SteveZ

I am planning to buy zaino products for my clk. After researching I have come to the conclusion that Zaino makes the best products for car care. My Question is; how many coats of Zaino Z-2 and z-5 should I apply on the car. IS there a maximum number of coats to be applied. Also should I purchase the clay bar, or should I just use dawn soap. Also what materials should I use to wipe of and apply the wax-whatever it is...

David N.

Your first two questions will be answered in the application guide below. As for the clay bar vs. dawn: They do different things. Dawn will strip off all the old wax from your car so that the xaino will properly bond to your paint. The clay bar will smooth out your paint by removing the embedded contamination from the surface. Wash your car and then feel the surface. If it feels sandy, then clay it, if not then skip the clay step. Your steps should go as follows.

1. Polish the paint to remove the swirls(if necessary).
2. Wash with dawn.
3. Wash with car wash soap to remove the residue dawn will leave on the paint.
4. Clay(if necessary)
5. Start Zainoing.

Application Guide:
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STEP ONE:
Make sure vehicle is clean. Apply a thin coat of Zaino Bros' Z-1 Polish Lok* Pre-Cleaner and Gloss Conditioner in a circular motion, using a 100% cotton towel or applicator. No rubbing is necessary. Entire vehicle may be done at one time. Let haze, DO NOT REMOVE Polish Lok* !

STEP TWO:
Apply Zaino Bros' Show Car Polish to a clean 100% cotton towel or applicator. We have found the best way of applying Show Car Polish is with our #314 Custom Polish applicator. Just slightly dampen the applicator with water or Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray. Apply Show Car Polish directly to applicator. This technique will help increase flow and spreadability on the paint surface and yield more coats per bottle.
Apply directly over hazed Polish Lok, let dry approximately 30 to 40 minutes or longer. Please use Show Car Polish on all wheels, metal, chrome, painted trim and plastic lenses. Remove with a clean 100% (Made in USA) Large Bath size White cotton towel, turning towel frequently until all polish is removed. A large towel is necessary to completely remove polish. You will see a "wet-looking" crystal-clear, ultra deep gloss. Note: It is not necessary to use Z-1 Polish Loktm every time you polish your vehicle. Z-1 Polish Loktm is recommended the first time you do your vehicle and thereafter, once a year for show cars and twice a year for everyday vehicles.

TRICKS:
Want people to envy the look of your vehicle. Want that Show Winning Edge and Custom Paint Look. Want the deepest, wettest, slickest, clearest, richest, and shiniest paint ever. Apply two more coats of Show Car Polish waiting at least 24 hours before applying the next coat. Show Car Polish will continue to get deeper and wetter with each succeeding coat, up to five coats. You can however, apply as many coats as you want of Show Car Polish. You will not believe the depth and optical clarity of the wet-looking gloss. Follow up with Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" Spray between every coat of Show Car Polish and see how Incredible your vehicle looks!
Want an even higher level of optical light refraction and reflectivety. Here's how. When applying Show Car Polish do the following; On all Top surfaces of vehicle, use a back and forth motion (from front bumper towards windshield). On all Side surfaces (doors, fenders, etc.) use a vertical motion, up and down. This technique will increase the way light attracts and reflects off of Show Car Polish. The body lines and contours of your vehicle will seem to glow. This trick really works. Remember to use Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray between every coat of Show Car Polish.

TIPS:
Zaino Bros' Z-5 is the first non-abrasive polish that will eliminate swirl marks, fine scratches and spidering, without hurting the integrity of the clear coat. It does this in stages, anywhere between 1 to 5 coats, depending on vehicle color. With each application of Z-5 polish, you will see the swirl marks and fine scratches gradually lessen, until the marks are no longer visible and your paint will look flawless. Z-5 can be used initially after Z-1 or at anytime thereafter. You should switch to Z-2 as soon as you are happy with the way the paint finish looks. Example, no more swirls, scratches etc. It's up to you. Z-2 has higher optical properties than Z-5. You can switch from Z-2 to Z-5 and then back to Z-2 as often as you want. All Show Car Polishes are 100% compatible. For the highest optical paint enhancement. You should always end up with Z-2 as the last coat of polish.
Zaino Bros' Z-6 Ultra Clean "Gloss Enhancer" Spray is the ultimate maintainence product. It will remove light dust and soil between washes and will make your paint slicker, wetter-looking, deeper and reinforce the polish system and UV protection. Because of its unique optical enhancers, Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray will create a three dimensional, ultra-high, light refracting paint finish. Its super anti-static properties will reduce dust and dirt pickup by up to 60%. The more you use Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray the slicker and more dust-free your paint will be.

NOTE: Z-6 is very concentrated. Use sparingly, very lightly mist a small 1' x 1' section at a time and immediately wipe with a 100% cotton towel, turning towel frequently, until completely slick and dry. Repeat until entire vehicle is done. Do not let Z-6 dry on car without wiping. If product drying occurs before wiping, reapply Z-6 to affected areas and repeat drying procedure. Less than one ounce will do an average size vehicle. Works great on rims, chrome, trim and plastic.

Zaino Bros' Z-7 Show Car Wash and Wax will clean heavy soil from your car and deposit a reinforcing layer of polish and UV protection. It will not leave a film or haze like other car washes. Its great for maintaining that Show Car look, all year round.
Zaino Bros' Z-10 "Leather in a Bottle"tm will maintain new leather and give old leather, the look, supple feel and smell of brand new leather. It contains the highest quality, leather oil concentrate available. Nothing on the market beats this product! Works great on vinyl interiors and dashboards.

Zaino Bros' Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish is great for restoring old glass to like new, using a low speed machine with a cotton bonnet.

Zaino Bros' Z-16 Perfect Tire Gloss is a non-oily, non-greasy, rubber protectant and finishing treatment. It leaves an incredibly durable, water repellent, perfect looking satin finish, that's only slightly glossy and dry to the touch. Use on all exterior rubber, tires, moldings, plastic trim, weatherstripping, underhood hoses and more. Just wet a sponge with Z-16 and apply to the surface to be treated and let dry. It will last thru rain and multiple washings. Z-16 is not recommended for interior seats or vinyl tops.

Zaino Bros' recommends using only Large Bath size 100% Made in USA White Cotton towels with all of our products. Cotton T-shirts are too small for polish removal and not as absorbent or fluffy as towels and most contain polyester. We have found that certain towels; especially those manufactured abroad, although they say 100% cotton. They are not; they include a blend of polyester and nylon that will definitely scratch and leave swirl marks in your paint finish. The rule of thumb is to use high quality Brand Name large bath towels (Cannon or Fieldcrest) that say 100% cotton and made in the USA. Towels sold in bags in Auto Stores are not 100% cotton. Look carefully on the bag it will probably say made in Pakistan or Bangladesh or other foreign country. Do not use these towels. They will cause swirl marks and scratches on the paint surface. Always, remove the stitching around the towel prior to use. Bargain store polish applicators also contain polyester and nylon fibers and are not to be used. Also, when washing your towels, please do not use any type of fabric softeners. Always use White towels. Do not use Colored Towels they contain dyes.
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The products you should get are:
1. Z-1 Show Car Polish Lok pre-Cleaner
2. Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Finishes
3. Z-5 Polish for Heavy Swirl Marks & Fine Scratches
4. Z-6 Ultra Clean "Gloss Enhancer Spray
5. Z-7 Show Car Wash and Wax

Depending on how severe your swirls are(if any at all), you may need to do step one. If they aren't to bad, then you can apply a few coats of Z5 and hope that it does the trick. Use your best judgement.

awiner

How many coats fo Z-5 will depend on how your finish currently is. Use more coats of Z-5 to fill small scratches/swirls if need be. Once finished with Z-5, start laying on Z-2 as Z-2 is more optically pure. You will see after about 4-5 coats that you probably will reach the point of diminishing return. I WOULD clay your car first. The clay made my surface so much smoother. Mirror smooth to be exact.

Check the Zaino webpage out. They have recommendations on what type of towels to use. Also, I recommend getting some Z-6 as well....

young

Z1
Z2
towels (good white 100% cotton)
wax applicators

Z1 may be replaced w/ ZFX (although it is untested yet)

JohnN

Definitely clay the car, Steve.

I took delivery of my car new, unwashed, from the dealer. Proceeded to clay and Klasse it that same week.

You'd be surprised how much crud even a new car would have in such a short period of time (mostly rail dust from the ride over from Alabama).

Bottom line - the effort will take you an extra 1.5-2 hours. The money is insignificant (the clay will cost you an extra $20). The results will improve, since regardless of what system you use, wax/sealants always apply better to smooth surfaces, and the clay will leave you with THE smoothest surface you'll ever find.

And don't forget to post pics!