[ROOBRYJ]

Bought the Meguairs clay bar and "quick detailer" (spray which comes with it to lube the clay bar) to the scoob with!

Well, what can I say. I had used a clay bar before (supplied by another company) which I was pleased with however the bar itself was a little small and did'nt last that long.

Instead of using that awful autoglym tar remover stuff from Halfrauds or Petrol (as some had suggested) I purchased some of the above from Ebay! Got it 30% cheaper than in the shops too with cheap delivery. Always a usefull thing or too you can buy with the dregs in your Paypal account!

Anyway, my first impression was it looked a bit naff! The old clay bar I had was small and felt more substantial than the Meguairs type....whats more is, the Meguairs one is pure white (which is better having finished the car as you can really see the crap it gets off and out of your painwork!) and felt a great deal softer. It also felt a lot less harsh when rubbing the paintwork because the old one seemed like you were sanding the car down with sandpaper! lol

The "quick detailer" seems to have two functions....on the bottle it is for a gloss and not said to be for lubing the clay bar...simply spray and wipe for a glossy shine...so I did this on one panel. And the result was brilliant. It smells lovely too...and my hands now stink of a sweet factory! Unlike petrol and Autoglym fingerprint remover this stuff is good on your skin!!!

On with the bar.....one panel at a time....amazing. Stripped the tar off with ease (some harder to shift spots required a bit more pressure) but the detailer and the bar simply removed it all....no fuss at all. Did the whole car in around 20 mins...and both bumpers.

Washed and the result was exactly what it said on the box..."Makes your cars paintwork feel like glass again"

No specs or spots anywhere (I was worried I had left them too long and damage was now permanent) and the finish after the wash is stunning....it really looks like its rolled off the production line

Thumbs up from me!

[I love MINI, Laura]

Yeah I did this myself just a month back. My cars a 53 Reg only 8 months old but I had little bits of tar and sap that I accidently waxed onto the car and tried everything to remove this removed them in a second and is prefect again. reusable and magic!

My sister has recently bought a 51 reg yelllow mini one and the paint work had been ignored since new. She was jealous of my new car shine and I suggested the clay bar to remove the crap that was all over it! It worked like a charm and it has a lovely shine again! Great stuff works wonders on the dead bugs on the bumpers that don't normally shift!!

[zyo]

The meguiars clay bar is one of the only products that actually did what it said it would.I've tried various cleaning products over the years and most have left me dissapointed.The clay bar and the quick detailer are fantastic the only problem is getting cynical people like myself to try it.Almost from new my car had an almost abrasive finish even when polished.I just seemed to be polishing the crap that was already on the car rather than the paint itself.I couldn't believe the difference after using the clay bar and realised that this is what the paint should have been like all along....smooth like glass.All Hail the cleaning God that is Meguiars....is it my imagination or is this beggining to sound like an advert?.........................i'll get me coat.

[MickyD]

a couple of hints for the clay bar:
if it's a cold day and the clay bar is too hard, put in in the microwave for a few seconds (5 or 10 is heaps)
they work beautifully on glass
and once it's too dirty to use on the paint any more, use it to clean your wheels

[erichui]

Quote: Originally Posted by MickyD

a couple of hints for the clay bar:
if it's a cold day and the clay bar is too hard, put in in the microwave for a few seconds (5 or 10 is heaps)
they work beautifully on glass
and once it's too dirty to use on the paint any more, use it to clean your wheels

oh i never knew that you can put that in a microwave
since i always thought that my meguairs was too hard to use (particular after a few uses)
now i can try that great hints
always use the clay bar on the glass too (there is always dirt that can't be removed in the rear glass without a claybar or alike)

[n00b]

How do you guys store your clay bar? I've just opened a small corner of mine as I can't think of a way to store it without getting more dirt trapped onto it or have it dried out..

[I love MINI, Laura]

Keep mine in a zip lock sandwich bag with keeps it clean and moisture inside the bag! Perfect!

[lshill]

Have you guys tried the clay bar and Speed Shine from Griot's Garage? www.griotsgarage.com
I have a few cars now and I use Griot's products on all of them, including my MCS. I have found his products are far better than any others I have tried.
The Speed Shine can be used when working the clay bar, and a little squirt in the container before you put it away keeps it moist. In addition the Speed Shine is great for wiping down a dusty car or removing bird droppings etc.
Check it out..........you'll love it!

And no I don't work for them....lol

[LMB]

Do you have to wax again after you use a clay bar? I have some tar spots on my car, tried everything to shift them bar a clay bar.

Truth be told I am scared it will leave swirl marks.

[CoryB]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

Do you have to wax again after you use a clay bar? I have some tar spots on my car, tried everything to shift them bar a clay bar.

Truth be told I am scared it will leave swirl marks.

It depends on the clay bar you use. Sonüs makes some that allegedly won't strip the wax. For any of the rest though, I'd rewax any part that gets clayed.

[zyo]

LMB i had a black MINI ONE before my current PW MINI and i found the clay bar to be brilliant.I can get abit OTT about the finish and even when i waxed or polished the car it would look fantastic in evening light but when out in direct sunlight it always looked smeary and cac.The clay bar did what it said it would,got rid of the crud on the paint so i could actually polish/wax the paint ,rather than the cr@p on it.I used to go over it every now and then with the clay bar and then Meguiars scratch x,i only started using the scratch x cos when my dealer put my car through their car wash it always came back covered in swirls,a quick application of scratch x and it was back to normal,i used to apply that with a big round car sponge anf then wipe it off with 100% cotton terry towelling.I had looked on the instructions for which way i should move the car sponge with the scratch x on but it didn't say,i found it didn't matter if i did it in circles or straight lines, the finish was always brilliant.So to summarise ...go buy Meguiars clay bar and quick detailer..its about £11.99(don't forget to get some terry towelling) and Meguiars scratch x..about £7.99.I would be extremely suprised if you were not impressed.I wouldn't consider buying a black MINI again unless i had some.Black looks fantastic when clean but its a pain to get it clean...cue...Meguiars

[lazimutha]

Where can you buy this clay bar from? I don't think it is available from Halfords in the UK.

[Shorty]

Zyo's right, the clay bar is fantastic on Black cars.
No swirls, and a finish like glass. I too have used loads of different products on my
2 black MCS's, and the clay bar is definitely the best.Even better than the £50 i spent
on Zymol's MINI kit.

You won't be disappointed

[Wul]

A few more hints for megs clay bar:

1. From new - break the bar into 3 bits - 1/3 is more than enough to use and it will last 3 times longer and if you drop it you still have the other bits there.
2. As said above - store them in zippy bags to keep them supple.
3. If you drop it, bin it - or you risk scratches!
4. Once too dirty - use it on your alloys or glass.
5. Save the quick detailer for keeping the car looking nice and use a double strength mix of car shampoo and water - either in a bucket with your wash mitt or a squirty bottle for a clay lubricant.

UK megs available from www.seriousperformance.co.uk or www.speeding.co.uk or www.meguiars.co.uk (they also have a store locator on the site )

[DarkSilverBullet]

I'm sure this will have been answered somewhere, but....

Do you use the claybar in a particular way, like a straight line motion or something?
Would think you would void a swilling motion, but you never know.

Bought a meguiars bar and quick detail spray a couple of weeks ago, from Larkspeed.com as meguiars UK website hadn't got in listed, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

[Wul]

I'd stick to straight lines - back and forward on the horizontal surfaces and up& down on the verts to avoid swirling.

Also use plenty lube, the lightest of fingertip pressure (avoids marring) and keep re-kneading the clay after each panel.

Oh and when the megs site doesn't list something it means they are out of stock at present - a bit silly if you ask me!!

[DarkSilverBullet]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wul

I'd stick to straight lines - back and forward on the horizontal surfaces and up& down on the verts to avoid swirling.

Also use plenty lube, the lightest of fingertip pressure (avoids marring) and keep re-kneading the clay after each panel.

Oh and when the megs site doesn't list something it means they are out of stock at present - a bit silly if you ask me!!

Cheers for that, hopes its a nice weekend

[tony61356]

I have used Meguires and Griots. I prefer Griots and I always wax afterwards. I use clay on all my black cars & trucks. (911,Titan and soon to own MCS)

[Klayre]

I feel a bit silly asking this on a thread where you all know so much, but are there instructions when you buy the clay bar on how to use it? I think my Mini could benefit from a clay bar because when I run my fingers over the paintwork, it feels like there's sap all over it (but it doesn't look like it). Only thing is I have no idea how to use it!

[zyo]

Hi Klayre,I had only heard of the product and didn't know anything about how it was used,with the exception that apparently you rub it on the paint ,but when i purchased it i read the instructions and made sure i followed them making sure i bought some 100% terry towelling to rub it off with.At the time i had a black MINI and i thought i'd pop outside and try a little just on the bonnet ,big mistake, it was so good i did the whole car,the paint really did feel like glass when i had done it...it doesn't involve lots of elbow grease either.Pop up to Halfords with £11.99(i think thats what it costs) and get some Meguiars quick detailer and clay bar(they come together).I would be shocked if you were not impressed.