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Regards.
Anyway, Kohinahi, just two things that caught my eye on your process.
I normally Z6 after a Z7 Wash.
Only the first two coats of Z2 or Z5 really requires the ZFX. The ZFX is a accelarator so for the last one you wouldn't need it. Since I prefer the shine of Z2, I normally do 2x of Z5+zfx and end with Z2, with Z6 in between of course.
I do 3 coats when I feel like it, and on other "normal" weekends, I would just apply 1 coat of Z2 or Z5. Just this past week, I applied 4 coats.
Also, in cleaning these bottles, I just clean them immediately after using them with Dawn and shake, and stuff paper towels inside and use chopsticks to wipe the inside.
Oh ya, how are the Zainoholics meeting going? Is anyone sniffing this stuff, the fumes are just as addictive as the shine? Any word from the Satan?
Sorry for the newbies, ALL Old jokes that I am just repeating.
After I have the towels, I KNOW that I cut off the seams. What about designs in the fabric? Do I cut things off until I have nothing but "fluff" or just whack the seams?
I think Sal is very particular and since he can be sure about USA towels being 100% cotton, he recommends them.
Any one with buffing experience, please comment.
I Z5'd scratches (after using Mother's scratch remover) on my gold car and now it takes some effort to find them...and even then I'm not 100% sure of the exact location. Zaino Rules!
Bret - 3M Imperial Hand Glaze??
I called Zaino and spoke to Nick....real nice guy. He advised against buffing...said it might cause even more spider webbing and swirls. The shine from the buffing will provide an optical illusion, but the real problem (spider & swirls) will not be solved. He advised multiple coats of Z5...I will try this and see the results....if they still show, I will take BMW on their offer. Of course, I will keep looking out for other options!
Bret, any advise?
Thank you'll.
Having said all that, swirl marks are a fact of life on black, Maintaining a perfect finish will take some real dedication. The better you can prep your paint before Zaino, the better your results and the longer they will last but black will always be a struggle.
If you need more help, don't hesitate to ask.
Any one with buffing experience, please comment.
I Z5'd scratches (after using Mother's scratch remover) on my gold car and now it takes some effort to find them...and even then I'm not 100% sure of the exact location. Zaino Rules!
Has anyone any experience in further reducing scratch visibility with Zaino? The scratch is extremely thin and about 4 inches long - horizontal near the drivers door.
Thanks.
Thanks for your help!!
on a zainoholic sidenote... my hubby sighed and told me it was pointless when he found me frantically spraying snow with my car wash solution (left overs from claying) while we stopped off for gas... sometimes i really miss those days when i didn't care what my car looked like =P
And, by the way - it does show up as perfect circles for some reason. I think that it has to do with the polarization of light when it hits the car and reflects.
This is why Sal recommends applying back and forth on the horizontal surfaces and up and down on the vertical. I use the same motions for washing and drying.
I think I will get the buffing in the spring...will try to get the truck done this weekend..depends on the weather. Will keep you'll posted.
I just took delivery of a new Honda Accord.
Do you have any recommendation on what ZAINO product to use on a brand new car and when do you apply the first ZAINO.
Thanks in advance.
suggesting a Dawn - Clay - Dawn... sequence.
Is that Dawn the store bought detergent or a special Zaino product?
What to use? ZFX, Z2, Z6, and Z7 should be a good start.
Just buy the kit sold by Zaino + buy an extra Z7 car-wash. The other products will outlast the car-wash many times over. You'll save on shipping.
If you want the process:
1. Wash with Dawn
2. Dry (Make sure you read about the towels)
3. Clay - Sal recommends this even for new cars
4. Wash - I used Dawn to remove any clay residue
5. Wash with Z7 (I'm kinda anal!)
6. Dry
7. Apply Z5+ZFX (sparingly) all over your car.
8. Wait till dry. Wipe off.
9. Spray Z6 (sparingly) and wipe off immediately.
10. Check to see if all swirls/spider webbing are gone. If not use Z5 again.
11. Apply Z2 - ZFX at this point is preference, if you live in humid environments, want faster drying, etc.
12. Wipe off
13. Apply Z6.
14. Wipe off
Apply as many coats as you want, with Z6 as the coat in between and as the final coat.
I cannot emphasize the importance of good towels for drying and polishing....they make the job much, much easier.
Best of Luck!
Do you have any experience with clear bra and ZAINO. I'm seriously considering clear bra for the hood, nose, and front bumper.
I have a silver metallic accord
http://www.motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/
"The only minor downsides are that it's much less reflective than paint and looks dull under certain light."
Zaino is all about optics, so I think you'd see a difference between the hood and your roof/side panels....BUT I've no personal experience.
Also, Clear Bra claims that their product will not let rocks perforate.....that just seems too fantastic a claim. My BMW dealership sells the same custom fit protection, but they advised against it as they have seen water/moisture get trapped in the film where the rocks have struck. That it my opinion looks worse than a chip.
Also to set correct expectations, your silver mettalic will look as good as the day you picked it up from the dealer. I have a Desert Mist honda(Gold Metallic) and it looks awesome, but nothing close to what folks on this forum have experienced with darker color. For darker colors its a drastic change.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/
"The only minor downsides are that it's much less reflective than paint and looks dull under certain light."
Zaino is all about optics, so I think you'd see a difference between the hood and your roof/side panels....BUT I've no personal experience.
Also, Clear Bra claims that their product will not let rocks perforate.....that just seems too fantastic a claim. My BMW dealership sells the same custom fit protection, but they advised against it as they have seen water/moisture get trapped in the film where the rocks have struck. That it my opinion looks worse than a chip.
Also to set correct expectations, your silver mettalic will look as good as the day you picked it up from the dealer. I have a Desert Mist honda(Gold Metallic) and it looks awesome, but nothing close to what folks on this forum have experienced with darker color. For darker colors its a drastic change.
Not sure if this is the info you were looking for but I hope it helps.
If ZAINO provides such good protection that road tar washes off why need clear bra?
Also, paint doesn't seem to be the same as in years past. Some theorize that the water borne paints used in North America are as good as the old lacquer paints. Also, IIRC paint is about as thick as 2 sheets of newspaper - thinner paint equates to higher mpg as paint is very heavy.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2627330093&congratulati- on_page=Y
Clay and coats 1-3 of z5 about a month earlier...only days after taking delivery of my 2005 Outback.
Folks, it only gets better as the coats accumulate.
Cheers.
The weather finally let up this past weekend giving me an opportunity to work on my truck.
I went through the entire cleaning/claying process. After 3 coats of Z5 and 1 coat of Z2 (with Z6 in between, of course!) the swirl marks have nearly disappeared. I can see a few (2-3 lines) on my hood at a particular angle, but otherwise looks just as good as the day I bought it. I had major concerns with swirl marks at the back, but they seemed to have completely disappeared.
I know the marks stll exist, but I'm comfortable with the fact that they have been optically corrected to a point that I do not notice them anymore. I might go through the whole process next summer - after I get my truck buffed.
It took 8 hours of work, but the results are fantastic, the paint looks like glass - to the point that you can see true colors of the images reflected. I very, very pleased!
I was thinking of going Armor All or Black Magic??
Thanks.
Regarding your bumpers - Do you mean some black trim? Just use the Zaino Tire dressing. It blackens rubber and plastic trim very nicely, and unlike Armor All, etc. it dries hard so it doesn't collect dirt and grease. It is also great for the tires! Note - before doing your tires - you must clean and degrease them with something like Westley's Bleche-White. You won't believe the crud that comes off your tires! Then, and ONLY then, can you use a good tire dressing.
I have an X3 and bumpers are black, non-painted plastic. It is a large surface area. Same goes for the running boards.
I am going to recieve a complimentary bottle of Meguiars #40 (Pro series - which incidentally BMW recommends) and hope to try that for the external plastic surfaces. It has a low gloss shine and is supposed to revitalize instead of putting a coat over.
I am picking up my new BMW 325i next week. It is Jet Black with Black Leatherette, 33 Miles. Heres what I need help with:
-What Zaino products to buy
-How to apply these Zaino products
-What towels to buy/How many/Microfiber?
I already purchased some 100% Eqyptian Cotton Towels from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
-Which detailing brushes/Wheel brushes to buy
-What other chemicals I will need (Window cleaners, etc)
-Do I need to Zaino the car immediately?
-Do I need to ClayBar it already, since it is new?
I want my car to look as awesome as possible. I already purchased some "Sensation, 100% Eqyptian Cotton Towels, Made in USA" from Bed, Bath, and Beyond the other night. I got 4 washclothes, and 2 full size bath towels. Is it necessary to cut the boarders off?
I noticed very minor and very few fine scratches on the surface of my car already, what would you recommend about these.
~Thanks to everyone for their help and input, I appreciate it! (I'm sure my new BMW will too!)
Z-18 Clay Bar
Z-7 Car Wash
Z-5 Swirl Mark Remover
Z-2 Polish
ZFX Flash Accelerator
Z-6 Gloss Enhancer
Z-9 Leather Cleaner
Z-10 Leather in a Bottle
a microfiber wash mitt
a cotton Zaino applicator (should be free with your order, or you can order a microfiber one)
a couple of microfiber towels (can probably use the ones you bought for now, if you cut off the edges/tags)
a California Water Blade, or a leaf blower
1 bottle Ultra Dawn
1 can SprayWay glass cleaner
1 bottle Meguirs tire polish/shine (I've tried and don't care for the Zaino stuff, though I understand it works well on the dash/interior materials)
I would first wash the car using Dawn + water (Dawn helps remove the wax from the car). Wet the car with a hose first. Be sure to use two buckets, one with the Dawn, the other with just rinse water. Don't wash in direct sunlight, and start at the top of the car first, moving down. Use a different mitt to wash the wheels/tires when you are done with the car. Use a hose to rinse the car, then use either or both the California Water Blade to remove most of the water, and/or the leaf blower. Use a towel to dry the car.
Mix a spray bottle of Z-7 and water. Take out one of the clay bars and cut it in half - that way, if you drop it on the ground, you will have to throw it out, but you won't have lost the whole bar. Spray the Z-7/water onto your paint to provide lubrication as you gently rub the clay across the paint surface. I'd do this on an inconspicuous area first, as you need to figure out how hard to do this - too hard and you can scratch the paint. Periodically inspect the clay - you will see particles suspended in it - keep folding and/or pulling the clay, manipulating it, to get to "virgin" surfaces.
When done with the clay, you should wash the car again with Dawn to remove any contaminants. Dry, then, wash the car again with the Z-7. I highly recommend the Z-7 wash - you will notice a difference in how the water "sheets" off of the car. Again, dry the car.
Now you are ready to make your car really shine. Since you mentioned your car has some swirls/markings, I'd start with the Z-5 swirl mark remover. Mix an ounce of it one of the supplied bottles, then add in some of the ZFX flash accelerator (per the directions) and mix well. Spray Z-6 gloss enhancer on your applicator pad, then put a thin X on the pad. Apply the polish VERY THIN - unlike wax, you should barely see a haze. The 1 oz. you mix up should be enough for two coats, but only put one on now. Apply starting at the top of the car, in front-to-back motion on horizontal surfaces, and top-to-bottom motion on vertical surfaces. Do not rub in a circle, or back and forth.
Depending upon where you are, and the ambient temperature (>60 degrees, preferably) and humidity, you will have to wait for the Zaino to dry. Once it's dry, you simply rub, again, front to back, and top to bottom, not in circles. The polish comes off incredibly easy - if it's streaking, it's not dry.
Once you've removed the polish, you can spray the Z-6 gloss enhancer on a small towel or applicator, and spread across the polished surface. This will enhance the shine and remove any excess/extra polish.
Once that's dry, you can re-apply the Z-5/ZFX combo, and repeat the above. Repeat application of Z-5/ZFX until you're satisfied that the swirls/marks are not visible.
You can apply a total of 3 coats of either Z-5/ZFX or Z-2/ZFX in a 24-hour period. Again, once you're satisfied, you can switch to just the Z-2/ZFX, and put on as many layers as you like.
I know this seems like a royal pain, and it is - for all of the paint prep work (Dawn, clay, Dawn, Z-7 wash). Once you get that out of the way, you'll see how easy it is to apply the Z-5 or Z-2 and ZFX. It takes me about 30 minutes to wash my car, and then maybe another hour to apply a coat of Z-5/ZFX or Z-2/ZFX, remove it, and rub down with Z-6. The shine only gets better/glossier the more coats you put on - so it's quite addictive.
One other warning - I still remember, when pumping gas, leaning up against my car, shortly after applying Zaino for the first time - and just about sliding to the ground :-)
Hope this helps,
--Robert
P.S. If you have aluminum or chromed wheels, don't forget to clay them, too. Then, wash them, and apply Z-2/ZFX. This will keep the metal shavings from the brakes from "biting" into the wheels. Really works well.
Have fun!
Toyota just released a TSB regarding "IRON PARTICLE RUST CONTAMINATION REPAIR" (i.e. rail dust etc.)They say "Washing the affected paint surfaces with an oxalic acid solution is the recommended method to dislodge embedded iron particles and remove the surrounding rust stains." and recommend using Auto Magic Special Cleaner Concentrate #713. The MSDS has pH: ~11 to 12
What effect will this have on the particles and paint? Will it work better if the particles are larger or smaller (i.e. before or after clay)? Will it even work at this point with a couple coats of Zaino on it? Should I do it? I plan on doing the full treatment in spring again anyway (Dawn, clay, etc) but should I follow the clay with this stuff THEN dawn wash the second time and Z-away? What are the GURU's consensus here?
I notice on my older car that I see what appears to be many small pinhole type marks in my hood after 11 years even though it was cleaned and waxed very well over the years. It wasn't clayed until about 2 years ago for the first time. I had also noticed this on MANY other older vehicles from family and friends and just looking when out at malls etc. Did the embedded rail dust cause this? will the clay prevent it? By itself or with addition of Auto Magic?
Newer vehicles' clearcoats are probably more immune to this sort of environmental hazard; but at any rate, once these pits appear, the only practical thing you can do is to keep the finish well protected from further damage. Forget about trying to buff out or rub out these pits-- they are in the clearcoat, and unless you want to repaint and re-clearcoat the vehicle, you're stuck with them. You'll get over it eventually.
No here is my problem. The car still shows swirls.
My normal routine is as follows:
Z7, Z6, Z5+ZFX, Z6, Z5+ZFX, Z6, Z2, Z6.
I use the Napa wash mitt for washing the car.
I use 100% cotton "Made in the USA" towels.
I clay 2x a year.
Ody is Midnight Blue.
So what am I doing wrong?
BTW, Hi Bret, Audiophile Robr
LOL - now say it slowly and say it often: Wait'll Next Year. See now that didn't hurt did it?
10 weeks to Spring Training!!