I am considering purchasing Zaino for my brand new 2004 Accord EX V6 with the Graphite Pearl finish. I am also considering the 5 Star Shine products. Which one is better, in your opinions? Which one lasts longer? Also, I want to apply the 3m Clearbra "film" to the outside of my car, like the entire front end, and sides. I want this to protect the finish of the car because I'm obsessed with rust (I used to live in NY). Has anyone ever heard of this 3m Clearbra? If they have heard of it, can they recommend a dealer and installer in the Washington, DC/Baltimore area?
and color, but mine is an '03 Sedan. I can't tell you about 5 Star products, but I've been using Z since I got the car in December'02. The Z2 brings the shine way up on our color, and it seems to make the it deeper looking also. As you can see from my prior post (#5468), the Z lasts a pretty long time. I've heard of the 3M clearbra, in fact, I saw pictures of a couple of cars with here at edmund's. I have no opinion about it, but to put a film of anything on my finish seems like overkill. Just keep it clean, coats of Z2, wash with Z7, and you will have a graeat looking car. My car looks BETTER than when I took it out of the showroom. So will yours! My $.02...
Thanks for the post. The only thing why I would want the 3M Clearbra is to ptotect the paints finish from scratches, dings, sand, dirt, snow, and road salt from scratching the vehicles surface, especially on the hood and front end, and also underneath the doors. I don't think Zaino can protect against scratches (like from road salt) and dings like the Clearbra can.
Some folks on another TL forum have gotten the clearbra. It really is nearly invisible, and removable down the road if it gets beat up. Sal says to clean the car well, have it installed, and then to put the Zaino on over it.
Also - There is NOTHING like Zaino. Many of us here have tried everything, and while some others will shine well, they don't last like Zaino. Z is simply the easiest to use with the best performance. No contest.
Zaino on top of plastic?? That just doesn't sound right. When the bra is removed, you would have multi-layers of Zaino of parts of the car and none where the bra was. Would think the difference would be very visible.
Plexus will also work fine but its not as durable. I've used both products on customer's cars with fine results. As long as its not abrasive, you can use what you like to protect the film.
I spoke personally with the installer that I would be dealing with, and he also personally recommended Zaino car waxes. I guess I have to see it to believe it, but it sounds incredible. The guy said he could install the Clearbra for $795, which includes the entire front end. Bretfraz, thanks for the information. I can use this to justify the huge expense to "the wife" (dun dun dun; cue menacing music). She can't see how this stuff can cost so much, when you can just repaint the car. Women (I apologize for all the women that take car of their cars).
Ah, you too have experienced the joys of NYC carwashes! A few year ago (and with a different car), I went to one of those "brushless" places. The water looked like overflow from an Iraqi sewer. And then, there was this guy who wanted to attack my wet car with a spotted towel from the CCNY Athletic Department; "I help dry your car" said he. "Not a chance!" said I. Closer inspection of my wheels showed scratches from those "brushless" brushes used to clean the tires and wheels. My present car has been through a number of very rough winters and all the road salt, sand, and slush you can imagine. And in the early spring when I finally was able to wash the car myself, I found that just a few coats of Z2 had really protected my finish and the car still looked great. This year will be the same.
Bret: why would you want to put Zaino over the plastic sheets installed over the paint job? Does the plastic dull the finished look of the paint? Or is the plastic just very weak? I can understand the use of plastic bra-coverings to protect the front end against sand and stones (having driven on I287!), but does Z enhance the look of the plastic?
Yeah, its just for added protection. Treating the film like paint and all that. The appearance of the film is very application dependent. A good application is hard to see from 20 ft away. But up close you can clearly see the film.
What happens when the film is removed when you have multi-coats of Zaino applied, on the film or not? Would appear to me you'd have part of the hood with megacoats of Z and part with none. Wouldn't a line remain too?
The "build up" of Zaino is microthin. It's not like layers of paint or something that's measurable. Plus no wax or sealant maintains its thickness over time; they all degrade so there is no way you can buildup so much Z to where it would cause a problem. Even Sal says you reach a point of diminishing returns after several coats.
Hello Everyone! I have an '04 BMW X5 (Sterling Gray/Black Leather) and would like to know if you have any recommendations on care products. I hear Zaino is great, but I don't know if it will do good on my vehicle. Also, what do you think of Zymol?
Hey Everyone!~ I was browsing Zaino's website, and I can't figure out how to use this stuff! I have a Sterling Gray X5, and don't know what to do! With the ZFX, do I always add it to Z2, or just once in a while. If I do it once in a while, what do I do for polishing in between? Somebody please post a message with some step by step instructions for me!
Your X5 will look spectacular with a Zaino finish. Most of us here are ex-wax users, and can assure you that it will provide the best possible shine and protection for your vehicle.
You use Zaino essentially like any car polish, except that it is a LOT easier, shines better and lasts longer.
It is a special polymer, NOT a wax and it does not break down as fast as waxes do. You only need to re-polish every 3-6 months depending on how much your car is outside. In between polishing, you just wash your car with the Zaino Z-7 car wash. It is really best to avoid car washes no matter WHAT kind of polish you use.
While Zaino has a complete "system" of car care products, you really only need the Z2 polish with the ZFX accellerator to speed the curing. It also helps to use the Z6 finishing spritz afterwards to catch any un-removed polish and to add a final gloss.
Unlike waxes, the more Zaino you put on, the shinier your car will get. For the car fanatic, it will provide that "show car look" to any car.
You can read the entire story and all the application instructions, FAQs etc. at www.zainostore.com.
Have fun - we all look forward to your positive results.
If you want step-by-step, I will will assume that you are NOT a fanatic, but want a good, simple system to protect and shine your X5.
Here is the SIMPLEST course -
1. Wash the car with blue Dawn dish detergent to take off all wax and road grease. Dry fully.
2. Mix up some Z2 with a few drops of ZFX added. This is required for the Z2 to stick to your paint.
3. Wipe on the Z2.
4. When dry - wipe off. hard rubbing is NOT required for either step.
If you want a better shine, Repeat 3&4 for 3 coats total in one day.
When finished, spritz with some Z6 and wipe again for max gloss.
THAT'S ALL. If you want higher performance, and better shine, there are other steps you can add. It's all on the Zaino site and we can also help you here.
In addition to what newwestd says above, the KEY to ZAINO is LIGHT coats! The less, the better. That will be the hardest part of using Zaino because on your color it will be very hard to see where you applied it. Even on my RED car it's hard to see sometimes. If you're sore when you're done with the Zaino process, it won't be from applying the Zaino, it will be from all the bending and twisting you do to see where you applied it! ;-))
Also, for an even better shine, apply the Z6 spritz between each coat of Z2 that you apply. It sounds hard. It sounds crazy, but when you see how easy it is and how your car looks you'll wonder what you were worried about.
Click on my name above and you'll see what Zaino looks like on red. I've been using it since the summer of 98.
I've been using Zaino products since 11/01, but have been holding off on considering the use of ZFX until now. This spring, I plan to begin using ZFX along with Z-5, Z-2, Z-6, etc. So, yesterday I spoke with Sal Zaino and asked if I should continue to frequently spray a bit of Z-6 onto the applicator pad as I apply the ZFX/polish mix to my 4Runner's finish. In other words, should I continue to keep the applicator pad moistened with Z-6 as the newer ZFX'd products are being applied? Sal said that this was indeed the case, and I'm mentioning this here because it would seem to me that this strategy of co-applying Z-6 throughout the application of the ZFX/polish would save the extra steps of applying a "mono-coating" of Z-6 *between* each successive application of ZFX/polish, as some of you are recommending(?).
Out of curiosity, among those of you who are applying a mono-coating of Z-6 between each successive application of ZFX/polish, are you merely spraying down the finish with Z-6 and leaving it on without buffing it off, and then proceeding to apply your next coat of polish(?); or are you buffing off the Z-6 before your next coat of polish is applied? Thanks.
Thank you all for your previous answers. One more question: Among those of you who are using ZXF, are you keeping your applicator pad moistened with Z-6 during each application of the ZFX/polishes?
dampen it before applying the ZFX/Z2. After that, no more Z6 until after the removal process is finished. See no need to apply Z6 during the application process.
"Lazy" would NOT be a word to describe you by a longshot! The way ALL your cars have looked is NOT the sign of a lazy guy. I guess it just goes to show you that no matter HOW each of us uses Z6, the results are the same- BRILLIANT! ;-))
I had my first experience with Zaino yesterday. I have a pretty new (4 months old) Mazda 6, Onyx black.
After washing it with Dawn, I applied the Z1. Then I applied 2 coats of Z2 (buffing it off each time of course).
I was working in the garage last night with lights when I was doing the Z2. This morning, I drove it out in the sun to see if I missed any spots and I noticed this very faint residue/film in the shape of my Z2 or Z1 strokes on the hood, top of the car and trunk. The residue was a sort of golden/brown color. It wasn't noticeable on the sides of the car, and only the parts that had direct sunlight beaming on it. I suspect that has something to do with it. Also, I allowed the Z2 to dry for about 1.5 hours between each bufff and it was probably about 50-55F in my garage last night.
I got my buffing towel and started buffing it, and it does come off, but it took quite an effort. Basically I had to buff it pretty hard which I thought you weren't supposed to do.
Are these "swirls?" I thought swirls were the tiny scratches caused by cheap towels. It's more of a residue.
I expect that 1.5 hours was probably not enough time at 55F to fully dry the Z2. Did you mix the Z2, with ZFX. Also heavy coats take much longer to dry.
ZFX will prevent streaking in most cases. It catalyzes the Z2/5 much better than Z1.
Even with ZFX it can be challenging for product to cure fully before removal. What was the surface temp of the vehicle (not air temp)? If it was humid that too will affect cure rates.
This happens all the time with high-content carnauba waxes and many glazes so its not some Zaino-exclusive situation. Usually a squirt of quick detail spray like Z6, or even distilled water, will take care of the problem. No need to rub the heck out of it.
No I didn't use ZFX. I'm just starting to understand what it is actually.
I live in San Francisco, and pretty near the ocean. It gets pretty chilly here and the humidity is pretty high (usually 70~75% humidity). I'm not sure what the car's surface temp was, but the air temp was about 50-55F and the car was totally cool (no driving, sitting idle for minimum 3hrs).
I think you're right about it not drying completely. Without the ZFX it looks like I'll need at least 3hrs to dry in my environment, but how long do you think I'll need to wait with the ZFX? Such long drying times makes it hard to put on multiple coats in one day.
Otherwise, my car looks awesome. It's been a while since I saw a car this shiny. Great stuff!
I think the real secret in the Zaino process is the claying.
You need to get the grime and grease off the car for an effective Z1 Z2 AND Z6 application.
By the way- I washed my car yesterday with Sal's car wash and I did not need the Z6 for a shiny look. The multiple coats I put on back in November is still holding up.I can't wait for May when the weather is a bit warmenr to start Zeeeing again.
I finally got to do a wash yesterday....65 degrees and sunny (very "un-February-like").
After 6 months of "no Zaino", the shine snapped right back after a quick finish with Z6.
Can't wait to do a detail with the new Z5 formulation in about the next 4-5 weeks.
fastdriver....I'm finally getting my routines down for car care...it's to the point I can wash/dry/Z6 in about 30-40 minutes. I can add an application of Z2/ZFX with the wash and be done witin an hour. Maybe not laziness...but certainly becoming more efficient. Plus, over the past year or so, my cars have become smaller.
Aside from the high humidity and low ambient temperature working against you to greatly delay the drying time, it also sounds as though you may have applied TOO MUCH POLISH, and this common error will only further impede the drying-time under non-ideal conditions such as you've described. In addition, I wonder if you may not have used a sufficient number of clean, white, cotton towels to remove the polish (or that you may not have turned to the clean sides of your towels frequently enough), since these errors will result in towels quickly becoming over-ladened and TACKY with polish residue, especially if the polish has been applied too heavily in the first place. Once this happens, you'll be merely smearing excess polish residue over the finish, rather than efficiently and cleanly removing it. [This is why I advocate using a LARGE number of clean and suitable towels, especially for those who are new to Zaino products. (I'm also wondering if you may have applied any type of fabric softener to your towel or towels? This is a no-no.)]
Polyester, you wrote "...I was working in the garage last night with lights when I was doing the Z2. This morning, I drove it out in the sun to see if I missed any spots and I noticed this very faint residue/film in the shape of my Z2 or Z1 strokes on the hood, top of the car and trunk. The residue was a sort of golden/brown color..."
Your mention of this "golden/brown" residue would concern me a bit. According to Sal Zaino, 90-95% (or more) of new vehicles are CLEARCOATED, and unless one rubs through the clearcoat, there should not be any paint pigment on the towels. So, if this golden/brown colored residue is coming off of your new car finish onto a white cotton towel, you've gotta wonder where it's coming from. Could it be due to: 1) Residual surface contaminates on an otherwise well clearcoated finish? 2) The absence of a clearcoat (or too thin a clearcoat) in the first place, resulting in small amounts of paint pigments (which may not always look the same as the car's composite color) being deposited onto the white towel, especially if the finish is rubbed too vigorously? 3) Improper use of an electric buffer on the finish at any time in the life of the vehicle, which could remove or burn-off enough of the clearcoat (if present in the first place) to begin exposing the underlaying paint pigments? (The fact that you noticed the golden/brown residue only on the TOP surfaces of the car should raise this suspicion, big time.) Did you (or any dealer previously in possession of your vehicle) by chance order ANY type of "finish protection" package that may have unknowingly involved some fool working-over your vehicle's finish with an orbital buffer?
Hello everyone. Glad to see the regulars are still here. Sorry I have been MIA for a while. Couple of things to report.
Everyone is surprise that our Ody is so dirty, especially the treatment I was giving it last year. I told them, don't worry when the weather starts warming up, she will shine again. They would tell me to bring it to a car wash. I would tell them "ABSOLUTELY NOT". I know this baby is protected, I gave it a good 7- 10 coats of Z2 and Z5 before mother nature opened up the skies and let the snow and ice rain on us. No car wash is coming near this car.
You probably should have 2-3 mitts on hand and keep swapping them out so one doesn't get totally crud-encrusted. Use a soft bristled brush and focus on the lowest parts of the van since they get a build up of road grime. Clean out the wheelwells as best you can. Use a paint brush or similar around emblems body seams and trim seams. Don't forget to wash out the door jambs.
It'll prolly take you 2-3 buckets full to wash thoroughly. If you don't have spare buckets and mitts, now is the time to get them.
I realize this response is a little late, but I only just saw your post. Also, in the following posts, I didn't see anyone pick up that you described applying a second coat of Z2 on the same day as your first application of Z1 and of Z2. Z2 applied without using ZFX requires a 24-hour cure time before applying additional coats; otherwise, it is like applying Z2 too thickly.
USE OF Z6
In the polish application process, accelerated w/ZFX or not, the Z6 frequently spritzed on the appicator helps apply the polish more thinly and evenly. Also, using immediately after dried polish wipe-off helps even out the polish and, surprise, heighten the gloss.
Regular "maintenance" of the Zaino look consists of washing and drying the vehicle frequently; using the Z7 wash concentrate to do this adds back polish to the paint. Doing a Z6 wipedown of the vehicle after a wash and dry will also add polish and gloss to the surface.
If you can remove all the dust that may be on you vehicle between washings with a duster or towel, you can then also use Z6 as a "quick detailer" afterwards.
This maintenance routine will keep your vehicle looking good for longer periods, minimizing the need to reapply polish and saving you time in the long run.
While I'm here I guess I'll take a crack at these:
1. For regular glass cleaning, use an automotive glass cleaner and a microfiber towel. Household cleaners simply do not cut it and should be left under the sink. A glass polish is nice to use once or twice a year when you want to remove embedded crud and really give your glass some TLC, but its overkill beyond that. Some good glass cleaners are Stoner Invisible Glass, Eagle One 20/20, and Sprayway glass cleaner. Stoner and E1 can be found at WalMart and any parts store in the nation. Sprayway is sold at Restoration Hardware and other similar stores. All are available online from many sources.
A dedicated glass cleaning microfiber towel cannot be beat. Anyone who recommends a cotton towel simply has never used microfiber. It took me 20 years of detailing glass to find this ultimate combo, and I've tried a lot of combos. My current glass cleaning towel comes from Autofiber.com so check them out if you're interested.
2. Zaino leather care twins are nice if a bit mild. If you just want to do regular light maintenance cleaning and conditioning, they work fine. But if you need more cleaning power, other products are better IMO. Just today I detailed a '93 Lexus that really needed some serious leather cleaning. Z9 and Z10 wouldn't put much of a dent in this dirt. But for new leather they work well.
3. The killer vac to have is a Metro Vac N Blo. Lightweight, super powerful, quiet, portable, and expensive. Most everyone uses a shop vac of some kind. Next time you're at Lowes or Home Depot, have a look at their selection.
4. If you keep up with the car care all you'll need to clean wheels is soap and water and a soft mitt or brush. If you neglect them then a dedicated wheel cleaner is good to use. Its hard to beat Eagle One A2Z wheel and tire cleaner. A terrific product. Available everywhere.
5. On wood trim I personally like Z6 and a clean microfiber. If you want something with a little polishing action, try Plexus plastic polish, available at motorcycle dealers and online.
That's all I can add. I'm sure others will chime in too with their thoughts.
bretfraz - you piqued my curiosity. I was cleaning my beige leather seats yesterday with Zaino leather cleaner, but it took alot of scrubbing and they're still a little dirty. What other leather cleaner do you recommend with a little more oomph?
I order my Viking's either directly from them or from a supplier who I know stocks the 100% cotton versions. Most retailers stock the polyester/cotton blend mitts so the 100% cotton mitts are kinda hard to find in stores. Another source of 100% cotton mitts is NAPA auto parts.
As for leather cleaner, I use either Pinnacle or Eagle One products for more serious cleaning. A real dirty car needs something like Leatherique for real deep down cleaning (www.leatherique.com).
Comments
Also - There is NOTHING like Zaino. Many of us here have tried everything, and while some others will shine well, they don't last like Zaino. Z is simply the easiest to use with the best performance. No contest.
http://www.roadfly.org/magazine/8/paint_protection_film.1.html
Plexus will also work fine but its not as durable. I've used both products on customer's cars with fine results. As long as its not abrasive, you can use what you like to protect the film.
Bret: why would you want to put Zaino over the plastic sheets installed over the paint job? Does the plastic dull the finished look of the paint? Or is the plastic just very weak? I can understand the use of plastic bra-coverings to protect the front end against sand and stones (having driven on I287!), but does Z enhance the look of the plastic?
I have an '04 BMW X5 (Sterling Gray/Black Leather) and would like to know if you have any recommendations on care products. I hear Zaino is great, but I don't know if it will do good on my vehicle. Also, what do you think of Zymol?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Erin
I was browsing Zaino's website, and I can't figure out how to use this stuff! I have a Sterling Gray X5, and don't know what to do! With the ZFX, do I always add it to Z2, or just once in a while. If I do it once in a while, what do I do for polishing in between? Somebody please post a message with some step by step instructions for me!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
You use Zaino essentially like any car polish, except that it is a LOT easier, shines better and lasts longer.
It is a special polymer, NOT a wax and it does not break down as fast as waxes do. You only need to re-polish every 3-6 months depending on how much your car is outside. In between polishing, you just wash your car with the Zaino Z-7 car wash. It is really best to avoid car washes no matter WHAT kind of polish you use.
While Zaino has a complete "system" of car care products, you really only need the Z2 polish with the ZFX accellerator to speed the curing. It also helps to use the Z6 finishing spritz afterwards to catch any un-removed polish and to add a final gloss.
Unlike waxes, the more Zaino you put on, the shinier your car will get. For the car fanatic, it will provide that "show car look" to any car.
You can read the entire story and all the application instructions, FAQs etc. at www.zainostore.com.
Have fun - we all look forward to your positive results.
Here is the SIMPLEST course -
1. Wash the car with blue Dawn dish detergent to take off all wax and road grease. Dry fully.
2. Mix up some Z2 with a few drops of ZFX added. This is required for the Z2 to stick to your paint.
3. Wipe on the Z2.
4. When dry - wipe off. hard rubbing is NOT required for either step.
If you want a better shine, Repeat 3&4 for 3 coats total in one day.
When finished, spritz with some Z6 and wipe again for max gloss.
THAT'S ALL. If you want higher performance, and better shine, there are other steps you can add. It's all on the Zaino site and we can also help you here.
OK?
In addition to what newwestd says above, the KEY to ZAINO is LIGHT coats! The less, the better. That will be the hardest part of using Zaino because on your color it will be very hard to see where you applied it. Even on my RED car it's hard to see sometimes. If you're sore when you're done with the Zaino process, it won't be from applying the Zaino, it will be from all the bending and twisting you do to see where you applied it! ;-))
Also, for an even better shine, apply the Z6 spritz between each coat of Z2 that you apply. It sounds hard. It sounds crazy, but when you see how easy it is and how your car looks you'll wonder what you were worried about.
Click on my name above and you'll see what Zaino looks like on red. I've been using it since the summer of 98.
fastdriver
-ErinX5
Out of curiosity, among those of you who are applying a mono-coating of Z-6 between each successive application of ZFX/polish, are you merely spraying down the finish with Z-6 and leaving it on without buffing it off, and then proceeding to apply your next coat of polish(?); or are you buffing off the Z-6 before your next coat of polish is applied? Thanks.
I always buff it off too.
fastdriver
I just dampen my applicator with water and save the Z6 for the car. ;-)
fastdriver
Don't know if it accomplishes the same thing as doing a sepetate Z6 wipe-down, but it saves me that one last step.
Any more, the only time I use Z6 as a seperate step is after I wash/dry the car (no Z2/Z5 application). I'll do a quick Z6 wipedown after drying.
"Lazy" would NOT be a word to describe you by a longshot! The way ALL your cars have looked is NOT the sign of a lazy guy. I guess it just goes to show you that no matter HOW each of us uses Z6, the results are the same- BRILLIANT! ;-))
fastdriver
After washing it with Dawn, I applied the Z1. Then I applied 2 coats of Z2 (buffing it off each time of course).
I was working in the garage last night with lights when I was doing the Z2. This morning, I drove it out in the sun to see if I missed any spots and I noticed this very faint residue/film in the shape of my Z2 or Z1 strokes on the hood, top of the car and trunk. The residue was a sort of golden/brown color. It wasn't noticeable on the sides of the car, and only the parts that had direct sunlight beaming on it. I suspect that has something to do with it. Also, I allowed the Z2 to dry for about 1.5 hours between each bufff and it was probably about 50-55F in my garage last night.
I got my buffing towel and started buffing it, and it does come off, but it took quite an effort. Basically I had to buff it pretty hard which I thought you weren't supposed to do.
Are these "swirls?" I thought swirls were the tiny scratches caused by cheap towels. It's more of a residue.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks all.
Even with ZFX it can be challenging for product to cure fully before removal. What was the surface temp of the vehicle (not air temp)? If it was humid that too will affect cure rates.
This happens all the time with high-content carnauba waxes and many glazes so its not some Zaino-exclusive situation. Usually a squirt of quick detail spray like Z6, or even distilled water, will take care of the problem. No need to rub the heck out of it.
I live in San Francisco, and pretty near the ocean. It gets pretty chilly here and the humidity is pretty high (usually 70~75% humidity). I'm not sure what the car's surface temp was, but the air temp was about 50-55F and the car was totally cool (no driving, sitting idle for minimum 3hrs).
I think you're right about it not drying completely. Without the ZFX it looks like I'll need at least 3hrs to dry in my environment, but how long do you think I'll need to wait with the ZFX? Such long drying times makes it hard to put on multiple coats in one day.
Otherwise, my car looks awesome. It's been a while since I saw a car this shiny. Great stuff!
Z6 will easily remove the streaks if you discover them later, or miss some spots during removal.
I think the real secret in the Zaino process is the claying.
You need to get the grime and grease off the car for an effective Z1 Z2 AND Z6 application.
By the way- I washed my car yesterday with Sal's car wash and I did not need the Z6 for a shiny look.
The multiple coats I put on back in November is still holding up.I can't wait for May when the weather is a bit warmenr to start Zeeeing again.
After 6 months of "no Zaino", the shine snapped right back after a quick finish with Z6.
Can't wait to do a detail with the new Z5 formulation in about the next 4-5 weeks.
fastdriver....I'm finally getting my routines down for car care...it's to the point I can wash/dry/Z6 in about 30-40 minutes. I can add an application of Z2/ZFX with the wash and be done witin an hour. Maybe not laziness...but certainly becoming more efficient. Plus, over the past year or so, my cars have become smaller.
Otherwise, the Z-2 won't adhere to the paint or cure properly, as you may have found out.
Polyester, you wrote "...I was working in the garage last night with lights when I was doing the Z2. This morning, I drove it out in the sun to see if I missed any spots and I noticed this very faint residue/film in the shape of my Z2 or Z1 strokes on the hood, top of the car and trunk. The residue was a sort of golden/brown color..."
Your mention of this "golden/brown" residue would concern me a bit. According to Sal Zaino, 90-95% (or more) of new vehicles are CLEARCOATED, and unless one rubs through the clearcoat, there should not be any paint pigment on the towels. So, if this golden/brown colored residue is coming off of your new car finish onto a white cotton towel, you've gotta wonder where it's coming from. Could it be due to: 1) Residual surface contaminates on an otherwise well clearcoated finish? 2) The absence of a clearcoat (or too thin a clearcoat) in the first place, resulting in small amounts of paint pigments (which may not always look the same as the car's composite color) being deposited onto the white towel, especially if the finish is rubbed too vigorously? 3) Improper use of an electric buffer on the finish at any time in the life of the vehicle, which could remove or burn-off enough of the clearcoat (if present in the first place) to begin exposing the underlaying paint pigments? (The fact that you noticed the golden/brown residue only on the TOP surfaces of the car should raise this suspicion, big time.) Did you (or any dealer previously in possession of your vehicle) by chance order ANY type of "finish protection" package that may have unknowingly involved some fool working-over your vehicle's finish with an orbital buffer?
Everyone is surprise that our Ody is so dirty, especially the treatment I was giving it last year. I told them, don't worry when the weather starts warming up, she will shine again. They would tell me to bring it to a car wash. I would tell them "ABSOLUTELY NOT". I know this baby is protected, I gave it a good 7- 10 coats of Z2 and Z5 before mother nature opened up the skies and let the snow and ice rain on us. No car wash is coming near this car.
Do I just do a normal Z7 wash using my wash mit? Or can I use a towel to do a first and 2nd wash just to get the skin of dirt off first.
It'll prolly take you 2-3 buckets full to wash thoroughly. If you don't have spare buckets and mitts, now is the time to get them.
USE OF Z6
In the polish application process, accelerated w/ZFX or not, the Z6 frequently spritzed on the appicator helps apply the polish more thinly and evenly. Also, using immediately after dried polish wipe-off helps even out the polish and, surprise, heighten the gloss.
Regular "maintenance" of the Zaino look consists of washing and drying the vehicle frequently; using the Z7 wash concentrate to do this adds back polish to the paint. Doing a Z6 wipedown of the vehicle after a wash and dry will also add polish and gloss to the surface.
If you can remove all the dust that may be on you vehicle between washings with a duster or towel, you can then also use Z6 as a "quick detailer" afterwards.
This maintenance routine will keep your vehicle looking good for longer periods, minimizing the need to reapply polish and saving you time in the long run.
But pure lambswool mitts work well too. Just a matter of personal pref.
1. For regular glass cleaning, use an automotive glass cleaner and a microfiber towel. Household cleaners simply do not cut it and should be left under the sink. A glass polish is nice to use once or twice a year when you want to remove embedded crud and really give your glass some TLC, but its overkill beyond that. Some good glass cleaners are Stoner Invisible Glass, Eagle One 20/20, and Sprayway glass cleaner. Stoner and E1 can be found at WalMart and any parts store in the nation. Sprayway is sold at Restoration Hardware and other similar stores. All are available online from many sources.
A dedicated glass cleaning microfiber towel cannot be beat. Anyone who recommends a cotton towel simply has never used microfiber. It took me 20 years of detailing glass to find this ultimate combo, and I've tried a lot of combos. My current glass cleaning towel comes from Autofiber.com so check them out if you're interested.
2. Zaino leather care twins are nice if a bit mild. If you just want to do regular light maintenance cleaning and conditioning, they work fine. But if you need more cleaning power, other products are better IMO. Just today I detailed a '93 Lexus that really needed some serious leather cleaning. Z9 and Z10 wouldn't put much of a dent in this dirt. But for new leather they work well.
3. The killer vac to have is a Metro Vac N Blo. Lightweight, super powerful, quiet, portable, and expensive. Most everyone uses a shop vac of some kind. Next time you're at Lowes or Home Depot, have a look at their selection.
4. If you keep up with the car care all you'll need to clean wheels is soap and water and a soft mitt or brush. If you neglect them then a dedicated wheel cleaner is good to use. Its hard to beat Eagle One A2Z wheel and tire cleaner. A terrific product. Available everywhere.
5. On wood trim I personally like Z6 and a clean microfiber. If you want something with a little polishing action, try Plexus plastic polish, available at motorcycle dealers and online.
That's all I can add. I'm sure others will chime in too with their thoughts.
As for leather cleaner, I use either Pinnacle or Eagle One products for more serious cleaning. A real dirty car needs something like Leatherique for real deep down cleaning (www.leatherique.com).