I just got my Zaino kit...I can see some swirl marks and lines from the dealer tape in the paint...also a small chip ...would using just the Z5 work as well...and then maybe the Z2 ?
thanks Pingo

 

Claybar is recommended if your finish seems rough. You can put your hand inside of a baggy and rub it over your car. If its smooth, you won't need the claybar, but if its not, rubbing your hand (inside the baggy) over your car's finish will make it easier to determine if its needed. It's not unusual to claybar a new car.

 

I used a clay bar on mine before doing the Zaino thing. I didn't pick up a large amount of debris but it was worth the time. After 2 coats of Z5 all of my swirl marks were gone.


Russ

Black w/willow, 6MT Coupe, nav, aero, V1, PS2, & TVs all up in the headrests.
Jax, FL

 

what is claybar, how used, where bought.

until i joined this board, the only clay i knew of was in art class.

04 6mtC, DG - possibly most babied G on the board.

 

studly use the search feature on the clay bar. You'll find a wealth of info on it. It's a piece of clay with the consistency between silly putty and modeling clay. you use a lubricant on the surface of the car and you rub the clay over it. it will lift debris like metal brake shaving and other contaminants. I remember when i first heard about it. It sounded like snake oil but once you use it you will be a preacher of its results. It's really that good

Jim
'03 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

I clay-barred mine before Zainoing and I wished that I hadn't.

When I didn't use enough lubricant in certain areas (because I started rushing) it was more work to remove the clay residual than anything else.

I've clay-barred cars before but this was the first time I'd ever clayed a car and didn't "feel" the bar picking up any contaminants.

I'd recommend skipping this step as the car didn't really benefit from it. It just made more work for me...

<font color=blue>Twilight Blue/Willow, Nav, Aero, 6MT, Splashguards, Clearbra, Tint, Sirius...</font color=blue>

 

After 5 months of being a proud owner, I finally took the time to claybar and wax today. WOW, what a difference it made in the smoothness of the paint..even before the wax. The great thing that I found about it too, is that it really didn't require a lot of "elbow grease." Now waxing, that's a diffenent story. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Bozz
6MT Laser Red w/ prem.

 

I just used clay bar on my car this last weekend. Never used clay bar before. It was very easy. Wash and fully dry your car first. Spray enough clay bar lubricant on the paint so that the clay bar glides over the surface without sticking. The clay bar may grab a bit at first. That's a sign it's doing its job. When the clay bar glides smoothly that section is done. Wipe down the completed section with a microfiber towel and move on to another section.

I did the sandwhich baggy test before and after using the clay bar. What a difference! Before, I could feel little bumps everywhere. After, silky smooth.

Be sure to stretch and fold the clay bar after each section is completed so that a fresh clean area of clay is used. You may not need to do this much if your car has minimal
paint contaminents (which should be the case on a new car).
Just check the clay bar after each section, if it looks or feels like there is anything embedded in it then stretch and fold over a new section.

New cars (especially from overseas) have been exposed to contaminents even before they have been sold. New cars sit outside, sit on ships, sit on railway cars and sit on car carriers. Plenty of opportunities for stuff to fall out of the sky and land on the paint (rail dust, brake dust, industrial fallout, etc.).

I followed up the clay bar with Black Fire paint polish allowing it to dry before buffing and then with Black Fire polymer paint sealent, again allowing it to fully dry before buffing. Each step was easy with no hard buffing required. The result is so silky smooth I can't keep my hands off my G now!

2003.5 G35S/DesertPlatinum/Premium/SportTuned/Willow

 

feeling her up, eh? [img]/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c 6MT DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust

 

If you use Zaino without claybar, you're losing half the benefit. Spend the $15 and get the claybar, it is definitely worth it.

<font color=blue>2003 G35 BS Sedan AT - St. Louis, MO
Premium, Winter, Xenon w/Silverstar Fogs
35% Tint All Around - Clear Corners
MB Quart / Eclipse Stereo System
PIAA Extreme Whites - K&N Drop-In</font color=blue>

 

YES... Use it forsure!