London AMG

Anyone got any experience to share regarding products that dont work so well?....what did it do/not do to your car?

Duffer

OK,

I don't use Armor All anymore - too shiny.

I don't use Windex anymore for cars - I use Stoner's Glass Cleaner - better by far

I don't use abrasive rubbing compounds any more such as the common ones - 3M now has very good gentle compounds

Buellwinkle

I don't use any wax or polishing products that you can buy at Pep Boys or Wal Mart (like Maguires, Turtle Wax or Spacewax 2000). I don't use Maguires clay bar as it left a messy residue all over my car that was tough to get off. I no longer use cotton diapers to dry or wax my car (but they still work on the dirt bikes and wife's silver car).

Mark08859

Duffer is on the money. An excellent glass cleaner. Puts Windex and the like to shame. I highly recommend it to everyone. Stoner Solutions name for it is Invisible Glass.

BrabusCClass

Just curious but what do you use then? Any reason why you dont like the stuff they sell at Pep boys? Just wondering.

Buellwinkle

It's not Pep Boys fault, they just carry low end stuff. I like Klasse wax and I use commercial grade polishing compounds because the have a high clay content and are oil base (not cheap water based polishes like Maguires).

jack230

I love Zymol's products.

I have to agree that Turtle Wax, Armor All, etc. products are somewhat difficult to use and produce less-than-excellent results.

For those with some extra money to spend on car wax:

http://www.zymol.com/vintage2.htm

DCX Engineer

I used Zymol cleaner wax on my c230 last weekend and it has never looked better. I applied two coats and then sprayed cool, clean water onto the freshly waxed finish and buffed with a polishing cloth. A light spray of water will "set" and level the natural ingredients for a more brilliant, even shine. Before I did this the finish had dark streaks throughout. It looked great after being "set".

I had used Meguiar's Gold Class on it a few weeks before, but it appeared to bring out or create swirl marks. It looked terrible under sunlight. I had been using Meguiar's Gold Class or Medallion for years without any problems. I have switched to Zymol and convinced many others at work to do the same. I know most members like Zaino Bros, but Zymol is inexpensive and available everywhere for about $13. I was also told it was rated #1 in Consumer Reports for what its worth.

viper

I was thinking of trying Zymol. Did you do any surface prep like clay bar prior to this or just a good wash ?

DCX Engineer

Just a good wash using Castrol Super Clean Car Wash. I also use Super Clean All Wheel Cleaner and Tire Gloss.

Duffer

We are supposed to be purists on this forum.

For those who think being obsessive is not enough, go to

www.zainobros.com

You have reached obsessive heaven.

awiner

Thumbs up for Zaino ! I use Zaino and love it.

Duffer

the TT forum used to have verbal fights over Pinnacle Wax v. Zaino -

having decided that all the other products are in a small minority.

Buellwinkle

Most wax wars I've seen are between Klasse and Zaino. Never heard of Pinnicle Wax, do they sell it at Pep Boys or Wal Mart?

Actually to me the wax is the absolute least import step in making your car shiny. A really good polish with a high speed buffer with foam buffing pad can make a car sparkle without a drop of wax. The wax just protects the finish.

revstriker

Ditto!

Big Dog

I also love Zaino, particularly since they added the ZFX product that speeds up the drying process.

However, for those of you who haven't heard of Pinnacle -- the stuff is great. I have used the carnuba on my other car for the past two years (recently put on two coats) and still receive compliments from strangers. They also have a quick spray detailer that works very well.

revstriker

I don't mean to go too off subject here, but since there are a few posters that like Zaino products, and I have a question for them: Does anyone use a wax product on top of the Zaino polish?

Duffer

Ummm, Pinnacle is supposedly the creme de la creme of waxes -- go to CLassic Motoring Accessories or Autofanatics.com (I think that is the spelling) on the web

Good one! At Pep Boys! (LOL)

Duffer

No Striker, I don't use anything over Zaino Polish except the Zaino Z6 Gloss

Don't know if I would want to -- might dull the deep reflection.

revstriker

Thanks Duffer, that's what I was thinking as well. I was just wondering if anyone had tried. I probably would not, and I am more than happy with the shine/protection of just the polish.

Duffer

Whatever they put in Zaino, it serves the same protection purposes as wax and I don't think it is designed to put a different product over it.

greg230

i completely detailed the outside of my car yesterday (part of my birthday fun).

Washed her, used the Mb paint cleaner (meguires) the mb paint polish (again meguires) and then 2 coats of meguires quick carnuba wax.

The hood was so flawless and shiney (minus a tiny rock chip) that a girl walking her dog, stopped and used the hood of my car to fix her hair.

If i am diligent, and wash the car 2 times a week to remove contaminents, the shine will remain for about 4-6 weeks using spot detailer. This is fine with me, since it only took about 2-3 hours to do the entire car, vs 2-3 days of perfect weather to zaino, for 6-8 weeks of shine.

Buellwinkle

Klasse and Zaino are synthetic waxes and Pinnacle sounds like a natural caranuba wax. I would not mix the two. Both Klasse and Zaino offer glaze products to add shine to their waxes. I have never tried Zaino but Klasse, which they sell at most MB dealers has worked for me for years.

Duffer

I do the entire Zaino thing (wash, (strip the wax), claybar, polish) about once a year, probably should be every 6 months - and it takes about 8 hours to entirely clean the whole car including wheels, undercoating, etc.

And then, every other time I wash I just put a quick coat of Zaino polish on the car and buff 30 minutes later and am done. It's not a problem and doesn't take much time. And the shine gets deeper with each coat.

I just do that and the once a year overhaul.

revstriker

This sounds close to my plan. I did the entire zaino thing with 3 coats of polish. I wash once a week with the zaino car wash, and I apply a new coat of polish about once every month and a half (or as needed). In between washes I use the Calf. Duster, and I also clean with Mequires detail spray (I don't have the zaino stuff).