Today I FINALLY unveiled my work over the last 48hours. I worked intermintently on it, having other responsibilities. I also came upon some problems and some confusion, with the products I have tried for the first time. Monday night and Tuesday I stayed up until 3 a.m. and 2 a.m. respectively. All I have to say is this is the best my car has ever looked, ever. Here's how it went down:

Wash using Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo
Clayed twice with Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay
Polished Spots that needed it with PBW SSR 2.5
Polished entire vehicle with Zaino ZPC w/Orange then White Wolfgang Pads
Applied Z6 (then between every layer of Zaino)
3 Coats of *NEW* Z5 Pro
2 Coats of Z2 Pro
2 Coats of Pinnacle Soüveran
Pinnacle Crystal Mist

Here are some, well alot of pics:














This is the process that was the secret. Have any questions? Post 'em, I'll be happy to answer them. This took alot of work, and while it's awesome to see these results, I'm glad it's over.

Mikey

 

looks great what is the meaning of the next to last picture?

 

Absolutely stunning!! Not a swirl to be seen
So tell about the Souveran? What exactly is it and where did you get it?
Did you do this by hand or use a PC buffer?

mistro, I think the meaning of that pic is to show the reflective quality of the finished product.

Annette

 

That is the reflection off of the door panel, into one of my moms gardens next to our driveway. Just to show how reflective it is primarily.

 

It's made by Pinnacle Wax Co. You can find it at www.PinnacleWax.com.



It's pretty expensive, like $69.99, for 8oz. I believe it is MORE than worth it though. I have been experimenting with it since I got it in late April, and to tell you the truth, I think it will last me for 3+ years. The key is light coats, just like with Zaino. This philosophy is also VERY important with Z5 Pro, Zaino's newest product.

Souveran, is as pure a carnuaba as you can get, purified many, many times, the natural oils that come with "wet" the paint and give it a shimmer, and ironically make it look wet.

All products, besides the Poorboys World 2.5 (Super Swirl Remover/Compound) and Zaino ZPC Fusion, were applied with a foam applicator, and removed with a Microfiber towels. The key with MINI paint is pressure and speed with the 7424. To get any cutting action what-so-ever you have to apply pressure. To get the polishing molecules broken down enough to polish, the speed on the 7424 has to be at or close to six.

Thanks for the compliments, I actually am doing this same process on my neighbors new Maserati this weekend, he took one look at it and said "Mikey you're nuts, I want it, your coming over this Saturday."

As if I had a choice.

Thanks for the compliments

Mikey

 

Here's one more pic Kyle (KRGMINI05) and I enjoyed the other night, I just got back from a trip to Chicago, and have had two lenses crack due to rocks, so I improvised.

 

I was just about to ask if you taped everything off. And why not do the stripes?
Annette

 

I did the stripes, but I taped off the edges to prevent them from whiting due to residue.

I have gone through three sets of stripes in less than two years due to the edging whiting, then I would try and fix it, and end up peeling the finish off. The ones I have now are fine, due to taping, but with upcoming style mods I'm thinking of taking them off, and painting them on to directly replicate the factory stripes, so I can wax them, polish them and do whatever I please.

Mikey

 

Mikey, looks good.

I dont know why you think this is a secret. Layering two layers of Sourveign over synthetics has been highly touted at http://www.autogeek.net.

This is exactly what I do. See https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=sourveign

Klasse twins work just as well as they are synthetic.

Great job though but you do realize after about 6 weeks you got to go back and do two more layers of wax.

Pinnacle Spray mist is also great Great for the touchups between waxes.

Good job Mikey Glad someone else is doing carnuaba over synthetics besides the show people.

 

Also, if you're planning on using Zaino again it's probably best to strip-off the top layer of wax before you do so......that's what the experts recommend anyway. Looks great BTW.

 

It just seemed to be a secret to the NAM forum. Everyone here either touts Zaino or NXT, and I have never seen anyone mention "Souveran" () on this forum yet so...

This combo will probably last a while, I plan on every other time I wash ('bout 6 days) of putting on another layer of Souveran, probably until I have a total of 4-6 layers of it. Not just for gleam but for more durability so I won't have to worry about intense work like this until October-November-ish, which is just in time for winter-prep detail. Believe it or not, but the Souveran is actually less labor itensive than the Zaino. Zaino is just used as a base, and gr8britwjh was right it needs to be applied over a "pure" surface, that's why I chose ZPC, because it has absolutely no fillers, so that Zaino can bond completely to the surface. I didn't have alot of filling to do, but the piece of mind is nice, and the pics definetely show there are NO swirls/scratches/marring visible in direct sunlight, even on this daily driver.

This process was actually a bit of a first on Autopia. No one has yet to put Z2 on top of the newly(week and a half ago) released Z5 Pro. Several people, including some professional detailers, over there said it was some of the best work they have ever seen, let alone from a 17 y.o.

Chows you're on Autogeek? I should get a membership there. You use the AIO and SG under Souveran? Lets see some pics!

Sweet!

Mikey

 

Mikey, there are several threads on this, one is here https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ghlight=klasse

One point though, more than two layers do nothing. Your not adding any more way to what exists. Two layers is about it and even that is at the limit of diminishing returns.

here is a pic I'm pretty sure I had posted before

 

dang, mikey. you did it again!

 

Check around for layering discussions with carnuba or maybe P21s, my personal favorite for carnubas.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...76&postcount=2


Your work looks great on CR. The carnuba really 'liquifies' the finish and gives it a nice depth. On PW or other light colors, it just isn't worth the hassle... the effect just isn't the same.

 

That's all I was talking about doing, I have already read, and know this stuff, I just want to keep the liquid shine there, and how easy Souveran is to apply, why not. I don't have enough time to waste my time otherwise.

Thanks

Mikey

 

Just a FYI, I emailed Sal Zaino who in no uncertain words told me not to do this. Here is what he wrote: (Bold is his own)


"No... Please Do not put wax on top of Zaino.!!!!!
Zaino Show Car Polish is 99.9% optically perfect. Do not put
anything on top of Zaino except Zaino. Waxes are loaded with oils to
promote a gloss or shine and to temporarily camouflage scratches and
swirls. So in actuality all you are doing is putting oil on your Zaino
paint finish. That would defeat the whole purpose of my product.
Zaino Show Car polish contain no abrasives, harmful solvents or
silicones.Zaino will outprotect, outshine and outlast anything in
the industry. It will offer more protection than any wax in the
industry....
Guaranteed! Plus they're extemely easy to use.
Zaino polish is a true paint protectant. It will give your paint
finish total environmental protection and is the only protectant you
will ever need. You will see!!!
Thank You,
Sal Zaino
(732)833-8800
http://www.zainobros.com"


Thought this may cause more discussion. I guess however if it works for those times you need that little extra then great.

 

The plot thickens...

 

I love Zaino (the product)! I think the world of Sal as well! (I just received my most recent order from ZainoStore.com today... $75 to top off the supplies in the garage... Z2, Z5, 2 bottles of Z6... love that stuff... more rubber treatment and the leather-in-a-bottle)

Unfortunately, I disagree with him on this point. Zaino is very highly reflective and probably transmits more of the 'real' color of the car through the finish than does carnuba. On some colors, however, the oils in a good carnuba wax give the car a rich, liquid look that I just can't reproduce w/ Zaino alone. Maybe it is the carnuba changing the 'real' color of the finish to give it a slightly amber tone (but I doubt it as my P21S is pure white). Personally, I think it is the oils in the wax, providing a more dynamic, fluid finish to the car.

Do I want only carnuba on my car? No... I like the protection and ease in maintenance that a synthetic provides. Do I think that there is value in a carnuba topper, absolutely! It may be a very small value and only someone who is realllly into auto finishes would notice, but I can see it when I work on the darker colors.

 

So agranger, if you put P21S over your Zaino do you then have to stop using the Z6 or Z8 for a quick detailing? Do you use the carnauba detailer instead?
I really have no opinion about the wax on top of Zaino but it does seem to me that once you do this the Zaino system needs to be dropped until either the wax is removed or wears off.

 

I only did the P21S trick once on my wife's SUV (dark metallic blue Nissan Murano). The next day, my wife and I drove out and went to a smoothie shop. When we came back, several sales guys at a cell phone shop in the strip mall ran out of their store to ask what I did to the car to make it shine like that.

The P21S just doesn't do the same thing to light colors like Jango's Pepper White. I may have to give it a try sometime soon, though... just to see.

After the carnuba, I'd probably switch over to some Meguiars QD that I have in the garage (a give-away from a Poker Run a few months ago)... The Z6 is really made for an oil-free finish. You should always match your QD to the topcoat.

MiniMaybee, you are correct... when you are ready to apply a fresh layer of Zaino or two, you should do a Dawn wash to strip away all of the carnuba so the Zaino has a clean layer to bond to.