I don't want this to erupt into a debate. However, I do have a little problem. I have moved and have no place to detail the MINI. (I live in an apartment in New Jersey ...going to grad school) Long story short...my wife and I went back home to visit parents. I decided this is my only chance to detail the car for a year. I've always used Zaino, and it lasts a long time...it looked good and smelled good. I've been using it on the MINI for 7 years now. I read about Collinite and thought maybe it'll last longer? Anyway, I did the works on the MINI...washed (2 bucket system as usual...with plastic grates in bottom), clay bar, paint cleaning, griots pre-wax, two coats of collinite.

Ok...it didn't look as good as Zaino...fine, it'll last longer...Maybe. Now, to the point, on the way back to Jersey I had no choice but to park under a tree. Sap got on the car. No biggy, this has happened in the past. When using Zaino a little QD wiped the sap away. Uhhh...not with collinite. I can't get the sap off. I'm out of Z-6, so ill order some more and see what it'll do. All I have now is Meguiar's QD which always worked fine with Zaino. On top of all that, I waxed the MINI less than two weeks ago, and that fresh waxed look is very much gone. I spray washed it, and then QDed it. Now, for the first time ever it looks like i have swirl marks? I'm hoping its only the wax layer looking swirled. (if thats possible?) I've used QD for a long time and have never had this result. Frankly, I'm kind of shocked by all the hype I've read on Collinite. I put Zaino through much more than this, and it would look great as long as I kept it QDed. The only thing I know to do is order some z-6 and see if that'll take it off. I've never seen sap imbed itself this way, any other ideas on removing it? Unfortunately, I can't go anywhere to sponge bathe it, so thats not an option. :( So, I'm thinking QD is probably my best bet?

 

Off topic here but, where at in Jersey?

 

Apartment detailing comes with a lot of fun challenges as I've learned since moving to Hoboken few years ago. Optimum no rinse and optimum opti clean waterless wash have become staples of my detailing routine. Similar to you, I will wait to do a full detail until I have a visit to my folk's place where there is a proper garage and driveway so that I have room to use the random orbital.

I've never been a big fan of collinite but it does get some great reviews. Depending on your color car, carnauba waxes may not be the best option for the shine or glow you're going for. Carnauba typically leaves more of a warmth to the finish vs sealants that have more shine but some feel they have less depth.

Zaino isn't supposed to have any fillers but I've noticed it seems to mask swirls quite a bit whenever I've seen it used. Collinite doesn't do as great a job of this and so those swirls may have been there for a little while and you didn't notice them. When was the last time your car was polished?

 

Also on the sap issue you could get a bug and tar remover, an all purpose cleaner or a clay bar. All of these solutions to get rid of tar will strip the wax underneath so you will need to re-apply.

If you don't like the collonite but want a wax instead of using the zaino process you should look into a wax that is more of a synthetic or a hybrid and only has a touch of carnauba. There are some really high end options like Pinnacle Signature Series II and Dodo Juice Supernatural. There are some readily available options like Meguiars NXT or Meguiars Ultimate Wax. One of the best options in terms of bang for the buck is Poorboys Natty blue or red wax. Another option is Prima Banana Gloss which has great gloss but doesn't last all that long.

Hope that helps.

 

Ok, some good tips here, but I have a question. (NJ Mini, or whomever) After waxing your car, (whether you're using carnauba or a sealant, whatever you prefer) if you decide to add another coat or two of wax a week or two later, how is that done? Normally when you wax a car, you have to wash, pre-wax or clay the car, and then put your carnauba on. Do you have to go through the same steps a week or two later, (which would mean you have to strip all the wax off) or do you just wash it, then add more wax?? I always found this very puzzling, because it always seems there's too much dirt or other stuff to get off totally with just a wash....and then you have to put wax over all that. Does that make sense? Hope someone has an answer.

 

Usually, I will do the full detail twice a year which for me is the washing, clanging, polishing, sealant and sometimes a layer of wax on top (depends on the color of the car for me and liking the warmth of the carnauba vs the shine of a sealant and which product I'm using).

After doing the weekly wash, I won't strip down the existing wax or sealant. I will add a spray wax on as a booster from there such as Prima Hydro or Pinnacle Souveran spray wax.

If you still feel like there is dirt built up your car after washing you may want to consider changing wash, wax or add an iron deposit remover to be used whenever you clay the car. Also, do you park outside? If so, that'll certainly add to the need to clean more often and maybe use the mesh side if the wash mitt.

 

Thanks. Yes, I do park outside. I have to say, way back in the day, when I had a Miata and I insisted on using Zymol pre-wax and carnauba, it really kept the dirt at bay. That stuff left a super slick layer of wax that repelled everything and made it slide off. Maybe I should go back to that, although the downside was it didn't last long at all. I use Meguier's now, nothing special, just a pre wax and carnauba, maybe a sealant before the wax. I don't clay.

 

Definitely give the clay a shot. It'll probably cost you the same as that zymol pre wax cleaner but will remove the bonded contaminants that won't come off with anything else. Meguiars and Mothers both sell kits available at almost all automotive stores.

Depending on where you live now vs when you had that Miata will make a big difference in what junk was in the air and landing on your car, not to mention these days there are just more contaminants floating around. But one thing to keep in mind, it was not the miata's paint that made the difference, it's the environmental factors. Start with clay and you'll notice a difference immediately.

 

I'll try the clay, although it always scares me a little. I'm always thinking that contaminants will get stuck in the clay and I'll scratch the paint. Also, would you use it instead of the pre wax step?

 

There are usually pretty good directions on the clay packaging. Also look at some YouTube videos. After you spray the surface with quick detailer and rub the clay over the paint, you will kneed the clay by folding it and use a fresh area. Takes a lot less clay than you think.

I use clay and then polish which preps the surface for the wax or sealant. Pre-wax cleaners usually just strip old wax from the surface so you likely wouldn't need it after clay unless you had special sealant on the car that clay won't remove. Some pre wax cleaners leave polishing oils like a glaze to enhance gloss. You may want to still use it depending on what you normally use, but I would skip it.

Hope that helps.

 

Been using Collinite for the last few years, I use it as a sealant rather over than wax, like when I apply it on the car I leave it on for 3-4 hours before removing the sealant.

 

That sounds great. Forgot to say thanks for that.

 

Sorry I haven't been back on NAM to say anything else about this, but I wanted to give a quick update. (It's been a crazy couple of semesters!) Anyway, it's been raining here in Jersey for a couple of days, and I noticed the MINI is still beading water! I waxed it back in late-July!!! Collinite definitely doesn't shine like Zaino, and it's not as easy to clean. (not sure why) However, its lasting power is impressive to say the least! It endured quite a winter! BTW…cdboss we're in Central Jersey.