Hi From Charlotte, NC!! *Jet Black BMW E90 3er*

W

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I'm harboring the suspicion that the proprietary polishes that we're told are a necessary part of a "system"(according to those who sell the stuff anyway) aren't really.



I'd love to streamline my arsenal by just stocking (say) PPCL instead of Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish, Zaino Z-1 Polish Lok, etc.



Any thoughts on the subject? BTW, it didn't go unnoticed by me that DavidB used PPCL prior to laying down Blackfire All Finish Paint Protection on his recent trial of the new sealant. Thanks!



WH
 
Well, I don't know about eliminating the proprietary stuff. Like many members here, however, I think the most important part of a good finish is the prep work (like a lot of other projects, avocations and professions).



So, I am looking for the best possible paint surface before I apply any finishing product.



In my case, I was interested in removing as many surface imperfections before using the Blackfire (or any other) products. If I had major swirls or imperfections, I would have used one of the 3M products. Because I did not, I started with PPCL.



Based solely on the lighting in my garage, I think that I am going to like the results I got with Blackfire. I will let you know when I see the car in the light of day tomorrow.
 
The Z-1 isn't a polish in the traditional sense. Although some people report that it has some minor cleaning ability, its main purpose is to allow proper bonding between Z-2/Z-5 and the surface to which it is being applied.



I would probably use BF's polish....just to see how well it reduces swirls (and maybe clean off whatever residue PPCL left).



My impression, when reading DavidB's review as well as another thread where David mentioned using PPCL, is that he used PPCL as well as the BF polish before applying BF Protectant. I might be wrong though.



If you are satisfied with how your surface looks after PPCL, then you would probably be fine in forgoing the BF polish. But I'm sure a lot of forum members would disagree with me! :)



Tony
 
You HAD to use BF polish before the sealant. Is that an optional step?! I wonder if anyone applied the sealant on one panel and the polish + sealant on another......interesting test...both initial gloss and durability.
 
No doubt my phone will ring off the hook on this one... but PPCL is my preference for pre-waxing and pre-sealant cleaning. It just seems to work the best for me. I have used it as the cleaning/polishing step for BF Protectant, KSG, Autoglym, and Z-5 with ZFX... all with great results.



db
 
The Z1 is not much of a polish, to begin with. So, if you need to do surface prep, I would not rely on the Z1. But, that does not mean you can <em class='bbc'>skip[/i] the Z1. Sal explicitely states that it has a function much like a "primer." In any event, the Z1 is applied infrequently, so I do not think much is to be gained by skipping it. AND, I find that "more frequent than recommended use" of Z1 really improves the appearance of the car. So, I would recommend <em class='bbc'>more[/i] frequent use of Z1, not less.

Hope this helps.
 
Hi From Charlotte, NC!! Jet Black BMW E90 3 Series

I wanted to introduce myself. I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, and moved down to Charlotte about 3 years ago after college. I've been detailing my own car at home since I was 16. I've also been a long time PAC customer, and continue to refer anyone I can. Now I'm 27 and own a beautiful jet black BMW 3 Series. I'm a big BMW enthusiast, and look forward to chatting with you all about detailing!

Here are some pics of my car.

-Misha


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Misha,

Welcome to TID. I hope you enjoy your time here and share some of your detailing experiences. Thank you for your past support of PAC :clap::clap::clap:

jk
 
Welcome Misha, the Bimmer looks sweet! Thank you for your support and looking forward in the future in helping you out on your detailing needs.:wizard:
 
That is one sweet ride. If I might ask, are those the e90 M wheels? And if so, where did you pick them up and at what cost? PM if you need to. Thanks.
 
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