Anyone else ever get mad at Zaino?
 

I've used it in the past, and now I think i remember why I stopped. I got about $100 worth of products recently and I started the process today. Washed with Dawn to strip off the old wax, clay barred the car, washed again, then dried. Then I tried the Z-PC which is supposed to take out swirls and scratches. Prepare to be amazed it says! Well i followed the directions and applied by hand. Not even one OUNCE of difference. Every single swirl and scratch is still there. I applied it 3 times in one spot. NOTHING.

So i moved onto the Z-5 wax. Of course i HAD to mix it with the ZFX so that it would actually dry this decade. I added the stupid drops to the vial and followed the directions again, by hand. The coat was extrememly thin. I waited an hour for it to dry. When i went to take it off, it was ridiculously hard. So i used the Z-6 spray to assist. I used 4 microfiber towels and buffed the heck out of the car until I was dripping in sweat. It helped a little, but i still have a haze all over the car and it looks pretty bad. I don't know what it is, but its not coming off.

So in conclusion, what is up with this stuff? If it is indeed better than other waxes, is it really worth the extra pain and extra cost? Right now i say absolutely not. Maybe they should spend more time on trying to make the stuff easier to use.

Anyway, i just had to vent. I hate having my car not look good, and right now, I just spend 3 hours making it look hazed and swirled, not to mention that I'm exhausted.

man that sucks, every time i use it it comes out perfect, i wonder why yours went wrong?

I use Zaino exclusively, and love the results.

I have not used the Z-PC product. Don't know about how it works on swirls.

I have never had any problems using Z2 or Z5. Always easy to remove. Did you use too much?

If Z6 leaves a haze, wipe the panel with a damp rag, or mist with distilled water, and re-wipe/re-buff. This will remove the haze. A haze indicates that you are using too much product.

You should call or e-mail Sal Zaino in the morning. He is very responsive and stands behind his products.

I think I just might. I was very dissapointed in the ZPC, and I'd like it to work, so I'll see what he says. I will try spraying the haze with some water and see what happens...

Pat, send Sal an e-mail tonight, you might have an answer by morning. Sal is very responsive.

He is a great guy too. He donated several door-prizes for our Tail of the Dragon trip this past May.

Here are all of the contact numbers and e-mails:

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Contact

What color is your Boxster?

After a year or so of listening to people rave about the Zaino products I broke down and bought one of his kits. I did the wash, clay, Z6, Z5 (with ZFX) and Z5 (without ZFX) again. I am thoroughly impressed with the results. It somehow smoothed out a lot of the scratches and the paint almost looks wet. I can see how if you use anything but a thin layer it can be hard to get off. I wasn't all that excited about the ZFX as I got better results when I left the Z5 (without ZFX) on overnight.

One thing I did find out is after using Dawn to clean off the old wax my rotors rusted really bad. After 4 days of sitting it took me about 30 miles of driving and braking to get my braking back without pulsating. There was so much rust it actually covered the inside of my wheels with dust and some got on the outside surface. I will be washing and waxing the entire set of wheels this weekend.

I just sent off an email. We'll see what he says.
The Boxster is Midnight Blue Metallic. Or whatever that color was in 2003, if it happened to change names over the years.

zaino worked for me as well, every time, with great results.
i dont know what ure doing wrong.

I have also used Zaino with excellent results. Hopefully you'll find out what went wrong.

Klasse. Great results, simple and easy to use.

:)

I've got midnight blue but never used the Z-PC. In the right angle under bright sunlight you can see very light swirl marks.

When you apply and remove Zaino don't use a circular motion. Use up and down and side way movements depending on the direction that light will hit the car. Hood from the windshiled to the front and doors straight up and down and left and right.

Be sure not to clean your towels using fabric softene. You'll get a lot of smearing if you use softener. I use heavy weight micro fiber towels. I do not like using the light weight cotton towels they don't remove the Zaino as well

You must live in a very humid place. I have never had to add the accelerator to
Z-5 only the Z-2. The Z-2 is easier to remove than the Z-5.

If your car is hazing you've got too much product on it. If you are spraying on the shine enhancer (Z-10?) be sure to apply it to a very small area and remove it quickly with a heavy micro fiber. If you don't you will get a haze.

Finally, I would think you should rewash the car with the Zaino Car wash and start over with Z-2 or Z-5.

I'm not sure that many pro detailers that I know of turn to Z-PC as a proper swirl remover. For PC or Cyclo use the consensus is that Menzerma or Optimum Compound is the go to goop.
But I think you did the right thing by first trying a less abrasive swirl remover to see if it did the job. You want to avoid going to a tougher product right off the bat because you end up cutting away more clear coat than necessary. Z-PC is probably more a maintenance product for removing micro marring, similar to the Poorboy's SSR's.

After having some minor bodywork done recently I clayed the car and applied Z5. First time I've used it. It must be applied very sparingly and allowed to dry completely. I waited a week and applied a second coat. I really was pleased with the result. Last weekend I applied a coat of Z2 on top of the Z5 and the shine is amazing. I go over the car weekly with the Z6 spray and I've had several P car owners ask me what I use. You do need to be patient using the Zaino products but I think the're great.

on the bottles it says put veryyy light thin coats. :confused:

Well i got a response, but it pretty much just reiterates what it says on the bottle and the website. He said I can call too, but I was at work all day. Maybe I'm just expecting too much? I look at the paint with a flourescent garage light shining on it. I looked at it this morning and it did have a nice shine to it. As for the haze, I guess I just need a thinner layer. I just get worried that I'm not applying enough when you can barely see where you've applied it.

Thanks for the input guys.

Glad you are making a little progress. With Zaino, less is best. Just do thinner, multiple coats about 12-24 hours apart.

I put a coat on, parked in the garage, then buff off the next day.

Swirl Marks on Dark Finishes
 

I've been using Zaino products on my '07 speed yellow Boxster for almost a year with excellent results. The car was brand new when I started with Zaino so I didn't use any clay.

Prior to my Boxster, I had a black '06 Nissan 350Z. I also started using Zaino products when the car was new. The results were also excellent, but the car had very light scratch (swirl) marks which could not be totally eliminated. I think it is just the nature of dark finishes. In certain light the marks show. My yellow car, no doubt, has very light scratches also but they simply don't show. (For this reason, I won't buy a very dark car again.)

As you've been advised, use very little, let dry thoroughly and wipe off with straight strokes.

Good luck.

Ken

Wax On ---> Wax Off!
 

I never heard of this product before but after listening to everyone here rave about it I decided I wanted to try it.

The FAQ on their site recommends buying this:

So for the ultimate, your shopping list includes ZFX (or Z-1), Z-2, Z-6, Z-7, Z-18 and a couple of #314's applicator pads. For minor imperfections, pick up some Z-5.


Geee....only 8 products to use. I wonder if I can do this before a bird drops a load on the car?

At what point did washing the car become so complicated? Also, there is too much to read on the web site. Is there something that will make the car shine with two easy steps like "Step 1: Wash. Step 2: Apply this stuff". Done.

I think I am going to buy the stuff though to give it a try. Do I really have to buy everything? How long does the entire cleaning/polishing process take?

It works for me
 

I realize I may be "beating a dead horse", but I have had great results using Zaino products. I have a 2006 Boxster S, Arctic Silver Metallic. It takes about an ounce (!) of their Z-5 or Z-2 polish to do the whole car. Of course, since I am particularly lazy, the thin, light coat is something I love. I am sure there are other fine products out there, but I am very happy with my results. P.S.- I have also used their interior leather cleaning and preservation products with equally fine results. :p

cartagena ... sorry, Man, didn't immediately see your post. Probably don't need to start with all that stuff. I got the Z-5, Z-2, Z-6 and Z-7. First time, washed with Dawn, clayed (most clays will do) and applied a Z-5 and Z-2 coat with an intervening Z-6 spray/wipe down. First wash and waxes application, about 3 hours. Each wax application after a a Z-7 wash takes about an hour with about an ounce of wax. I alternate applications after several washes with Z-5, next wax after several washes with Z-2, etc. Car looks like it is made of glass!! Had one woman tell me that the car "... was so gorgeous, it is almost obscene!" :p

Hope this helps.

After using Zaino for 2 years, I switched to Klasse. Wash, Clay, Klasse and then use the Klasse Finisher wet on wet off, and you're done. It's SO MUCH less work, and the results are tremendous.
vincesf

To Pat1USMC

I just spent the past three evening using the Zaino products with great results.

Did you add more than 10 drops of the Fx catalyst per 2 oz. of 2 or 5?

You did something wrong.

I emailed them last night and they answered 8:00am this morning. They either have really good response times or not too many clients. :rolleyes:

They said for my car to buy Zaino Bros' Total Protection Show Car Kit.
Code# ZKIT-1 + Z-AIO.

I am going to order this today. They also included several pages of instructions.

The photos look awsome and everyone says it is great but it seems like so much to read.

Someone should make a drive through car wash that applies all this stuff where you just rop in your 50 cents and drive through.

^Cartagena how much are they charging you for shipping?

p.s.
Who ever mentioned washing with Dawn, I would suggest against doing this.
Its not so pad for the paint but really not good for your weather stripping and moldings, bad for your rotors and brakes too.
Use a proper bodywork shampoo like P21s

http://www.autogeek.net/p2paincleanl.html

I applied a much thinner coat of Z-5 last night without the ZFX. I let it sit overnight and this morning buffed it out and followed with Z-8. It looks very good now. Has anyone tried their Z-CS clearseal?

Dawn is recommended just for that initial wash to take off the old wax. It mentions it on the Zaino website.

Good news, Pat!

I do not like the Z6 or Z8 detail spray. I like the #425 product that PerfectLab recommends better. Just an FYI.

so Z5 and 425 work well together? Zaino's stuff is real picky about what you can apply over it.


*FYI 425 is more of s teflon coating for a freshly waxed or just washed car. It will make your wax choice last longer and keep the car cleaner but you still have to wax the car first. Works well on glass, dash, wheels, paint.

Nice thread. I am gettting ready to take a porter cable to my boxster. I've practiced on the Honda & BMW, so, nothing left but the box...

The boxster is in great shape. No dings, no real scratches, etc. But if you are really, really picky I can see some microscratching in the metallic black paint. This is especially visible in direct sunlight. This is what I want to take out.

So -- should I use the Menzerna IP with a Yellow Pad on the buffer? Or can something more mild like a Z-PC with a white pad do the job? I always heard the advise to start with the least abrasive & work up. I don't really consider the Menzerna to be that abrasive. I've thought about doing both - start with the Menzerna, then go back over the car with the ZPC.

Either way, I'll clay first, then do a few coats of Zaino Z5, then Zaino Z2 to finish.

I'd be curious if anyone with a 5 year old black boxster has had any first hand experience?

Either way, I'll share the before/after pictures & my methods.

It sounds like you and I have the same paint color and condition. I have a 2002 basalt black (metallic black) with microscratching. I put on a couple coats of Z5 and am super happy with the results. The Z5 by itself did more than any swirl remover ever did. I did the Dawn wash, clay, rewash, then a coat of Z5 with the ZFX and then Z6. I finished off with another coat of Z5 and the finish looks great! :D There are still a few microscratches but much less than before. Whatever you do don't get crazy with the Dawn as it rusted my rotors pretty good and the braking was terrible for about 30 miles until the rust went away. Unfortunately all the rust was then on the inside of my wheels and some of it even got on the outside of the wheels and car. :(

Yes, Basalt Black too. Thanks for the warning on the rust. I'll keep that in mind.

You might have just convinced me to use the ZPC with a white pad on the buffer. That is a very mild combination for both the polish and the pad (finishing polish). It wasn't sure it was going to be enough, but sounds like you saw improvement without even using a polish. I'll post some before/after pics.

.... dampen the pad prior to application...seems to help. If you can see the product on the paint you've used too much. One oz. (the bottles are 2 oz. I think) will cover the Boxster twice.