[rtjones]

Originally Posted by Phila

I just bought a bunch of zaino stuff, planning to do

ZAIO -> Z2 -> ZCS

but i forgot to buy Z6. Instead my kit comes with Z8. I know there were a few posts dampening the pad with Z6 makes applying ZAIO/Z2 much easier.

So my question is, can I use Z8 to dampen the pads, or do I need to get Z6? Are there any alternatives to Z6 (meguiar's QD?) in this usage? Thanks for your help.

Hey Phila, I'll reply, as I have a lot of experience w/ Zaino products, including Z5 and Z2.

Use water. It is cheaper and in my opinion works better than Z6. I did dampen my pads w/ Z6 when I first started using Z5/Z2, and felt I needed to use a lot of Z6 (and I mean several sprays per couple panels) to allow the sealant to spread, but even then it didn't spread as well as I wanted. So I tried saturating my pad in water, wringing it out as much as I could, and applying a few dabs of sealant - that was the ticket. About every 10 sq feet or so, I very lightly dab the very surface only of my pad in water (very lightly - don't wring it, and use soft water if possible).

I use just a bit over 1/3 oz of Z2 for my BMW 3, or VW Passat (certainly less than 0.4 oz). The key is to use very very little - the less the better. More won't give you more production, just make it harder to remove.

BUT, I do like Z6 as a final wipedown after drying my cars. I think Z6 has some cleaning properties that Z8 does not have, from what I've read, but my personal experience is that I can't tell the difference. I'm out of Z6, and have been using my diluted Z8 (find full-strength Z8 a bit too much, not easy to work with) as my final wipedown, and I believe it performs just as well as Z6 for the final wipedown. At that point, my car is already clean, so I don't need the cleaning properties of Z6.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Ron

[UncleWede]

1/2 the included application/dropper bottle filled with Z2 covers a vehicle twice, and leaves a bit to wipe down the motorcycle, plus I STILL have to wash some out of the bottle at the end. Z6/8 on the pad is helpful to get started but I haven't found the need to apply to any paint directly to get the stuff to spread.
Keep looking at your pad, make sure you haven't picked anything up with it that you don't want to wipe all over your paint!

[rtjones]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

1/2 the included application/dropper bottle filled with Z2 covers a vehicle twice, and leaves a bit to wipe down the motorcycle, plus I STILL have to wash some out of the bottle at the end.

Which means you're using about .25 oz per vehicle. I find this true, as well. I think it takes a bit of experience to get to this point, maybe a couple times sealing the car, but should be the goal.

[!Xoible]

wow amazing thread. took me days to get thru it. super mucho thanks to OP for spending the time and effort. WOW im impressed

[SP23]

hey guys im looking for a good car cleaner wash for my black 750i

i couldnt find any Mothers California Gold wash from canadian tire.

id like to buy from a local shop like costco or canadian tire.

i have the wash mitt, and plenty of mf towels for drying/cleaning.

any help is appreciated.

thanks

[bimmernotbeamer]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

wow amazing thread. took me days to get thru it. super mucho thanks to OP for spending the time and effort. WOW im impressed

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found the thread helpful!

Originally Posted by SP23

hey guys im looking for a good car cleaner wash for my black 750i

i couldnt find any Mothers California Gold wash from canadian tire.

id like to buy from a local shop like costco or canadian tire.

i have the wash mitt, and plenty of mf towels for drying/cleaning.

any help is appreciated.

thanks

As per my PM, see if you can find the Meguiars Gold Class car wash.

[rtjones]

I've used Poorboy's World 'Super Slick & Suds' for over a year on both my cars, and find it to be a quality product. Very happy w/ it.

[xd.55]

i saw in the first post saying which carwash use if the car has zaino but my problem is i just bought my 06' 2 weeks ago and have no idea if it has zaino, is there any way to tell?

what would happen if i used the wrong carwash on it if had zaino?

thanks

[WDW1Fanatic]

Originally Posted by xd.55

i saw in the first post saying which carwash use if the car has zaino but my problem is i just bought my 06' 2 weeks ago and have no idea if it has zaino, is there any way to tell?

what would happen if i used the wrong carwash on it if had zaino?

thanks

I'm a big Zaino fan for the past number of years, having come from the strictly carnuaba world. I'm not sure of any method to tell if you have Zaino already there, but here's the deal: If you use the wrong wash, such as Dawn, it will take the Zaino or other wax off -- It's what Zaino recommends as your original prep before starting the system. Z7 is what Zaino recommends for all other washes after that first, of course. It's all I use. If I were you, I'd do your first detailing job on the car to the level you want to go. ...use Dawn once to take off whatever is there, "clay" your vehicle if that is your desire to clean off the surface, apply a layer of ZAIO if you are going the all-in-one route, and add another layer or more of Z2/Z5 on top of the ZAIO if you're not using ZFX, and then you'll know what you've got. (I always end with Z2 when using Z5 on darker colors.) To me, doing that first detail job on my new ride is like some sort of initiation, and has the side benefit of my knowing every little detail (or issue that needs to be addressed) on my car right up front. Have done it that way, the day I've brought home each of my last 3 rides, before taking it out for the first real cruise. Yes, I'm just a little obsessive that way.

[Hedges]

sub'd

[ik999]

hello

I need some beginner advice

my car is monaco blue with TONS of swirls and deep scratches all over the car

from what I gather, my paint needs to be corrected by buffing

should I be doing this, or is a pro needed?

what would I need to buy in order to do this?

preferably cost-effective things I can get from home depot / can tire

thanks in advance

also, what is the difference between a PC and a buffer? thanks

[jermc68]

Originally Posted by ik999

hello

I need some beginner advice

my car is monaco blue with TONS of swirls and deep scratches all over the car

from what I gather, my paint needs to be corrected by buffing

should I be doing this, or is a pro needed?

what would I need to buy in order to do this?

preferably cost-effective things I can get from home depot / can tire

thanks in advance

also, what is the difference between a PC and a buffer? thanks

Not to be an a-hole, but..... The person who started this thread wrote it all down in the very first post.

The PC everyone is referring to is the Porter Cable Random Orbit Polisher. The OP said it is available at Can. Tire so it's looking good for you there. Only you and others in your area can tell you where to get the polishes, waxes, etc, etc. Buffers, depending on who you talk to, can mean different things. I grew up knowing buffers as those single, slow speed tools to apply/remove wax. They won't correct your paint and from what I have been told, are unnecessary if you get a polisher.

Do a search on YouTube for videos of the various detailing steps to familiarize yourself with those processes.

Depending on your "handy-ness" it isn't too hard to do.

Good luck!!

[ik999]

thanks man

reading isn't really my strength area (never got my grade 10), so please excuse my asking


my aim is to get the paint looking like glass

[bimmernotbeamer]

Originally Posted by ik999

thanks man

reading isn't really my strength area (never got my grade 10), so please excuse my asking


my aim is to get the paint looking like glass

No offense, but all of your questions are answered in the first post. It appears that you can write reasonably well/coherently. I'd say your reading skills are good enough. The answers are there if you really want them, but I'm not retyping anything.

[ik999]

how long does a coat of sealant typically last?

[bimmernotbeamer]

Originally Posted by ik999

how long does a coat of sealant typically last?

It depends on where you live, how often you wash, etc. I would say for Zaino, anywhere from 6-9 months.

[Molos 2003]

Most helpful!

[mkiszka2000]

I have some Zaino Z2 and Z5 purchased in the spring of 2003. Can I use it?

[EDM92]

I keep my car outside all the time as I don't have a garage. Is washing it so thoroughly like this every time even useful? Every time I wash my car, I wake up in the morning and it is dirty again

[bimmernotbeamer]

Originally Posted by BMWorNOTHING

I keep my car outside all the time as I don't have a garage. Is washing it so thoroughly like this every time even useful? Every time I wash my car, I wake up in the morning and it is dirty again

It's always good to fully detail the paint once a year as it will keep it looking new. A coat of sealant will also make the paint easier to wash as the dirt washes away easier.

[fai]

Thank you for an excellent guide! I'm making my list before I go to CT and go products shopping as I'm reading this! This is an awesome guide, thank you again!

One question though, I checked CT website and I noticed that there's a lot of mother's product listed there. You mentioned in your guide to get a large jug of Mothers California Gold wash for the car wash. Which one is it? >> Link <<

[tthibodeau]

I've read this amazing thread from front to back and have learned soo much. Thank you!

The one topic that I didn't see in this thread, however, is regarding where you should wash the car. I know in Calgary, you can't wash anything down the sewer, so washing in the driveway with all of the soap and products used for tire cleaning, etc. could result in a hefty fine if someone decided to report it (not to mention that I'd like to be environmentally friendly).

Where would you recommend washing if the driveway isn't an option?

Thanks.