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Comments
Oh well. :-)
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
Objection! your honor - he was only responding to being called a "shill" on the SBW board.
Overruled. Proceed with your testimony
Well, your honor, I wanted a shiny car, but I wasn't about to take somebodys' word that "it shines better than anything else I've used". I want specifics. Now, nevermind that I never posted anything to the offending board, asking for real life comparisons...I KNOW that they have some sort of financial stake in the company. No, your honor, I'd rather deal with a company that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, if it's sold in stores then I can believe statements like "Meguires Medallion rules!".
Objection your honor...we don't know that the "rules" poster isn't a majority stockholder in Meguires.
Objection sustained - the jury is instructed to disregard the witnesses last statement.
The prosecution rests. The defendant takes the stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
I do.
Did you in fact call the plaintiff a "Luddite"?
Yes, your honor, I did. I'd like to change my plea and go ahead and plead guilty as charged. You should throw the book and me, and all the other "jerks". I'd rather be a jerk than a Luddite.
This court accepts your plea of guilty. Say, nice shine on your car, do you use a product sold by a publicly traded company?
No, your honor, it's Zaino...only jerks know about it.
Well, call me a jerk. I sentance you to 3 hours of community service, which you can spend doing a Z1 and Z2 treatment to my car.
AND - PAT455
Yes, it is due to your suggestion next door that I suggested here that we have name change. Thanks for the idea! I REALLY don't mean to start anything, but I was so grateful to find out about Zaino, it has made my life so much easier, that it is unjsut if others cannot find it easily here.
Just as I asked the other group to do, please get back on topic. Give Bruce and me the time we need to figure out what we are going to do.I agree to disagree in a civil manner should I take issue with the statements of another Town Hall participant or any Edmunds.com, Inc. Editor or content contributor. I understand that civility and respect underlie the success of an on-line community such as Town Hall.
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
pjyoung- that was probably me WAY back talking about the multiple coats. It's so easy that it can be accomplished in 45 minutes or so. I never clayed my car and I think it looks great! Imagine what it would look like if I did clay it. ;-))
automophile- I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER TRIP WITH NO COMPUTER ACCESS! :-))))))))))) I like the topic- "Why I stopped waxing my car and switched to
Zaino polish." because Zaino is a polish and NOT a wax. Putting wax in the topic will confuse people and make them think that it's like everything else. We ALL know that's not the case!
This Free Internet thing is great. I'm in New Hampshire surfing for FREE! Dialed a local number and that's it! The only downside so far is the annoying little rectangular ad banner on the screen. There must be someway to get rid of it. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out on the PowerBook.
fastdriver
fastdriver
Jeff
One of the more useful outcomes of the day was the establishment (this is a new car) of the "standard work" of going over this particular vehicle--since the Zaino stuff doesn't haze nearly as noticeably as wax (especially the Z1), it's worthwhile to have a specific order for going over the car. Anyway, after the seven trips around the car (Dawn, clay, Z7, dry, Z1, Z2, buff), I've got the routine down pretty well.
As for the time involved. When I was still undecided about going through all this, one of the folks on this board pointed out that after the initial application was made, one of the major benefits was how little time needed to be spent in the future. I bought the concept, and it's quite apparent that the Z1 & Z2 trips around the car go way faster than the washing, and way, way faster than the claying. In any event, what I'm looking forward to now (hopefully a few weeks in the future, when the car's dirty again) is a fairly quick wash w/ Z7, rinse, dry, and maybe a shot of Z6. Based on what I saw today, that isn't going to take very long. The whole job probably took about 3.5 or 4 hours (not counting drying time). I'm sure I could have been more careful in some areas, and it's not an especially large car (Lincoln LS), but overall I was pretty satisfied. Things were looking better enough as I went that it wasn't tedious.
Claying -- now this was interesting. I didn't really get much off the car, so I have to assume it was fairly well protected during shipment, and the desert climate here may not have the number of impurities in the air that there are elsewhere. I was able to pull off some crud on the areas behind the wheels, and a few other places, but all-in-all, I'm not sure it was worth the effort. The product, however, is great. After I got the hang of using it, I went over to the minivan, which has had tar on it for months (which has resisted everything else), and the clay pulled it right off -- fair amount of elbow grease required, but good progress and a clean result at the end. Also was able to do about a 6" square on the hood that had "mystery spots" all over, once again that had responded to nothing else. The clay made them go away, once again with a fair amount of rubbing. The stuff's good, but I'm (as I said before) not entirely convinced it's worthwhile on a brand new car. Of course, you'll never know till you do it -- the stuff it pulls off is right there to see (or not). Probably the most frustrating event of the day was trying to get the cellophane (or whatever) off the clay so I could use it. The clay wanted to hang on to that plastic just as hard as it later hung onto the crud. Anyone else had that problem, or figure out how to deal with it?
Now, how does it look? Good. Really good. Better than a standard wax job? Not that I can tell, but then again, I've only got one coat of Z2 on. I'll put another one on tomorrow, and that'll probably be it for now. If my Miata that came with Polyglycoat is any example, the big feature is going to be ease of maintenance. Was it worth it? Would I do it again? Yup.
Congratulations! The hard part is done. The rest is a piece of cake. Not sure what color your car is, but you will see a difference with more coats of Z-2/Z-6. I never clayed mine because I didn't know about clay then. My car looks great.
You won't believe what it looks like after a rainstorm. It'll look like you just washed it.
fastdriver
That is a very thoughtful title. I hope we can come up with more, and one can be adopted.
I hope you all know I'mm not trying to start a battle, but just can't understand why someone would be so closed-minded to something new to freak out at even the mention. ??? I have had a couple of nice emails with brefraz to try to understand each other.
cdnpinhead - The plastic IS a problem, isn't it! I also was not too impressed after the first coat. But after the second - WOWEE!
fastdriver - Off on another Holiday trip? Trying to get the max mileage out of Christine before she goes back? LOL! Enjoy, and send some nice digiphotos of beautiful NH.
Jeff
Another thing that is hard to quantify is that Zaino products z-2,z-5.z-6 and z-7, tend to conspire to repeal dust and to a lesser extent dirt, than say the other products which are definite magnets of the same.
Well guys what can I say except it is done, and my first impressions wow, wow, did I say wow yet. Let me see if I can give you the long and short of it, first since I have an extra car I planned to take my time and keep my car [2-month old ’01 Acura CL Silver] in the garage until the job was completed. My main reason being that I did not want to get too tired, and start getting sloppy, ok call me a bit picky, anal, etc. etc.
Started Thu. evening, did the dawn strip and claying. Next morning very early, did the second dawn wash and then got the Z-1 and the Z-2 on by 9am. I then let that set all day until about 7:30. I personally was uncertain if I had applied the rights of Z-1 & Z-2, and let it dry/haze properly. Buffed off the Z-2 and apply Z-6, l(o)(o)king real good now!! Not that I needed to but, I went ahead and did a Z-9 & Z-10 leather treatment, boy that’s great smelling stuff.
I let that set for 24 hours, and then did a Z-6 followed by put on another coat of Z-2 and let that set for 2 hours. Buffed that off and Z-6 again. Seems like with each step it keeps gets easier and easier. My car is so slick now that on my slight incline driveway, a towel will slide right off the trunk, that’s good right? And my car looks so dang good right now, I don’t know whether drive-it or just keep-it in the garage out of harms way and stare at it all day. ;o) Hope I did-it and got-it right?
Going into this project, I knew full well that light colored cars don’t have quite the same visual impact as the darker blues, reds and blacks. But it appears to be TONS better than before, but the real test for me is going to be how it holds up over the long haul [i.e. dust, washes, beading etc, etc.] I plan to get a least one maybe two more coats of Z-2 on before the winter.
Speaking of winter what do you guys do during the winter months when it too cold to do the proper Z-7 cleaning? In the past I will use the hand-spray wash bays and towel dry. Granted this may not the best option, but it is better than letting the gunk stay on your car right? Open for any good suggestions.
My Final Thoughts::
(1) That Dawn dishwashing soap is some mean stuff, I hope your average Joe is aware of the damage it can cause to your vehicles , I wasn’t.
(2) Was not sure about claying before hand but I am glad I did it, at least for my own peace-of-mind, and it was not as hard as I thought it would be.
(3) The initial ”Z” applications is a little bit of up-front work, but the pay-off seems to come in the long-run i.e. regular washing and Z-2 / Z-6 become a chinch.
(4) Well I guess I’m a “Z-” convert, I think I just paid my dues.
[[sorry for the long post, hope you didn’t mind]].
To me there are two imperatives to car paint care; use the right towels and watch out for abrasives, either in the products you use or that are on or somehow introduced onto the paint. You CAN use Zaino like any other wax or polish; your results will almost certainly be better. All the hints that folks pass on is to get the best results possible. Regardless of brand protectant you use, the recommend towels, claying, drying, front-to-back strokes on horizontal surfaces and vertical strokes on vertical surfaces are really brand-name independent. The only brand-specific hint about using Zaino is: use it VERY SPARINGLY.
It's funny you mention getting only a Z7 wash done. If money and/or a supply of other products were a problem to a person, that's the one product I would recommend they get: it cleans well and will introduce UV protectant onto their vehicle's surface. Where else would they get UV protection designed into a product?
If time is a problem; do a section at a time, as you seemed to have reasoned for yourself. You won't suffer a personal case of "wax on, wax off" fatigue, like the Karate Kid.
I'll bet that when you see the result, you will kick yourself for any time you lost hesitating.
The Dawn strips off all your old wax, and some say it strips "oils" out of the paint. However, once in a while before waxing is no problem. I'm sure what was meant above was directed at people that use it all the time to wash their cars. BIG No-No!
You should be able to clean your grill with the Z-7 easily. Be sure to Z-1 Z-2 it and nothing will stick.
For nearly everything inside your car - plastic, vinyl, wood, chrome and leather - use Lemon Pledge - really! It has a nice look, won't build up, cleans as it shines, and smells good. Spray a little on a clean cloth and buff. Note - It does not replace 1 -2x a year with a good leather treatment.
Vern
In addition to the above mentioned towel sliding off the car, I have slipped and fallen while having a towel in my hand and being in an awkward position while leaning on the car and slid right off! LOL......... Definitely a sight to see ala America's Funniest Home Video!!
As for using Zaino Z-1/Z-2/Z-5 on any outside plastic trim, do not use it on any textured plastic areas. If they are smooth, no problem, but a no-no for textured areas. However, Z-6 is fine for those areas.
fastdriver
STEVE
Rich
I started at noon on Sunday. I Dawn, dry, clay, z7, dry, z1, z2,...3hrs... buff and finally z6. Claying the vehicle is much easier than I thought. The vehicle is silky smooth after claying. It removes the impurities that are not removal by Dawn wash. I highly recommend doing the clay.
The most difficult part of the whole process is DRYING the vehicle, especially the top of my suburban. Applying and removing the polish (z1, z2) are MUCH MUCH easier than doing wax.
When I got home yesterday afternoon, I simply hose all the bugs off the front. I drove around the neighborhood and most of the water went away. It is much easier to dry the big monster with Zanio on.
Thanks for all the info here. I am going to do my Maxima after work today. It should be much easier.
I can feel your pain of having to do a truck with a lot of surface area!! I have to mentally psyche myself up to do any one of 4-5 TLC's!
One of the things you alluded to is of neat benefit; I have gone from a "MUST" wash of every two weeks to one month. I know this is not scientific, but is based on how the trucks looks at two weeks and one month.
I have also gone from a 1.5 mo waxing (full Meguairs treatment, to 6 mo "Z" cycle.) All conditions are the same, except for switching to the "Z" treatment.
I enjoy NOT having to wash, dry, wax/zaino as much as before when I didn't use ZAINO. To quantify it: 2 to 4 times LESS effort. (X 4)
I have to confess however, that "adventures in advance janitorial services" does not get my adrenaline going, but I do like the look of a freshly Zaino'ed vehicle in the morning!
For the Sub poster--try The Absorber for drying. It is much more efficient than towels and is very portable. Also get a squeege, maybe 6", for drying the windows. Wipe down then use Absorber.
Just bought new BMW 540i in black. Any tips or concerns with German paint or black paint?
Lastly, a confession. While devoted Zaino-head, I do not buy into the clay. Used it several times over the years when I was a Meguiars regular.I don't like the posibility of a significant piece of foreign (read:abrasive) matter getting into it unaware. Too abrasive and gritty for me. I use 3M Imperial Glaze or Meguiars 7 to get to the perfect surface preparation---Then it's Z time!!
desmchan - I used to drive around to help dry my car after a wash, but thanks to a tip in this forum I now remove the nozzle from the hose for the final rinse and allow the water to flow gently onto the surface. The water just sheets off! Then a chamois or "Absorber" will do the rest.
If in doubt, check these pics out-
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/bmw2.html
fastdriver
Good luck,
Terry
Any brand name window cleaner that is labled safe for tinted windows will work.
Does anyone know Sal's e-mail address off hand?
Thx
Theresa11: If you have a Z-2 layer on the car and have applied some Z-6 Gloss Enhancer, the bug residue should simply wash off. That's why I now carry the (Graphicguy recommended) bottle of water with some Z-6 [car wash liquid] in it. Now all I have to do is spray the dead bugs (a "bug funeral") and wipe off. If you haven't yet applied your Zaino, then do as Automophile recommended and clay the affected area. On windows, I use plain olde Windex. Every six months or so, I also use the Zaino Glass Polish on my inside windshield to remove the aging plastic residue film. But it does depend on what type of tinting you have had applied.
lmc18: I now keep three spray bottles in my trunk: Windex, Z-6, and Water/Z-7. Plus a bag of clean towels. I'm not sure if the other Zaino products (Z-5, Z-2, etc.) will age too quickly in cold temperatures. Maybe we should check with Sal on that question.
Pat & all: So what's all this continuing nonsense about the 'rival' topics? I thought that was settled a long time ago. As in Chris Parrish's time. For my 2 cents, I'd recommend a single introduction topic ("Car Detailing, Waxing, and Misc. Care Products") with a single post defining the subordinate topics: Zaino Car Care Products, Store Bought Waxes and Misc Products, Premium Wax Based Products, and the ever popular "Polymer vs Wax Bashing Booth" for those so inclined. References to Zaino in the other topics would be allowed provided they are simple references only. And failure to follow the rules of civil behavior will result in restriction to the use of only recycled water, Turtle Wax, and the additional loss of Frequent Flyer Mileage. Failure to use Zaino, however, will only result in a losy finish.
What say?
Even though they were not beading water anymore, the great shine was still there.
Once I washed them, I Zaino-ed them again. It is quite humid here in SE Florida, so Zaino does not dry as quickly as I am used to.
Some observations:
Meguires Clay Bar - POS. Sticks and leaves residue even when surface is well lubricated.
ClayMagic and Mother Clay are way better.
Claying can be done under a stream of water from hose - I think it takes less time this way.
I also tried to clay after soaping up the area with a wash rag (cotton towel with Z7 on it) - not bad.
Ruski - my stepdaughter used to have a POS car - your reference brought back some memorable moments.
TIA
-Chris
While it is recommended to let dry between coats for 12-24 hrs, all is not lost. Put a cotton sheet over the vehicle in the garage and tommorrow resume with z-5 or z-2.
Any help would be appreciated with the following: I want to clay my car, but didn't order the Z7 to use as a lubricant. Do you know if I can use another mixture of car wash and water, and spray it on before claying? If so, what should the soap/water mixture be, approx.
Also, after dawn, clay, dawn and Z1, should I Z2 or Z5 on top of the Z1? I seem to remember reading some folks doing z2 on z1, and others doing z5 on z1 (I will be working on a new black Maxima.) Help - a little confused.
Anyway, thanks in advance and I hope to be of help in the future.
rizzo7 - if you have any "swirl" marks in the clearcoat, use the Z5 first. It's purpose is to reduce them as much as possible. Regardless of whether you have them or not, you've purchased the product and might as well go ahead and give it a go. I personally don't think you can go wrong using the Z5 first. After any swirl marks are made invisible to your satisfaction, start using the Z2. That's the product which is supposed to have the most "optically clear" gloss. Always after removing the Z2 or Z5, use the Z6 gloss enhanser (sp). Enjoy!
I wonder if Sal ever reads the posts in this forum, and if so what laughs he must get sometimes!
Jim M.
PS - Gene & Anita - if you're reading this forum, how about sending my products back to me. I want to add another coat.
Jim M.