I have a '06 magnetic black enth. With the bright lights I put in my garage, I see every swirl and scratch in the clear coat. (this is my first black car!) I put a clear bra on last week, and that shows the light scratches too. I was asdvised by other non-Z owners of black cars "learn to live with it" I think there has to be something out there.......any suggestions? What is " the treatment" my dealer offered me?

 

Check out my thread, this is with McGuires wax and detail spray. It makes it mirror-like


https://my350z.com/forum/showthread.p...37#post2254537

 

zaino, it seems intemidating because of the multiple steps, but really its the best sollution.

When i did it the first time I was surprised how easy it really was...

www.zainostore.com

Z1 -> Z2 -> Z6 skip the ZFx and use Z1 it works better and is cheaper...

 

yeah zaino is incredible. i really like how smooth the clay bar will make your paint also. ooh so sexZ.

 

man, did you take it to a car wash.
first rule of the z club is

you do not take it to a car wash

2nd rule of the z club is

you do not take it to a car wash... etc.

use a claybar.. my surface is so slippery, bugs slip on their asses.

 

+3

Friggin' Zaino is g.d. amazing. I had little swirl marks and lines on the clear coat. After a full application of the Zaino steps, I couldn't see them anymore. The black was so smooth and shiny, it was like a killer whale's nose.

 

I've said it before, I'm saying it again, Zaino just isn't what you want for a black car with swirls. Z5 just takes way too many layers to cover them to make it worth while. I took delivery of my car with the dealer installed swirls and the first thing I did was wash, clay, Z5+Z6+Z5+Z6+Z5+Z6+Z2+Z6. The third layer of Z5 did OK on swirls, but some were still visible and within a couple weeks they all were back. If you do want to go Zaino (for that nice bright synthetic shine), remove the swirls first and you won't be dissapointed. It depends on the shine you want thoughand whether you want to remove swirls this early in the paint's life. Zaino really does give a brilliant, clear, shine, I do use this on my wife's silver Explorer.

On black I prefer more of a deep, liquidy shine so, wash, clay, clean (I used Megs DC1 last time but something less greasy, easier to remove will be used next time, prolly Klasse AOI), polish (Meg's #7 is nice and easy to work with), seal (used NXT topped with Meg's #26 last time). That left the finish with a great look for me, all but the worst marks gone, gloss deep and dark, metallic flake very clear still. I topped it in a few days with Natty's Blue and bam, got all the depth I wanted, swirling not seen. Sovreign would probably give me the look I really want without anything else over the polish, but I wanted to add some durability and this seems to be a decent combo. NB without the NXT and #26 would probably be OK too, but I wanted the swirl filling of NXT and the carnuba gloss of #26. I could have left it like that and been happy, but used the NB to try for more depth and couldn't have expected any better.

edit to add: I have pollen all over the car atm, but after I wash this weekend I'll look for this thread in the detailing section, where I'm sure it will be moved, and see if I can't get some pics up in it.

 

the thing is that zaino fills in the swirls marks, rather than removing a layer of clear coat. Best bet is 3m swirl remover, which works like a charm, then claybar, then wash w/ zaino soap, Z5, Z6, then Z2 and then Z6 one omre time. it'll leave the meanest shine evarr. also, always, ALWAYYYYS use a differnt sud bucket for ur wheels and for ur paint. also, microfiber helps to prevent scratches. you can also invest in a california water blade, which should be used once u claybar ur car and there after to dry..

 

Clearly (or not), the polish issue still is hotly debated. For myself, I have no doubts about Zaino. I put it on my Z about six months ago, and I love it. My car stays clean longer, and that means less work for me. I polished the wheels, and the brake dust just flys off. I polished the windows, and rain just flys off. My wipers, if I even use them, glide effortlessly across the windshield. I polished my GF's six y.o. Honda Accord this weekend. It had lots of swirls, which are now gone. It looks like a brand new car. Also, the UV protection in the polish is like putting sunscreen on your paint.

 

Zaino all the way!
You don't have to clay bar it.
Just do the first wash with dishwashing soap (liguid),
then apply the Zaino.
Let it dry/cure.
Wipe it off with a towel (no hard rubbing or buffing)
TA DA - you've now got the shinest black Z for the next 10 minutes, until the dust starts to settle on it and show up.
http://www.zainostore.com/

 

I just tried the new "ICE" clear wax...dont know who makes it off hand, but it is very good and is only like $20 bottle @ autozone.

 

Here is a list of the Zaino products that I use on my new '06 Z:


Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car FinishesCode:Z-2
Price: $14.95

Z-7 Show Car WashCode:Z-7
Price: $8.95

For the leather seats, you can't beat this product, it makes the leather smell really good:

Z-10 Leather in a Bottle
Code:Z-10
Price: $10.95

 

I do think there are easier ways to care for a black car other than Zaino. Now, I do like the product, but again the layers required to me are more than the end result. If you garage your car and have a weekend a month to do it right, then Zaino can and will leave a brilliantly shiny car. However, to me, I drive my car everyday and it is unfortunately parked outside. I have a couple hours once a month to detail it and no more.

That being said, I honestly think you will get the same results with less time with other products. If you really want to cut through those swirls I highly recommend 3M Swirl Remover for Dark Cars with a orange or yellow cutting pad or even the Perfect It II. A couple times over with it and following up with a nice glaze or mild polish with a white pad will help finish filling up the swirls that were to deep for the other polishes. Follow it up with a decent quality liquid wax such as Meguires or Pinnacle products and you will have near the same results with much less hassle. I personally like carnuba waxes, but on black it seems the liquid fills in better and lasts longer.

Either way you go the key is maintenance. If you want to spend two days with Zaino the first time to get the results you really desire and will continue the maintenance, go for it. If not, the above program will give you great results and last a couple months at a time.

 

Autoglym has a product (Ultra Deep Shine) that was in development for 7 years and specifically designed for dark colored cars. Not only do you get a wet looking shine, it does wonders on "swirls". You can find it and their "Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner" at: www.properautocare.com

 

Try Shining Monkey there product is awesome.

 

A big plus one!

I say that how you clean and polish your car has more to do with what swirls are there than what you polish your car with. My dealer delivered the car with some pretty good swirls. Not knowing any better I cleaned the car with some very soft cotton towels. I've put $100 worth of Zanio on the car and it looks shiny but it still has swirls.

So last month I bought a Porter Cable random orbtal polisher, some 3M dark car swirl remover, a yellow pad, some Zanio ZPC, and a white polish pad and went at the thing for hours until I learned how to cut the swirls and polish the thing to a very high shine. I'm about 75% happy (perfect) and have put a coat on NTX technical polish on everything but 2/3rds of the hood. When it stops raining I'm going to do one third of the hood with Z-2 (x3) /Z-6 and one third the hood with Z-5 (x2)/Z-2 (x1) and Z-6 to see if anyone can tell the difference between the two Zanio treatments and the NTX.

ETA: get yourself some microfiber towels and clay bar too.

 

What is a Yellow Pad?

 

i got mean swirls and small scratches all over my car, (black) everytime i wax it, it looks great, but it rains soooo much here in hawaii that in a couple days i can start to see everything again. how do i remove the swirls not just cover them? is that what polish does?

 

Yes, that is what a polish does.

http://gtaindetail.com/dyi/page2.html

Polishing or compounding literally removes a super thin layer of clear coat to level out the scratches, leaving the clear coat smooth. Waxes and sealants do not remove scratches, however they may fill them.

Polishing by hand is difficult but can be done. A much more effective way is by dual action polisher (ie: PC 7336/7427). For more information on that here are some helpful links:

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-p...-polisher.html

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-polishing.html

 

thanks, so how do i figure out if i need to get a PC or just try by hand? should i just try by hand and if it don't work then get a PC, will that be bad since i've already started to remove some of the clear coat?