How clean before DA polishing & Opti-Coat 2 ?

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Inuyashas_bro

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I live in an apartment building and need to take my car to a coin operated wash for a good wash.

The car is a brand new 2016 Mazda, but too dirty IMO for a waterless wash. Once it's washed and dried at the coin bay, I plan to drive it back to my apartment building underground garage for claying and polishing with Optimum Hyper Polish using my new DA polisher and finally apply a coat of unopened opti-coat 2.0 that I have been saving.

The drive from the car wash bay to my building is 2.8 miles / 7 mins long.

My question is: would this drive introduce too much dirt to the car that it would need a waterless wash before claying and polishing, or would it be ok since it's quick short drive? I know a waterless wash would be safer but I am lazy :o

secondary question: I have read that excess Optimum Hyper Polish should be wiped with a damp microfiber before I apply the coating, but won't the act of wiping the car, with water or IPA solution, after polishing introduce marring?

Many thanks! Im the MAN
 
Ok. At the car wash, make sure to physically decontaminate the paint by doing a clay bar treatmnent.

When you get home, see if there is any dust or dirt on the car. If there is use appropriate method to clean it (quick detailer, No rinse was, or waterless wash depending on how bad it is).

After you are done polishing, use a 10-20% IPA solution and add a little bit of No Rinse & shine concentrate to it. This will provide lubrication and prevent marring. Also use your best microfiber towel for the final wipe down before applying the coating.

Other option is to use Optimum's surface prep (erase?) before doing the Opti-coat.

Have fun and let us know how it went.
 
I definitely wouldn't drive the car any amount of miles without washing it when you're trying to apply something like OptiCoat. I found when I was an apartment dweller than rinseless washes (ONR) were a great way to wash without dragging everything out to the car wash. It quickly became my preferred wash.
 
I also like ONR for exactly that purpose. I also like calendyr's idea of doing the full decon while you have access to water i.e. clay and iron x. Get it home and do an ONR and then i would follow that up with a CarPro Eraser wipe down to clean the paint of anything left over from ONR, Clay or Iron X.
 
Thank you all for the advice.

I don't have ONR, but have Meguiar's Waterless wash & wax. Can that that work for a rinseless wash, and if so, at what dilution level? The instructions on the label are only for waterless, not rinseless method.
 
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