Zoom49

Did the Full Monty last weekend, Dawn wash, clay bar (dont think
it was necessary on new paint) polish lock, and three coats
of Z2 polish. Been using this stuff on my other cars for a few
years and it is the best Only used about 2 oz Z2 for three coats, and it makes the plastic bumpers and mirrors look great!
The hard part is now over. Just maintence with one coat every other month, no long waiting between coats.

Zoom49

forgot the pic

rxeightr

I mixed an ounce for each coat, although I used just under that amount.

Washed the car for the first time this past weekend since applying the Zaino, as was impressed with how easy the bugs came off. Will probably add another polish coat this weekend.

Zoom49

and :D

Cylo

It would probably take me 8 hours to read up on wax products with all the information on this site... I think I'll just hire someone else to do it all when I have the money.

Evil Weevil

There's NO WAY I'd let anyone else touch my car!! Maybe it's a UK thing - the companies over here that valet cars could do with a few lessons from State-side detailers! (The word 'detailer' doesn't seem to exist over here when it comes to car-care!!)

Anyone in the UK ever heard of a decent detailer over here?

Cylo

I changed my mind on this... I waxed it with meguir's quick spray wax... it turned out well on the painted surfaces, the plastic surfaces came out REALLY bad.

Anyone know how to wax plastics? Or should I use a plastic reconditioner type product?

mikeb

dont wax plastic

Kawi

I used the Zaino stuff on my car last weekend. In the middle of the clay bar process I couldn't help but think, "I'm rubbing play-doh on my car. How crazy is this?" But when I got done the paint was like glass. After a couple of coats of Z5 and then Z2 it really does look sharp.

BaronVonBigmeat

I spent the weekend polishing my RX8 with Zaino. My thoughts:

1) Work in an area with LOTS of lighting! It's not a hazy coating like conventional wax, where you can clearly see where you've been. I probably wasted a lot because of this. 2/3 of a bottle of Z2 on a small car like the RX8 doesn't seem quite right.

2) Have LOTS of BIG towels. If the towel you're using to wipe off with has even a modest amount of polish on it, you won't get as much shine as if it were 100% clean.

3) The Z6 spray between polish coats--pain in the butthole. It's kind of sticky and streaky and does not disappear without plenty of elbow grease. Does make the paint more "3D" however.

4) The carwash concentrate will probably last me forever (think maple syrup consistency), and the Z5 probably wasn't necessary seeing as how its a new car with no swirls. You will use lots and lots of Z2 and the Z6 spray though.

5) The tire shine and glass polish--nice and easy to use.

6) Results? Very nice, not radically better than Meguiar's multistep system (their solid wax #26 is the hardest s@#% on the planet to use, in all fairness), although I should say I haven't tried "many" coats yet, nor have I tried a machine buffer yet, which some people seem to swear by. Water beading--outstanding, it rained today at work and my car was dry by the time I pulled out of the parking lot just from the water rolling off.

TJRX8

If used per directions you should only use about 1 oz. per coat. I used exactly that except the third coat I had a fraction left over.
Others here have found same results.

How many coats did you apply?

BTW: I agree about the Z6 spray...lot's of work.

graphicguy

I've been using Zaino for the last 5-6 years....probably since it was still considered a "boutique" wax. Found out about it at a Corvette show.

The product has improved steadily since then. Plus, since I have a lot of experience using it, I may be able to cut down on application removal times.

I did my "zaino routine" last weekend on my new winning blue RX8. Times are approximate, but nothing even approaching 5-8 hours. I did this by myself with no help:

-Dawn wash and dry--30 minutes
-clay (using Z7 car wash and water mix with Zaino clay)--30 minutes
-Z7 wash and dry--30 minutes
-Z6 shine enhancer application/removal--20 minutes
-ZFX/Z2 application and removal--45 minutes
-Z6 shine enhancer application/removal--20 minutes

Roughly, it took about 3 hours for the initial detail. Now, the good part is I can add layer another coat, with a Z6 application any time I want after a wash in about an hour. A complete detail (windows, vacuum, Zaino leather conditioner application) with a wash and wax will take only about 2 hours.

After having one of the harshest winters in recent memory, Zaino (2 coats) lasted 6 months on my previous ride and could probably have lasted longer if I pushed it.

Best stuff I've ever found for car care.

If your finish is less than perfect, then I'd recommend using other products to take care of heavy swirls, however. If the swirls are very light, then Z5 will work fine.

Cylo

I found that Mothers "Back to Black" worked wonders on the wax removal

rex

iTrader: (2)

So, how well does the Zaino process work for cars that have clear bras (e.g., invinca shield) installed? Does the clear bra shine in the same way as the clear coated paint after zaino? Would the bra become more obvious once you'd zaino'd the car? Would you go through the whole zaino process on the bra protected parts? Is it a good or a bad idea to zaino the car before getting the clear bra installed?

All this talk of bras and no mention of cup size. Ooops, there I go!

My cars suddenly don't look as shiny as they did before reading about zaino. Rats.

graphicguy

One of the advanatages of Zaino is it doesn't leave wax crid in the crevices of seams, plastic bits, etc. If the clear bra is made of plastic, I doubt Zaino would harm it. I don't know if the area of the car with the bra would look more or less shiny as I've never tried to "zaino" a bra (but would lead to some interesting experiments with a willing participant).

eskimo

so ... wassup? Anyone try to Zaino a Clear Bra yet?

I just ordered my Zaino. I noticed tons of dead bugs on my front bumper. I was wondering if the Zaino alone would make them "fall off" (at least not stick so much), or should I spring for a Clear Bra. (I remember someone somewhere saying Zaino made bird-doo "fall off").

Also, the dealer tried to sell me Simoniz, a teflon coat, for $500. Is that any good? I can go back and get it. I just didn't know if it affected the shine.

graphicguy

Don't buy the stuff from the dealer. It's a "rip off". It's simply a wax job that you have to come in to "renew" every year or so. For $500, I'll Zaino your car for you.

If you do the Zaino routine:

-Dawn Wash
-clay
-Z7 wash
-ZFX/Z2 application/removal
-Z6 wipe 0n/wipe off

You'll be able to just rinse the bugs off. The more coats you put on, the easier they'll be to just rinse off.

B-Nez

Yeah, after a rain when I get those little spots of dirt, you can lightly touch them with a finger, and they slide right off. You'd still want to use water, though, to prevent scratching.

eskimo

Thanks. Boy, this forum is worth every cent :-) Saved me $500. They said the coating would last 5 years, but $100 worth of Zaino lasts *at least* a year, and it sounds like the shine is much better.

graphicguy

There isn't a wax I'm aware of that will last an entire year. Zaino is among the best for durability, which will give you about 4-6 months, depending on weather, if your car is garaged, etc. Of course, the shine is legendary.

Those dealer wax jobs are little more than a wax application, with wax that isn't even as good as Zaino, but the $500 you spend pays for the unlikely event your finish fades. Think of it as an extended warranty against fading of the original paint.

eskimo

What I mean is $100 of Zaino products is good for *at least* 2 or 3 jobs, which is a year. Actually, after reading, it gives you more like 20, so 7-10 years (!?). I guess some of the products last longer than others.

My Zaino should arrive any day. It'll be a couple weeks before I get a "Honey-do" free weekend. The only question I have now is about the claybar. You spray the car, rub the clay right on the car, keep it wet, then do you wipe it off with the towel? and some water? Do you finish a panel, then use the Z-7 and clean it off, and move to the next panel? Sorry, that's a lot of questions, and I know there's another calybar thread, but I want to be clear on this before my first go.