[petesamprs]

Wanted to share some pics from my first-ever zaino treatment on my car. Process took about 4 hours but I was happy with the results. Here were my steps:
- Wash with dawn, dry
- Z18 Clay with Z7+water lubricant
- Wash with Z7, dry
2 layers:
- ZFX+Z5
- Z6 QD spray

I did have a few questions during the procecss that I could use some help with:
1) I used the detailing 101 thread as my guide during claying (ie, cut into 15 pieces). During some sections of the car, I got very little grit on the clay. I wasn't sure if it that car section was already clean or I was using too much libricant? And I wasn't sure how to find the balance too much or too little resistance.

2) I used Z5 this time instead of Z2-pro since I wanted to fill in some swirl marks. But I was really unsure how much of the ZFX/Z5 combination I should be using per coat. Zaino says a dime-size amount, but is that for the whole car? I feel like I've used that up after just a few panels on the car. And after a few panels you can't see it being applied on the paint any more, so you feel the need to add a few drops more to the pad.

3) How noticible is the "haze" that appears on the car after the Z5 dries. I could hardly tell any hazing so it was very difficult to tell when it had dried, even though I put the car in the sun for like 30 min. Maybe I used too much?

4) If you see the pics, my paint doesn't have a smooth finish to it. It doesn't reflect light like a mirror (perfectly smooth), but more like water (some distortion). I assume this is for all cars and just the property of the sheel metal/paint?

Anyways, here are the pics. I wish there was a zaino to save my lawn.













Here's what I'm referring to in question 4:

[impulsebrklyn]

A good way to check to see if there are contaminents on the paint is to take a plastic baggy, like a ziplock or those cheap kitchen food storage bags. Put it on your finger and run it over the clean paint. It will let you feel if anything is there.

The less Z5 the better same with the Z2. So very very little haze.

To question 4 that is Orange Peel. Its from the paint process!!! The newer paints usually tend to have more orange peel due to the new VOC changes. Also the more you pay for a car the less you get. Well Usually! There is only one way to lessen it and that is to wetsand which I would not recommend unless its really driving you nuts. Plus finding someone to do it that you can trust can be very very difficult.

Is the orange peel consistent on the whole car??? If not this means its a repaint.
Chris

[mds82]

hey where in the north east are you located? i know that my car looks similar, but i dont remember it looking quite as orange peal like that. Maybe its the the camera angle you shot at and it was a very close pic. Maybe its one of those things where you need to take it back to the dealership and compare it with the other cars. If for some reason it does look different (worse) then the other e90's on the lot then talk to them about it, maybe there was some defect in the spray when then got to your car...

[SteveMD]

Zaino rocks. I do a coat of Z2 every week after a wash. I probably have 6 or 7 on there now. I know it also has to do with the TiAg color but the car never looks dirty and rain just beads right off.

[gdnyc]

From my understanding, the z-5 is just a swirl mark remover, and the Z-2 is what gives the paint the real pop. Thats what locks in the shine. With orange peel, like everyone else said, you can't do much except for wet sanding or a repaint. I noticed my Jet Black has some orange peel as well. It is annoying, but I am the only one that really notices it.

[ScottiePP7]

Hey I did my first Zaino try this past weekend also (Thanks great PA weather!).

I had great results and got the full mirror shine. (sorry no pics right now - at work)

My Steps:
1) washed car with the Zaino wash (2 viking mits
2) re-wash
3) re-wash
4) wash with Dawn
5) clay with Zanio's bar and MacGuires (sp?) quick detailing to lube
6) Z2
7) Quick Detail with Zanio spray
8) Z5
9) Quick Detail with Zanio spray
10) Z2
11) Quick Detail with Zanio spray
12) Z5
13) Quick Detail with Zanio spray
14) Go out with a lady friend

It did take all day but the car looks amazing and I have a 5 hour trip to go on for work today and I wanted to get the car protected before I left.

If anyone actually wants to see pics I'll gladly post but I doubt anyone really cares and can just take my word on it. But it has what looks like 100% reflection and feels smooth as glass.

I don't know where I read to alternate the Z2 and Z5 (maybe I didn't and I just made it up) and I'm not sure if its recommened by anyone but where I read that. This may not even be something you are suppossed to but I got great results. I will def. be using Zaino again.

[luckystrike]

what is dawn? and can i zaino then go to those automated car wash?

[gscone]

Originally Posted by luckystrike

can i zaino then go to those automated car wash?

That will be suicidal.....Definetly a big no- no!!

[prolix21]

i did my first zaino job this weekend.

washed with dawn
washed with zaino wash
z5
z2
zaino spray

car looks better than it did when i bought it. took out all the swirl marks too, black sapphire metallic. next time i probably need to do more coats, but i was short on time this weekend. i may re-wash and redo the front end when i get some time. the front bumper could stand to be cleaned a bit better before zaino.

[ga-bmwdrvr]

Originally Posted by luckystrike

what is dawn? and can i zaino then go to those automated car wash?

Dawn is a brand of dish washing detergent. I would not recommend it for routine washing.

[semler3]

Dawn dishwashing liquid is used to wash the car because somehow it was discovered (by some detailing fanatic) that Dawn removes all previously applied waxes and treatments.

If they find out, they'll repackage it, put it in Auto Stores, and triple the price!!

[Snowman811]

I can tell by the reflection of the picture taker in the car finish what an awesome job Zaino does. They could use a photo like that for Marketing. Nice job Pete.

[tl_boy]

no offense, where the hell do you guys find the time? i can buy the zaino, but then i'd have to pay someone to do this sh*t.

[ThreeBimm]

Originally Posted by tl_boy

no offense, where the hell do you guys find the time? i can buy the zaino, but then i'd have to pay someone to do this sh*t.

that and the patience. I can just about finish washing my car by hand before I bored.

I wish I could find someone that would do all those steps right if I paid them.

[Explorer3253]

Originally Posted by RINALDS

that and the patience. I can just about finish washing my car by hand before I bored.

I wish I could find someone that would do all those steps right if I paid them.

Come down to NY...One of the guys on the board will do it for you. I'm going to have him come out to my house and zaino the whole thing for me...well i need him more to help me buff out the scratches..i dont want to play with a porter