polish & wax or just wax?

[A4toRS4]

So I just got my RS4 and they paint on it is in good condition and now I am looking to detail it. I waxed a lot of cars but never polished. Just wanted to get some opinions on detailing. On my past Audi's I have used Nu Finish wax which looked really good. Thanks ahead of time for the feedback.

On a side note, if anyone knows good products for leather seats. They are slightly worn but I want to use something on them to make sure they last a long time since my car is a daily driver and getting in and out every day can take a toll on leather seats.

[ChrisFarleyGuy]

Well, without seeing the car, a good basic step is to clay the car and lay down some wax/sealant. (Einszett Glanz Wax is a great, inexpensive option. Especially for Metallic Paints)

If there is noticeable swirls and/or other defects, I would clay, polish, then wax. (Meguiar's M105 or Menzerna Super Intensive polish are both great. Apply with Orbital or Rotary for best results)

The leather masters kit available at Detailer's Domain is a great way to prep and care for any leather.

[pokerfad]

Sonax Leather Foam is a great cleaner/conditioner and as long as your leather is in really bad condition will work wonderfully. You should 100% wash your car with dawn (yes dish soap) to remove any LSP that may still be on the vehicle and clay bar the surface to remove any contaminants. Use natural sunlight to inspect the condition of the paint and then determine what compounding/polishing steps may be needed to correct the finish before you apply and LSP. If you don't have any experience then I highly recommend going online to any of the various detailing forums to find some videos or pictures to show you what you need to look for and how to properly correct the paint. I would highly suggest you DO NOT use a rotary polisher if you haven't before b/c you can easily damage the paint. Good luck!

[AVier]

Wash, Clay, and then I would add a compound (I like Meguiar's Ultimate Compund), then Polish, and Wax. I just used Einszett Polish and Glanz Wax this weekend and it came out great. It'll take a while but then you know you've really prepped the car and will get a better result.

You can always ask Phil from Detailer's Domain; I heard he's really good about answering questions.

[Bayman48]

so i have always wondered about this, you have to polish and then wax? I use zaino and thats all i use, dont wax after...after three years...paint seems to be holding up well...but if wax should also be part of the equation, i want to know that.

[AVier]

You polish before you wax. Wax is always last.

[VroomVroom]

A lot of this boils down to semantics. Many of the big brands have trained us to think of polishing as a last step. In reality, a "polish" is a product that corrects the finish, either through abrasives or chemicals. A true "correction" detail will involve these steps:

Wash > clay > polish > protect

This is greatly simplifying a process that goes into much more detail (no pun intended), but it'll give you a start. If you have swirl marks, bird/sap etching, marring, etc....you may want to consider polishing. If so...do your homework first. However, you can certainly take good care of your finish by washing, occasionally claying, and by applying a protective coat every few months. Coat of what? More semantics. LSP's (last step products) are either a wax or a sealant. Zaino is a sealant, and it's a fine one. If you're pleased with the protection, durability, and looks...no need to add a wax to the equation. Waxes will generally make the finish look glossy and "wet," but are not as durable as sealants.

Again, tons more to read on the topic (starting with the sticky in this forum will give you plenty), but hopefully this helps a bit.

[Bayman48]

thanks vroom informative and helpful

[AudiA4_20T]

Wash, Clay, and then I would add a compound (I like Meguiar's Ultimate Compund), then Polish, and Wax. I just used Einszett Polish and Glanz Wax this weekend and it came out great. It'll take a while but then you know you've really prepped the car and will get a better result.

You can always ask Phil from Detailer's Domain; I heard he's really good about answering questions.

why is compounding needed?

[AVier]

why is compounding needed?

Compound helps get out some swirls and scratches. It tends to be more abrasive than a polish so it is used for abused paint. I think of it like moving from medium grit sandpaper to a finer grit sand paper. The compound gets the bigger marks and the polish refines it further. Then use a wax or sealant to protect your hard work.

[A4toRS4]

So everyone talks about how good the Sonax wheel cleaner is. I was wondering about the Sonax Polish+Wax?