Over the years, I've taken great pains to preserve the finish on my now nearly two decades old, one owner M3. But never before had I taken the plunge and tried "paint cleaning clay." The very idea - you tellin' me to rub play-doh all over my car to clean it? - struck me as somewhat ludicrous. A colleague and fellow BMW addict insisted that it works and that I try it.OK then.  I've tried it and I'm sold. Cleaning with Griot's clay will be step one in my exterior car care routine from here on out. Unlike another amazon reviewer, I had no problems with 'sticky clay' on the car or my hands.  (And by the way, if you feel the need to wear gloves to deal with this seemingly non-existent problem, Griot's Garage offers an enhanced and slightly pricier version of this kit - also sold on amazon - that includes disposable gloves and three microfiber polishing cloths).  Start with a good wash, of course - P21S "shampoo" or one of the Meguiars wash preparations are my usual choice. Dry your car well. Then generously spray the Spray Shine on an area about 12 inches square. Pull off about half of the clay provided, spray it well and knead it vigorously in your hands. Spray it again, then start to rub, refreshing the clay and the surface of the car with the Spray Shine once or twice.  Then wipe down and buff the area with a good quality microfiber polishing cloth.  Wow. The surface of your paint will feel as smooth as silk. Those tiny bits of bug, sap, and grime will be gone. And the process itself is a very pleasant, tactile experience - like giving your beloved auto a thorough exfoliating massage. The clay provided with this kit seems to be very mildly abrasive.  As a result, the clay massage is effective at removing surface contaminants as well as fine swirls, but still very gentle on your paint.I follow with a very fine grit hand polish - 3M Imperial Hand Glaze is my preference.  Then wax - P21S carnauba or Zymol (the real stuff, not the dumbed down turtle wax version) for me, although there are lots of other choices out there. With that regimen, my "Hellrot" '95 M3 looks pretty darned good, considering it's now an 18 year-old daily driver and not a garage queen. The minor dings - the evidence of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that beset any car that is driven and victimized, over the course of many years by those who parallel park by braille, and others who feel their car door is not open wide enough until it bangs the car beside it -- will not be gone. Ain't no such miracles in this kit.  But your car will look its best - with a few blemishes to give it character.Overcome your skepticism and try this stuff.  I swear to you, it really works, and your car will gleam.