[jzcrna]

Yesterday I Zaino'ed my sisters 2004 Z4. It was a real mess before I started. Brake dust caked on the wheels, dull paint, etc.

My question is what causes the surface to not be really smooth?

I clayed the hood, and polished it with Z-PC with a white pad. then did Z5 (with FX), 2 coats of Z2, Z-CS, and then Z-8. The surface still seems rough, altough it looks fantastic. I am so happy with the way it looks, but it just does not have that smooth feel? What causes this? Is it due to Diminished clear coat, or what?

Thanks,

John

[jzcrna]

Hey, Just added pictures, It looks better in person. I am not the best photographer especially with sunlight, etc. Pics are in the original post.

[pander5]

Does the hood feel smooth? I ask that because you mentioned you clayed the hood. Another question - did you use ZPC Fusion with a machine and white pad or by hand?

Surface contaminants settle on the paint over time and will bond/stick/adhere to the surface in such a way that washing doesn't get them all off. Claying is the trick and I do mine about once a year. If your sister's car has never been clayed and is an 04 it probably has quite an accumulation of surface contaminants that need to be removed. I do some areas twice until that area feels squeaky clean and free of any "rough" feel.

If you used Zaino's Z-18 it's not that aggressive a clay. I use a medium grade clay for some vehicles and even then I'm sometimes doing areas twice. Z-18 is fine if that's what you have but keep going over the areas until you're happy.

My guess (considering the pics above) is surface crud accumulation and not anything wrong with the paint or clearcoat. Although I will add that our FL sun is wicked on vehicles left out 24/7. Does she leave it outside during the day? I have a coworker who has a vehicle that has been left out in the FL elements 24/7 and over time (10+ years) the UV and everything else (rain, road debris etc.) has removed the clear coat on the hood and roof.

The pics look great and with that much Zaino work and not feeling smooth I would guess claying more might be the answer.

BUT, it looks awesome and if you say she had baked on brake dust you'd never know it. Looks awesome now. Now, just teach her how to wash it properly and frequently! I know - I have 2 sister's myself!!!

Where in FL are you?

[jzcrna]

Pander5,

I am in Orlando, she lives in Bonita Springs. That car was an absolute mess before I polished it. It took several hours. The brake dust was like grease real tough to get off.

She does keep the car outside and who knows how the previous owner kept it. It isn't terribly rough, but rougher than I would like my car.

It does look amazing, though. I should have gotten before pictures also. there was residue from her sprinkler system that blackened the side of the car etc.

I did use a PC to polish the hood, but I think that I should have used an orange cutting pad instead. The oversized white LC pad I used bogged down the buffer too much. I was in a time crunch so I just moved on to the AIO by hand next. I did Clay the hood though...and the wheels.

[pander5]

jz - an orange pad, most likely would've been a better option and I use speed 6. I've found ZPC to be very "pad specific" in that you get much better results with a heavier cut pad and the same product. I've even used ZPC and yellow for some tougher cases. You can use the white pad and your PC with AIO also and do the entire vehicle - let it sit for a bit when you're done then buff off. I just personally go faster with ZAIO by machine but everyone does things differently.

In any event the car came out fantastic. I bet sis was happy!

[jzcrna]

Thanks! Yeah the pictures aren't the greatest, but it does look pretty good.

I think I will reserve the cutting pads for the Buffer with the Z-PC. I am pretty sure it would have been smoother if I had done that, but she is extremely happy.

She cannot believe that it is shining. She was always complaining that the finish never had a shine since she bought it.

[JOYRIIDE1113]

Clay wearing latex gloves. This willmagnifiy your ability to feel areas that need more claying. Sometimes, even if the clay bar isn't dragging and is gliding smooth, oit still needs more swipes to get perfect.