hwj

Last weekend I finally got around to waxing my S4 -- something I don't do nearly often enough, 'cause I'm a lazy SOB. Pretty much twice a year is the best I can muster.

Anyway, when I did this last winter (the first time I waxed the car since buying it), I decided that I was going to use 3M products, because I think they make good, honest stuff and it's not that overpriced. I went with the vaunted Imperial Hand Glaze (39007) and Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax (39526). I loved the results, and my double-coat wax job lasted probably four (fairly rainy) months.

This time around, I added Perfect-It Swirl Mark Remover (39009) to the mix in an effort to reduce the despised swirlies. I also switched to the liquid form of the Perfect-It Show Car wax (39026), since I'm a sucker for convenience.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/784/3m.jpg">

I was out of IHG, so no glaze in this session. I'm tempted to find a bottle of the Perfect-It Hand Glaze (05997) next time, which claims to shine just as well as IHG, but be a little longer-lasting. Couldn't hurt.

This was the first time I tried the Pefect-It Swirl Mark Remover (PISMR), so I'll comment on it: it definitely works. There are two kinds of PISMR: one for light paint finishes, one for dark paint finishes. I chose the one for dark finishes, as Nogaro Blue, while a "bright" color, isn't really "light." The PISMR was exceptionally easy to apply: add about a quarter-sized dollop of the grey liquid to my terrycloth applicator and work it into the finish with gentle circles, covering about a square foot or two at a time. It dries almost immediately. Buff it out with a separate terrycloth towel, comes off nice and easy. It really did seem to work best to apply to a small area and buff immediately, then repeat, as opposed to covering an entire body panel at once and then buffing the whole thing later.

The liquid version of the Perfect-It Show Car wax produced equally impressive results as the paste version I used last winter, and required a little less elbow grease, which was nice. Even though I was waxing inside my garage, it was still about 100&deg;F outside, and I was dyin'.

Once I got the car out in the sunlight, I could see that the PISMR made a difference. My car's paint was quite swirly -- took delivery of it that way, plus I've probably added to it on occasion by not being as careful as I could be while washing it. While I still could see some fine swirl marks, they were notably reduced in apparent depth and reflectivity, which made the finish look much healthier. (Just want to be clear: my swirl marks weren't <i>gone</i>, but markedly reduced in visibility). And of course, the Show Car wax provided a very deep shine, which will get even deeper when I do a second coat later this week.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/784/shiny-quarterpanel.jpg">

I usually get one comment a week, on average, from passersby/strangers about the car (Nogaro does tend to attract attention). However, in the 24 hours following the application of these 3M products, I got <i>four</i> comments from people in parking lots, gas stations, and on the street, telling me how nice they thought my car looked. Coincidence? Or perhaps the shine really amplified the wonderful pearlescence of the Audi paint? Either way, I'm a satisfied 3M customer.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/784/s4-sm-2001-side.jpg">

John P. (TT 225)

Looks good! I agree, they make great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

cdagza

Re: i did my car and i was impress.....still some light scratches...it's good stuff