I was always told as long as the water still beads off your car the wax is still protecting. Is there any truth to this. After reading the forums about how often people wax I'm a little concerned I'm not getting the protection I think I getting.
I wax twice a year. Just used the 3m hand glaze and the yellow wax.
Also my brother-in-law said that I'm crazy waxing a car that has metalic finish he said it never needs waxing all your making is it slippier. Loving my new 2005 maxima se. Thanks for the great forum I've learned alot about the max.

 

Your brother in law doesn't know what he is talking about. Any modern car should be waxed because the paint systems these days are so fragile and thin (the clearcoat is roughly as thick as the cellophane packaging around a carton of cigarettes) and the elements so tough that not properly taking care of your car's paint can yield unpleasant results. It is absolutely essential to apply a good coat of wax or polymer sealant to protect your car's finish - the slick feeling is the bonus of a well detailed car because you know the paint is clean.

As far as your waxing goes, your 3M hand glaze and yellow wax (I assume you are talking about Meguiar's hi-tech yellow wax) combination is a formidable as far as I'm concerned. When I detailed my car just before winter, I used the exact same procedure (I had recently buffed my car, so I applied a glaze by hand) and even when my car is dirtier than I've ever seen it, it STILL shines.

You should wax more than twice a year, as the best waxes I've used last just 3-4 months. A polymer sealant such as Klasse SG and Four-Star UPP are said to last about 6 months or more. For the most part you can tell if there is wax on the car by the beading because a car without wax on it doesn't bead, but don't rely solely on this - just wax more often to ensure protection.

 

I definately recommend you wax more than twice a year. Waxes will absolutely not last 6 months. Waxing a few extra times a year is an easy way to help protect your investment. I like to slap on a layer of Klasse SG every time or every other time I wash my car. When I used to only wax, I would do it at least once or twice a month. To some it may sound like overkill but thats what happens when you frequent the autopia forums

 

I would really like to hear his rationale behind this "metallic paint doesn't need to be waxed" theory. Please ask your brother-in-law to explain it to you, and please post it back here so I can get a good laugh.
A carnauba wax WILL NOT last for 6 months. Only a select few sealants can last that long. If you're going to stick with waxes, I'd recommend waxing once a month...that is...if you really care about your paint's condition.
Pinnacle Signature Series is great for metallic paints...although it is a bit pricey compared to chain-store waxes.
http://www.autogeek.net/pisisepawax.html

BTW, fresh paint with no wax protection will bead water, so just because it beads water does not necessarily mean that there is still protection on the paint.

 

I should also mention that an application of pretty much anything will cause water beading. If you follow up a wash with Meguiar's Quik Detailer on a car with no wax, it would bead if you washed the car a couple of days later. Same with Final Inspection, polish (to a lesser extent) and so on.

 

I've been impressed with the durability of Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax on my car. 3 Months of nothing but washes (no booster wax) and it still protects and shines.

 

Metallic paint uses the same clear coat as a regular painted car with a base coat/clear coat. Sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about. I make sure I get a good coat of wax on my car every 2-3 months to keep it protected. Wax not only protects the car, it makes it easier to wash.