Favored Wax

#1 recommendation is to wash strategically and don’t go nuts with the hose. Although the 328 has some form of protection on the body steel, it’s primitive and not perfect. These cars have a lot of nooks and crannies. Bad wash practices can do more harm than good. I’ve seen some low mileage garage queens with rust issues because of this.

As far as ceramics, I put it on my BMW M2 Comp and for sure it’s a much more durable finish than wax. But ceramics are known to look dirty faster because of their surface properties. And all the good ceramics require a “reload” application after every washing to maintain their properties. All that has me wondering how well a good wax would compare if I re-applied after every wash.

The main benefit I get from ceramic is better/longer protection if something like bird droppings or bug guts gets on the car. You still need to wipe it off ASAP, but it will buy you some extra time before damage occurs.

I would not bother with ceramic on my 328 due to the usage and storage. It’s driven only 1-2 days per week for short periods during ideal weather, stored inside in climate control, dusted, and gone over with quick detailer as needed. I just don’t see the need for ceramic. Any modern wax would be fine.

BTW, the good ceramics are finicky to put on and there is a controlled procedure to apply, let flash, and then buff before it hardens. Mess that up and the car will look lousy. My M2 is white and that’s a forgiving color. I’ve seen ceramic jobs on dark cars where application flaws were very obvious.

 

I use a high quality carnauba-based wax, no ceramics. The durability of ceramic coatings and other ceramic products only provides a benefit for daily driven cars. Garage queens like most Ferraris don't need it. I've used dozens of waxes and sealants over the last 20 years or so, and my absolute favorites for a lightly used car are Pinnacle Souveran (which I now use) and P21S Concours Carnauba. Both go on like butter, wipe off easily, and can be applied to black trim as they do not leave a white residue like most cheap waxes. If the car is driven only in good weather, these waxes will provide protection for several months.

This is a short video of my car at a car show in 2021 after having applied the Souveran. I've never found anything better.

 

cldnt agree more. great recommendations, for me i have used zymol ital for 20 years.

 

i dont have a view on that. swissvax also really good.

 

I don't have a good answer for that, since I don't think you can control where the water gets into and settles. The real dangers are seams, joints, and cavities where you can't get to with a towel or blower. And any areas where drain holes might be plugged up. Long term that is where rust would want to form in general. Sometimes you can't even see these areas to know what's going on.

I remember a 328 on BaT with only ~ 6,000 miles, but had spot rust problems because the owner washed it all the time (I think he washed it more than he drove it). Several spots were around drain holes. Kind of tragic.

I know some people who are adamant about not washing classic cars. I think that has pros/cons and different levels of feasibility. May not be realistic for everyone. So far I have not needed to clean my 328 more than I can handle with a duster or quick detailer product, so I haven't crossed the bridge myself.

 

Yes I think Swissvax belongs in the discussion too. I haven't tried the liquid Souveran. I've found that paste wax is easier to apply evenly and without wasting product. My 3 oz. jar of Souveran has lasted me 3 years so far and I've only used half of it. It may be getting a little dry and flaky at this point though.

As far as I can tell, the color of the car doesn't make a difference in which wax you choose.

 

Regarding water, I would recommend not using a spray nozzle or any method of using water force, as it isn't needed. Just a steady stream from a hose is all that's needed to wet the car before the wash, and to rinse the soap off afterward. Most people seem to think you have to blast the dirt and soap off the car. Not so. Water getting into places where you don't want it is caused primarily by forceful water spray. Just a gentle flow is all you need.

Another great option is to use a rinseless wash like Optimum No Rinse. No water ingress problems and you can do it inside your garage year round regardless of weather. Hundreds of Youtube videos on ONR if you want to check it out.

 

I have been using Swissvax Crystal Rock for a while. Find it to be outstanding.

 

Meguiar’s Quik Detailing Spray once every 2 weeks and Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax once every 2 months.
Never wash my 308 with water.

 

I will cover the engine (make sure it is cool) with a plastic tarp so there is no water finding it’s way into engine wiring, distributors, etc while I wash my 328. Just make sure to remove it before driving off during the drying run.

 

collinite 845 insulator wax. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ceramic coatings are fantastic and I use them on my newer cars. On the vintage Ferrari, P21S 100% Carnauba wax with a Carnauba based quick detailer after each drive. Apart from the P21S, pretty much all my other car care products are from Gyeon. They make some of best products I’ve used in my opinion. I wouldn’t hesitate to try their new wax.

 

Another vote for ONR. I’ve bought and tried just about every spray detailer, sealant, glaze, and wax that is out there. My other favs are V7 from Chemical Guys, Beadmaker, Adams Detail, and Meguiars new Ceramic Detail Spray.

Also, if you use water to wash, I can’t recommend more highly a heated air blower/drier like BigBoi or Master Blaster.

 

For classic cars it's hard to beat Swissvax.

They have a full range of products depending on your budget and paintwork.

https://swissvax.com/en

 

I wash my 328 with soap/water when it gets dirty. When it is just dusty I use a one of those mop-looking thingies and, if necessary, some detail spray. I wax it maybe 2x year with whatever wax I have around at the time - I used to fool around with the boutique waxes when I had a black Porsche 911 but I found that they didn't really make the car look any better than the "common" car waxes/polishes. I tend to look at car-care product claims the same way I look at performance claims for mufflers!

 

There have been improvements in wax and coating formulation over the years that makes the whole process much quicker and easier but there's still something to be said for spending some quality time with your 308 and enjoying the pleasure of putting on an old fashioned paste wax, letting it dry and buffing it off by hand while polishing off a couple of cold, tasty beers along the way.

 

I tried Nu Finish two days ago.

 

After a bit of experimentation the best product bar non to clean and maintain the OEM finish for the targa top is 303 Protectant

 

Giallo is a very forgiving color as regards imperfections.