Hey guys, my car is about 3 months old now from the time I bought it and I'm looking to see what the best wax/sealant is to protect my finish and give me that wet looking shine.

Also I have 2 scratches that I can see are white but they didn't gauge the paint thank god... I'm getting some scratchX soon but was wondering if I need to buff this out? I want to get this out before I wax.

I was thinking of using Poor boys Natty Blue wax, Zaino sounds awesome as a synthetic sealant but it looks too cumbersome.

Advice.. suggestions?

 

bump

 

Check out

https://g35driver.com/forums/repairing-detailing-diy/105461-detailing-caring-your-ride.html

Lots of good info in there. He recommends Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection or Acrylic Jett on silver paints. I've heard the 4* UPP recommendation specifically for the diamond graphite paint on another site as well. I'm waiting on my wash product (QEW) before detailing it all, but I picked up some 4* UPP and their Pre-wax cleaner that I'll try on my DG coupe in a couple of weeks or so.

 

sounds like I should just go the zaino route.. I'll let you guys know how it turns out!

how about the scratches... I'm going to see if scratchX takes it out. crossing my fingers though...

 

Zaino is no longer cumbersome thanks to their new ZFX product, which replaces Z1.

With Z1, you have to apply a coat and let it dry before applying Z2 or Z5. With ZFX, you simply mix a few drops in with Z2 or Z5 and apply. The stuff will dries in half an hour or less and you can buff off and apply a new coat.

The argument that Zaino takes too long to apply no longer holds. The whole Dawn plus claybar process should be done before you try any new product, whether its Zaino or something else...

Took me about 6 hours to Dawn, claybar, wash with Z7, apply ZFX+Z2, gloss with Z6, apply second coat of ZFX+Z2, and then finish off with more Z6. It'll take you that long to apply any new product if you want to strip off old wax using Dawn and claybar the entire car.

To maintain, all you need to do is wash with Z7, dry, and then spray it down with a little Z6 (which takes no longer than 10 minutes). Slap on more coats of Z2 if you want - supposedly 2 coats will last you several months. This is no different than washing your car and then applying something like Meguiars NXT, which people like to tout as a cheaper and faster alternative....just keep in mind that the shine will only last 2 weeks if your car is in the sun all day.

I tried Zaino for the first time last month and am very pleased with the results. I only have the original 2 coats of Z2 but actually LOOK FORWARD to applying 2 more coats in the next week or so for extra shine. Can't wait to see what the G will look like after I'm done...I just need to find the time.

 

Z5pro, UPP, Acylic Jett; all of them will look great on DG. Cheers.

 

thanks for the help Ec3, I think I'm going to splurge for the zaino product. I purchased a foam gun to help me cut down on the time to wash the car plus it helps loosen the dirt/dust prior to taking any media to the cars finish. I should get everything in by next week and will post my results.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Zaino products. The results are very pleasing to the eye and the products hold up for a very long time.

I had my car detailed twice by Jon at Perfection Auto and he used Pinnacle Sovereign wax on my car. For a carnauba wax, I think its definately one the best and really makes my car gleam. Its really good stuff.

 

Here is my DGs with Zaino:

https://g35driver.com/forums/care-detailing/104041-zaino-across-board-my-g.html

 

wow that's a nice shine you got going on there! so let me get it right you clay, z7, z2 zfxd, z5 zfx'd? Then do I z6?

 

Everything you need to know is on www.zainostore.com

They recommend that you wash the car with original Liquid Dawn (the blue stuff) to remove any old wax or anything that was applied at the factory or by the dealer before you drove it off the lot. I was very hesitant about doing this, given the fact that Dawn will dry out your car over time. But doing it the first time you apply Zaino, or any new product if you choose something else, won't hurt the paint at all. I'm no expert on this subject, but as long as you aren't washing your car with Dawn on a regular basis you should be fine. Stripping off any old wax allows the Zaino to bond with your paint.

Claybar is the next step, which can be a pain in the ***, but it does remove crap from your paint that regular car wash soap or Dawn can't. Some will argue that washing with Dawn and using a claybar isn't necessary, but most professional detailers recommend it. Apparently, washing your car with Dawn isn't necessary if you plan on using an abrasive polish of some sort. Z2 or Z5 are not abrasive polishes, which is why they recommend washing with Dawn.

After the claybar, you wash the car again with Z7 and dry. You are then ready to apply ZFX+Z2 or ZFX+Z5, depending on the condition of your paint. If you have swirls or fine scratches, then it's recommended that you use Z5 first to cover that stuff up. My G was only 2 months old and had no swirls or scratches, so I only used Z2 and didn't buy Z5. In either case, you'll want to finish off with Z2 for the best "look".

It is recommended that you lightly mist your car with Z6 and wipe down in between coats of ZFX+Z2. Not sure if that's necessary, but it is recommended. Supposedly gives you extra gloss and makes the next coat of Z2 even easier to apply. You'll also want to use the Z6 after your done applying Z2 to give it that 3D shine.

How long this whole process takes you will depend on how many coats you plan on applying your first time. The Z2+ZFX combo only takes 15-30 minutes to dry, even less time if it's hot outside. You can go over each panel with Z6 and wipe down in no more than 10 minutes. So the entire process goes something like this:

Wash with Dawn, claybar, wash with Z7, dry, apply Z2+ZFX, remove Z2, spray and wipe with Z6, put on another coat of Z2+ZFX, remove Z2, finish off with more Z6.

I believe you can apply up to 3 coats of Zaino in a 24 hour period. If you have swirls/scratches on your car, then substitute the first coat (or first 2 coats) of Z2 with Z5, and then finish off with Z2. It will look OK when you're done, but you'll be amazed by how it looks the next day - perhaps this has something to do with the Zaino fully drying and bonding with your paint.

I have an 06 Liquid Platinum and you can't even stare at the car when the sun is shining on it - the paint will blind you. The thing repels dust and beads water like no other. When the car gets dirty, I wash with Z7 and quickly apply some Z6 and the car looks like its been freshly waxed. I applied my first 2 coats of Zaino over a month ago and it looks like I just applied it yesterday.

Apparently you can layer this stuff for even more shine and durability, although 2 coats is enough to last you months. I think I'm gonna lay down 2 more coats this weekend. Too bad I don't have a digital camera!

Definitely read the website and instructions before applying. The toughest part about applying Zaino is that you have to apply it real thin. With my Liquid Platinum, or your Diamond Graphite, you won't even see the Zaino when applying it - which leads you to think that you aren't applying it correctly. If you apply 2 or 3 coats in a day, then that will ensure that you aren't missing any spots.

Zaino is definitely costly, especially when you factor in shipping costs. But if you consider its durability, then I think it's definitely worth the purchase. There are products out there which will give your car the same look or better. The big difference is that Zaino will supposedly last you anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Most other products will only last one month tops. Your initial costs will be higher, but you use less product and apply less frequently.