Mindtrip

Lets hear the list of products that you use on your car, and the order/description of everything you do.




is it easy to use a claybar? Im a little afraid too.

N8theGr8

Normal Wash

1)Wash
2)Quick Detail (spray on while still wet, then chamois off. Buff lightly with microfiber to get out access QD and water)

Paint Detail
1)Wash
2)Dry
3)Meguiar's Body Scrub
4)Wax

Clay Detail
1)Wash
2)Clay (while still wet, applying a quick detailer as a lubricant)
3)Buff out access with microfiber towel
4)Wax

Wash = Meguiars Deep Crystal wash
Wax = Meguiars NXT
Quick Detail = Meguiars NXT Speed Detailer
Clay = Whichever is readily available, usually Mother's
Tires = Meguiars Endurance
Exhaust = Nevr-Dull
Trim = 303 Aerospace Protectant
Chamois = The Absorber
Wash Mitt = Sheep



Most others polish in between the wash/dry and wax step. I usually overlook polishing unless going to an event or something car specific. Clay bar is very simple and is safe as long as you make sure you're using plenty of lubrication between the clay and the paint. Its just very time consuming.

I use Meguiars over Zaino simply because of ease of the whole process, plus Meguiars is much cheaper. Zaino can give you OUTSTANDING results, but the Meguiars does a great job especially if your 8 is a daily driver.

kirboturbo

Regular Wash
1. Wheels - I use a soft brush and then a big sponge. The sponge is good to get in theback part of the rims.
2. Wash - lots of suds
3. Dry with micro fiber towels.
4. Vacuum
5. Wipe down entire interior with wet towel.

I Zaino'd the 8 for the first time this weekend. Washed with Dawn, then clayed, washed again, Z2,Z5,Z2, with Z6 after every coat. Looks awesome, 8 hours of fun!

Aerospace 303 on all black exterior. Z10 for the tires. Nevr Dull for the tailpipes.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

it's all detailed here, just follow the instructions using the products mentioned and you will be tired but floored by the results:

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...de=APPLICATION


additional claybar info:

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...C&Store_Code=Z

quack_p

I use Zaino plus:

Sonus Rim Bright for the wheels (although I've found that just soap and water works equally well)

OXO Tire and Wheel brush

Wool wash mitt

Sonus Ultimate Drying Towel

DF Concours microfiber towels

Eagle One 20/20 Vision glass cleaner

Plexus Plastic Polish for the headlights and taillights

303 Aerospace Protectant on a foam applicator pad for tires, dash, steering wheel (gives factory finish look to everything that's black)


Ed

Nubo

Wash - when it starts looking dirty (well, the front wheels get dirty in about 100 miles, but I wash about once a month)
-rinse car first with plain water
-any OTC car wash that doesn't remove wax
-I use a hogshair brush for most of the car(lifts dirt instead of grinding it along the surface)
-A wool mit for the tires/rims/mudflaps and tailpipes
-a piece of irrigation pipe with an old sock pulled over to clean out the lug-nut recesses
-semidry with 'nozzle-less hose' technique
-an ancient "teenage mutant ninja turtles' beach towel to dry

Wax - when water doesn't bead as well (hasn't happened yet) or about every 4 months
-Zymol 'Japon' car wax
-apply with applicator; buff and remove with microfiber towels

Paint cleaning - once a year
-Zymol 'HD cleanse' (basically a liquid clay)
-apply, rub, and buff off with cotton diapers

Interior - so far all that's been done is vacuuming and go over the dash/consoles with a microfiber towel slightly moistened with distilled water if it's a little dusty. Need to get some Lexol leather cleaner since the driver's side is starting to show a little the result of wearing black jeans (it's yellow leather). I've got some Zymol 'treat' for the conditioning afterwards (smells like bananas -- perfect for yellow )

RX4life

Mr clean car wash system

orange blast wheel cleaner

CAR BRITE window cleaner

Simoniz interior wipes

Diamond Kote leather protectant

Diamond kote paint restorer

Mothers claybar.. and its soo easy to use.. but very time consuming.. but well worth it.. i used it on the windows too to get overspray off...AND YOU MUST WAX after.

Zymol cleaner wax.

simoniz tire wet

goforwand

Normal Wash (1/per week)

1. Fill 2 buckets (1 lrg./1 sm.) with warm H2O and Z-7.
2. Rinse/Wash wheels and tires with 100% cotton mitt (rinsing frequently).
3. Rinse/Wash/Rinse body by section with 100% cotton mitt (rinsing frequently).
4. Dry with Blower and 100% white cotton towels.
5. Spot dry areas around side mirrors, rear windows, rear glass, and wheels.
6. Open trunk and hood to drain excess water and dry.
7. Dry all door jams.
8. Apply Z-6 to body and wheels.
9. Clean exterior glass with Stoner Invisible Glass
10. Clean headlights and taillights with Plexus Plastic Polish
11. Quick vaccum floor mats

Approx. time 1.5 hours

"Honey I'm going Shopping with our daughter and won't be back until later 2 mo. Wash"

-Same steps as above, plus-
1. Z-16 on tires
2. Mother's Back to Black on Black exterior parts (MS front bumper cover, mirrors)
3. Zymol Leather Cleaner for leather and vinyl interior surfaces.
4. 303 Protectant for all interior plastic parts.
5. Z-10 for all leather and vinyl interior surfaces.
6. Plexus Plastic Polish for Radio, Guages, and area around power window switches.
7. Stoner Invisible Glass for all interior glass.
8. Detailed vaccum
9. 303 Protectant on Engine Bay plastic parts.
10. Hand wash accessible areas in engine bay.

Approx. time- 3 hours

"I've had it with you and the f**ckin' car, I'm going to visit my parents in Canada and I'm taking my daughter with me 5-6 month wash"

Same 2 previous steps above plus-
1. Case of Becks Beer and 2 new CD's
2. Wash, Rinse, Dry, Z-18 Clay bar with Z-7/H2O lubricant, Wash, Rinse, Dry.
3. Remove Wheels for Detailed Cleaning.
4. Apply "pink polish that this body shop gave me that I have no idea what it's called but gives an incredible shine" to wheels.
5. Z-6 wheels
6. 3 coats of Z-2 (no Z-6 in between)
7. Final coat of Z-6

Approx. time 6 hours.

Looking forward to trying the Z-2 Pro and Z-8 when I re-order Zaino.

Labop

ROFLMAO :D

quack_p

Yikes. I don't think so. All you need is one little nylon thread to get loose and hello swirls. Spend the $15 on a good drying towel.

Nubo

Hmmm... I'll have to check. I didn't realize that was a risk.

Batmobile1

just cut the seams off and you'll be fine.....

staticlag

Wash Every 2-3 days, or more often if it rains:

1. Rinse entire car down to wet soil.
2. Handwash with Zaino carwash, rinsing cloth after 2 swabs, 100 percent cotton old undershirt rag with all seams and tags torn off.
3. Rinse each section down after washing, and then dry, to avoid water spot accumualation.
4. After entire car is done, then using old cotton washcloth I use the rest of the soapy water in the bucket to do the wheels and tires.
5 dry wheels and tires.
6 windex windows inside and out.
7 z6 entire car and finally wheels.
8 apply meguire's hot shine tire dressing.

Bi-Monthly

Wash as above
+ 3 coats of zaino (z5 or z2 as the finish appears to need), z6 between each coat
+ throughly vacuum
+ dust interior
+ dust engine bay
+ check fluids

It's kind of funny, my neighbors dont see the point in waxing a car that is already perfectly spotless.

quack_p

Zoiks, no windex on the interior rear glass -- check the owner's manual. Just a damp towel or newspaper.

Why the Z-5? Do you see any swirls on your finish? It might be due to the t-shirt.

quack_p

Some towels have nylon backing in addition to nylon seams. I wouldn't risk it.

Squidward

Regular wash 30 min, every 2-4 weeks (depending on season)

Deluxe wash 1 hour, every 2 months (includes spray waxing)

Detailing 2 hours, every 6 months (includes haze waxing, polishing, and full interior cleaning).

Detailing with claybar 3 hours, once a year.

Showcar detail, when I'm bored. Usually takes all day. I clean and treat everything inside and out. Clean and treat literally every nook and cranny (ie. engine hot steam power wash, all hindges, behind hood and trunk, interior wheel wells, etc. EVERYTHING).. Usually when I'm depressed for some reason, this takes my mind off of the bad news.

Products used:

Wash - Turtlewax Carwash detergent (or any brand that doesn't strip wax)

Dry - California Water Blade, then very large microfiber towel (online purchase) forgot brand, but very expensive-- around $25.

Wax - Penzoil TotalCare

Quick Detailer Spray - Showtime Detailer (Mothers) or EagleOne Wax-As-You-Dry

Clay bar - Mothers

Interior - Penzoil TotalCare

Rims - Penzoil TotalCare

Wheels - Penzoil TotalCare

loco4rx8

I wash every weekend, or if it's raining, every other weekend. Depending on my mood, I use 1Z Perls, Zaino Z-7, Poorboys Super Slick & Suds, or Griot's Car Wash soap.

Wash Process:
1. Wash wheels, wheel wells, and exhaust tips first with an old chenille sponge and car wash soap.
2. Rinse bucket thoroughly and fill two buckets with water, add wash soap to one of them. The other bucket is used to rinse out the wash mitts between washing car panels.
3. Use sheepskin wash mitt for most of car, use new chenille sponge for bottom 1/4 of car where it gets most dirty.
4. Work only one panel at a time, rinsing constantly because of hard water - helps to avoid spots.
5. Take off hose nozzle for final rinse. This makes water sheet off nicely, rather than bead like crazy.
6. Dry immediately with two waffle weave microfiber towels.
7. Spray Armor All onto wheel well black plastic. Wipe dry after a few minutes.
8. Pull car into garage and then dry off water that has run out of crevices.
9. Go over the car with Zaino Z8 or Meguiar's Last Touch detail spray with microfiber towel.
10. Nevr Dull, Heavy Metal Polish, English Custom Showman's Blend polish, or Mother's Chrome Polish on the exhaust tips.
11. Use Zaino Z-16 on tires (keeps them nice and matte black).
12. Use Zaino Z6 or ClearKote QuikShine on windows, wipe off with microfiber glass towel. This will make rain bead up and roll off windshield just like it does with RainX, but is much easier. Plus it makes the windows look good.

Once a month, I'll go over the black trim and headlights/taillights with 303 Aerospace Protectant.

I Zaino Z2 the car twice yearly. Zaino easily last 6 months. But I do top the car with a carnauba wax because I like the look of the combination. So, bimonthly, I'll wax it with S100 or Souveran.

The car gets clayed and polished prior to the Zaino sessions (Spring and Fall). I usually clay while I'm washing, it's quicker and much easier that way. I use a Porter Cable buffer and 1Z Paint and Metallic Polishes, but will be trying Menzerna polishes this fall.

The interior gets dusted biweekly. I use 303 monthly on the interior to protect it. I am pretty lax on my exhaustive interior detailing. I just hate doing the interior. It's lucky if it gets it twice a year, but the car still looks new. By exhaustive, I mean vacuuming everything, shampooing the mats, windows, cleaning the dash with 1Z Cockpit Premium, etc, etc.

kellybrf

iTrader: (2)

wash: mcguiers gold class
wax: nxt tech wax and spray wax. the three step gold class system works better, but it takes an entire day to do
polish: mothers metal polish
tires: mcguiers hot tire shine
plastic: nxt tech protectant

i also use mcguiers quick detailer and bug and tar remover to keep it clean

Labop

Cleaning
- Meguires Gold Class Car Wash
- Turtle Wax Bug and tar remover (if needed, usually only for front bumper)
- Turtle Wax Wheel Cleaner
- RainX Foaming Window Cleaner (for outside windows)
- Eagle One (tint safe) window cleaner (for inside windows)
- old newspaper (for windows)
- Armor All vinyl cleaning wipes

Dressing
- Black Magic Tire Dressing (novel has adjustable width, makes it good for side vents as well)
- Eagle One Never Dull (exhaust)
- Armor All vinyl dressing/protectant wipes
- Mother's Back to Black, works great on the grey plastic on the rear bumper

Paint Prep
- Mother's Clay Bar (If you run out of wetting spray: 1 capfull of car soap in a spray bottle of water works perfectly)

Wax
- Turtle Platinum Ultra Gloss Liquid Wax
- RainX window wax / protector. . . . . . . . thing

Misc
- Wash bucket
- 2 Black Magic fuzzy sponges (the real names escapes me at the moment. One for paint and one for wheels / undercarriage)
- Black Magic wheel brush
- Q-Tips (for getting in those two holes on each spoke of the wheel)
- Tire pressure guage (checking while washing makes sure it gets done regularly)
- iPod loaded with tunes
- Several bottles of water (for me)

I've tried Turtle Platinum both liquid and paste. The liquid is easier to work with and the product lasts longer (the paste dried out on me pretty quick). I've used NXT before, but turtle seems to last a few weeks longer and has a deeper shine. I usually apply two coats of whatever wax I'm using.

Also, I do the dressing thing before the clay bar. This way, if I over spray with the tire dressing, I don't have to go back and clean it again after I waxed. The clay bar will take car of it for me.

I'll be switching to Zaino whenever it arrives (ordered last week). Ordered Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6.