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Comments
Once the swirls are gone, you can switch to Z-2. My 2000 E320 has seen nothing but Z since it was new -- and it still looks new!
gdouble - I also use the Zaino tire dressing product on my 17" Yokos. It's less shiny than Black Magic or other high gloss products, but the shine stays and stays and never slings off. And like all Z products, a little goes a long way. I usually take an old white cotton sock, cut off a 3" section and wet that with Z-16 to do the tires. Normally, I let it dry and apply a second coat. Last time I did mine was in mid-February, and the shine is still there!
Also, taking the Yukon to Sanibel in early April. How will the love bug situation be at that time? Will taking along Z6 be enough to clean any up?
and Z5/FX, Z5/FX and Z2/FX last Saturday.
See a some spider webbing[in sunlight] I didn't with carnuba. Also some very faint scratches.
How many Z5's to minimize spider webbing or
should I do a 3M SMR this spring and start over?
TY
RD
mbdriver: Mercy! Mid-February??? It's a lot harder to maintain up here in MN, however, as stated above, i'm gonna stick with the Zaino products. Also, I think I'm going to adopt your sock technique for application.
In general, if you've clayed (won't help swirls, but will help with getting "gunk" off your finish that's not swirl related), then about 3 coats of Z5 should do the trick if the swirls are minor. If you've tried a few coats of Z5 and still aren't satisfied, then I'd recommend 3M foam pad polish. It's more agreessive and works well. You don't want to make it a habit of using the 3M products because it is a bit abrasive.
Past that, if the 3M still doesn't get you to where you want to be with your finish, then you're looking at a professional buffing or paint job. I can't imagine anyone who has taken even a modicum of care to their finish having to resort to a professional "buff-out" however. I've seen plenty of alleged "professional" finish care folks out there with power buffers that have done more harm than good. I prefer to do it myself.
The 3M product is very good, but time consuming to do a good job. I would use it sparingly and only on a 1'x1' section at a time. Follow 3M's instructions. Then follow up with the the Z routine. Remember, that anything abrasive will remove some, if not all the Z you have on your finish. So start over with Z1 then Z2 after the 3M.
Have a day on your hands to do it right? Here's a 10-step process.
Here's what to do (regardless of what you previously put on your finish) to get your finish pristine:
1. Dawn Wash
2. Dry
3. Clay
4. Dawn wash
5. Dry
6. 3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze (there are two different types...one for dark colors, #39009 and one for light colors #39109)
7. Z1 (don't remove)
8. Z2 (since you've already removed the swirls with 3M, no need to use Z5)
9. Let dry (or if you use ZFX, it should dry fairly immediately and you can skip the "Z1" step)then remove
10. Z6
All the regular rules apply about using 100% American cotton towels.
Without a new paint job, you won't get a better looking finish than by doing the above 10 steps.
With regards to plastic black/grey areas like bumpers, moldings and cladding, if the area is textured (not smooth or painted), don't wax it. Use Z16 (yes, the same stuff you use for tire gloss).
Wish photopoint hadn't gone out of business. I don't have any way to show the results of the "10-step" process.
Here he comes to SAVE the day! ;-))
Just got this link from the author. Better than nothing if you didn't save your pictures.
http://www.photopoint.com/statusupdate.html
fastdriver
PS I want to see some more pics of that red beauty!
here is some info on xpel.
http://www.xpel.com
Maybe it will keep the dirt off, but it's gotta look like hell.
I'm sure you've got more coats on your "red rocket" than I do on mine. This weekend is looking like it will be perfect for a spring detailing, though...about 60 degrees and dry. I suppose that I should find a way to set up a web site like yours, but I need to get motivated to do so.
lex430...
xpel, as it's described on their WEB site, is similar to a clear plastic "bra" for the front of your car. I just gave the WEB site a very brief look. If xpel is put on like a regular car bra, then certainly Zaino before hand. If not, and it is applied like a coating of some sort, I wouldn't Zaino first. Reason being, I doubt the xpel "coating" would stick very well to a Zaino'd surface.
My Z'd '01 DXL still looks great even though it's been outside all winter. Washed it yesterday and it looks better than anything on the showroom floor!! Given the size of the DXL, I'm not sure the ZFX will help me as the Z is usually dry by the time I work my way around the truck. I can certainly see where it could help on a smaller car though.
my concern is that it's glued onto the paint surface, and knowing how slippery a Z'd surface is, I am wondering if that affects the durability of xpel. If it will peel off early..etc. However, main objective is to protect the paint finish, so I am still debating if I should Z the whole car first, before putting xpel on. Suggestions?
If a car is brand new, do you have to wash with Dawn and use the claybar? Or can you just start with the base and then the wax itself?
In short, it can't hurt to wash with Dawn and clay. That way you're assured of a very clean finish to begin you're Zaino routine. I've found that if you Dawn/Clay once and then put Zaino on, you're less likely to ever have to do it again since nothing seems to stick to Zaino.
Motivation? If I can make a webpage or upload my pics to ofoto etc., you certainly can! I did my 300M soap opera page in geocities with NO knowledge of HTML! I just followed directions. I still just do cut and paste to add things there! Come on! I'm waiting. I ONLY have 15 coats of Z2/Z5/Z6 on the CL. It will be one year old on 3/28. Besides, someone upstairs wants to see that his RED beauty has been well cared for! ;-))
Supposed to be in the 60's here the next 2 days. IF work doesn't have me drained by 3 PM, maybe I'll wash the car and put on some Z. Haven't done it since November!
lenscap-
SEE how nice people are here? We're not all nuts, just Zainoholics. We do attend our ZA(Zaino Anonymous) meetings on a regular basis to keep us grounded. ;-))
fastdriver
YES!!!! When I bring the Acura in for an oil change, I have to make SURE I tell them NOT to wash it or check the air in the tires.
Dawn wash, clay if you want, Dawn wash again if clayed and then the Z.
fastdriver
LOL.... That's EXACTLY how I felt when I first heard about Zaino too back in the summer of 1998 when I got my 99 Chrysler 300M.
I tried it and have NEVER been sorry. Click on my name above and take a look at my pics of the 300 and Acura. If those pics don't convince you, nothing will. The black will look AWESOME with Zaino. When I have a minute, I will post pics of my cousin's black BMW that I Z'd. I had them in photopoint.com, but they went belly up.
fastdriver
It will "tolerate" just about as many coats as you care to apply. The reason you read about multiple coats here is that the shine just keeps getting better. In my case, five or six coats, applied over a few weeks, seemed to get the shine to it's limit. After that, another coat every couple months or so to maintain it.
You'll just have to try it. But give it a fair trial. Follow the directions religously. And be aware that Zaino will do nothing to clean or restore a worn paint job. It will put a beautiful and durable shine on whatever you have on the car. For better or for worse.
"It will put a beautiful and durable shine on whatever you have on the car. For better or for worse."
LOL.... Until death do us part! ;-))
fastdriver
I had never heard about Zaino either until I was in the market for a new car - someone on the GM Triplet board mentioned Zaino, so I researched it, made up my mind, bought it, and applied it.
I have a black SUV (2002 TrailBlazer LTZ) and I can safetly say that the Zaino shine is incredible - and I only have two coats on (both put on last October). If you love to wash/wax/polish your car - you'll love this stuff. The more you put on, the better it looks!
-Jason
But considering I still have a nearly full bottle of Z1, can I still Z1 my car and then ZFX/Z2? Anyone try it yet? It's easy enough to put on the Z1 - but I won't bother if there's nothing to gain from it!
Otherwise, I guess I could Z1, Z2 my car without the ZFX on those days when I have the time to kill waiting for the polish to dry (or those days where it's warm and dry enough that it dries in minutes!)
Thanks!
-Jason
The only thing I can say about those who call Zaino "snake oil" are understandably skeptical. As fastdriver (as well as many others who post here) says, most of us were skeptical at first, too. We gave it a shot and refuse to use anything else. Once you see the relults, you'll be "hooked" on getting many, many layers on. That said, one application of Zaino is still better than anything else I've ever used.
Does anyone have any links to other web sites that have done independent studies or comparisions? Has Consumer Reports tested it (although I am not neccesarily a huge fan of CR). What about like motor trend or car and driver. Any links would be a big help!!
Site dedicated to Corvettes, Z28s and TransAms
http://www.ls1.com/forums/
Look for the "Showcar and Detailing" thread.
or
http://www.nsxsc.com/nsexcitement/waxtest.html
Site dedicated to Acura NSX enthusiasts.
Thanks for the input - from what I read about ZFX on the Zaino web site, I knew it dispensed with having to use Z1. I'm just trying to figure out what to do with my bottle of Z1!
Any other uses for Z1? Window cleaner? Shampoo?
-Jason
fastdriver: "Till death do us part" ? Now that's catchy. Why didn't I think of that?
My guess is that a soft shine means it's not as glossy as something else. This sounds like the difference between a wax and a polymer finish. It's just that the optically clearer Zaino will not hide swirl marks or other imperfections in the paint, which it's best to put Zaino on the car when new and just keep at it.
If my paint looked like an orange peel, I'd be back at the dealer with an attitude. I don't think that should happen under any circumstances.
Here's a picture of our Accord, 3 years old when it it was first Zaino'd. This picture tells it all. Look at the detail! By the way, the White car is my Solara, the GREEN car is the Accord. For you regulars that have seen this before, please bear with it.
http://images.ofoto.com/photos202/2/29/1/25/46/0/46250129203_0_ALB.jpg
There are people on this board who have forgotten more about paint finishes than I will ever know, so I sure don't mind being disagreed with.
Recently, at a self serve spray wash, a woman was drying a 2002 Millenium Yellow Vette. I looked at the car closely and scolded her after finding out she used the brush of death(although she claims she used it lightly and usually brings towels to wash it down). The car was full of orange peel and I pointed that out to her...I wonder if she told her husband. Don't get me wrong, the car looked fantastic anyway...orange peel and all.
But you would think a $60K sports car would not have orange peel.
What I've done is have the vehicle painted under warranty by a local "reputable" auto body shop. When the vehicle is returned.....guess what? No orange peel. I guess it's not noticeable or an accepted standard cause GM has been getting away with it for years. This is one problem Zaino can't help you with. Zaino, will however, work great on that new paint job that you get.
Take a look. First few pics are before washing. The next few after washing and the last ones with one coat ZFX- NO Z6. Will label them better later.
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=76629165303&n=383077978
fastdriver
HEY!! Where have you been? Haven't seen you post in ages.
I was thinking the same thing when I saw "polisher". My first thought was, how MUCH easier can it be to take off the Z. To each his own.
fastdriver
Im not saying you can't put it on by hand..If that works for YOU then fine..No need to get an
attitude about something just becasue YOU dont agree with it...This is why Z users get a bad rap sometimes..People like you feel the need to flame anyone that does something different...