Clay & BMW paint
05-24-2008, 05:22 PM
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I decided to clay my car today since I didn't get the chance before winter set in. I had only used clay once before, on my Lexus. Back then I performed the standard 'plastic baggie test': put your hand in the baggie and feel the paint. If it feels rough and "pebbley", it needs to be clayed. After I clayed it and re-did the test, it felt glass smooth.
I did the same thing today, and the paint felt bumpy, so I clayed it. I tried the baggie test, and.... it still felt bumpy. It felt exactly the same.
The only difference between my first time and this time, other than the car, is the clay. On the Lexus I used the clay I got with my Zaino kit. This time I used clay I bought from Griots.
So... can BMW paint be made glass smooth, or is it just naturally bumpy? Is the Griots clay inferior to the Zaino clay?
I did the same thing today, and the paint felt bumpy, so I clayed it. I tried the baggie test, and.... it still felt bumpy. It felt exactly the same.
The only difference between my first time and this time, other than the car, is the clay. On the Lexus I used the clay I got with my Zaino kit. This time I used clay I bought from Griots.
So... can BMW paint be made glass smooth, or is it just naturally bumpy? Is the Griots clay inferior to the Zaino clay?
05-24-2008, 06:32 PM
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My Ride: BMW E60 530i , Silver with leather Air Con iDrive 17" Breyton Rims with Dunlop Sp Sport tyres (M-Tech Bodykit and rims WANTED)
Alfa Romeo 147 TS1.6 , Black with Air Con 17" Multi Spoke alloys with Bridgestone RE040 tyres
Toyota MR-S 1.8 VVTI , Lagoon Blue with Red leather Air Con 15" standard alloys with Toyo tyres
Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTI, Lagoon Blue, Air Con, 16" Standard alloys with Kuhmo KU31, EBC Green Stuff
Maybe Griots is too mild for the BMW paint??? 
05-25-2008, 11:18 AM
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My Ride: 2005 545i | Black Sapphire Metallic | Black Dakota Leather | Anthracite Maple | 6 Speed Manual | Sport Package | Logic 7 | Sirius Satellite Radio
Model Year: 2005
I have used the Griot's clay on my 545i, a Volkswagen Beetle and an Infinity G. It worked great on all three cars. They felt as smooth as glass after wards.
Do you have another car on which to try the clay as a test?
Do you have another car on which to try the clay as a test?
05-25-2008, 01:29 PM
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My Ride: BMW E60 530i , Silver with leather Air Con iDrive 17" Breyton Rims with Dunlop Sp Sport tyres (M-Tech Bodykit and rims WANTED)
Alfa Romeo 147 TS1.6 , Black with Air Con 17" Multi Spoke alloys with Bridgestone RE040 tyres
Toyota MR-S 1.8 VVTI , Lagoon Blue with Red leather Air Con 15" standard alloys with Toyo tyres
Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTI, Lagoon Blue, Air Con, 16" Standard alloys with Kuhmo KU31, EBC Green Stuff
Originally Posted by Anzafin' post='587936' date='May 25 2008, 01:13 PM
Did you get any dirt stucked into clay? Did it remain clean during claying?
05-25-2008, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Anzafin' post='587936' date='May 25 2008, 08:13 AM
Did you get any dirt stucked into clay? Did it remain clean during claying?
05-25-2008, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by BrianTx5' post='588092' date='May 25 2008, 03:18 PM
Do you have another car on which to try the clay as a test?
I'll have to wait until he falls asleep after his martini. 
05-25-2008, 10:13 PM
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Originally Posted by bdkinnh' post='588241' date='May 25 2008, 09:31 PM
Nope. I suppose I could try it on my Dad's brand new Audi A8 the next time I'm at his house. I'll have to wait until he falls asleep after his martini.
I'll have to wait until he falls asleep after his martini. My old 530xi had sat on the lot for a while before I leased it. Even when I got it, it still had that grit in the paint. Even rubbing compound wouldn't remove it. Then I discovered "claying" from the guys on here, and that was the end of the grit!
05-26-2008, 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by bdkinnh' post='587762' date='May 24 2008, 08:22 PM
I decided to clay my car today since I didn't get the chance before winter set in. I had only used clay once before, on my Lexus. Back then I performed the standard 'plastic baggie test': put your hand in the baggie and feel the paint. If it feels rough and "pebbley", it needs to be clayed. After I clayed it and re-did the test, it felt glass smooth.
I did the same thing today, and the paint felt bumpy, so I clayed it. I tried the baggie test, and.... it still felt bumpy. It felt exactly the same.
The only difference between my first time and this time, other than the car, is the clay. On the Lexus I used the clay I got with my Zaino kit. This time I used clay I bought from Griots.
So... can BMW paint be made glass smooth, or is it just naturally bumpy? Is the Griots clay inferior to the Zaino clay?
I did the same thing today, and the paint felt bumpy, so I clayed it. I tried the baggie test, and.... it still felt bumpy. It felt exactly the same.
The only difference between my first time and this time, other than the car, is the clay. On the Lexus I used the clay I got with my Zaino kit. This time I used clay I bought from Griots.
So... can BMW paint be made glass smooth, or is it just naturally bumpy? Is the Griots clay inferior to the Zaino clay?
I did my '07. Titanium Silver on Saturday with Zaino clay and followed with Zaino wax for 2 stage paint and my car feels slippery smooth. The Glass cleaner bottle wouldn't even stay on the roof, just slid off.
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