27 y.o. orginal paint - best care setup

[JHZR2]

Hello,

My 81 240D has super smooth, nice paint. Today I washed it, and it looks great. I could tell from as soon as I got it, that there was a slight layer of oxidation on the paint. After washing, cleaning and drying the car, I put a coat of Klasse AIO on it to help remove oxidation - my green microfiber aplicator really showed the junk it took off, and the paint started looking even better!

I think Ill do another coat of AIO, maybe even two, to help really get all of the oxidation off.

But then what??? Klasse SG? Collinite 476? something else?

I have more or less any product at my disposal, Ill buy what I need. I have collinite, I have blackfire top-shelf ivory caranuba, I have Meguiars gold class, etc., etc.

My thinking was to go with a few coats of AIO then straight to a few coats of collinite. The paint is not metallic, and so Im not sure what kind of depth effect I can get.

My goals are to make the paint look as new, and provide top-notch protection from further aging.

Should I put some sealant on the paint? A glaze? a polish? I dont think there is a clearcoat.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

JMH

 

[wcbcruzer]

I have the exact same car. Even the same color and rims. I'm curious, does yours have enough power? I'm trying to figure out if there's something wrong with ours. Going up a 6.5% grade on the freeway, I have to take the truck lane and floor it to barely be able to do 40 mph. Also, what kind of mileage do you get?

 

[JHZR2]

It is a low power car, and is designed to be driven using downshifting and loss of momentum. It is a 64 or so HP car, its not a musclecar.

Coming from Chicago, all highway, it was roughly 36 MPG, doing 65 or so the whole way.

JMH

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: wcbcruzer
I have the exact same car. Even the same color and rims. I'm curious, does yours have enough power? I'm trying to figure out if there's something wrong with ours. Going up a 6.5% grade on the freeway, I have to take the truck lane and floor it to barely be able to do 40 mph. Also, what kind of mileage do you get?


The empty weight on that car is 3300 lb, so with about 3700 lb for driver, fuel etc, you would be using 26 rear wheel horsepower just to overcome the 6.5% grade. Considering drive train loss, the power required to overcome rolling resistance and air resistance, and that you probably weren't running right at peak horsepower, 40 mph sounds reasonable.

 

[bretfraz]

Your car looks great! I can't recall the last time I've seen one in even decent condition, let alone as nice as yours.

I think most of the products you have are fine. Obviously the Klasse SG will last the longest and give a nice shine but the Collinite isn't bad, either. The paint is going to oxidize regardless, unfortunately, so use whichever products you like the best.

I'd also focus on preserving all the rubber and stainless trim. The car can be repainted easily but restoring or replacing that trim could be an expensive nightmare.

Have fun out there!

 

[bigbull2984]

is the interior all original? Pics please. Thats a great lookin car.

 

[JHZR2]

OK, more pics will come, and there are more in the photo section.

What are the best products to preserve the rubber and metal trim? I assume 303 and something else...

Thanks,

JMH

 

[97tbird]

How about Einszett paint polish and Einszett Gummi-Pflege stick?

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-paint-polish.html (I'm considering this for My tbird before applying Klasse AIO)

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einzett-extra-compound.html (for older cars with heavy oxidation)

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einszett-rubber-care-stick.html (rubber/weather strip)

 

[qwertydude]

If you wanna really make it shine and feel like new, get a good buffer, doesn't have to be expensive and a clay bar. I've been using a coleman 6" random orbit buffer I got at walmart 10 years ago for 20 bucks. Then get some good bonnets, I like the synthetic lambswool for polishing and microfiber for waxing. wash and clay using whatever technique you prefer. Some dry then clay some clay right after the rinse. Polish it using meguairs swirl remover and the wool bonnet. Then use a good cleaner wax to top it off. This will give your car a showroom shine and paint that will feel smooth like glass.