Well, I have a distributor of Z only a few minutes away and he recently rec'd shipment of ZFX. Time is important to me so the thought of spending a few extra bucks to get 3 applic in about 3 hours time, is definitely worth it. Good timing, because I was due for my spring application of Z. I am truly impressed by the durability of Z. Last applic was in Oct 01 and even after a harsh Cdn winter, even the local distributor was amazed at the shine. Never stopped beading.
Anyway, I did the clay, z1 and z5 on Friday evening. Waited until Sun morning to ZFX (can only apply 3 applic in a 24 hour period). Started at 7 am Sun, and was finished at 10 am. Results were amazing as usual. Did my alloy wheels which get stored for the winter. Just can beat the shine.
Just a note. I used just over 1/2 an ounce to do 3 applics on my Subaru Outback including the wheels. You may want to consider mixing 1/2 ounce to start and and mixing more if needed. Once mixed with the accelerator, you need to use it within 6 or 8 hours(?) afterwhich it must be tossed. Another tip which I believe was mentioned before, measure out 1/2 ounce of water, pour it into one bottle that comes with the ZFX kit and mark the level on the bottle using permanent marker. Do the same using one ounce. Makes it easier to measure out amounts and avoids guessing.
Another note. I have been using z since spring 2000, and I'm still on my original bottles of z1(bit over 1/2 full), z2 (just under half), z5(about 1/2) and z6(over half). I had to get my 2nd bottle ever of z7 carwash a few weeks ago. I figure what's left should last me another 2 years.
Unfortunately, we got blasted with a cruel joke of a spring snow storm yesterday.....about 4 inches. Snow will be gone by tomorrow, but damage is done....snow plows were applying salt and sand in full force yesterday. It will take 3 or 4 heavy rains to wash that c@#p off the roads!
Same ol Joe, shooting off his mouth like he's some kind of expert........ too bad the guy is clueless. LOL, whata pinhead...........
Joe, if you and/or any of the Zaino lovers here at Edmunds came over to my house and looked thru my huge stash of car care products, you'd see sample bottles of Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7, and ZFX. Yeah, I've been playing with the stuff. Got three coats of Z5 on my trunk to test swirl mark filling/removing and durability. I've been using the Z6 and Z7 regularly the past few weeks. Haven't used the Z2 or ZFX due to other priorities.
Pinnacle Souveran is a very high quality carnauba wax. Compare it to some of the high end Zymol products like Destiny. Souveran will run you $70/jar at http://www.properautocare.com . You can get Blackfire from the same folks.
When I finish the rest of the car in Z, I'l be sure to let y'all know. I'm sure JOE166, DAVEROSE, and RIC wouldn't pass up a prime chance for more public ridicule.
Come on, joe166 -- brainwashed is a bit strong, particularly when several Z users disagree with what you're saying and you take it personally. If you think you were yelled at, go back and read the factual, measured responses to your posts. They all seem reasonable. There's an old adage that reasonable people can disagree reasonably. Why don't we agree to be reasonable?!?
Bret -- I'm shocked. You're actually trying Zaino! Seriously, I've followed your posts here and on other Edmunds boards, and you and one or two others come across as experts with tons of experience in car care and car care products. I'm curious about what your take will be on Zaino and how you think it compares with your stash of other products. BTW, Z-5 may not be the most appropriate Zaino product to test. I'm not sure it will hide many swirls, and reportedly it won't produce the same deep-look shine of Z-2,.the most widely used Zaino product. (Note, joe166, I actually made a negative comment about Zaino!)
got 5 coats of z5 on my black 320 this weekend followed by z2-that makes 8 z5's-i still have swirls-can i use scratch x over these coats-will it interfere with subsequent bonding of z-my story is proof that no one should allow "dealer prep" on new cars-thanks
Bretfraz is like two different persons. On Autopia he is respectful to All posters...even me. Here on this forum he is very antagonistic for some reason. If he did the same personal attacks there that he has done on Edmunds he would be banned very fast there. It will be interesting to see his review...but I am expecting it to be negative and would be shocked if he has anything nice to say about Zaino products.
For people interested in Blackfire you can search the Autopia forums for reviews. Many users like it very much but a large number of users have reported that it has poor durability...not much better than Carnauba products. There have also been some reports that the Blackfire polish has very strong cleaning ability.
Lots of people love the look of Pinnacle Souveran and its ease of use. Other than its high price and its lack of durability it is a high quality wax to consider if you like the carnauba wax look.
mbdriver: I actually prefer the look of Z5 better than Z2 although I have not tried any from the new batches of Z5 and Z2 that have reported to have been improved even more in recent months. Using a gloss meter, the difference in shine from Z5 and Z2 would be like 90/100 for Z5 and 94/100 for Z2 which may/may not be noticeable to the average person. On another note Z5 does not remove swirl marks/ small scratches: It merely fills them and makes them less noticeable in many types of lighting. Alot depends on the paint, the color, and the type/severity of the scratches/swirls. IMO, unless you are showing your car in car shows and/or your car is rarely driven, it beats using abrasives that remove some of your paint. Over time, with many applications of abrasive products you increase the chance of cutting through the clearcoat and then you will need a new paint job. If you are an ultra perfectionist then you will need abrasives.
Been a Zaino user for a few years. The biggest beef I had with the store bought stuff and the "boutique waxes" (Zymol, etc) was the fact that I was not getting more than a month or two of durability out of them. First heard about Zaino on the LS1 forum (where then Corvette folks hang out). I was actually doing a search looking to buy a Corvette and "happened" upon the Zaino thread. I saw their posted results and was impressed.
Not wanting to use my car as a guinea pig, I put 1 coat of Z1/Z2 on my wife's Avalon first. No claying was involved. I just did one wash with Dawn and applied the Zaino. What I noticed was a shine better than anything I had ever used before. The first coat was put on in the fall. Nothing else was put on her Toyota except that one coat. It lasted through the Fall, the entire Winter (Midwest winters are harsh, too) and the following Spring before I applied another coat.
Long and short of the story was 1 coat of Zaino lasted 6 months and was still shinier than anything I'd seen previously and the Zaino was still protecting. After seeing this result, I became a "Zainoholic" with my own car. My wife, on the other hand, wouldn't wax her car if it wasn't for my nagging. She still only gives it a Zaino coat (Z1 and Z2) once in the spring and once in the fall (about the same frequency she vacuums the interior). That's all she does and though it doesn't look as good as mine (clayed once/year, use Z6 after every Z7 wash, and well over 15 coats on it), it shines very well and I know her finish is protected.
OK, help me out here. I'm a Zaino believer. Have had my product for two years now. Finally need to re-up. I've been following your posts in here for the past three weeks. ZFX sounds like it's the real deal. Still have lots of Z1, but I'm sure that won't be a problem to use. ZFX sounds like a small, small amount for a high price. Can anyone elaborate more on what it is like, and how you mix it? I've got a white Lexus GS400 (white cars suck, cause the shine is never as good as on a colored car). I imagine I will need to re-clay again. Trying to get rid of some light swirling, and Z5 doesn't seem to be doing the trick. If I use 3M product or some other swirl filler, should I use it before Z'ing again, or after?
i have the same question-ive got to get rid of the swirls-but dont know if i need to start over or use 3M over many coats of Z5/2.good luck-maybe youll get some help.
If Z5 is not working to your satisfaction on the swirls than you can try an abrasive product like 3M swirl remover. These products can be difficult to use by hand...alot depends on the number and severity of the swirls/scratches.
In any case, abrasives will remove the Zaino polish so it would be preferable to use before applying additional Zaino coats. Once you get the swirls/scratches taken care of using abrasive polishes you would Dawn wash the areas (to remove any fillers/oils) and then apply the Zaino Polish using Z1 for the first coat or you could use ZFX with the Z2/Z5 polish instead.
Hello, I have been using zaino on my car for about a year now, and it has been great (about 5 coats z-2/z-5). I have also been using the leather conditioner and tire gel, also with great results! Unfortunately, I got into an accident a few weeks ago with a deer and the hood, fender, bumper, door had to be replaced.
After the new parts were painted and put on they put some kind of wax on it that the body shop guy said would be good for about 90 days. Well, I want to get that stuff off in a couple weeks and also reapply zaino on the entire car. There are some swirl marks on the old paint that z-5 couldn't get rid of and also some on the new paint already. Can you recommend a good product to remove light swirl/buff marks? Preferably one that can be applied by hand? Whatever it is, can I just apply it over the zaino and new parts that have wax on them and then dawn wash to get it off the old wax and whatever residue the swirl remover leaves?
Also.. I am going to clay the car again sometime in this whole process, I do not have a zaino clay bar, and I don't want to place an order for just a clay bar. Are there some comparable clay bars out there that will do the trick? If I clay with z-7 do I have to dawn wash again before using z-1, etc?
I know this question may be covered in the 3500+ posts before this one, but it is hard to sort through all the bickering!
I recently tried Zaino for the first time. I wanted to do everything "right", so I garaged the car for a weekend. I did Dawn/clay/Z7/Z1/Z5/Z6, then 2 more coats Z5 and 1 coat Z2 (with Z6 between of course) . My 300M now looks great, but I didn't realize I could become a Zainoholic by going beyond Step 3. They never warned me about this affliction on the Zainobros web site!
We don't want to tell you about the addiction any more than the tobacco companies want to mention the "A" word in their ads. But once you're hooked . . . . . . .
Sorry 'bout the deer! Hope no one was hurt in the acccident. I've had good luck with Meguiar's Scratch X applied by hand. It takes some work, but if you take your time and do not press too hard on the finish the results are worth it. Unlike Z5, this is mildly abrasive so you have to decide how much rubbing you want to do. A "perfect" finish may involve more abrasion than you want on your clearcoat. Whatever swirl remover you use, follow the directions on the product. Wash with Dawn afterwards before claying. After claying, a wash is not a bad idea. I used Z7 mix LIBERALLY as a lube for the clay (1 cap in 16 oz H20). A quick H20 mist with the hose after this clay & I had some nice suds to wipe down- i.e. in essence a Z7 wash.
I have used 3 clays with good success- ClayBrite (my fav, but not widely available outside the Midwest), Meguiar's (a bit soft), and Mother's (intermediate between Megiar's & ClayBrite). The Meguiar's & Mothers clays should be widely available. Whatever clay you use, rub lightly & keep the paint surface moist!!!! If not, the clay will drag and leave clay streaks. These are a pain to remove (may require a shot of WD40 or bug/tar remover), so avoidance is key. Remember that clays will pick up anything, so do not drop your clay bar on the ground. If you do it is ruined since it will pick up dirt & become like sandpaper if you use it again on your paint.
BTW- Try not to let the bickering turn you off to this forum- there really are some good ideas here.
I have used Meguiar's clay, and I was not impressed. It certainly did seem too soft, it started falling apart about halfway through the car. Plus you are supposed to use their quick detailer as a lube, and it is hard to get enough of that stuff on the car for it to work good. Anyway... What stores can I find Claybrite in? I am in the midwest (Manhattan, KS), so perhaps they have it around here.
You also said: "After claying, a wash is not a bad idea"
After claying, wash with Z7. You should only use Dawn on areas you are planning to apply Zaino to for the first time.
I experienced some separation of the Zaino clay bar when I rinsed it off in my Dawn wash water, so that might explain separation in other brands of clay. Subsequent use of the same clay bar and rinsing it in Zaino wash water did not result in any separation.
Hint: use distilled water mixed with the Zaino wash as your clay lubricant. You don't have to worry about mineral residue causing water spots and you can take your time instead of rushing through the process to rinse off the residue before it dries on the paint. Rinsing the separate panels as you finish them would lower your concern for water spots as well.
The distilled water may be a good idea for diluting Z7 for claying. I used tap H2O & had no problems. Our H2O is pretty soft & I was careful not to let the dilute Z7 dry while claying.
I would rec Z7 wash after claying, as there is no need for another harsh Dawn wash.
BTW- In view of the softness of the Meguiar's clay, too much lube may make it fall apart. When I used it in the past I found it worked fine with less lube than other clays. Still, it is not my 1st choice in clays.
I've been using Zaino for the past 8 months and I love it!
Now that winter's over, I've noticed I've got bad swirl marks on my Z'd black '98 Aurora. The swirls weren't there last fall, and look like they were done by an orbital buffer (probably by some teenager at the dealership where I had the car serviced a month or so ago - they must have tried to wash it/polish it for me - not that I noticed at the time :-(
I don't think Z-5 is going to do the trick (I put about 7 or 8 coats of Z-5 on my car when I first got Z, and it helped reduce the visibility of the swirls that were on it when I got the car, but I could still see them a little bit. The new ones look much worse and I am skeptical that Z-5 will hide them).
I've seen recommendations for 2 different 3M products:
Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Paints (39009) Rubbing Compound Fine Cut (39502)
Which should I use?
I presume I'll want to do the Dawn, clay, Z-7, and restart the whole Zaino cycle (probably with ZFX so I can get more coats on - besides, I need to restock)?
I would wash first and try a coat of Z5 first and see what the swirls/scratches look like. If they are too bad then I would go to using an abrasive such as the one above. The abrasive will remove the Zaino polish so this (Z5) step should not cost too much time and besides if it looks good enough you will not need to go through and use abrasives.
It is a lot of work using a product like (39009) by hand if you are doing the whole car. It might be a good idea to visit a site like
Brainwashed?? ;-)) Addicted is more like it! I've been using Zaino since the summer of 1998. Previous to that, I was a fairly regular user of Meguiar's products as well as a ton of other products over the years. Anyway, on my 2 red cars, when I saw that Z shine, that was it. I was hooked. I am a Zainoholic and freely admit to it. I have been having some withdrawal because of our crazy CT weather, but soon I will have a fresh coat of Z on my latest ride.
I got behind reading all the messages here because I had to catch up with another topic that had hundreds of messages from when I was in FL last month. Anyway, I too, am dumbfounded that bretfraz is using Zaino! That really knocked me for a loop because he has been the biggest "detractor", for lack of a better word, of Zaino. If he likes it, that will really floor me. Like I've said many times before- use what you like and what you think looks good on your car. I know the compliments I receive on my car all the time even when it's DIRTY! ;-))
graphicguy-
I thought it was Christine that caught your eye! ;-)) Mmm.....it was those Corvettes instead! Now look- you have your own "Christine" minus the problems, with that gorgeous red color! If that Zaino shine doesn't convince you, nothing will.
pblevine-
LOL... you know we're "all" Zainoholics here who regularly attend the "3 step" program- Z5/Z2/Z6! ;-))
lotech1-
Great pics! Supercharged engine? I ALMOST got one of those before I saw/drove the Acura CL-S. Loved that supercharged engine on my 1996 Buick Riviera. A suggestion for some better pics to show off that Zaino shine- don't take the pics in direct sunlight. Try the shade or at dusk. That Z shine will really show through.
It's the LS without SC. I rented a GS last fall and had a blast but knew it would be too tempting for everyday driving. I'm satisfied with the non-SC 3.8 and have surprised a few unsuspecting "competitors" at the stop lights.
I will try taking some pics as you suggest. My old Nikon probably won't do as well as these new digital cameras, but as my name suggests, I tend to be "lotech" anyways :-)
Washed the car Sunday with Z7 and applied Z2. That really put the shine on it.
Sorry to disappoint, but it was the Zaino'd Corvettes that caught my eye first. Your car was second (but I had already received and applied my "virgin" Zaino coat). I'm still on the lookout for a "project car". Nominees have been a BMW 540i (wrecked...questionable title), '70 Mustang BOSS (lots of hard miles) and chasing the most recent....a red '67 Corvette. Not totally original, but could be brought back to original with a little work (frame, body, engine, trans all with matching numbers). I'm still trying to "justify" such an expensive "toy". Must be my conservative upbringing.
What is it with you and I with red cars, anyway?
Lots of new posters here. Glad to see that.
The more participants, the more experiences and tips to share.
'Sorry I've been away for awhile. My wife had viral pneumonia, ten days in the hospital, and a long recovery. She's on the mend now. And we've had some heavy water usage restrictions due to our lack of rain in the NE area. I'll slowly work my way back into this. Hey, my car went all winter on 3 coats of Z5. Still beads water (er, when it rains!). And I just ordered some more Clay Bar and ZFX. Happy days are here again.
But it was nice enough last Saturday to let me put my "Spring coat" of Z2 on. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and today have been rainy...and it's kind of nice to see the water beading on the car. Pblevine...if you're nice, we'll try to send some of the rain up your way...we've already exceeded our "normal" rainfall for the month of May in just the first week!
LOL... without going to look it up, I always forget which model has the supercharger! I would think that the supercharged Regal must be a blast to drive because it was great in the Riv. Hit the pedal and OFF you went, leaving everyone in the dust! On the smaller/lighter Regal, this engine must be a real blast! Can't wait to see the new pics.
graphicguy-
Oh well, at least Christine was #2! ;-)) Still haven't decided on a project car? Well, that 67 RED Vette sounds nice! How about a 66 Caddy Convertible? A guy at this restaurant by the water that I frequent in the summer, just bought a 1966 Caddy Convertible just like the one I USED to have. Have only seen it at night, but it looks like it was in good shape. I thought that MAYBE it was my old one, but this one did not have the Electric Eye to dim the bright lights or the button on the floor to change the radio stations. I'm sure whatever you get will look great once you're done with it.
pblevine-
Hope your wife is feeling better. My last coat of ZFX/Z5 was on March 9th! My car hasn't been washed in weeks because of the crazy weather that we had for a while. Last Sat. was nice here too, but I have a cold and didn't want to force the issue by getting wet and getting sicker because I feel like crap now. Even dirty, the car looks good, but not the way I like it. Soon, the new pics will come flying out of my camera! ;-)) They are asking that we watch our water too, but no bans yet. That would kill me. Between the lawn and the car, I don't know what I would do! I love the summer!
can you use this with zaino?? i have some scrathes you can see in sunlight or spot light and ive tried z5 with not allot of luck i saw someone ask this question but anyone actually tried it. Like to here the results. thanks
I used the 39009 this last weekend on our dark green Accord to get out some stubborn scratches, from our pre-Zaino days. I found the 39009 was GREAT, but didn't take out all the larger scratches, I should have used the Fine Cut, at least this once.
While it didn't take out all of the scratches, the 39009 gave an incredible gloss to the paint, and with a coat of Z2, the car already looks like it has 4 coats! I can't wait to get another 2-3 coats on, should have ordered the ZFX.
Be aware, the 39009 is a lot of work, even with a power buffer, as you work on one small 2x2' spot until the polish is completely dried and gone, you don't go back and buff it off. It would be a real workout by hand.
In response to mpyne above, you can be assured that any abrasive polish will take off the Zaino, as well as anything else on the paint. After I finished, I washed the car with Z7, then applied Z1 and Z2, with a Z6 spritz, just like the first time. I tell you - wiping all the Zaino on and off was a LOT easier than the polishing!
would the (39009)be to much for my car? it looks perfect except when sunlight hits it or when theres a street light on it. I dont want to strip the clearcoat but the 3m bottle said it was clearcoat safe.
how is the protection of zaino compared to other reputable systems (like klasse)? Does it prevent water spots? Does it protect well from UV sunlight rays? Make dust slip off very easy? etc...
pblevine-welcome back...glad to hear your wife is on the mend.
fastdriver-some days I'm ready to "pull the trigger" on a project car...some days I think I'm "nuts". I haven't had a "fixer-upper" in a while. Last one was a '69 MGB-GT...red, of course. A part of me says restoration of an old car is a "healthy, sane" hobby. The other part of me says "my god, man...are you nuts...it's going to cost you a fortune". It'll take up most of my garage space. Wife is tired of hearing me whine about my long practiced, but sometimes forgotten "hobby". Of course, it'll be her car that's sitting in the driveway instead of the garage.
automophile-had the same experience with the 3M products myself
mpyne-try 2-3 coats of Z5 first. If that doesn't get you the finish you want, then go to the 3M. As automophile points out though, it's a lot of work. 3M will definitely remove Zaino.
badboyee-as most of the posters here will point out, we find that Zaino is the best products we've used regardless of your judging criteria...durability, shine, ease-of-use. Water spots are a result of the hardness of the wash water as well as mineral deposits in said water. I don't know of any wax product that will prevent water spots. Just make sure to not let the water dry on your car after washing. One of Zaino's many attributes is its superlative UV protection. Once applied correctly, Zaino will not only be "dust resistant", you'll find that things like "bug residue", bird droppings, etc. seem to rinse right off.
I am probably going to give the 3M swirl remover (39009) a try next week on my red accord. I was planning on using it by hand.. do you think it would be too difficult to use by hand? I noticed you said it was pretty tough with a power buffer.. but I do not own one of those nor do I have any experience!
I noticed you said you just z-7 washed after you used the stuff.. I was planning on dawn washing afterwards to fully remove whatever residue the 3M stuff left behind?
"dust resistant". I have Z1,Z5,Z2 on my car but it still gets the usual dust haze between washings. I do notice that bug juice is much easier to remove than before.
Anyone know if gas affects Z? At some stations, the pump nozzle seems to dribble a bit of gas after it should shut off. This can lead to some gas dribbling onto the car's paint. I try to wash this off immediately, but I was wondering if that gas would be expected to hurt my layers of Zaino?
I have a Black 2002 Toyota Corolla Type S, and a pearl white Acura 3.2 TL. I used the dawn,clay bar,Z1,Z2.The Toyota came out like glass, with a deep shine. The Acura looks very good but not any better then when I use Collonite.When should I apply another coat to each car? Is the Zaino wax more for dark color cars? How long can I expect the wax to last?
But first of all, robertp4, you don't have any wax on your car, which is why it may look the same for now, but it will stay on the car without losing its shine for far longer than wax.
Yes, the glass-like reflections are easier to see on a black car. In my opinion, you should apply about 3 or 4 coats, allowing at least a day in between for the zaino to cure, (unless you use ZFX, which cures instantly). Do this over the next week or two (or three). You will see the white car start to look better, and the shine on the black car will be amazing. I have a black car myself, and after 3 or 4 coats the difference is amazing.
And it lasts all winter, instead of all month, and is far easier and faster than wax to add coats.
What is the recommended process for using the swirl remover if you plan to also clay? Should the swirl remover be used before claying the car, or vice versa?
A while ago, someone had a good alternative method for plainning down the extra paint left during touch up sessions. 'Looked for it again but could not find it.
Anyway, the method involved using a cotton cloth over a card with a slightly abrasive liquid. Or so I thought. Does anyone remember that method, and what is the abrasive to be used?
'Just ordered the new ZFX product and can't wait to use it. Also, thanks for those kind comments.
I have used the langka, and it works very well, although it takes a little practice to get the hang of it. In any event, it's a solvent that acts on the touch up paint without acting on the car's factory paint job. It is not abraive at all.
The secret to getting a good result is to fill the nick as carefully as possible (with a toothpick), then, after the touch up paint has dried a little bit, wipe off the part of the touch up paint that rises above the factory finish.
If you don't get it right, just wipe everything off and start over. Since it is not an abrasive, nothing harms the paint, so you can keep at it until you get it just right, or good enough for you.
I was in the service in Germany in 1969 and purchased an MGC. Looks the same as a B but has a raised portion "in the Bonnet" where the carbs are and a 6 banger like the TR6's. It was a sweet car until I took it off the road one night doing about 90 after a few too many Hoffbraus. Now that would be a car worth working on!
Thanks. I looked at their site, and the product looks very interesting. I'll try it. Presently, I've been using a very fine emery cloth cut to fit the eraser top of a pencil. I'd glue the emery "cicle" to the rubber eraser and spin it on top of the blob of dried touch up paint. It works, but is a slow process. And the emery cloth prep takes time and doesn't last very long. Maybe there is a better way!
DISCLAIMER- This may not be safe for all paints, particularly non-factory finishes!!!! Try this at your own risk!!!!! It seems to work for me, but ONLY on small (1-3mm) stone-chip damage. Larger spots have never yielded a smooth final result. Based on an old-time mechanic's trick, I've used gas in a manner similar to the langka process. I let the touch-up paint dry only about 5-10 min, then take a flat cotton cloth (e.g. old t-shirt material) moisted with gas to LIGHTLY rub the spot down to match the level of the surrounding stock paint. If you wipe off too much of the touch-up paint, clean out the spot with rubbing alcohol, let dry, and try it again. This takes a light touch, and should NEVER be done in an enclosed area or (God forbid!) while smoking!!!!!
lotech1--I have a red (300M) car and the dust doesn't visibly adhere to my car. That said, it could be because of the color or that the dust in my area isn't as "fine" as I've seen in other areas. As an example, I washed my car two weeks ago. I had someone come up to me yesterday and asked me if I'd just washed/waxed my car. I know that there's dirt/dust on it, but it seems as if I don't have to wash it as often with Zaino on it.
norwesterner--my MGB-GT had the 4-banger. Had the original wood steering wheel and dash. It was fun to drive. I can only imagine what it would have been like with the 6-cyl. Biggest problems with it were typical of the breed...electronics and carbs. But when it ran, it was a blast. Not something that I would want to do any "off-roading" with, though. After I did some interior refurbishing (new carpeting and toggle switches), repainted it (no rust on it at all), totally re-wired it (all factory parts with the battery in the back seat), and rebuilt the carbs (they still needed constant adjustment), a guy in a mall parking lot asked me if I wanted to sell it. I thought he was joking. He said he was a cash buyer. I really had no intention of selling it. I had bought it for $2,000 and put another $800 into it (plus my sweat equity). I told him $5,500 (early '80s dollars). He negotiated it down to $5,300, gave me $200 on the spot (and still in the parking lot). I wrote him a receipt on the back of one of one of my business cards. Mr Buyer came back to my apartment later in the evening with 51 hundred dollar bills and drove away with it. He asked me to mail the title to him after transfer (which I did). Never saw him or the car again. Wonder what it's worth today?
Comments
Anyway, I did the clay, z1 and z5 on Friday evening. Waited until Sun morning to ZFX (can only apply 3 applic in a 24 hour period). Started at 7 am Sun, and was finished at 10 am. Results were amazing as usual. Did my alloy wheels which get stored for the winter. Just can beat the shine.
Just a note. I used just over 1/2 an ounce to do 3 applics on my Subaru Outback including the wheels. You may want to consider mixing 1/2 ounce to start and and mixing more if needed. Once mixed with the accelerator, you need to use it within 6 or 8 hours(?) afterwhich it must be tossed. Another tip which I believe was mentioned before, measure out 1/2 ounce of water, pour it into one bottle that comes with the ZFX kit and mark the level on the bottle using permanent marker. Do the same using one ounce. Makes it easier to measure out amounts and avoids guessing.
Another note. I have been using z since spring 2000, and I'm still on my original bottles of z1(bit over 1/2 full), z2 (just under half), z5(about 1/2) and z6(over half). I had to get my 2nd bottle ever of z7 carwash a few weeks ago. I figure what's left should last me another 2 years.
Unfortunately, we got blasted with a cruel joke of a spring snow storm yesterday.....about 4 inches. Snow will be gone by tomorrow, but damage is done....snow plows were applying salt and sand in full force yesterday. It will take 3 or 4 heavy rains to wash that c@#p off the roads!
Joe, if you and/or any of the Zaino lovers here at Edmunds came over to my house and looked thru my huge stash of car care products, you'd see sample bottles of Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7, and ZFX. Yeah, I've been playing with the stuff. Got three coats of Z5 on my trunk to test swirl mark filling/removing and durability. I've been using the Z6 and Z7 regularly the past few weeks. Haven't used the Z2 or ZFX due to other priorities.
Pinnacle Souveran is a very high quality carnauba wax. Compare it to some of the high end Zymol products like Destiny. Souveran will run you $70/jar at http://www.properautocare.com . You can get Blackfire from the same folks.
When I finish the rest of the car in Z, I'l be sure to let y'all know. I'm sure JOE166, DAVEROSE, and RIC wouldn't pass up a prime chance for more public ridicule.
Have a good week, everyone.
Bret -- I'm shocked. You're actually trying Zaino! Seriously, I've followed your posts here and on other Edmunds boards, and you and one or two others come across as experts with tons of experience in car care and car care products. I'm curious about what your take will be on Zaino and how you think it compares with your stash of other products. BTW, Z-5 may not be the most appropriate Zaino product to test. I'm not sure it will hide many swirls, and reportedly it won't produce the same deep-look shine of Z-2,.the most widely used Zaino product. (Note, joe166, I actually made a negative comment about Zaino!)
It will be interesting to see his review...but I am expecting it to be negative and would be shocked if he has anything nice to say about Zaino products.
For people interested in Blackfire you can search the Autopia forums for reviews. Many users like it very much but a large number of users have reported that it has poor durability...not much better than Carnauba products. There have also been some reports that the Blackfire polish has very strong cleaning ability.
Lots of people love the look of Pinnacle Souveran and its ease of use. Other than its high price and its lack of durability it is a high quality wax to consider if you like the carnauba wax look.
mbdriver: I actually prefer the look of Z5 better than Z2 although I have not tried any from the new batches of Z5 and Z2 that have reported to have been improved even more in recent months. Using a gloss meter, the difference in shine from Z5 and Z2 would be like 90/100 for Z5 and 94/100 for Z2 which may/may not be noticeable to the average person.
On another note Z5 does not remove swirl marks/ small scratches: It merely fills them and makes them less noticeable in many types of lighting. Alot depends on the paint, the color, and the type/severity of the scratches/swirls. IMO, unless you are showing your car in car shows and/or your car is rarely driven, it beats using abrasives that remove some of your paint. Over time, with many applications of abrasive products you increase the chance of cutting through the clearcoat and then you will need a new paint job. If you are an ultra perfectionist then you will need abrasives.
RIC on Autopia, Joebob6 on Edmunds
Not wanting to use my car as a guinea pig, I put 1 coat of Z1/Z2 on my wife's Avalon first. No claying was involved. I just did one wash with Dawn and applied the Zaino. What I noticed was a shine better than anything I had ever used before. The first coat was put on in the fall. Nothing else was put on her Toyota except that one coat. It lasted through the Fall, the entire Winter (Midwest winters are harsh, too) and the following Spring before I applied another coat.
Long and short of the story was 1 coat of Zaino lasted 6 months and was still shinier than anything I'd seen previously and the Zaino was still protecting. After seeing this result, I became a "Zainoholic" with my own car. My wife, on the other hand, wouldn't wax her car if it wasn't for my nagging. She still only gives it a Zaino coat (Z1 and Z2) once in the spring and once in the fall (about the same frequency she vacuums the interior). That's all she does and though it doesn't look as good as mine (clayed once/year, use Z6 after every Z7 wash, and well over 15 coats on it), it shines very well and I know her finish is protected.
Zainoholic = What you become after Step 3 (LOL).
re-up. I've been following your posts in here for the past three weeks. ZFX sounds like it's the real deal. Still have lots of Z1, but I'm sure that won't be a problem to use. ZFX sounds like a small, small amount for a high price. Can anyone elaborate more on what it is like, and how you mix it? I've got a white Lexus GS400 (white cars suck, cause the shine is never as good as on a colored car). I imagine I will need to re-clay again. Trying to get rid of some light swirling, and Z5 doesn't seem to be doing the trick. If I use 3M product or some other swirl filler, should I use it before Z'ing again, or after?
In any case, abrasives will remove the Zaino polish so it would be preferable to use before applying additional Zaino coats. Once you get the swirls/scratches taken care of using abrasive polishes you would Dawn wash the areas (to remove any fillers/oils) and then apply the Zaino Polish using Z1 for the first coat or you could use ZFX with the Z2/Z5 polish instead.
Rather than cutting and pasting you can read about ZFX on the Zaino Bros website. http://www.zainobros.com/files/application.htm
Scroll down about half the page.
The vial of ZFX has enough drops to treat about 16 ounces of polish.
After the new parts were painted and put on they put some kind of wax on it that the body shop guy said would be good for about 90 days. Well, I want to get that stuff off in a couple weeks and also reapply zaino on the entire car. There are some swirl marks on the old paint that z-5 couldn't get rid of and also some on the new paint already. Can you recommend a good product to remove light swirl/buff marks? Preferably one that can be applied by hand? Whatever it is, can I just apply it over the zaino and new parts that have wax on them and then dawn wash to get it off the old wax and whatever residue the swirl remover leaves?
Also.. I am going to clay the car again sometime in this whole process, I do not have a zaino clay bar, and I don't want to place an order for just a clay bar. Are there some comparable clay bars out there that will do the trick? If I clay with z-7 do I have to dawn wash again before using z-1, etc?
I know this question may be covered in the 3500+ posts before this one, but it is hard to sort through all the bickering!
I recently tried Zaino for the first time. I wanted to do everything "right", so I garaged the car for a weekend. I did Dawn/clay/Z7/Z1/Z5/Z6, then 2 more coats Z5 and 1 coat Z2 (with Z6 between of course) . My 300M now looks great, but I didn't realize I could become a Zainoholic by going beyond Step 3. They never warned me about this affliction on the Zainobros web site!
Jon
Sorry 'bout the deer! Hope no one was hurt in the acccident.
I've had good luck with Meguiar's Scratch X applied by hand. It takes some work, but if you take your time and do not press too hard on the finish the results are worth it. Unlike Z5, this is mildly abrasive so you have to decide how much rubbing you want to do. A "perfect" finish may involve more abrasion than you want on your clearcoat.
Whatever swirl remover you use, follow the directions on the product. Wash with Dawn afterwards before claying. After claying, a wash is not a bad idea. I used Z7 mix LIBERALLY as a lube for the clay (1 cap in 16 oz H20). A quick H20 mist with the hose after this clay & I had some nice suds to wipe down- i.e. in essence a Z7 wash.
I have used 3 clays with good success- ClayBrite (my fav, but not widely available outside the Midwest), Meguiar's (a bit soft), and Mother's (intermediate between Megiar's & ClayBrite). The Meguiar's & Mothers clays should be widely available. Whatever clay you use, rub lightly & keep the paint surface moist!!!! If not, the clay will drag and leave clay streaks. These are a pain to remove (may require a shot of WD40 or bug/tar remover), so avoidance is key. Remember that clays will pick up anything, so do not drop your clay bar on the ground. If you do it is ruined since it will pick up dirt & become like sandpaper if you use it again on your paint.
BTW- Try not to let the bickering turn you off to this forum- there really are some good ideas here.
Jon
I have used Meguiar's clay, and I was not impressed. It certainly did seem too soft, it started falling apart about halfway through the car. Plus you are supposed to use their quick detailer as a lube, and it is hard to get enough of that stuff on the car for it to work good. Anyway... What stores can I find Claybrite in? I am in the midwest (Manhattan, KS), so perhaps they have it around here.
You also said:
"After claying, a wash is not a bad idea"
Is this a dawn wash or a z-7 wash?
I experienced some separation of the Zaino clay bar when I rinsed it off in my Dawn wash water, so that might explain separation in other brands of clay. Subsequent use of the same clay bar and rinsing it in Zaino wash water did not result in any separation.
Hint: use distilled water mixed with the Zaino wash as your clay lubricant. You don't have to worry about mineral residue causing water spots and you can take your time instead of rushing through the process to rinse off the residue before it dries on the paint. Rinsing the separate panels as you finish them would lower your concern for water spots as well.
Hope this helps.
Jon, you shalt be spending many hours in this message thread. "And the Zaino Bros looked down on their flock of Zainoids and all was well" ;^)
The distilled water may be a good idea for diluting Z7 for claying. I used tap H2O & had no problems. Our H2O is pretty soft & I was careful not to let the dilute Z7 dry while claying.
I would rec Z7 wash after claying, as there is no need for another harsh Dawn wash.
BTW- In view of the softness of the Meguiar's clay, too much lube may make it fall apart. When I used it in the past I found it worked fine with less lube than other clays. Still, it is not my 1st choice in clays.
Jon
Now that winter's over, I've noticed I've got bad swirl marks on my Z'd black '98 Aurora. The swirls weren't there last fall, and look like they were done by an orbital buffer (probably by some teenager at the dealership where I had the car serviced a month or so ago - they must have tried to wash it/polish it for me - not that I noticed at the time :-(
I don't think Z-5 is going to do the trick (I put about 7 or 8 coats of Z-5 on my car when I first got Z, and it helped reduce the visibility of the swirls that were on it when I got the car, but I could still see them a little bit. The new ones look much worse and I am skeptical that Z-5 will hide them).
I've seen recommendations for 2 different 3M products:
Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Paints (39009)
Rubbing Compound Fine Cut (39502)
Which should I use?
I presume I'll want to do the Dawn, clay, Z-7, and restart the whole Zaino cycle (probably with ZFX so I can get more coats on - besides, I need to restock)?
Your expert advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
--Robert
P.S. pics of the dirty car (showing the swirl marks) at http://homepage.mac.com/hammen/
I would wash first and try a coat of Z5 first and see what the swirls/scratches look like. If they are too bad then I would go to using an abrasive such as the one above. The abrasive will remove the Zaino polish so this (Z5) step should not cost too much time and besides if it looks good enough you will not need to go through and use abrasives.
It is a lot of work using a product like (39009) by hand if you are doing the whole car. It might be a good idea to visit a site like
http://www.Autopia-Carport.com to learn about swirl removal using abrasive products.
Brainwashed?? ;-)) Addicted is more like it! I've been using Zaino since the summer of 1998. Previous to that, I was a fairly regular user of Meguiar's products as well as a ton of other products over the years. Anyway, on my 2 red cars, when I saw that Z shine, that was it. I was hooked. I am a Zainoholic and freely admit to it. I have been having some withdrawal because of our crazy CT weather, but soon I will have a fresh coat of Z on my latest ride.
I got behind reading all the messages here because I had to catch up with another topic that had hundreds of messages from when I was in FL last month. Anyway, I too, am dumbfounded that bretfraz is using Zaino! That really knocked me for a loop because he has been the biggest "detractor", for lack of a better word, of Zaino. If he likes it, that will really floor me. Like I've said many times before- use what you like and what you think looks good on your car. I know the compliments I receive on my car all the time even when it's DIRTY! ;-))
graphicguy-
I thought it was Christine that caught your eye! ;-)) Mmm.....it was those Corvettes instead! Now look- you have your own "Christine" minus the problems, with that gorgeous red color! If that Zaino shine doesn't convince you, nothing will.
pblevine-
LOL... you know we're "all" Zainoholics here who regularly attend the "3 step" program- Z5/Z2/Z6! ;-))
lotech1-
Great pics! Supercharged engine? I ALMOST got one of those before I saw/drove the Acura CL-S. Loved that supercharged engine on my 1996 Buick Riviera. A suggestion for some better pics to show off that Zaino shine- don't take the pics in direct sunlight. Try the shade or at dusk. That Z shine will really show through.
fastdriver
I will try taking some pics as you suggest. My old Nikon probably won't do as well as these new digital cameras, but as my name suggests, I tend to be "lotech" anyways :-)
Washed the car Sunday with Z7 and applied Z2. That really put the shine on it.
What is it with you and I with red cars, anyway?
Lots of new posters here. Glad to see that.
The more participants, the more experiences and tips to share.
LOL... without going to look it up, I always forget which model has the supercharger! I would think that the supercharged Regal must be a blast to drive because it was great in the Riv. Hit the pedal and OFF you went, leaving everyone in the dust! On the smaller/lighter Regal, this engine must be a real blast! Can't wait to see the new pics.
graphicguy-
Oh well, at least Christine was #2! ;-)) Still haven't decided on a project car? Well, that 67 RED Vette sounds nice! How about a 66 Caddy Convertible? A guy at this restaurant by the water that I frequent in the summer, just bought a 1966 Caddy Convertible just like the one I USED to have. Have only seen it at night, but it looks like it was in good shape. I thought that MAYBE it was my old one, but this one did not have the Electric Eye to dim the bright lights or the button on the floor to change the radio stations. I'm sure whatever you get will look great once you're done with it.
pblevine-
Hope your wife is feeling better. My last coat of ZFX/Z5 was on March 9th! My car hasn't been washed in weeks because of the crazy weather that we had for a while. Last Sat. was nice here too, but I have a cold and didn't want to force the issue by getting wet and getting sicker because I feel like crap now. Even dirty, the car looks good, but not the way I like it. Soon, the new pics will come flying out of my camera! ;-)) They are asking that we watch our water too, but no bans yet. That would kill me. Between the lawn and the car, I don't know what I would do! I love the summer!
fastdriver
i have some scrathes you can see in sunlight or spot light and ive tried z5 with not allot of luck
i saw someone ask this question but anyone actually tried it. Like to here the results.
thanks
While it didn't take out all of the scratches, the 39009 gave an incredible gloss to the paint, and with a coat of Z2, the car already looks like it has 4 coats! I can't wait to get another 2-3 coats on, should have ordered the ZFX.
Be aware, the 39009 is a lot of work, even with a power buffer, as you work on one small 2x2' spot until the polish is completely dried and gone, you don't go back and buff it off. It would be a real workout by hand.
In response to mpyne above, you can be assured that any abrasive polish will take off the Zaino, as well as anything else on the paint. After I finished, I washed the car with Z7, then applied Z1 and Z2, with a Z6 spritz, just like the first time. I tell you - wiping all the Zaino on and off was a LOT easier than the polishing!
thanks again
fastdriver-some days I'm ready to "pull the trigger" on a project car...some days I think I'm "nuts". I haven't had a "fixer-upper" in a while. Last one was a '69 MGB-GT...red, of course. A part of me says restoration of an old car is a "healthy, sane" hobby. The other part of me says "my god, man...are you nuts...it's going to cost you a fortune". It'll take up most of my garage space. Wife is tired of hearing me whine about my long practiced, but sometimes forgotten "hobby". Of course, it'll be her car that's sitting in the driveway instead of the garage.
automophile-had the same experience with the 3M products myself
mpyne-try 2-3 coats of Z5 first. If that doesn't get you the finish you want, then go to the 3M. As automophile points out though, it's a lot of work. 3M will definitely remove Zaino.
badboyee-as most of the posters here will point out, we find that Zaino is the best products we've used regardless of your judging criteria...durability, shine, ease-of-use. Water spots are a result of the hardness of the wash water as well as mineral deposits in said water. I don't know of any wax product that will prevent water spots. Just make sure to not let the water dry on your car after washing. One of Zaino's many attributes is its superlative UV protection. Once applied correctly, Zaino will not only be "dust resistant", you'll find that things like "bug residue", bird droppings, etc. seem to rinse right off.
I noticed you said you just z-7 washed after you used the stuff.. I was planning on dawn washing afterwards to fully remove whatever residue the 3M stuff left behind?
Jon
Yes, the glass-like reflections are easier to see on a black car. In my opinion, you should apply about 3 or 4 coats, allowing at least a day in between for the zaino to cure, (unless you use ZFX, which cures instantly). Do this over the next week or two (or three). You will see the white car start to look better, and the shine on the black car will be amazing. I have a black car myself, and after 3 or 4 coats the difference is amazing.
And it lasts all winter, instead of all month, and is far easier and faster than wax to add coats.
You will believe.
Anyway, the method involved using a cotton cloth over a card with a slightly abrasive liquid. Or so I thought. Does anyone remember that method, and what is the abrasive to be used?
'Just ordered the new ZFX product and can't wait to use it. Also, thanks for those kind comments.
The secret to getting a good result is to fill the nick as carefully as possible (with a toothpick), then, after the touch up paint has dried a little bit, wipe off the part of the touch up paint that rises above the factory finish.
If you don't get it right, just wipe everything off and start over. Since it is not an abrasive, nothing harms the paint, so you can keep at it until you get it just right, or good enough for you.
Good luck.
Maybe there is a better way!
Based on an old-time mechanic's trick, I've used gas in a manner similar to the langka process. I let the touch-up paint dry only about 5-10 min, then take a flat cotton cloth (e.g. old t-shirt material) moisted with gas to LIGHTLY rub the spot down to match the level of the surrounding stock paint. If you wipe off too much of the touch-up paint, clean out the spot with rubbing alcohol, let dry, and try it again. This takes a light touch, and should NEVER be done in an enclosed area or (God forbid!) while smoking!!!!!
Jon
norwesterner--my MGB-GT had the 4-banger. Had the original wood steering wheel and dash. It was fun to drive. I can only imagine what it would have been like with the 6-cyl. Biggest problems with it were typical of the breed...electronics and carbs. But when it ran, it was a blast. Not something that I would want to do any "off-roading" with, though. After I did some interior refurbishing (new carpeting and toggle switches), repainted it (no rust on it at all), totally re-wired it (all factory parts with the battery in the back seat), and rebuilt the carbs (they still needed constant adjustment), a guy in a mall parking lot asked me if I wanted to sell it. I thought he was joking. He said he was a cash buyer. I really had no intention of selling it. I had bought it for $2,000 and put another $800 into it (plus my sweat equity). I told him $5,500 (early '80s dollars). He negotiated it down to $5,300, gave me $200 on the spot (and still in the parking lot). I wrote him a receipt on the back of one of one of my business cards. Mr Buyer came back to my apartment later in the evening with 51 hundred dollar bills and drove away with it. He asked me to mail the title to him after transfer (which I did). Never saw him or the car again. Wonder what it's worth today?