Klasse on not-so-new car?

[ZJ JIM 96]

AIO is definitely NOT just for new finishes. It will do a great job cleaning up your paint and providing decent protection and gloss. In fact, most consider it one of the better chemical paint cleaners on the market.

That said, paint cleaning is only one step in the process of detailing, and surface prep is critical to obtaining the best results. For paint that has not seen any TLC in years, you will definitely want to clay the surface prior to applying AIO. The clay will remove imbedded contaminants and really smooth things out. You might also want to use an abrasive polish, by machine, to remove any swirls or micromarring.

After claying and polishing out swirls, it will be time for the AIO. While AIO will clean and add some protection, topping it with Klasse SG or another "LSP" (last step protectant) would be recommended. In general, lighter colors seem to do better with sealants like Klasse SG, but I've found that my Robins' Egg Blue T-bird actually looks better with a good carnauba LSP.

Something like Wax as you Dry will work pretty well to maintain your finish in-between major detailings.

 

[boone88rr]

The finish looks pretty good. Since it hasn't been washed for 3-4 years you have to get all the contamination off first before you start polishing it into the finish.

I would use some Dawn to strip anything that may be on the paint. Then use a clay bar and don't be stingy with the spray lube. Wash the car again with some car wash soap and sheepskin mitt or microfiber washing cloth. Dry the car with a chamois or soft cloths. Put a coat of AIO on there and buff it off. Then put a coat of some good carnauba wax. You'll be good for a while.

Everytime you wash the car, dry it and finish up with some quick detailer. You can do the Klasse/Wax thing once a year and the car will look great.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks guys; I'm releieved now that I CAN use Klasse on this Bird (didn't know it had such good polishing capabilities)...as I have limited wallet-contents right now (just got an Alpine CD/MP3 player for the bird), I'm just going to to do only the clay-bar thing...(I don't have a machine-polisher) and then use Klasse AIO...

Now, I know there's a combo-pack of klasee+claybay+spray lube at Autopia; might be just for me.

so I can use SG OR a wax after AIO?

Is it difficult to use a clay bar? what should I be aware of?
After using the claybar, can I wash the car immediately?
(the tips/tricks at Autopia go over my head sometimes).

 

[boone88rr]

I use the SG (3 coats) after I use AIO every 6 months. Then I top off my truck with a wax. I put a coat of wax on every two weeks. You can skip the SG and go directly to the wax topper if you want.

The clay bar is really easy. Just use plenty of lube and make sure you keep kneading the clay to get a clean surface. I think the Mother's website has an instructional video.

And yes you can wash the car right after you clay it.

 

[Roger]

Here are a couple of other online places to order Klasse if you're interested. Autopia is a great site, I've bought stuff from them. But I found prices elsewhere to be a little cheaper, and their "how to" advice less wordy and easier to understand than Autopia.

properautocare

autogeek

I'm sure there are many other equally good places as well. Good luck

Oh yeah, almost forgot! My Klasse kit is on order as I type this. I plan on using it on my 1 year old Pilot and my 11 year old van.

 

[97tbird]

My car is light denim blue clear coat metallic. this car hasn't been washed or waxed for about 3-4 years, but the paint still looks good, but I am not sure what the condition really is....(However, I'm sure it's not in the "heavily oxidized, abused, dull, neglected and weathered" category, it just looks a bit dirty, but still has a pretty good shine even with just rain on it)

I'm planning to just wash the car, and use Klasse AIO. I just want to make sure before I order the AIO, that this is not a product ONLY for new cars with the paint in top condition.

If it helps Here are 2 pics showing the paint on door and hood(this is w/out washing)

So:
Do you guys think just a good wash would be enough before applying AIO, or should I use a polish/clay bar (for "neglected" finishes) before applying Klasse AIO?

ALSO: Can I use something like EagleOne "wax as you dry" to keep the finish klasse AIO gives me for a few washes?

Thanks for tips.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks. I'll be getting clay bar/Klasse..and perhaps the SG...not decided if I want to do the SG/wax step or just wash/clay/wash/Klasse routine for now...

 

[ZJ JIM 96]

Honestly, after the AIO, I think you'd be really happy just using a good OTC pure carnauba wax, instead of the SG. I'd highly recommend stopping by your local Harley dealership for some S100. At $15 a jar, it really can't be beat. The durability may get knocked by some, but the look is up there with waxes costing 6 times as much. And regular use of Wax-As-You dry will certainly help it last a little longer. Plus, it's so easy to use, you won't mind rewaxing frequently.

 

[TheTanSedan]

I used it on my '01 DODGE Ram, never garaged, first time last summer (about 105,000 miles). Used DAWN detergent to wash, clay bar and spray, and then KLASSE. Looks great.

 

[97tbird]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheTanSedan:
I used it on my '01 DODGE Ram, never garaged, first time last summer (about 105,000 miles). Used DAWN detergent to wash, clay bar and spray, and then KLASSE. Looks great.

---

so you didn't wax after Klasse AIO? Just stopped at Klasse, it still looked good?

 

[Racerjk]

I promise your car will look great after the AIO!

I would go ahead and top it with the product of your choice though.

 

[97tbird]

another "?":
Can a synthetic wax be used after Klasse instead of a pure Carnauba wax? (I'm thinking of Einszett glanz-wax).

 

[uconn1150]

Yes, but people usually stop Klasse with caranuba to give a warm glow. Synthetics make it look "plasticy".

 

[97tbird]

OK. What would be a good OTC pure Carnaube wax, which is easy to apply (in case I don't find the s100 suggested earlier)?

 

[bretfraz]

quote:

---

OK. What would be a good OTC pure Carnaube wax, which is easy to apply (in case I don't find the s100 suggested earlier)?

---

Most auto parts store will carry some of these waxes. All are in the $10-20 price range:

Meguiar's #26 (tan bottle)
Meguiar's NXT paste wax
Mothers Reflections car wax
Mothers Cal Gold carnauba wax
3M paste wax

Since its getting to be "car detailing season" again, the selection at local stores should be pretty good.

 

[Roger]

FWIW, I just finished up an application of Klasse on my 01 Altima. This is the 1st time I've ever used that product, and I must say it is impressive. I've only used traditional wax (i.e.: Turtle Wax, etc.) on that car previously.

It's been awhile since that car had anything besides a washing, so I did a lot to it yesterday...washed, clay bar, Scratch X on the bad marks, then totally polished the car and finally put on a coat of AIO and SG. I finished buffing it this morning and it is glassy smooth, slick and shiny. The car is beige color. It doesn't have that deep wax "look" others comment on, so I can understand why folks recommend topping it off with a good wax. I didn't do this.

I did not experience any of the trouble buffing Klasse that others have reported. The directions said to use so little of the product that you leave no haze, which I did. So little in fact that I feared I wasn't putting any on. But I just kept lightly going over the same spot with my applicator and it was soon obvious that Klasse was indeed covering the surface.

It took hours to do the job. Klasse was easy to apply. The Scrach X and polishing took all the time. But boy, oh boy, that car looks better today than when it came off the show room floor. No joke!

As you can tell, I'm a happy camper.

 

[martyi]

All I use on my new Honda (Billet silver color) is AIOx2 and Klasse SGx3. I do this twice a year and I have all the protection I need. I do keep the truck in the garage every night and use a homebrew QD mix of 1 part SG to 3 parts distilled water. These two factors rejuvenate and keep the elements from affecting durability. If I had a darker color I would probably want to go with a good carnuba wax.

The best way to apply SG is wowo method rather than leaving the application sit. Unless you really put SG on thin, you will have problems buffing it out. The wowo method (wipe on, wipe off) allows you to do a panel at a time then buff rather than wait the several hours recommended in the instructions. There is no difference with this method as to durablity or appearance.

 

[97tbird]

Well, not being able to escape my curiosity about Einszett Glanz Wax (synthetic), I wrote to them about being a topper for Klasse. (I have this weird need to put something German on Klasse AIO, if I'm not going to get the SG).

This was their reply:
"..Thank you for visiting our website and your question.

The list of brands mentioned on our website is by no means
comprehensive --
it does not include all the brands available in the market.

Different brands don't necessarily react to one another but sometimes
they
don't produce the best results when combined with one another. But
this is
very subjective - all based on the user's opinion. We know many
customers
who have used Glanz Wax as a 'topper' with other brands including
Klasse
with complete satisfaction.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions, please do not
hesitate to
ask!

Thanks again for writing.

Best regards,

Chris A.
einszett Customer Support
Orange, California 92867
714-516-1876.."

Perhaps as an experiment, I will try the Glanz Wax from Einszett and see how it goes. As long as it protects, and doesn't worsen the finish from Klasse AIO, I'll be satisfied, but I hope it willmake it look better.

 

[nj300se]

[/QUOTE]

Meguiar's #26 (tan bottle)
Meguiar's NXT paste wax
Mothers Reflections car wax
Mothers Cal Gold carnauba wax
3M paste wax

[/QB][/QUOTE]

I just clayed my silver car and used the AIO with great results. I was going to top the AIO with something, and I wanted to check if the Meguiar's NXT is something that might strip the AIO. Isn't it a synthetic? Does it matter?

 

[boone88rr]

You can top the AIO with the NXT. The only thing that will strip the AIO is some dish soap, polish, a few types of cleaner wax and the AIO itself.

Almost any type of finish wax (synthetic or carnauba) can be used as a topper. Generally, I have found that the carnauba looks better (even on my silver truck) but you'd be fine with the synthetic on any light color paint.