Took advantage of the great weather yesterday and spent about 5 hours and Zaino'd my MCS for the 1st time. I did the claybar, two coats of Z5 and only one Z2 with Z6 in between each as well as at the end. I plan on another couple coats of Z2 but I must say It looks and feels amazing. What a satisfying product. It actually lives up to all the hype. I highly suggest anyone with a red car to try this out as it provides a lush and deep mirror effect. Anyway I thought I'd share. If your on the fence, DO IT!

 

Woo Hoo! Another person drinks the Zaino Koolaid!

I love that stuff! Now you just need to post some pics!

 

I'm right there with promking. First application of Zaino to my Cool Blue MCSc over the weekend. Clay Bar, 1 Z-5, 2 Z-2, Z-6 all throughout, and a Z-8 finish. The shine before was nice (since the car is only 10 days old), but it is like glass now... and it feels amazing!

I probably should have done a few coats of Z-5 on the A pillar since there are some light surface scratches there, but next time...

I should also add that my car survived though being spit on quite thoroughly be a renegade tree after spending all that time detailing. Had millions of little sap (?) droplets on it. A few spritzes of Z-6 and/or diluted Z-7 (I switched to Z-7 half way through to see if it would work) plus a microfiber took them all right off within 20-30 minutes.

Next weekend, I tackle the interior... unless other plans develop, of course.

 

Z5 PRO just came out too. In case you needed a reason to buy more zaino stuff

 

there is no turning back now

 

Hi Guys! This is my first post. I've been reading the forums and thanks for all of the advice.
I purchased the PC 7336 and I also purchased the Zanio Ultimate Show Car kit. I have a 1 month old AstroBlack MCC.
On yesterday I attempted my first Zanio (last week she got her first wash with Mequiar's Gold and then Zymol).
Here were my steps:

1. Washed with Dawn
2. Washed with Z-7
I did not clay nor did I apply Z-5 because my paint is smooth
3. Applied Z-2
4. Applied Z-6
5. Applied Z-2
6. Applied Z-6

I applied all of the wax by hand and I only buffed off the Z-2 once in step 5 with my old TurtleWax buffer (White Terry Pad) because I don't have pads for the PC yet. The other Z-2 removal was done by hand. I'll be ordering the Lake County Pads.

The finish looks pretty good but I'm not feeling the $116.00 LUV. Did I do something wrong? Also when do I use the buffer, meaning at what steps?

 

I had to wait a complete day for my initial application to cure. Once it did, it looked awesome. Over the years, I've experiemented with different techniques. The best results came from zaino base coats as you described above, then putting a coat of Carnuba wax, then a quick going over with the zaino quick detailer. This combo has offered me the best results ever!

 

What is the state of your paint before you started? Do you have any swirl marks or scratches? If so then the Z2 by itself would not fill them and you may need some Z5 or need to start with a more agressive polish with the PC7336.

You also may want to pick up the detailing DVD from the NAM store. http://store.northamericanmotoring.c...&cat=10&page=1

Really great information there. He uses Meguiars products but you could replace the last waxing steps with the zaino. Here is a shot from the video

 

Thanks for the replies. My paint looked great before I started...it's brand spankin' new . I have no swirls or cobb webbs.
I'll see what it looks like today after work.

 

I think that skipping the claybar could be the problem. I have used Zaino exclusively since 2000, on 3 different vehicles. When I got my MINI in November, I claybarred and Zaino'd it the week after I got it. There is alot of gunk and debris in the paint from the trip over that needs to be gotten out prior to putting on the Z2.

Annette

 

Ok...so should I start all over . Next weekend I could clay and then do all the steps again still skipping the Z-5 as there are no swirl marks.

 

nvarner, before you start over give it the plastic bag test. The instructions are on the Zaino site, but basically you need to clean an area with Dawn, then do the test.

Here's a bit from the site:
1. Because Zaino Show Car Polish is optically perfect (99.9%) The optimum results are achieved by using over wax free paint.

2. If you are looking for the ultimate paint surface preparation. Use Z-18™ ClayBar first or skip to Step 3.

Zaino Z-18™ ClayBar was designed to remove airborne contaminants, paint overspray, water spots, rail dust, industrial fallout, diesel fuel & catalytic converter residue and any other bonded surface contaminants from paint. All cars even brand new factory paint has airborne contaminants... Here's the deal. The non-abrasive Z-18™ ClayBar will remove any surface contaminants from the paint finish and not hurt the clear-coat. The ClayBar will get that paint finish smooth as glass. Now remember waterspots, bird droppings and bug guts if left on the paint finish for any length of time, will etch into the paint finish. The ClayBar will also remove any store bought waxes....

EVALUATING YOUR PAINT FOR CLAY
How do you know if you need to use Z-18 ClayBar? After thoroughly hand washing and drying your car, stretch a piece of saran wrap over your hand extending past your fingertips. Gently slide the saran wrap across the finish of your vehicle. Does the surface feel bumpy or gritty? These bumps are contaminants attacking the finish of your car. Removing these surface contaminants (rail dust, road tar, bug residue, paint over-spray, brake pad dust, hard water spots, etc.) will improve both the look and health of your car's paint.

No matter how well you hand-wash your car, many of the contaminants that have worked their way into your car's paint finish will remain. Have you ever looked at your applicator pad after applying a coat of polish? What do you think that black stuff is? It's dirt, and you're sealing it in.

Go check www.zainostore.com

Annette

 

I did my first Zaino a few weeks ago, wish I did it sooner, have a few blemishes on my black roof that will not come out as a result of waiting. ZAINO SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU DO after getting your mini home. The best is the first time it gets wet after being zaino'd, the water just falls, falls right off the car, it's beautiful. And you don't need the $116.00 kit, just the $85 one. The extra stuff in the ultimate kit is just interior junk, nothing to make the exterior shinier.

I've also found these towels good for drying and removing polish
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=284507

I like how the zaino site recommends made in the USA towels, but I'll be damned if I could find one not made in India, looked at every towel in bed bath and beyond, think they were getting pissed because I kept unfolding a bunch of towels to check the labels. These ones are 100% cotton, the edges and stiching are mercerized cotton, just gives it a sheen from the research I've done, not sure if that will damage anything so I cut em off and restiched the edges with a plain 100% cotton thread to keep em from fraying to badly. Anyways these towels have some mad absorbency, one towel will just about dry a soaked Mini, one is more than enough if you hit it with the leaf blower first to get all the excess water off.

 

Sal at Zaino told me that you can clay the car even after you zaino'd it, but follow up with Z2 after...I would call zaino and ask for Sal and ask him specifically about your situation and if he thinks you need to start all over to clay the car for the first time

 

Zaino is great. Two weeks ago we were driving home after dark across the Susquehanna River and it was literally raining bugs. I have never seen anything like that before. The front of the MINI was totally plastered with bug goo. A quick wash with Z-7 car wash in the morning melted it all off. Their products are amazing!

 

I bought the Ultimate kit because the Mini and my other car both have Leather Seats and I believe I read somewhere that the Leather kit was really good. I have some Meguiar's Gold Aloe Leather Cleaner & Conditioner that I was using in my other car, but I'm not really that impressed with the results so I wanted something else for my leather seats.
I also use a leaf blower to get the extra water off after I dry with the microfiber towels ( COSTCO); I think I may order that Big Blue II Towel to replace the COSTCO towels .

 

No doubt that Zaino is no joke. It is the best finish I have ever seen on a automobile period. And it is no joke about the the claybar either. I just got my wife a MINI and of course it was detailed before delivery. Comparing my Zaino'd 05 MCS to her new non Zaino'd 06 MC there was a noticeable difference in the quality, depth and clarity of the finish.

So of course, I had to Zaino her MINI. Since time was a consideration I opted not to claybar plus since it was a brand new MINI I didn't think there would be that much difference. The result was a better finish, but not near as nice as my MCS. So Zaino over wax, even if you wash with Dawn to strip any wax off, is not optimal.

So recently I Zaino'd both MINIs to get ready for a local parade my MINI group was participating in and this time I claybarred my wife's MC. It was incredible the difference the claybar made even on her new finish.

So when you get your Zaino set aside the time to do it right the first time and use the claybar. You will never see a better or more durable finish.

 

Ok.ok..ok.. This weekend I'll start again. This time I will clay and This time I will Z-5. Do I need to Dawn again or can I just clay and proceed?

 

Dawn just removes other waxes so you shouldnt need it again. It also can probably be too harsh if you use it often

 

Some of you guys should try looking at this site:

www.autopia.org

There you'll find that there are more products that are out there with the same, if not better quality and results that Zaino has. I'm not bummin' Zaino here, I apply it as a "sealant" on my car, but sometimes people get a one track mind and don't take the time to try much of anything else, and I don't mean Turtle Wax or Black Magic, I'm talking about the high end products.

I have been immersed in that site for over a 2 years, and learned more stuff about detailing and finish care than most want to. I by no means am an expert though, just someone who knows probably more than they should, which takes my anality, AOCD, or whatever you want to call it to an entirely new and extremely high level.

Early tomorrow morning I'm going to post pics of my new process that the majority of the products are Zaino, but the top coat isn't anything you guys have ever heard of before, and imo adds a huge amount of depth and wet look shine that Zaino alone could only dream of.

Stay tuned...

Mikey

 

Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Z-6 to get any dust off as the car is still in garage from Sunday
2. clay using Z-7 and water
3. Z-7 to wash car
4. Z-5
5. Z-6
6. Z-5
7. Z-6
8. Z-2
9. Z-6
10. Z-2
11. Z-6

Wow! That's quite a bit of work. Maybe I'll start today after work.

 

You can only do 3 applications within 24 hours. So you'll have to cut one of those z5 or z2 applications.

 

Looks good! With the new Pro-Series Zaino anything over three coats of either, is a waste of time. You really won't see anymore filling after your third coat of Z5 nor will you see anymore depth after your third coat of Z2, so in practicality six coats is really the max.

Hope it turns out good!

Mikey

 

That really depends on climate. If it's dry, it's more like 12hours, ie she could do another as soon as she wakes up tomorrow. All that is assuming she uses ZFX though.

Mikey

 

Actually guys I'm a woman and I'm in Atlanta, GA--- so it's quite hot here. I'll cut out one of the Z-5 applications... Off to the garage!