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just got my car back from the shop...just had it painted bmw jet black and im wondering if i should put a wax on it....my dad keeps telling me to not wax it for atleast a few months to let the new paint bake into the car...what should i do??..

 
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he's right for the most part: don't wax it right away. most shops will recommend do not wax the car anywhere between 30-90 days. but keep it clean, wash it! (with a quality car soap)

 
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Yep... you need to give the paint time to cure before waxing. You should ask the shop that painted it how long of a wait they recommend. Ojay is right on the money, it's generally between 30-90 days.

 
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I say the same thing...but I think it is closer to 30 days than 90 days. I also think you can apply glaze to the paint, just not wax....Ask the body shop before you do anything

 
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You can apply a hand polish like Meguiars #81 to the paint. But like everyone else said, wait at least 30 days for waxing.

 
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yes, 30 days. when the shop painted my rear bumper, they said i can wax it anytime... but i knew they were bs cause their shady as fock. there customer service was horrible and i can tell the guy just wanted me to leave asap just so he can help the other customers since their paying up front while my was covered thru insurance.

30 days is fine. i rinsed mine once a week to make sure as well

 
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You also dont want to scrub the paint. If you do anything to the paint (polishing, or cleaning) do it as light as you possibly can. One little peice of dirt will scratch the crap out of a new paint job.

 
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I had some clearcoat bubbles repaired back in May. The shop said 60 days before waxing. They said washing was OK anytime. Interestingly, when I asked how long I should wait to get the 3M film installed on the hood, the guy said he'd wait till fall.

 
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that is correct

 
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Wait 1 week to wash and wait 3 months to wax.

 
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You need to wait until the pain fully cures (dries). What happens is the fresh pain has solvents in it that need to gas out of the paint as it cures (dries and hardens). You cover it with wax and it keep those sovlents from escaping the paint and it will cause it to bubble and flake off the plastic or metal.

The paint/body shop will tell you how soon you can wash and wax the car. And you really need to ask them WHY you need to wait as long as they say, and they will be happy to tell you why. I think that they know most people will want to run out first thing and wash and wax, and most people are not even going to understand why. But the few folks that actually ask, they don't have any problems with the explaining the actual reasons why you can't wash it today. Also paint will do certain things if covered in wax before it's cured, and they place that painted it will know that it was YOUR FAULT, (and won't give you a freebie fix,because of defective paint) and you'll end up paying for another paint job or living with the ruined paint.

Not sure the same hold true for shops that BAKE their paint jobs. But seeing as so many cars parts are plastic, not sure they can do a full BAKE cure, at least not at the temps done in the factory with body frames that are metal only, before anything parts are added that can't take the heat.

So ALWAYS ask and follow the suggestions of the place that does any painting on your car. In fact I'd ask EVERYTIME, as if you have metal paint one time and plastic painted another, there might be different curing times for the different types of paint that may be used.

 
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I forgot to mention it, but seeing Blkbear's post reminded me. My shop (Zimbrick Honda in Madison, WI) told me they bake the paint at around 140 degrees in their shop, compared to 160 at the factory (it's been a couple of months, so don't quote me on those numbers). So the 60 days to wax, OK to wash any time and 3 months before the 3M film advice was from that shop. Hope it helps.