Clay Bar Cleaning Worth It?

[Negtvions]

I am considering getting my 2018 M4 detailed, to include a clay bar cleaning.

Wondering your thoughts on if the clay bar is worth it?

TIA

[dmikucki]

yes x1000% you wouldnt believe how much contamination is in the paint that a clay bar removes.

[JoeFromPA]

You have a 1 year old vehicle you are considering getting detailed. Here's my perspective:

1. Polishing is about removing and leveling out scratches in clearcoat. Only do this when you have a good amount of swirls/scratches. This isn't something that should be done frequently, even light polishing. Just my perspective

2. Clay bar is very good at removing contaminants but is only worth it when you have visible contaminants not being removed during wash. This can include bug remains, tar, sap, iron fillings/industrial fallout, etc. - if you don't have a meaningful amount of this, I don't think it's worth the squeeze - especially on a new car.

3. A detailing ends with a sealant/protectant. Many people will argue that you need claybar to remove contaminants in order to provide a proper surface for sealing/protecting. This is a specious argument. I'm sure a heavily contaminated surface is not ideal - but whether a 1 year old clean m4 counts as a heavily contaiminated surface is a different matter.

4. Not that long ago - maybe 10-15 years - clay barring was esoteric. No new research emerged since then - but detailing has been majorly upsold since then.

I own a clay bar myself and have used it extensively. It has it's place and I like it alot for spot removal of particular contaminants. But doing an entire car with a clay bar is.....excessive...when the car is new. And a claybar has issues in areas with rock chips and heavy scratches (i.e. through the clearcoat).

Hope this helps

[clutchdj]

Eeeeh I was going to say...technology has a advanced since the clay bar hype days, and you technically have a new car. If you are going to clay just do perhaps the glass (then seal) and maybe the f&r bumpers. You can get a lot of positive results with clean pads and a quality random orbital like a Rupes. Joe really summed it all up.

[Negtvions]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes MY is 2018, but I got it in August 2017, so almost 2 years out there on the road and about 25k miles on her so far.

Plan is to get the clay bar then ceramic sealant, before another big road trip.

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

Thanks for the replies.

Yes MY is 2018, but I got it in August 2017, so almost 2 years out there on the road and about 25k miles on her so far.

Plan is to get the clay bar then ceramic sealant, before another big road trip.

If you are paying big bucks for a ceramic sealant and you've got 25k miles on the vehicle/2 years, then I'd say pony up another ~$50-75 for a claybar job. If you were doing a regular detail and being upsold on claybar, I'd say skip it.

[25meterzero]

Yes, you should look into the synthetic clays.

[damageprone]

I use a clay mitt. It's so much faster than a clay bar and if you drop it, you don't have to throw it away.

With any clay, you do have the chance of marring the paint, so claying often isn't ideal. Be prepared to follow with a polish and seal and or wax after.

But claying is definitely worth it. You can feel a difference after a single pass. It's pretty amazing.

[jdgamble]

Originally Posted by damageprone

I use a clay mitt. It's so much faster than a clay bar and if you drop it, you don't have to throw it away.

With any clay, you do have the chance of marring the paint, so claying often isn't ideal. Be prepared to follow with a polish and seal and or wax after.

But claying is definitely worth it. You can feel a difference after a single pass. It's pretty amazing.

+1

I rarely do it, even if I should, because it leads to a lot more work (i.e. polishing), but sealant lasts a lot longer on the parts of my car that I have clayed and polished. It's just the all in time... I don't have it.

[fackamato]

Applying a ceramic coat without claying the car first? Wow!

Without claying the car you can't be sure it's clean. You can't clean the clear coat / paint after the ceramic sealant is on.

I'd look around - there are many different sealants and detailers. Often you get what you pay for.

[Eric S]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

Thanks for the replies.

Yes MY is 2018, but I got it in August 2017, so almost 2 years out there on the road and about 25k miles on her so far.

Plan is to get the clay bar then ceramic sealant, before another big road trip.

you need to have the car washed, clayed, polished 1 or 2 steps, then coated for proper results. To skip steps would be negligent and the shop you are going to is only after the money, not doing things properly. If the car was brand new, zero miles, then a wash, clay, coating is doable.

Its not a ceramic sealant. Its either a sealant or a ceramic coating. what is the product you are having applied?

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Eric S

you need to have the car washed, clayed, polished 1 or 2 steps, then coated for proper results. To skip steps would be negligent and the shop you are going to is only after the money, not doing things properly. If the car was brand new, zero miles, then a wash, clay, coating is doable.

Its not a ceramic sealant. Its either a sealant or a ceramic coating. what is the product you are having applied?

there's way too much wrong information in this thread!! clay is necessary and i'm sure eric can tell you what he has picked up from BRAND NEW cars by using clay. it's not "hype" it's one of few crucial steps to ensure proper bonding for your wax/sealant/ceramic.

[ritzzzzzwik]

What does the detailng package include?
If it includes polishing, claying would be needed. It completely depends on how contaminated your paint is. An easy way to find out is (again there could be a whole thread on this, this is just one example) after a wash and dry run you finger on bare paint. If it feels rough it needs claying. You hood and and roof most likely will, as well as behind the wheels.

Claying and chemical decontamination makes sure the paint is perfectly bare for defect removal, and/or accepting layers on protection like - coating, sealants, waxes, etc

Also, in almost all circumstances claying will need some form of polishing (a very mild polish even) after claying. Because clay is a form of abrasive, and does cause micro-marring. Whether or not you get it done it depends completely on you. Factors like price, and amount of time you agreed upon with your detailer will determine that; and whether or not you can see them and if they bother you(most people will not see this stuff, because they dont know what they are looking for)


Also there is no such thing as a ceramic sealant. There are sealants, and there are ceramic coatings. Ceramic sealants, if your detailer told you this, could be one of those half assed SiO2 based spray sealants that last like 4 weeks. If thats what he/she is putting on- dont bother- with claying or that stupid stuff. Give your car a good wash yourself, pick up a decent sealant from a auto store (eg- JetSeal form chemical guys, found on amazon) and apply it on your car. You'll save money, and have a half decent product on your car.