Ok, I finaly got my Zaino, so after reading all the FAQ and Tips etc... I got to run
out and buy Towles? I just spent $$$ on the polish. I got to wash and
get all water spots off then claybar the car, then wash again? then start the
process... I am already worn out....

any other tips from my MCO friends, I need some wisdom.

 

Some points to consider:

1) You should use only 100% cotton towels and/or microfiber no matter WHAT wax/polish system you use. They ALL recommend this. - it's not exclusive to Zaino. Same with the claybar treatment.

2) The stripping of old wax with Dawn, claybar, rewash, etc. are a one-time thing before putting on the inital coats. These are not things you'll have to do every time you wash your car or want to put on another layer.

3) Zaino is pretty easy to apply and wipe off. There's really no heavy-duty buffing required, especially if you don't put on too much (which most people do at the beginning). When applying, you don't need to see the polish on the car - you just need to see that it's wet with polish.

So yeah, set aside a few hours for those inital steps. But thereafter, wash the car, dry it, wipe on/off a quick spritz of the gloss enhancer and then step back and admire.

 

LOL. You're gonna be ok. Yes the 100% cotton towels are essential to the process. Otherwise the polyester threads in the less than 100% towels will cause slight swirl marks. Dawn, clay, dawn is the hardest part. Z5, Z6, Z5, Z6 are the next steps (beer in between Z5 steps is highly recommended :smile . If you purchased ZFX, it will make the mandatory 2 coats of Z5 much quicker since it dries much faster. Future applications will be easier and faster from then on. Besides, you have the perfect colored MINI for Zaino. Your efforts will soon be rewarded -- just be patient.

BTW, pics are mandatory.......

Good luck!

 

For the towels, cut off the labels tags or even the seams- anything that could rub or scratch the finish.

Don't over apply the wax- be conservative

You can use more than one coat so see how it works with each coat.

Have fun, your MINI will look great.

 

thanks guys for the tips, where is the best place to buy these towles? I guess
Wal-mart is out. and do I need two large ones?

 

I've always had luck with Fieldcrest 100% towels. Must be made in USA. JC Penneys carries them.

You'll soon know how it feels to use more expensive towels on your MINI than on your body.

 

I bought these at Bed Bath and Beyond. I didn't know they made towels this soft.

Remember to wash and then dry your towels on high heat to promote static and don't use fabric softener.

 

I can't overemphasize how much better a QUALITY microfiber towel is over 100% cotton towels. They have THOUSANDS of TPI (threads per inch) more than cotton making them more plush and reducing the pressure against the paint finish, also this pulls the debris in and away from the finish and makes it much less likely to scratch. The threads are also much, much more resiliant so they don't mat down. When the fibers nat down they get clogged and this uncontrolled consistency or accumulation of debris can cause swirls or scratches. They also stay soft after washing where some cotton can get more brittle.

WaffleWeave Microfiber Drying towels are far more absorbant than cotton as well, and much softer. You can easily dry a Mini with one towel.

Check out the forums on Autopia Car Care for great info. I am a moderator there. Say hello!

PS: I'm a Zaino lover as well!

_________________
Mini Owner in waiting!
Present stable: '00 Audi S4, '96 Porsche Carrera C4S, '72 BMW 2002tii

 

I agree with BradB. Cotton will scratch more than microfiber. I took a USA 1st quality Fieldcrest 100% cotton towel and rubbed it on a brand new CD-R's surface. It barely scratched the surface of the CD-R, but it did scratch. We're talking barely visible.

I then took a microfiber towel (they aren't all created equal, however), and I rubbed it on the CD-R -- no scratches. I put an enormous amount of pressure and tried to scratch the surface, but the microfiber just wouldn't leave a scratch. It sold me.

BTW, there are some cotton microfiber towels out there, and those are good, too. I did a CD-R scratch test with one of those, and it didn't mar the surface.

See ya,
JS