actually.....yeah, since it had been zaino'd I use the Z6 after I wash it with Z7......as for when it was NXT'd, I'd wash with the NXT Wash and then tried the detailer but didn't restore much ( Iknow, it is not really supposed to as it is not a booster wax) but then when I'd wash it a week later, the water would make a nice smooth sheet on the hood and roof...meaning there was no beading action at all only 3 weeks after NXT'ing

 

I use Zaino and am very happy with the results! I do not follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter and I live in So. Cal. For me the Zaino process is wash, dry, apply Z1, immediately apply Z2 over the Z1, then move to the next panel repeating the process. When I am finished applying the Zaino, the first panel is ready to be taken off (no accelerant for me) and I work around the car removing the wax in the same order I applied it.

I do this once a month and it takes about 30 minutes from start of wash to all wax off. I can Zaino both the CR/W MCS and our X3 in about 1 hour total time.

Personally, I do not understand comments about Zaino being hard to use. It goes on easy and comes off much easier than other waxes I have tried. I think the stuff is simple.

 

9 weeks ago, I put 2 coats of NXT liquid wax on . Since then 2 coats of NXT booster spray wax. I wash the car at least twice a week, lots of bugs, and use a lot of QD.

Now this may not be a 10, in terms of beading, but it's a 8.5 to me.

Taken an hour ago after a rain shower.


I'm happy

 

Wooooohoooo, looks fantastic!!!
Here's a few more.

I shot this yesterday of my own MINI




And a comparison of before and after reflections of a Lexus that I buffed out yesterday using NXT Tech Wax.


NXT Rocks!

Richard

 

I agree, the process you describe sounds very simple indeed, similar to the Klasse process. Where the confusion probably comes in is the occasional post describing a more layered process in which three or four steps take place w/ an overnight in between. That's confused the issue for me. Clearly there are simpler approaches to using Zaino and more complex ones, depending on user preferences. Only recently, it seems, have Zaino users been driving home the point of it's ease of use, which is very good to know.

Question...does this Zaino regimen have to be done every month?? My understanding was that both Zaino and Klasse can last from 6 months to a year if done correctly and assuming proper QD usage.

 

I put zaino on ~3 times a year. once in spring, midsummer, and october'ish depending on the weather. I hardly have to work to clean the car when I wash, I rarely spend more than 15 mins. removing the haze by hand.

 

hey Lot15....those are some awesome pictures!!!

 

Thanks, umberto.

Taken at the same time.


I love it when that happens

 

I just like seeing clean shiny MINIs

 

No, it is not necessary... I am just a freak!

 

I am a Klass-aholic . I've tried Meguiar's (include NXT) line for three years now and very satisfied with their products. However, I was looking for something that lasts and protects my paint more than weeks. I tried Klasse twin (AIO and 3 SG) on my mom's 2003 530i last week and the result was amazing. The car looks brand new and very glossy. I tried to top it with s100 and Trade secret, but I prefer AIO and SG only. I also tried it on my friend's red Titan (3 weeks old), the car look much better than before. Klasse can be hard to use if you don't know the proper technique. On the other hand, with some research the application was very quick and simple to use.

 

Zaino will NEVER ever last 6 months... not unless you really really keep it out of the sun and rarely drive it... typically with about 4 coats.. it's gone in tops 4 months... then again, i try to zaino once every 4 months anyways

 

4-6 months vs. 2-3 weeks... Zaino for me. I'm in my 5th month of my Zaino application and I'm still very pleased with the slickness and shine.

However, I must say I have no firsthand experience with Klasse. It may be just as good.

 

Got the whole Zaino 'suite' and my only disappointment so far is that unlike what I thought I heard the Zaino does leave a nasty white goop all over the black plastic wheel well trims... Am I the only one?

 

Bummer. I have not had that problem, possibly because I was especially careful. Do you know which polish left the whate stains? I'm guessing that if it was Z5 or Z2, alcohol could be used to remove it. I've been told that an alcohol solution will remove Zaino. If you follow that with the Zaino trim dressing, you'll probably be just fine.

Of course there are a variety of other remedies, but since the Zaino stuff is a polymer not a wax, I don't know if the remedies would be the same.

 

Well, I started this long thread a while back because I was disappointed with the durability of NXT and was looking for something longer lasting, so after listening to BradB and others, I did switch to Zaino 2 months ago.....very glad I did.

I decided to track how fast the Zaino degrades vs. how fast the NXT degraded, so I was trying to grade the slickness and water beading of each product over time. I had 2 coats of NXT when I judged that product. Then stripped it with Dawn and put on the standard 2 coats of Z5 and 3 coats of Z2.

The NXT started out as a 10 in slickness and 10 in water beading....this was great!!!...but, after one month, even with 2 coats, the grade for each of these categories was 0!! Very disappointing.

The Zaino started out as a 9 in slickness and 10 in water beading...this was great too! Then came the one month follow-up: the slickness was still holding its own at a 6 (pretty decent) and the water beading was still fantastic at a 10.This was so much of an improvement over the NXT.

Now for the anxiously awaited 2 month report:

The slickness after 2 months for some reason has increased to an 8 ( my wife couldn't believe it and judged it as 10 ) and the water beading is still a 10. I washed the car yesterday and the water just gets repelled off the car...its amazing. Then while Z6'ing it after, I lost a micro-fiber cloth as it slid off the car on to the ground ....the car is slick! Yesterday, before I washed Umberto, I was driving around and ran into a friend I hadn't seen in months and the first thing he said was 'Wow, what did you do, just wax the car?' So without any doubts, I'm glad I switched to Zaino..the extra work of doing 5 coats of Zaino compared to doing 2 of NXT wasn't much of a big deal...perhaps it was even fun ( sick? ). The NXT is a good product and easy to find and easy to use, but Zaino wins hands down.

I will see you'all again for the 3 month report. I am going to try to come up with a more objective way to measure/assess the slickness, such as how much weight needs to be added to the end of a towel placed on the hood...oops, bonnet...to make it slide off. I'll keep you posted.

 

Thanks for the great update!

Have you tried Zaino's newer Z8 Spray Sealer? It is polymer based and adds durability as well as slickness upon application. I do a lot of "maintainence" with Z6 and spray seal with Z8 every other week or maybe more. It's fantastic stuff!

 

nope...haven't tried the Z8 but maybe that should be on my shopping list...when to use it?...after you wash with Z7, then I use z6....so do you use Z8 after you Z6 or in place of? There's lots of Z#'s floating around in this thread!

Also, I tried to come up with some objective way to measure slickness by using a cotton infant towel which is just a soft towel with a little pouch and I was going to see how many pennies it would take in the pouch to weigh it down to make the towel slide off the bonnet....but I can't !.... the towel won't stay on the bonnet at all as it just slides right off....so no objective way I can easily come up with to be able to compare one product with another or seeing how the slickness wears down...but suffice it to say my car is still slick 2 months out with Zaino

 

Yea, lots of Z's!

You can use Z8 totally in place of Z6 if you like. It's kind of like Z6 on steroids. More slick and more durable...and more expensive...hence the only reason to use it more sparingly. But you can be more sparing because it DOES last longer. That's a big plus. And I know it sounds silly, but it is incredible smelling! I am hooked on it. I love using it. It smells like peaches.

As far as slickness, I have yet to determine the best test either. I thought I found a good test measuring how long it took to slide the Persian cat across the hood but the wife put an end to that.

 

Good question....and since we're discussing three product lines here I thought I'd mention that Klasse products (AIO or Gloss Sealant) have never left any white residue on my MINI's black plastic trim. Nada.

Perhaps Zaino doesn't either and/or there was an application issue, but seems you deserve a response to this problem...one I personally would not be able to tolerate.

 

For the Klasse twins, has anyone tried carnuaba over the Klasse? I've read several articles all proclaiming adding the carnuaba over the synthetic makes the shine much deeper. I tried it and it does look much better:smile:

 

Sure. That's a very popular option...using a sealant as a durable base and then playing with various carnaubas (which have tints and different looks, but not much durability) to achieve a different feel and look to the surface.

 

Nope, I have never had this issue with Zaino.

 

I tried S100 over Klasse Twins on my Puresilver. It will blind you if you're not careful and it does hurt.

 

Just tried the new Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleanser Swirl Remover, or Zaino PC. Followed By ZFX w/Z-2 mixed. Then Z-6. then Z-2, lastly another Z-6. OMFG.... The Black totally lost every single Swirl or Scratch!!!!! It looks Lik eit just came out of the Paint Booth......

Slick, Smooth, Totally Sold on Zaino....