Clay, buff, wax, seal? for the best shine?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158378

get yourself a drink

CLAY, Polish, Polish with a lighter pad to remove the scratches the first one left, then apply the paint sealnt with a super fine pad to seal and protect while also removing any leftover wash marks. Wax and Paint Sealants serve the same purpose. If you look at the surface of your paint through a microscope, youd see its not an even surface. WAX lays over the top of everything and a polymer paint sealant will secure itself into all the imperfections and holds much better. Its a similar applictaion process so use the paint sealant, it protects a bit longer.

Clay, buff, wax, seal? for the best shine?

I would switch your sealing and waxing.

What are you buffing with, hand or machine and what polish are you using when you buff?

Wash,
Clay
Polish
Seal
Wax

Remember if your buffing and polishing contains any oils or lubricants in it, you'll need to clean them off the surface before you apply the sealant as the sealant will not bond properly over top the oily surface, it really needs the clean raw clear coat to stick too.

You want to put the sealant down before the wax, because the wax breaks down sooner than the sealant. Because if you put the wax down before the sealant, when the wax breaks down, it will take the sealant with it

You want to put the sealant down before the wax, because the wax breaks down sooner than the sealant. Because if you put the wax down before the sealant, when the wax breaks down, it will take the sealant with it

you will also get a better shine (assuming your using a good wax) if you put the wax on top of the sealant.