Looking forward to giving my Mini a good detailing once I get back. In the past I've basically used Meguiar's gold class products because they were readily available.

A lot of people seem to really like zaino on here. I'm a little put off by ordering this on line - not sure why. Is it really worth the difference? And how much more does it actually cost in real world costs (ie compared to how often and how much you have to use)?

With my job I'm afraid I'll never have a lot of time to put into this whole process so ease of use is a concern. I definitely want the outcome to be worth it so the product has to work. Thirdly, cost is important since I'm married with child.

As an addendum: I'm also interested in the P21S stuff because it's 'green'? Anybody used it?

(added Prima to the header since several posts also recommended it)

 

Edited after looking at the Zaino site and am leaning towards it. Has anybody used either the new CS stuff or the All in one. I'm especially interested in the AIO.

 

Zaino old news for the MINI culture. Read the detailing threads and you will see that Prima products are "in".

As to AIO, I used the Klasse twins followed by Pinnacle Sourvein exclusively. Other people have as well. AIO is simply the polish, its not a "wax", Adding the Glaze (the other part of the twins) will add the sealant. The Glaze is hard to buff off but can last up to a year.

Layering carbauba over the sealant will give a deeper gloss.

There are still a lot of Zaino zealots around but I sense a shift in trends lately. Read the autopia.org site to get a complete feel of the detailing world and what is going on.

 

Zaino is so 2005


I am a Klasse twins fan & I like to top the twins with P21S carnauba. There are also many Prima Epic fans around here

As chows said Autopia has great forums & many great care care articles.
I recommend you browse the Detailing 101 forums here on NAM for many pros, cons, & varying opinions & also check out these 2 sites:
Autopia & Detailer's Paradise

 

Thanks for the autopia reference - looking there now. Been looking in the forums and see what people are using but not getting a sense of why. What's so good about the Prima products that's got everybody going to them?

 

I dont think your going to get an real answer, except from Heather, about what is in the Chemistry. PM her and ask.

 

Autopia also has an article called "The Perfect Shine". When I first started out detailing I found it to be a very valuable starting point reference
(regardless of which brand of pruducts you ultimately choose)

 

Would have mentioned the Prima stuff at first but had emailed DP a couple of days ago and was waiting to hear back. Wonder if Heather's on vacation or something?

Also remembered that the movers won't move any of this stuff so I guess I'll wait the 3 weeks or so after I get back back to order anything :((

 

The main difference between Zaino and Prima stuff to me is how easy Prima is and how many friggin steps are involved in Zaino. And all those numbers...oy.

Not that that helps you. I would say the product lines are comparable in terms of results, but that Prima stuff is a lot easier to handle.

 

i know how busy work schedule and taking care of kid(s) can be. make
it real easy for yourself. a lot of people start out detailing with all sorts
of energy and karisma spending hundreds of dollars, but i think more than
half of them give up within a year due to the overwelming work vs how
quickly your daily driver gets dirty again.

imagine you spent hours detailing your car and your kid needs to go to
practice or something and your wife asks you to take him/her there in
the rain... repeat this a couple of times and people get so
turned-off by the wasted effort they just quit. some people try to
convince themselves that they did all this work for 'protection' but then
who/what are you protecting the finish for if the car looks like crap
anyway? harsh reality

i am passionate about Hydro because it's made for the real world person.
you can achieve a fantastic looking car with very little effort.
it's so easy it feels like you cheated.

so get a bottle of Hydro and enjoy your afternoon with your family.
edit: get a gallon.

 

Ken your such an addict

BTW, I have read that just adding some spray synthetic, while certainly worthwhile, never will provide the same level of shine/gloss as just another application of the true synthetic sealant (whatever floats your boat). ... But spray "waxes" are clearly quick and easy for touchups

 

chows, for someone like you that call rain "free car wash," you should probably get some sealant
or extra coats of clear.

 

Rain! Pure distilled water from the heavons above

It just don't get better than FREE washes

 

sometimes the heavons will include extra scubbing power for free too...called golf ball sized hail.

 

Cheers for all the input. A little off topic but since realizing I'm probably better off waiting to order a bunch of stuff till after I move. I'll probably use up my Meg's stuff before we move since I'll have to trash whatever is left anyway. It will be a month or two before we do move and I can get to the full detailing with the new stuff. So washing minimum but should I...

1) Go ahead and use the Megiuar's gold class wax. From what I understand it won't last but a month or two anyway.

2) Clay the car. I did it about a month or two into owning the car with the Meg's stuff. I will do it when I get the 'good stuff' after I move so is there any point in doing it twice. It's been barely driven since I've been gone this last year but was on two very long trips just before.

BTW: Got me leaning toward Prima now, just waiting to hear from Heather or somebody for DP. And if I decide on them or Zaino I'm pretty sure I'm going to 'move up' from the auto parts store stuff.

 

Cadfael,
You won't go wrong with Prima products. My MINI is on order but in the meantime I have been using my Prima products on my Mercedes SLK. I love the high gloss factor and wet look my car has. Its easy on and easy off Heather, Richard "OG", Ken, and rest of the NAM posse pretty much sold me on Prima Products. I've pretty much taken my Zymol products and sent them to the trash!

Here's what I'd do:

Amigo: Polish
Epic: Wax
Hydro: (on going maintenance) Spray on wax after car washes (while the car is wet still)
*edit* Slick: Quick detailer and "bird poo" cleaner
Clarity: best damn glass cleaner in the world!
Black Wow: Exterior trim
Nero: Interior Trim and Tires

Lots of microfiber polishing towels, waffle weave towels, microfiber applicator pads.

Black Wow isn't a Prima product but OG's "secret sauce". Smells like a Watermelon Jolly Rancher, goes on nice and the shine lasts forever...even after washes or rain!

 

seal6- sounds like you got a very nice system going on!

 

Do you have to be careful with Hydro and plastic trim or glass?

 

not at all. you can use it on plastics, seals, glass, painted surfaces.

it actually dresses those plastic bits real well.

 

See, now this is a huge "real world" advantage!!! Seems if you want a great all-compatible comprehensive system Prima is a great choice. The only advantage I can see for Klasse is that 24 hour cure times are not called for. I know there are products designed to go with Klasse, but I've not been overwhelmed w/ these so one has to mix-and-match a bit (as has been the case w/ P21S). Not so w/ Prima it seems. In the end, the cure-time-thing, and great results keep me in the Klasse camp.

 

the only thing you do after the 24hr cure time is to enjoy your work.
the car looks great right after the initial wipe down (or after haze
removal with Epic).

the 24hr cure time is therefore really not an issue unless you need to
get your car in a show and you didn't have time to work on it the
previous day. (your fault)

in that case, i would recommend a quick wipe down with Slick to
get that extra shine power.

 

^^^^^nice!!!

 

IMHO the Meg's clay & QD lube is top notch. It is what I use & I love it

 

+1, I have used it and it's excellent. I just use Prima now because I order everything else from there and it's easier

 

everyone seems obsessed with the Prima products, but doesn't Zaino last longer still?