Zaino

[jdando]

Just thought I would pass along my experience with the Zaino "system". Today was the day I got around to doing my spring cleaning. My car is a 2003 300b, with 19,000 miles and one and a half MN winters. Daily driver here in MN and lately it has been spending lots of time at the airport parking garage (can you say, dust, jet fuel residue, ooze from the parking ramp :mad: ).

Here are the steps I took;

Wash with Dawn dish soap
Clay bar
ZPC
Z5
Z6
Z2
Z6
I applied the ZPC with the Porter Cable 7424, everything else went on by hand. I took the Z2 and Z5 off by machine.


The ZPC is the new mild abrasive swirl remover. My car had some minor swirls so I figured it was a good thing to try.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/zpc.jpg



I think the ZPC is great! I was very gently, and in retrospect I could have put a lot more pressure on the Porter Cable and removed more of some scratches I had.

Scratch before
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/passrearquarterbefore.jpg

Scratch after
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/rearquarterscratchafter.jpg

I also put my Z5 on too thick and had some uneven shine. Luckily it evened out after the Z2 and Z6.

The reflection off the car is amazing! Here is a shot of the rear quarter panel. My poor little digicam was having lots of issues focusing. (Ignore ugly fat old guy with camera in the picture:rolleyes:)
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/rearquarterreflect.jpg

Shot of my hood. The bike and garage door opener are the reflection.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/hoodreflectionafter.jpg

I started the process at about 10:30 am and finished about 3:30pm. Only about a half hour for lunch in there.

All done

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/alldone.jpg



Another satisfied Zaino customer.
jeremy

[Marauder2005]

Sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rider90]

That last picture is gorgeous.

[kj31067]

i was always told dish soap on an auto was a no-no. over a long period of time the paint would dry and crack. are modern clear coats immune to this? this advice dates back about 15 years ago. any validity to it?

[fastblackmerc]

Dawn won't affect the clear coat. It will take of ALL wax or whatever else you've used on your car.

[KillJoy]

i was always told dish soap on an auto was a no-no. over a long period of time the paint would dry and crack. are modern clear coats immune to this? this advice dates back about 15 years ago. any validity to it?

I have always heard the same thing.

KillJoy

[jdando]

i was always told dish soap on an auto was a no-no. over a long period of time the paint would dry and crack. are modern clear coats immune to this? this advice dates back about 15 years ago. any validity to it?

The folks at Zaino recommend "dish soap" only for stripping all dirt, oil and wax prior to the clay bar. For weekly washing I use the Zaino Z7 super-duper car wash soap.

jeremy

[GarageMahal]

Looks great Jeremy! What time to do you want me to drop my car off? I am overdue for my next Zaino treatment.

jta

[Rick-n-Miami]

Zaino es muy mucho bueno.

[jimlam56]

I'm a Zaino convert also.
One thing I forgot about conventional waxes is how much powder residue you have to clean off after you take the wax off.
I waxed one of my "lesser" cars with Meguiers a few weeks back, and spent a lot of extra time recleaning the windows that were covered with wax powder.
Not a problem with Zaino, worth the extra time and money IMHO.

[O's Fan Rich]

This is one of the things I am looking forward to when my MM retires as a daily drive shortly.
It is so hard to keep the black looking as good as this when you have to use the car every day.
A polisher/buffer is in my futurew. I just need to learn the proper techniques.Color me envious of the mirror you are now driving!

[gjtcodered]

If I were going to use just one zaino product, which one should I use. Thanks

[MM2004]

If I were going to use just one zaino product, which one should I use. Thanks

Hard to use just one of their products as it is a several step process when treating the first time.

I have used Zaino before, and makes a world of difference.

You have to make sure you have a whole day to detail.

Mike.

[John F. Russo]

Great job. The reflection tells it all!

Was all of your time except for lunch spent on the car's exterior?

[jdando]

If I were going to use just one zaino product, which one should I use. Thanks
That is hard to answer as MM2004 said; however if it is just one I would recommend the Z5.

A limited approach would be clay bar, Z5, Z6.


Was all of your time except for lunch spent on the car's exterior?
There was one 15 minute errand to pick up my daughter in there. There is some down time 30-45 minutes after each coat of Z2 or Z5. But yes pretty much all the time on the exterior. If wasn't so darn hot, I could have vacuumed and detailed the interior. Also I did not get my exhaust tips done :(

Probably an hour or so today on the real detail stuff, white stuff in the cracks, etc.

jeremy

[pantheroc]

Did Zaino's on mine June 2005, didn't wax or anything for a year and water still beads nice like I just waxed it and still looks good after a wash. However, I'll have to do it soon, bugs are a bit tougher to remove from the bumper and mirrors a little more than usual.

I figure one wash and one and a half days for decent job for a whole year, versus a few washes & waxings during the year.

[Embassy]

Currently, I use a combo of Klasse and Zaino, along with a few other miscellaneous products.

This (http://autopia-carcare.com/zaino.html) article might be useful.

[HwyCruiser]

Zaino rocks!

Spending a day every six months applying Zaino goes a long way towards having time to keep up with the rest chores. A little spritzing with Z8 during the final wipe down after a car wash and she's good to go.