[DrGP]

First, I have to say that I never have used a clay bar. And my polish/wax of choice is Liquid Glass which I have used for the the last 20 years. I would not think that enough dirt would accumulate on the car on the trip to the US to need a clay bar. Am I wrong?

[garyhgaryh]

Is it necessary? No.

[Brunotheboxer]

from picus' sticky above. [IMG]http://****************/pics/335122306/26.jpg[/IMG]
picture of clay on his brand new car. claying a brand new car is not necessary but should be done.

[NFS13]

Hell yes it does! It probably traveled by train to the boat, and then the trip by boat over in the sea air. The train particles embedded in the paint is the last thing you want to just wax over.

[picus]

As part of my new car prep package I clay. It's probably the step that accomplishes the most in the prep process, imo.

[spacedogg]

Originally Posted by NFS13

Hell yes it does! It probably traveled by train to the boat, and then the trip by boat over in the sea air. The train particles embedded in the paint is the last thing you want to just wax over.

The serious detail guys will say...the brake dust from the freight trains and transport trucks are horrendously bad...and one should always clay after taking delivery.

Of course...how much actual brake dust you will find embedded in your paint will likely be limited given that most cars are transported wrapped in plastic.

If your car has been sitting on a lot for any period of time before it was sold to you, it may have some environmental contamination that can also cleaned with clay.

Short answer...your mileage may vary from others.

[NFS13]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

The serious detail guys will say...the brake dust from the freight trains and transport trucks are horrendously bad...and one should always clay after taking delivery.

Of course...how much actual brake dust you will find embedded in your paint will likely be limited given that most cars are transported wrapped in plastic.

If your car has been sitting on a lot for any period of time before it was sold to you, it may have some environmental contamination that can also cleaned with clay.

Short answer...your mileage may vary from others.

Wrapped in plastic?

[picus]

I don't think anyone ever said horrendous. I think the pic above illustrates the importance of claying a new car. The clay shown in that picture was after one panel on my new 335i, which I picked up still in the shipping tape.

[pander5]

Originally Posted by picus

I don't think anyone ever said horrendous. I think the pic above illustrates the importance of claying a new car. The clay shown in that picture was after one panel on my new 335i, which I picked up still in the shipping tape.

That's all I need right there! Necessary? No. Extremely beneficial to avoid potential future problems? Yes.

I've done quite few new cars and they vary in amount of crap removed. Some look like a useless waste of time and others have looked worse than picus' photo above. I just feel better doing it every time.

[teknochild]

they do actually clay them at the center between the docks and the dealer

i know this because i made my dealer not touch my car, and the obviouse serfaces (like the hood roof ECT) were all clayed (even though i KNOW the dealer didnt because everything was still on it)

but odd places were not clayed (like the lower lip area) where a bunch of stuff came off in the bar



if your car goes from delevery center to somewhere by rail then your going to get what picus got, if its by truck (like mine was) it will be fine on the MAJOR areas, but you should still clay

and its possible diffrent centers (theres one for every port) dont clay the cars, all i know is mine came clayed on all the major areas from the south carolina port

[pander5]

Originally Posted by teknochild

and its possible diffrent centers (theres one for every port) dont clay the cars, all i know is mine came clayed on all the major areas from the south carolina port

That explains my experience last week. Mine came through Charleston also and almost nothing came off the car when I clayed. I wasn't aware that the Prep Center clays the vehicles but my dealer didn't do anything as I requested.

[NoMods]

The detail from the dealer is good enough, no need to clay AFD!

[picus]

My car had definitely not been clayed when it arrived. I've seen a lot of cars, and am pretty reliable at determining when one has been clayed recently. I guess Halifax/Concord don't do it.

[NFS13]

I guess for me claying a new vehicle is always a must for peace of mind to know that the paint is prepped correctly, and not by some guy that might be rushing to get a trailers worth of cars completed while the driver is looking at his watch. Besides, I always like to go over the car inch by inch to make sure I find anything the dealer may need to fix.

[teknochild]

Originally Posted by picus

My car had definitely not been clayed when it arrived. I've seen a lot of cars, and am pretty reliable at determining when one has been clayed recently. I guess Halifax/Concord don't do it.

your car might have been put on a rail car in north america too

wheres toronto? maybe it was stuck on a rail car between port and

Originally Posted by pander5

That explains my experience last week. Mine came through Charleston also and almost nothing came off the car when I clayed. I wasn't aware that the Prep Center clays the vehicles but my dealer didn't do anything as I requested.

go back and try the non obvious places though, like under ther rearview mirror, higher up in the license plate fram area, lower lip ECT, its probably not rails dust and such youll pull off (since it usually sticks to horrizontal up facing surfaces) but thell be crap stuck to your paint that doestn come off from washing ill bet

[picus]

Yes, there is a rail between HF and Toronto, like 2000 miles worth. That car wasn't clayed at the port though. I'm sure some are.

[SteveMD]

I've always tried to clay my new cars within a week or two of ownership.

I generally wash them with soap detergent (Dawn) to strip any waxes, clay and than zaino.

I was surprised what came off the 330 on the clay bar after its first wash.

[ChadE]

Damn guess ill be doing that this weekend i havnt even thought about it on a new car..thanks for mentioning it

[agentm]

Originally Posted by NFS13

Hell yes it does! It probably traveled by train to the boat, and then the trip by boat over in the sea air. The train particles embedded in the paint is the last thing you want to just wax over.

Good answer! They is nothing to loose to clay it once when you first get the car. Rail rust, brake dust .... are on your paint in a new car.

[snareman]

Another thing is that it gives you a chance to bond with your new car. Its one of those male bonding things you know . You'll probably be more anal doing it with your new car than you will a year down the road. I know that as much as I was anal about my last car and it got a weekly bath whether it needed it or not initially, the time between baths gradually lengthened over the 4 years I had it.

[OhhaiAlex]

I usually wouldnt til maybe about a month or two of owning it.

[OC Guy]

Originally Posted by WhiteAngel

I usually wouldnt til maybe about a month or two of owning it.

Why?