Hi everyone, I just found this forum. I picked up a black 2004 touring about 6 weeks ago.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE the car but find it annoying that the black gets so dirty... I figured it would be annoying.

I like to wipe down my rims with a dry rag every two days or so to keep the brake dust off. I've also been washing the car with some high quality car wash about once every 10 days... shamois it dry and it looks showroom new....

QUESTION: Just the other day, I washed the car, then bam, yesterday it rains and leaves water spots on my car... I have tried to use a very soft cloth to wipe them off, but it doesn't do the best job... but I don't want to wash the car constantly either.

Is there a product that you recommend to do maybe a 10 minute clean up of the car? I have not waxed the car since buying it either. Whatever you recommend would be great.... thanks.

 

Congrats on your new Z. I've had a black Z before and know the pleasure and pain of owning a black car.

First, I would not use a dry rag to wipe down your rims. That will introduce scratches and over time dull the finish and appearance. You should wash them with a auto soap/shampoo. Also, use a wax or polish like Zaino on them. That will make it easier to wash the brake dust away.

The Z's brakes are very dusty so you might want to just live with it until you replace them with something less dusty.

Definitely don't try to wipe water spots from your paint. That will definitely introduce fine scratches and swirl marks that make black cars look so bad. I don't know of any way you can get water spots off your car without washing. Something like the California Duster will work for dust but once the dust gets wet, those "spots" are stuck there until washed away.

A lot of us use Zaino (www.zainostore.com). It looks great, last long and has a product (Z-5) that helps hide swirl marks and fine scratches. The good thing about getting a couple coats of polish/wax on it is that you can do a quick wash and rinse and the water will literaly run off the car. That means only a quick dry with the proper type of towel (waffle weave microfiber) and you're as clean as can be.

Check out Autopia.org -- there is a lot of info there on car detailing and care. You want to be careful in how you clean your car and what you use on it to prevent or minimize the scratches and swirls.

 

bettercarecare.com...tips for cleaning, polishing, quick detailing etc, etc...very informative... throw a way the chamois...especially on a black car..