New Black Mazda3 Hatch + ONR + Opti-Seal

[J.J.]

I picked-up my new car this past Wednesday and unfortunately was unable to wash and seal until this weekend. I asked the dealer not to prep the car before delivery, which he did. I also asked that he refrain from placing a license plate or advertisements on the vehicle. He got that one half right (still ended-up with a front license plate frame ).

On to the pics:
The car was untouched as seen below. I was able to tear off the plastic at the dealer. He was amazed that I refused the dealer prep. NO swirls please!


Dirty:










ONR supplies ready:




ONR in process:




ONR drivers- side complete:




ONR passenger side complete:




ONR hood complete:






Just after Opti-seal application:




Next day after curing but in slightly different light:








Opti-Seal allowed the flake to really "pop"





Process:
- Mixed a 2 gallon sprayer full of ONR 2 oz/gallon
- ONR applied with Eurow sheepskins using 2- bucket method
- Dried with large WW towel
- Wheels sprayed with ONR solution, brushed with a wheel brush followed by another ONR spray and then dried with WW towel
- Opti-seal applied with yellow sponge
- Followed that with a MF wipe-down because I used a little to much.

Comments:

1. ONR causes no marring if done correctly.
2. Opti-Seal is a fantastically easy product to use, and to me, it looks just like a nuba' paste wax from a distance (i.e. adds depth to the paint unlike most pure sealants). Very unique product IMO.
3. I'm not totally satisfied with my photography skills, and I think I need better scenery.
4. I did not clay because I found absolutely no need to. Some people believe in all that rail dust crap more than I do.
5. I choose the Mazda 3 because it was the perfect 4-cylinder car for me. It's sporty enough with 160 hp and manual trans, has plenty of room with 4 doors and a hatch, and it is perfect for those family outing with my wife and daughter.

Thanks for looking,
JJ

[kaval]

very nice job and pics of the process!

So no marring eh? That's good to hear, and I trust your word seeing as how its a brand new car. I'm still wondering if to pick up some of this to use on cars now that in parts of Ontario we have water restrictions.

I suspect the Mazda3 will continue to sell extremely well, even after Toyota brings out their new Corolla. A very nice balance of looks, performance, economy and price.

Again nice job. Opti-Seal made the flakes look like they were jumping out of the paint! And the car is so shiny that in one of the pics I thought you had bug guts on the lower overhangs on the bumper, only to realize it was just the reflection of the ground!

[reeeko99]

Nice 3.....

Enjoy..................

[tegboy]

Nice 3. I have an SP23 Luxury in Carbon Grey and I love it.

I would suggest keeping a number plate frame on the front plate, as when you washing, I always manage to bang the metal plate with my leg and it hurts.

I hope you find the paint doesn't marr to easily, I know with mine, I only had to look at it wrong and it grows micro-marring to upset my day.

[zoomzoom mazda5]

Very nice indeed, sweet 3 you have there, enjoy it!!!!!

[BlackElantraGT]

Awesome looking car If you've never owned a hatch before, you're gonna love finding out how versatile they are. I don't think I could go back to a non-hatchback.

As for your ONR process, mind sharing how you dry with a large drying towel? Do you wash with the ONR solution with your Eurow mitt, dunk it in rinse water, and make another pass to rinse off the dirt, then follow up with your towel? Because I couldn't imagine getting my nice, waffle weave drying towel dirty from ONR washes. I've tried doing ONR washes before using mf towels to wipe away most of the dirt, but I find that it ruins the towels. Lately I've been experimenting with sea sponge instead of mf towels. For me I find it works better for the ONR washes.

[BigAl3]

beautiful car, congrats! also... if there are holes drilled in the front through the paint, you can get factory matched colored plugs at bumperplugs.com

p.s perhaps a pic of this car will be in your new profile pic?

[J.J.]

Thanks for the comments guys. I never appreciated the hatch as a car until I saw the 3. There's something about the shape of this hatch that really attracted me. It was destiny!

As for your ONR process, mind sharing how you dry with a large drying towel? Do you wash with the ONR solution with your Eurow mitt, dunk it in rinse water, and make another pass to rinse off the dirt, then follow up with your towel? Because I couldn't imagine getting my nice, waffle weave drying towel dirty from ONR washes. I've tried doing ONR washes before using mf towels to wipe away most of the dirt, but I find that it ruins the towels. Lately I've been experimenting with sea sponge instead of mf towels. For me I find it works better for the ONR washes.

The supplies that I use were mentioned previously and they are pictured in one of the pics above.

In brief, I usually mix-up a batch of ONR in the handy-dandy sprayer pictured above. I also mix-up a two gallon batch in a bucket; one with ONR and the other with regular tap water.

I begin by spraying the panel with my ONR solution. I then take one of my two Eurow mits, saturated in ONR from the bucket, and proceed to lightly (i.e. no pressure applied) guide the mit across the panel, flipping the mit once. I then take the other mit, which has been laying in the ONR bucket, and continue to wash the same panel.

I place each mit in the bucket of regular water, rub it vigorously and then lightly squeeze dry before placing it back into the ONR soln'. With that, the washing process is complete.

I then take my large WW towel and DAB the panels (i.e. no rubbing). If I am drying a horizontal surface, I spread the entire towel over the panel and let it lay there. Give it a few pats and pick it. DAB the remaining until dry. DONE.

When I first heard of the DABING method, I though people were crazy. I thought there was no way I was going to dry a panel completely by DABING at it. I was wrong. This method actually does a great job and produces no marring in my experience.

I now have two black vehicle. There was learning curve required for ownership but the results are well worth the time and effort.

Hope this helps someone!


BigAl, I will add one of the pics to my profile at some point, however I want to add the 845 before I do so. Take care!


JJ

[Scottwax]

Looks terrific! Very wet looking shine.

Nice write-up and pictures too.

[OneQuickGT1]

Have the same car....paint seems pretty hard to me!!

[tegboy]

Have the same car....paint seems pretty hard to me!!

Really?? My Dad drove mine, and must have gone under an overhanging bush or something, there is small scratches in the roof from it.

He claims is the same bush he drives his MB under, with the ceramic-clear (SP?) and there is no marring on that.

From day one, mine has always been coated with Zaino, its never had a swirl-o-matic wash. Not sure.

But, either, I love driving it, marring and all

[Pital]

love the choice in car...i have a 06 mazda 3 hatch silver 5spd...one year old today...i love mine hope you get to enjoy yours as i do mine....