Rate my beading

[JHZR2]

Background:

1981 Mercedes-Benz 240D
~75K miles
Garage kept, ~1000mi/yr

I honestly dont remember which year I waxed the car last. It was at least two, maybe three or four years ago. I keep it in the garage and only drive it in nice conditions. It is very enjoyable to drive, but it is like a time capsule, albeit not the most classic or collectable car, but I really enjoy it.

When I bought the car, it was somewhat oxidized (it is not clearcoat paint), so I used Klasse AIO and got it nice. I then used Blackfire Ivory Caranuba - the really fancy stuff that comes in a carrying case. I did two coats.

I havent driven the car in maybe a month and a half. It was REALLY dusty from sitting in the garage.

Well we had a torrential downpour today when I was out. I suppose it washed much of that loose dust off of the surface. After it stopped, I drove to run an errand, and parked, this is what it looked like:

Im pretty sure this was just after applying the wax...

Ill likely wax it at some point when I do a good car wash on it. Maybe tomorrow if I find time, or maybe later in the summer. I really want to do another coat of wax, and then do a few coats of that Sonax Brilliant Shine spray... Thoughts???

 

[KitaCam]

Well, @ 1k miles a year of exposure to sunlight and the elements, that's about 1 month's worth of driving/exposure for the average car, so I'd say the finish should last another 3 years at least.
Beautiful...

 

[hattaresguy]

I love the W123.

 

[Chris142]

OT:A friend of mine sells a kit to put a Sanden AC compressor on those cars. This really improves the AC output over the R4 compressor.

You may have seen his posts on the Benz forums.

 

[JHZR2]

I have seen the kits. It's more than just a compressor swap though, new hoses too... I don't know a good AC shop around ere to have do custom work. But if a compressor goes on a car, that will probably be my upgrade...

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I have seen the kits. It's more than just a compressor swap though, new hoses too... I don't know a good AC shop around ere to have do custom work. But if a compressor goes on a car, that will probably be my upgrade...
Yup. hes been bringing us junk to fix,modify or make for a couple of years now.

I was making his hoses until about a month ago when he bought his own crimper. I still do his aluminum welding and brazing and charging at my shop.

 

[Rand]

I thought this was a post about welding

 

[Errtt]

Nice bead work.
Your program seem to beat the NuFinish Once a Year program.

 

[spasm3]

I'm impressed that there exists a 240d in such good shape with only 75k on it! Where did you find this? Looks good. I have tried the klasse aio and the sealant. I never have put wax over them, I'm going to try that.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


Ill likely wax it at some point when I do a good car wash on it. Maybe tomorrow if I find time, or maybe later in the summer. I really want to do another coat of wax, and then do a few coats of that Sonax Brilliant Shine spray... Thoughts???


I would de-contaminate the paint first. Try the Autoscrub Nanoskin kit, it has worked extremely well for me and drastically reduces the amount of time compared to a clay bar.

 

[oilmaven]

nice car...looks like new in the picture...whatever you're doing is working...

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: oilmaven
nice car...looks like new in the picture...whatever you're doing is working...


+1

 

[97tbird]

So how DOES one rate beading? size of beads? number/square inch? closeness?

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
So how DOES one rate beading? size of beads? number/square inch? closeness?


It's time to wax when little regular spaced/sized islands of rain-beads become larger irregular shaped continents...

 

[97tbird]

Ah - Thanks! so I guess I can wait a bit ?

 

[DBMaster]

According to Consumer Reports when the water beads become larger than a quarter it's time to wax. My car gets a lot of miles but is in a parking garage at work and a garage at home. I waxed it a year ago with Meguiar's maroon bottle cleaner/wax and the beads are still small.

Looks like you're fine to trudge on without waxing yet. I am trying to get over the mental hurdle of going a year on one wax job and, perhaps, still not needed to do it again yet. I used to wax my previous car every three months. Honda paint in the 80's wasn't the greatest, though, and it was parked outside during the day.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
According to Consumer Reports when the water beads become larger than a quarter it's time to wax. My car gets a lot of miles but is in a parking garage at work and a garage at home. I waxed it a year ago with Meguiar's maroon bottle cleaner/wax and the beads are still small.

Looks like you're fine to trudge on without waxing yet. I am trying to get over the mental hurdle of going a year on one wax job and, perhaps, still not needed to do it again yet. I used to wax my previous car every three months. Honda paint in the 80's wasn't the greatest, though, and it was parked outside during the day.


I am not sure that I buy this. A freshly clayed (or decontaminated with Autoscrub) car will show the beading that you describe...but without any wax or sealant on the paint.

I have yet to find any sealant that will last more than 3 months and still deliver the smooth, slick feeling...

 

[Warstud]

7 Stars*******

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I have yet to find any sealant that will last more than 3 months and still deliver the smooth, slick feeling...


Will test this when I use my Black Fire Crystal Seal -

if I ever get the motivation to wash/clay(AKA nano scrub)/polish/seal...

 

[JHZR2]

My sonax brilliant shine stuff is on its way. Not in a rush to do it, vs enjoying the weekend (assuming it gets delivered tomorrow), but its in the cards...