Zaino outcome

After seeing many posts praising Zaino products, I decided to give it a try. The outcome was better than I've thought and half the price of my old P21S stuff.

Beautiful car and I will agree on the Zaino

Vove - That looks great! I know it is not easy to get that "deep shine" look on light colored paints. My wife has a Brilliant Silver MB CLK Cab, and while the paint looks good after some polishing and a protectant coat, it never looks as "deep" as my P-car. However, the Zaino gave your car a good amount of depth to the paint. Awesome!

Mike - Your turbo is SWEEEET looking! I like the wheels, too.

I love Sal's products too. Whatsmore the Z8 smells so good I splash it on after a shower.

Car looks awesome. I love Zaino as well. I've been using it for years. I've tried everything else but always come back to it. Adam

vove, car looks awesome! what suspension are you running?

I used Griot's Best of Show and have a good result, but not as stunning as these cars. Assuming my paint is pristine, is not needing polish, clay bar etc., what Zaino should I use as a 'final finish'? Thanks - Phil G. '04 C4S Atlas/Black

Hey Vove your car looks great. I think I recognize those buildings -- is that the Tiffany & Company building on Leesburg Pike? Let me guess...the picture was taken on the top level of the garage in Tysons I.

Phil, The Zaino product (actually there are several products) is not really intended to be a "final finish". They actually recommend you wash the car with Dawn dishwashing liquid to strip all existing wax on the car and get down to the clearcoat. You then apply Z1 to the clearcoat which then helps the Z2 (swirl remover) and Z5 (polish) to form a molecular bond. It's what makes the products stay on the car for months. For more info check out http://www.zainostore.com

I've been using Zaino for almost 7 years now and it's great product.

Here's my Zaino.

I need to reorder. Zaino is very long lasting. Two bottles lasted 5 yrs for 2 cars. It's also easy to apply. I usually use "wax as you dry" on top of zaino after each wash. Zaino's best property is long lasting and extremely water propellant. It doesn't shine as much as wax so applying an easy to use wax improves the shine a little.

Zaino is a great wax but I still prefer a good polish to actually remove swirls. After using a good swirl remover I apply Zaino. Zaino's so called swirl remover only fills in the swirls.

My car has only 1K miles and the paint literally has no swirls - do I still need to go through the steps you've outlined, or would the Z1 and Z5 suffice? Thanks. Phil

If your paint has no swirls then you can skip the Z5. I recommend you get the ZFX accelerator additive (skip the Z1 -- the ZFX additive makes it obsolete and is faster to apply), Z2 polish, Z6 gloss enhancer spray and Z7 car wash. Get one of those applicator pads too and 100% cotton towels. I would still start by washing the car with Liquid Dawn to get rid of all the wax buildup and get the car squeaky clean. You may also want to use a clay bar on spots where you have sap or around the fenders where you might have some brake dust. Then follow the steps in the Zaino website. The first time you wash your car you'll probably spend about 2 hours or so just because the Z2 will be a little hard (not too hard) to wipe off. Not to worry though, subsequent washes and application of Z2 can be done in under an hour. I usually apply about 3 coats for the season (you can apply more) and it lasts for about 6 months. Cheers,

I think you got your Z#'s mixed up. Z5 is suppose to Zaino's solution to "filling in" or "hiding" micro swirl marks (don�t expect it to hide much), while Z2-pro (a huge improvement over the old Z2) is suppose to be the optically clear final protectant that does not hide any imperfection in the paint. However the Z5 and Z2-pro can be used in any order. Therefore if you truly have no swirls then Z2-pro would be the product to use. If you have swirling then removing the swirls is recommended prior to using the Z products. Zaino does make a "true" dimishing abrasive polish now that is compatible with the other Z products. I have some but have not used it extensively yet so I really don't have an opinion on its effectiveness. On a related note for anyone thinking of ordering Z�.a new and improved version of Z5 is in beta testing right now and is predicted to be for sale sometime in the spring or early summer. Also if you haven�t ordered lately you must try Z8. It is considered Z6 on steroids. I use to think Z6 was the best detailing product on the market until I used Z8. Z8 is more expensive than Z6 but it does everything Z6 does but better and it also does more. Also for Zaino newbies�. the Z7 car wash is excellent.

You're right. I mixed up the Z2 and Z5. I updated my previous post. Thanks for the catch.

Hey Vove, Looking good man!

programmatore, Have you used the Zaino PC-Fusion polish? If so what do you think?

Thanks everyone. Mike, your turbo_s is beautiful. I have H&R sport springs at the moment.

How did you know ?? Man, you've got sharp eyes...

So the take home for this is that given my paint is damn near perfect without swirls, I only need to remove the old wax with Dawn, then use Z2-pro. If so, how many coats are recommended? Is the stuff easy to apply? Thanks. Phil

My wife has a Prius, great track car that is Gray/Blue. The color definitely isn't very deep. Two weeks ago I washed with Dawn and gave it 1 coat of Zaino. The difference is amazing. Zaino says the Z-2 can sit for 8+ hours before removal. I decided to polish the whole car and let it sit for another hour. The polish (Z-2) came off easier than ever and didn�t smear at all. Yes I'm sold. Edit: Let me also add I only used 1 ounce of polish.

Yes. If you are happy with the condition of your paint then you just need Z2-pro. Since this will be your first coat of Zaino, ideally (for maximum durability) you are suppose to use the ZFX accelerator or Z1. Either of these products is suppose to help the Z to �bond� with the painted surface. After the initial application neither product is required. That being said I have use Z2-pro without either and really have not noticed a decrease in the durability. The one nice thing about ZFX is it allows you to put more coats of Z2 on during the same day. As for application�.the thinner the better. On light colored cars it is difficult to even tell if you putting any on. Removal should be easy. If not then you either used too much product or it is not completely dry. Humidity and temperature effect the drying and removal process. You can not let the product dry too long on the car. I usually put an application on and the then go do something else and let it sit for a minimum of a couple of hours. ZFX dramatically helps with the curing/drying time. If you have smearing or difficulty removing then let it dry more and/or use Z6 or Z8 with removal. It takes me less than 10 minutes to apply to the 996 and about 10-15 to remove. I then finish up with a Z8 wipe down. I usually do 2-3 coats but I don�t like doing them the same day. I seem to get much better results with at least 24 hours in between applications (even using ZFX). Another tip. I recommend getting some small foam applicators for application. They dramatically help in using less product and applying it thinly. The cotton applicators that Zaino supplies really soak up the product and you will use much more and I find it more difficult to apply thinly.

clean ur wheels and dress the tires for once, u bum ,LMAO

guys, keep seeing great zaino reviews in the US and i am totally sold. However the problem with this product for the UK is that the UK distributor wants to charge very nearly double the US cost. I might try some in the spring, but at the moment am being put off by the rip off uk inflation of prices.

In my opinion, cost is relevant to happiness.

Mike, What wheels are those? Are they 18's or 19's??? They look great!!

Ha ha! I dated a cosmetics counter girl from Nordstroms. I used to park in that garage.

I love the look of your 996, Vove. Simple, clean, elegant. Plus, if I did it again, I think I'd go with yellow for my 997S.

Just received my Zaino Kit....now I just gotta wait for the temps to get warmer so I can wash the car. I have a Porter Cable orbital buffer...should I use it or do this by hand? Which will yeild better results?

The trick is not to put too thick of a layer of the Z2 Polish (or Z1, or whatever product you are applying). Also, give it enough time to dry. If you do this then it will be really easy to remove by hand with a 100% cotton terry towel (I use one of those oversized white cotton bath towels from Target). It really is that easy and if you use the ZFX Flash Accelerator, you can apply a second coat after and hour. I find 3 coats is perfect for the season (about 6 months and then I reapply again).

Thanks Mr.Bonus!! Vu, Ditto what Programmatore said. I'm too **** to use those porter buffer so I always use my hands. The results don't look too shabby and the whole buffing process didn't take too long given a little elbow grease. I needed the excercise anyways.

Wow A lot of Zaino users. I have been using it since 1987. I have tried others rejex etc. but I keep comming back. I don't bother anymore. Easy to use easy to buff off and it just lasts and lasts. If you get bugs tree sap or other bad stuff on the finish that regular washing doesn't remove I wash with dawn and start over.

Looks like Monolite RG5.

Sorry Ray for the late responce they are RG19's. I no longer own them they were sold to a Rennlist Member.

I want to get a clear bra installed on my car a little later, but is it ok for me to Zanio my car b4 I do that? I am concerned if the clear bra will not stick to the car if it has Zanio on it.

I gave some thought to the clear bra. It costs several hundred dollars to have it properly fitted. Meanwhile, to have your bumper repainted costs about the same. And, I get worried that the clearbras will fade over time and look a little to much like the sofa protectors from the 50s. Still haven't firmed my opininos on this but just mulling things over.

No worries, the Zaino can easily be removed with an alcohol wipe down or any "prepsol" type of product. Just tell your installer you have a synthetic type of protection product on the car.

One item I did not see addressed in the thread is that when you first start and use the Dawn soap to remove previous waxes, I recommend you use Clay bar treatment (regardless of how old or new your car is). Then Zaino away! It is an awesome product though I believe there are quite a few nice products (Klasse AIO, P21S) on the market and some that don't take quite the time Zaino does (or recommends).

Might be silly to ask but do you apply the 2nd+3rd coat on top of the 1st coat, after it dries or do you buff after each application?

Well, the bumper is easily repainted, but I plan to clear bra part of my hood, fenders, headlights, and maybe side view mirrors.

No no. You buff it out. Applying a thick coat of Zaino or putting on two coats on top of each other will just waste the product. I usually do the full detail one week (wash the car with Dawn, apply Zaino Z1 and Z2, buff off then Gloss Enhancer) then the following week I do the Zaino Car Wash, Z2, buff off then Gloss Enhancer. Usually this does the trick but a 3rd -- and 4th or 5th coat -- makes it even shinier. (Note: Zaino recommends waiting at least 24 hours before applying another coat but if you use the Flash Accelerator you can apply the second coat an hour after buffing out the first coat. Use their Gloss Enhancer Spray between coats.) All this info is on the Zaino website. http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...F&Store_Code=Z

Finally put a couple of coats of Zaino (Z2 w/ ZFX accelerator), then Z2, after prepping the surface with 3M Finesette II. Atlas looks great on this car, no? Phil ______________________________ '04 C4S Atlas/Black coupe

GR8330 - DAM Your Car is one of the Best I've seen - I LOVE IT Amigo ! Truly Beautiful.

RJM - I agree, Mike's car is one bad *** looking Turbo S. I can't believe that he sold the wheels! They looked good!

Just sold the rest of it also

Afraid not. Go the whole nine yards and start from scratch and finally finish with Z8 its smells so good too. By the way Zaino inisist that you must not use a wax when using Zaino products. After completing the full process just use z6 every time you clean the car. It can be used to safely remove dust etc without washing the car. Great product. You only need to polish with z2 when you feel like it and do the whole think about once a year.

Mike, say it ain't so! Not meaning to pry, but I am curious, WHY????? Didn't you get it less than a year ago?

Beautiful car, vove. Painted bumperettes would complete it (IMO)...