Best Product/Products for Grey Metallic?

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imported_mobenzowner1

New member
I posted this question on the AG forum so I thought I would post it for members here to give me their opinion for the best waxes/sealants or combinations of the two (by best I mean weighted more towards looks than durability) for the following cars/colors.



2006 MB e350/flint grey metallic 19000 miles

Its currently wearing opti-seal covered by collinite 885 (flake pretty muted now, probably the collonite)



2007 Lacrosse /black 14000 miles

Currently wearing WG dgps



I have soveran and will probably top the LaCrosse with that, but am open to any suggestions. I am mainly interested to see what is suggested for the Benz.



Thanks all in advance !!:D
 
If your question is really about looks over durability then it's really not about what wax/sealant you use but more about how well you prep the car before the wax.



I suggest at the very least claybaring the car, then if you have some use an AIO type of product or an abrasive polish to clean the paint use it next.



After those two things the car will sparkle like a diamond and you can seal or wax it with whatever you like and it will look better then just waxing it alone.



If all you care about is looks then you should try some Meg's NXT it's pretty good at hiding defects and lasts about 3-4 weeks tops and you can buy it in a store.
 
If your question is really about looks over durability then it's really not about what wax/sealant you use but more about how well you prep the car before the wax.



I suggest at the very least claybaring the car, then if you have some use an AIO type of product or an abrasive polish to clean the paint use it next.
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JoshVette,

I couldnt agree more about your post. The most important factor is indeed the prep. I clay the cars and have menzerna sip and nano polishes. I even do the paintwork cleaners (wg paintwork enhancer etc) after that before applying lsp's. I have just seen quotes like "brand x" great on reds, "brand y" great on sliver, etc, etc. I am just seeking advice as to what people here with more knowledge and experience than I feel like are great products or combos of products that work particularly well for those colors.
 
mobenzowner- It can be hard to predict what paint Collinite will/won't mute flake on. I *do* wonder if it's *really* the 885 that's to blame (476S absolutely does not mute the flake on my GM Pewter metallic), but if you think it's properly prepped then I'll take your word for it.



What about just using a nice sealant? I use 4* UPP on my silver S8 and (with proper prep ;) ) it's utterly dazzling in the sun. Other similar LSPs oughta give the same effect. I'm not a big fan of using carnaubas over sealants, I'd just pick one or the other (I know, I'm kinda a heretic with that view).



Meg's #16 is a nice carnauba for jobs like this (much more durable than Souveran) and I use it on silver with no significant muting. Somebody here is selling a can of #16 if that idea appeals to you. Applied nice and thin, a can of #16 will last for years (I get a good *decade* out of a can with frequent applications on big cars) so it's a sensible choice and not a big risk to try. The beading is almost as good as Collinite.



I do like how Souveran looks on that kind of metallic (I use it on my Rhodium Metallic Jag, a weird single stage lacquer metallic), but it's just not durable enough for something that gets driven a lot (or else I'd still be using it on my wife's car ;) ).



But (no, I won't rehash the prep topic :D ), I really don't subscribe to the "this LSP for that color" approach all that much. If a certain LSP does *NOT* work to your liking, that's one thing, but otherwise it's just a matter of finding what *you* like on a particular vehicle and that's not (*IMO*) all that color-dependent.
 
My truck is dark grey metallic. I tried a few different things on it and I ended up going with Z-5, Z-2, then ZCS on it... Looked great and really made the flake pop...

I don't usually suggest Zaino, but it's what I liked the best out of my waxes/sealants on that color...
 
Accumulator,



Thanks for the input. I actually have about 6 ounces of 4* upp I got in a sample trade which I have yet to try on the benz.



I just keep reading the "sterile", "lack of depth" posts about untopped sealants, and for that reason felt I might be missing something, because on this particular car I always liked the looks best with the sealant only. The only 2 sealants I have tried to date however are KSG and OS, which both do give a "hard" shine. I have tried p21s and of course the collonite(winter protection thing) as toppers. Was especially disappointed in the look of p21s, I didnt feel I acheived any extra depth or wetness. I felt the collonite looked every bit as good as the p21s and offered of course far superior protection. Perhaps I am just chasing the forever elusive "perfect" look. The car does look very good and I always get compliments on it. The black Lacrosse however does look quite a bit better to me with Soveran over the WG dgps and was hoping some combo would do the same for the benz.



I know a lot of people, for right or wrong, do however subscribe to different lsp's based on color. I dont know if my eye is that discernable or not? Or if it even makes a difference.
 
jshillin,

First chance I get I am going to pick up a sample or two of zaino. I have never tried any of their products, but looking at the results some here get they must be pretty good. I am especially curious as to how you like the ZCS?

Thanks
 
mobenzowner said:
jshillin,

First chance I get I am going to pick up a sample or two of zaino. I have never tried any of their products, but looking at the results some here get they must be pretty good. I am especially curious as to how you like the ZCS?

Thanks
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Zaino is basically all I use for sealing after perfecting a car through clay and polishing. It's the best for durability. Really locks in that show car finish for a long time.
 
mobenzowner said:
I just keep reading the "sterile", "lack of depth" posts about untopped sealants, and for that reason felt I might be missing something, because on this particular car I always liked the looks best with the sealant only...
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I'd go by what *you* see and what *you* like and not worry about what people post ;) If it looks good to you, that's all that matters IMO.



.. The only 2 sealants I have tried to date however are KSG and OS, which both do give a "hard" shine...
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KSG is one of those products that I don't like on certain paints. I *do* like how it looks on my Mazda's silver, but *NOT* how it looks on Audi silver :nixweiss So I can understand if you don't like it on your vehicles.



IMO the UPP does not look like KSG. Note that UPP is what I use on my silver Audi, but KSG is the only LSP I ever hated enough on Audi silver to strip off!



I have tried p21s and of course the collonite(winter protection thing) as toppers. Was especially disappointed in the look of p21s, I didnt feel I acheived any extra depth or wetness. I felt the collonite looked every bit as good as the p21s and offered of course far superior protection. Perhaps I am just chasing the forever elusive "perfect" look. The car does look very good and I always get compliments on it. The black Lacrosse however does look quite a bit better to me with Soveran over the WG dgps and was hoping some combo would do the same for the benz...
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I'm not impressed by P21S either, not much depth on the Jag's paint either. The WG/Souveran combo would *probably* make you the happiest looks-wise, but I'd wonder about redoing it all the time :think:



I'd try that UPP and see what you think. Heh heh, I could do a whole lot-full of mighty huge vehicles with the amount you have, but then I apply it *very* thin.



I know a lot of people, for right or wrong, do however subscribe to different lsp's based on color. I dont know if my eye is that discernable or not? Or if it even makes a difference.
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On black and red, I'll agree that some LSPs just look special while others don't. Other than that I think it's more a matter of the actual *paint* than just the color...lots of stuff factors in. But I'll repeat that it's all about *YOU* and what you see/like/don't .
 
mobenzowner said:
jshillin,

First chance I get I am going to pick up a sample or two of zaino. I have never tried any of their products, but looking at the results some here get they must be pretty good. I am especially curious as to how you like the ZCS?

Thanks
Click to expand...



I'm pretty happy with the results I get from Zaino, but there are so many different products out there that you just can't limit yourself to one brand. I have 4 vehicles and none of them have the same LSP... I really prefer Zaino on the grey metallic though.

ZCS, is a good product when used with other Zaino products. I like Z2 or Z5 topped with ZCS. ZCS basically locks in the look.
 
Have you tried using the WG sealant on your metallic paint? I use it on my Metallic Silver TL and it looks great. I use WGDGS followed with Souveran Paste on my wifes Black Lexus and that looks great too. Let us know if you find your "Master Combo" I'm interested.
 
Thank you one and all for the advice. I think I will initially go with the 4* upp. In order to give it a fair playing field however, I and going to clay, polish, aio before applying. I want to be able to see the 4* without any other lsp's etc underneath. It may be early spring before I do this because I really dont want to strip the collinite before winter is pretty much over. I will however be back with pics once the job is completed and hope you guys will critique.



Have you tried using the WG sealant on your metallic paint? I use it on my Metallic Silver TL and it looks great. I use WGDGS followed with Souveran Paste on my wifes Black Lexus and that looks great too. Let us know if you find your "Master Combo" I'm interested.
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Conan777,

I have not tried the WGDGS on the Mercedes. I actually just applied it on the whole Buick last weekend, and boy was it an upgrade over the KSG on that car. That car is my company car and it didnt get quite the prep the Mercedes did. With the KSG and its harder,reflective look ,every flaw seemed to be acentuated. I am also going to properly prep that car in the spring and re-apply the dgps and top with soveran.
 
I have used VMG and cg ez creme glaze as glazes(at different occasions) and followed with jetseal and then by nattys blue and it looked amazing on a graphite grey(not sure of the exact color) 05 silverado. I was super impressed. And this was following just a sonus green clay and wash etc..
 
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