweeping my hand back and forth thinking that I didn't need to clay. But on the spot where I did the test my hand just glided across the surface. I'm a believer! The Epic has my car glowing.... worth every minute!

 

gbsim, your car looks great!

After you clayed the car, did you re-wash it before applying the Epic?

 

I definitely would wash it again after. Did the mistake of not rewashing and the loosened contaminants was all over the car while I waxed. No harm no foul though cause I just rewashed it after I noticed the particles.

 

One pic? That's all we get??

 

Nice how about some more pictures

 

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Lots more pics in the gallery too!

I love this car, it is absolutely impossible to be in a bad mood when you walk up to that brilliant blue! In addition to the styling, what other car manufacturer has such colors available besides Mini??

I didn't rewash after the clay. Next time I do it and when the car is older, I probably will, but I used lots of spray and a thick microfiber to dry with in small sections as I went. I only had a couple of places where my clay showed any color change and I went back over them twice with the detailer.

I'm actually looking forward to the Mystique/Hydro day on Friday!!

 

BLING! Gorgeous shine and looks great! I too have been intimidated and have not tried the clay bar, guess it's time to practice on the Honda.