Hey guys, new to this Forum and I want to thank some of you devoted, hard working detailer's out there. Only you guys can understand why it takes so long
to clean and detail a car(my wife cant seem to grasp why). I have been reading some of your posts for the past month and I have learned some good tips. I have a 06 Benz, 05 BMW, 95 BMW, My wife's 05 BMW was neglected for two years, no wax, no polish, sometimes no wash. I took possesion of it last year when we got married. I only use Zaino products on my cars. I tried for a whole weekend to fix swirl marks, oxidized paint, bird poop, Its a mess. Its a black car, and I know i cant get the deep scratches out but can somebody suggest a method to get this biatch back to BMW paint. My method is as follows: 1. Wash
2. clay 3. 3m polish compound(with orbital), 4. wash 5. zaino PC 6. Z5 7. Z8.
I have one more question, on my Benz I do the same routine without the 3m stuff. I get great results, but after washing the spider webs come back. I have quality micro fiber was cloth. What am i doing wrong? My benz is Black also. 95 BMW is white and it outshines both newer cars????
You may want to look at your wash methods. Improper washing practices do more to induce swirls than any other single thing. There are lots of write-ups here on different methods but what works best for me is the 2 bucket method combined with a grit guard and a premium lambswool mitt.
Using 2 buckets, put the grit guard in the bottom of your soap bucket and fill your soap bucket. Fill the second bucket with clear water. Each time you soap your mitt and wash a section of the car, before you put the mitt back into the soap bucket, rinse it off in the clear water bucket. Then you can put your mitt back into the soap.
There are other things like THOROUGHLY rinsing the car before washing. Also save the lowest portions of the car all around for last, i.e do the roof first, then the hood and trunk lid, then the upper portions of the fenders and doors, then the upper portions of the front clip and rear bumper. Lastly starting with the lower portions of the front clip, doors, lower front fenders, lower rear fenders and lastly the lower rear bumper.
As for the 3M stuff, I am not sure if it has fillers in it but some polishes do which mask swirls which eventualluy come back. Lately, I have been using Adam's Swirl and Haze Remover, Fine Machine Polish and Revive Polish with excellent results. I use a Flex DA polisher with specialty pads for each type of paint I will be working on. I used to use Zaino too until I was introduced to the Adam's line.
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Here is what I'd do on the paint only (not including black trim, wheels, tires, ect...):
1. Wash the car with Dawn liquid soap degreaser to remove all the build-up and junk from the paint surface.
2. Dry it off with water blade
3. Clay bar the entire car, making sure to spend extra time where extra attention is needed
4. Wash the car off (no cleaning solution, only water)
5. Dry the car
6. Use Z-PC. You really have to work Z-PC by hand to get really good results. Remove Z-PC.
7. Z-5 with ZFX
8. Remove
9. Z-6/Remove
10. Z-5 with ZFX
11. Remove
12. Z-6/remove
13. Z-2 with ZFX
14. Remove
15. You could also add Z-8 to top it off
Removal of product should be by way of a high quality microfiber towel. I would not use a cotton towel (that is the only thing I disagree with Sal Zaino about).
When you wash the car. BE CAREFUL! Do not scratch the paint with a poor wash solution or drying method. That will kill all the work you just put into the car.
If that doesn't work (your paint should be glowing!!), then you need a new paint job or at the very least a wet-sand and/or repaint of specific areas.
Here is what I'd do on the paint only (not including black trim, wheels, tires, ect...):
1. Wash the car with Dawn liquid soap degreaser to remove all the build-up and junk from the paint surface.
2. Dry it off with water blade
3. Clay bar the entire car, making sure to spend extra time where extra attention is needed
4. Wash the car off (no cleaning solution, only water)
5. Dry the car
6. Use Z-PC. You really have to work Z-PC by hand to get really good results. Remove Z-PC.
7. Z-5 with ZFX
8. Remove
9. Z-6/Remove
10. Z-5 with ZFX
11. Remove
12. Z-6/remove
13. Z-2 with ZFX
14. Remove
15. You could also add Z-8 to top it off
Removal of product should be by way of a high quality microfiber towel. I would not use a cotton towel (that is the only thing I disagree with Sal Zaino about).
When you wash the car. BE CAREFUL! Do not scratch the paint with a poor wash solution or drying method. That will kill all the work you just put into the car.
If that doesn't work (your paint should be glowing!!), then you need a new paint job or at the very least a wet-sand and/or repaint of specific areas.
BLASPHEMY! You should never use Dawn! read my disclaimer and leave that to a professional. the God of detailing will be angry with you.
all hail benz rider... all hail benz rider...
but I do like that water blade idea....I use my absorber for that step, but I might try your idea just for kicks.
i think im screwing up on the washing part. of course the simplest part of the task.
Always wash your wheels last. and with a fresh bucket of soapy water. and never, I mean never, wash your car in the dead heat of the day. I reccommend you wash your car either early in the morning like 8-9am or late in the day like 4-5pm. This way has lots of benefits, which include you not fainting in the process of washing your car.
Always wash your wheels last. and with a fresh bucket of soapy water. and never, I mean never, wash your car in the dead heat of the day. I reccommend you wash your car either early in the morning like 8-9am or late in the day like 4-5pm. This way has lots of benefits, which include you not fainting in the process of washing your car.
NO Always wash your wheels FIRST. You want to do this because of this: If you wash the car first, then take the time to really do the wheels, wheel wells and tires right, this gives the water sitting on your car ample time to start making water spots. So, you do the wheels, wells and tires first and then you do the car. This way when you finish your wash you can go straight to the drying process, not giving the water time to start spotting. As for the water blade, I have never been a fan of this device. To dry your car, first, after you wash, take the nozzle off of the hose and turn the water on at low pressure. Sheet the low pressure water across the surface and you will be surprised at how much water this sheeting removes, especially if you have a good coat of wax. After this, dry with a premium waffle weave microfiber towel followed by a pressuirzed air or leaf blower on all the nooks and crannies to get all the last bits of water out.
And, it is OK to use Dawn occasionally when you want to strip all the wax off of the car, but you should never use this on a regular basis.
NO Always wash your wheels FIRST. You want to do this because of this: If you wash the car first, then take the time to really do the wheels, wheel wells and tires right, this gives the water sitting on your car ample time to start making water spots. So, you do the wheels, wells and tires first and then you do the car. This way when you finish your wash you can go straight to the drying process, not giving the water time to start spotting.
Bad Advice.
Washing your wheels/wells/tires first is not smart. It's best to wash your car first and THEN do your wheels/wells/tires. this is why you want to wash your car in the shade or during the time of day when it's cold. fresh water spots wipe right off because they don't have time to dry fully, especially if you wash your car in the cool shade and not in the direct sun..
When you wash your car second to the wheels, you are washing all that dirty water back onto your wheels/tires which creates more uneccessary work because you will definitely have to go back and wipe them down again.
When you wash your wheels last, the dirt is only on the wheels at this point and not the car because youi've already washed the car, so the dirty water will wash onto the ground and down the drain or into the grass and be gone.
Washing your wheels doesn't take long at all and you can jump on the drying process after that.
You should never use Dawn! read my disclaimer and leave that to a professional. the God of detailing will be angry with you.
all hail benz rider...
....I use my absorber for that step, but I might try your idea just for kicks.
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