Go to Michael's Crafts, JoAnn Fabrics, AC Moore, whatever crafts store you may have in your town. They sell empty paint bottles which are essentially the same as the Z bottles. They are less than $0.50 each - I use them once and toss them.
I have the covering from Invinca Shield on my T-Bird and at 10 months of daily driving it hasn't "perforated" although I have had several small stone strikes. Even if it did, imagine what it would have done to your paint if it wasn't there. I really like it and will probably have it on every new car I buy. I did get a puncture under the front bumper and it bubbled, but I don't understand how it could allow moisture. Since it isn't really visible, I just cut out the puckered piece and haven't even replaced it yet. No effect from moisture or anything else. Did he try to sell you the $400 polymer coating instead?
I think this question was for me. No, the product I was offered was a plastic/vinyl adhesive sheet custom-built for my truck. It covered the hood, front bumper, mirrors. It was almost invisible. I think it is not the "Invisible Bra" brand per se, but somthing very similar made by/for BMW.
It's been awhile but glad to see the regulars are still here.
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.
I have gone back several pages just trying to catch up, and how do I get my wife to zaino the car. She gets mad at me at times because I am willing to search all over just to get the right towels and usd it on the car. I already wake up early so I can clean the car and by the time she is awake I am usually done and ready for other weekend warrior projects. I say usually because on those days that I want 3 coats, it takes longer. So how do I get her to z my car?
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.
hehe i have a similar problem with my hubby. he was a good sport at first but just recently informed me that he did not want to be washing/waxing the car every week! (we just recently purchased zaino for our two cars. we clayed both our cars, 2 coats of z5 for his,5 for mine, over the course of 2 weeks) i blinked innocently at him i was only trying to protect the car (a couple of posters theorized that their zaino coats protected them from scratches and smears) i also just read an article called 10 things to improve your mileage. one of the tips is to keep your car clean and waxed! tell her your planning to take her out to a romantic dinner with the money you saved. let me know if it works =P
OK I have looked around and found 100% cotton towels - many NOT USA products. What is the deal with "made in the USA" or don't buy? Sounds like the local union meeting ...
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 the rationale is that in the USA 100% cotton means 100% cotton (except for stitching). These thresholds/standards differ by country.....100% cotton in another country could mean 1%-10% of some other material.
I think Sal is very particular and since he can be sure about USA towels being 100% cotton, he recommends them.
My black truck has been washed only once and I have mild spider-webs....cannot see it until you're real close up and at a particular angle. Since the dealership was responsible for it, I'm going to try and get them to buff these out for me. The question I had was whether Z5 (multiple coats) takes care of these spider webs? Or should I get my car buffed? What is the trade off? Will Z5 make it bearable and I keep my original finish? Or do I buff and lose the original finish (clearcoat, etc.)?
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!
Thanks! I did get my wife to take it to the BMW dealership.....they agreed to take care of it and do the buffing.
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!
Real minor marring from washing can probably be filled with several coats of Z5. But a light polishing with an orbital buffer or dual action polisher might be a better idea. The d/a won't leave holograms or swirl marks as long as a mild polish is used, like 3M swirl mark remover or Meguiar's equivalent. If you want to do this by hand you can use one of those products or a pre-wax cleaner from Mothers or Meguiars. All these polishes are available at auto parts stores everywhere.
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.
My black truck has been washed only once and I have mild spider-webs....cannot see it until you're real close up and at a particular angle. Since the dealership was responsible for it, I'm going to try and get them to buff these out for me. The question I had was whether Z5 (multiple coats) takes care of these spider webs? Or should I get my car buffed? What is the trade off? Will Z5 make it bearable and I keep my original finish? Or do I buff and lose the original finish (clearcoat, etc.)?
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!
After you have done all the good stuff with the Z products - or even between different applications - would it hurt to go over the car with a lamb's wool pad on an orbital buffer? What about buffing with a microfibre pad?
What exactly would you be trying to accomplish with this final buffing? What are you trying to buff? I would think that after you have done all that good stuff you would have wiped off and "buffed" all you need to buff. I bet you would be wiping off what you want to preserve. Seems counterintuitive, but then who knows? You might be starting a new trend.
Final buffing is the equivalent of using a clean cloth/buffer to go over the finish...akin to buffing leather shoes after applying the polish. I have found that there is a slight improvement over regular wax....buffing with a lambskin mitt causes heat to be generated which heats up the wax and gives a little extra gloss. Since Z6 is not petroleum based, I'm not really sure!
So the inevitable has happened....my Black X3 got keyed. I could get the entire panel sprayed, but it might happen again. So I have decided to get the scratch filled in...the BMW dealership uses this guy. Of course it's not going to be like new, but there will be a considerable reduction in scratch visibility. I actually lost visibility of the scratch in the gloss - viewing it from the front.
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 Bret! I'm going to attempt multiple layers of Z5....if I'm still not happy, I'll get the finish professionally buffed. I think I'll wait till next spring though....good opportunity to see how Zaino holds up in the winter.
amazing... it's raining here in la!! just took snow out to san fran and back last weekend and needless to say she needs to be washed. was wondering if i need to z6 the windshield again after the sprayway cleaner or if the z6 lasts through a couple of car washes?
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
Kohinahi - did the Z5 take away your spider webbing?
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.
It's been raining here, just have not found a good day to clay. Also, I had to wait and show the swirl marks to get a complimentary buffing from BMW. There is a hologram near the mirror which needs to go.....I was told that the truck was buffed prior. Just an fyi....the swirl marks start getting more and more visible as the wax wears off.
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.
Tribbles - Yes, the Dawn is nothing more than the commercial dish washing detergent. It strips old wax better than about anything around. Some MIGHT use the Zaino wash after the clay but the idea is to get rid of the clay residue. Have fun!
Tribbles, use the Z5 first (after claying) - it is non-abrasive and will take out any swirls & spider webbing which might be there. Even brand new cars have these, just a by-product of mitts and wash-cloths that dealerships use to prep/wash your car. They are more noticeable on darker colors and are generally not noticeable for the first few washes - until the gloss/prep wears off.
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.
at the very least i'd recommend the car wash (z7), z2 (polish), quick detailer (z6), and zfx. if you're gonna clay and you don't have any then i'd recommend the zaino clay too. i found it very easy to use. if you like to put tire dressing on your tires, i found the zaino one to be nice also. the window cleaner is probably not necessary tho since its an abrasive that you only use once in a while. (if you need a glass cleaner, the consenus on this thread is that sprayway glass cleaner is very good) i recommend parking your car in the sun and checking it over for spiderwebs/swirls. if you don't have any, you don't need the z5 unless you want some on hand for a rainy day. however, i do recommend 2 car wash and z6 since those products get used up faster. if you do get 100% cotton, made in the usa towels, wash them at least twice with an extra rinse each time before you send it into the dryer. that will cut down on the lint. for an accord, i'd recommend mixing only 1oz of polish to start with. you can always mix more if you don't have enough but 1oz should be more than sufficient. i did 3 coats with a little less than 2oz with my rx330. good luck! let us know how it goes for u!
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.
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.
I've applied Zaino to a clear bra and it worked fine. A well known designer/installer (Dynashield) has recommended Zaino as a protectant for their kits. It won't make the bra clearer or less noticable but Zaino offers bras the same protection it offers paint.
Not sure if this is the info you were looking for but I hope it helps.
For some reason, it sticks in the deep recesses of my mind (right next to the rate of acceleration due to gravity) that Sal didn't recommend Zaino and clear bras for some reason.
zaino does not protect against rock chips which i believe is the point of the clear bra. after 5 coats of z2, i recently picked up a rock chip so large i took snow back to the dealership to check for defective paint. while they did touch it up for me free of charge (looks awful, like someone went over the spot with a correction pen), they claim it's just normal to have rock chips. however, the rx330 seems to have a rock chip problem in general.
Rock chips are a normal hazard of driving. Here in New England with all the sand and salt used in the winter, windshields seem to get pitted very quickly.
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.
Automophile, 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!
Kohinahi - Congratulations! It sounds like you have done a great job.
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.
Perfect advice from hammen2. Too bad you couldn't get the car before the dealer prepped the scratches into it! Hopefully the Z5 can take care of it. Black gives the most AWESOME results with Zaino - you won't believe it!
OK, I'm already a Zaino convert from all the info here and then using it on my cars. Awesome shine and lasts forever (which is great with 2 small kids and time!). I had only starting using clay bars just prior to getting Zaino and was thoroughly impressed with what it removed and how smooth it was when done. The first time I did the Sequoia it got the full process as described here a thousand times. Now I have a couple questions.
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?
In 1989, while living in Baltimore (which at the time had a large steel mill still in operation) I bought a new Honda Accord, and the first time I went to wash this vehicle I noticed the same type of "pin hole"-like blemishes throughout the clearcoat. I spoke with a person at the dealer's body shop, who said that in his experience, these small "pits" were quite typical of how "acid rain" tended to damage the clear-coating.
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.
Peter, in #2, did you mean Z2 or Z5? Reason for asking is the Z6 is a spray. One ounce of ZFX/Z2 is what I use for my cars. Some folks use half an ounce! Welcome to the Zaino group.
Ok, I've been addicted to this gift by Satan for over 2 years now, and I may actually fall into the category of obsessive because I can't seem to stop until I put on 3 coats.
No here is my problem. The car still shows swirls.
Comments
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!!