My thoughts after switching from zaino (very long)

M

m3pilot

New member
If anyone cares or is interested here is what I did and what my thoughts are. First, I loved the way the zaino looked on my black car and thought I would never use anything else, however the swirls were getting to be too much. I was fighting a never ending battle and constatnly applying more zaino to hide the swirls only for them to come back soon after without me even touching the car. So I bought a pc to remove all the swirls before I started with something new. I used a yellow pad and 3m smr to get out most of the swirls and then needed some 3m fi2 in a couple spots. After that I used a white pad and applied some vanilla moose, really impressed with this, this seemed to add some depth to the shine. Then layered on 2 coats of poorboy's ex for some protection and then topped with 2 coats of s100. I was quite impressed. When I finished I took the car out in the direct sun and the hood looked nearly flawless. I could not believe it, not matter how much zaino I used I always had some spider webbing. It was absolutely gorgeous, I could not believe how virtually 98% of the swirls were gone. I then took the car to a gathering for a car club and sadly it was very overcast and grey all day and no sun. I was hoping for a clear sky to show off my now nearly swirl free black car. With the zaino, I always hoping for a few clouds to mask the finsih. I tooks some pics, but they came out bad as a result of the lack of good sunlight, they are very dark and don't show what the car really looks like. The total trip was about 90 miles and when I got back home the car looked as good in the garage as when I left in the morning, no micro swirls appearing while driving without even touching it. One thing I did notice was the combination I have used here seems to attract less dust than the zaino, I know everyone claims the zaino repelled dust, but I always had a problem with dust, even when the car was just sitting in the garage. I let the car cool off and went over the car with the ccd a couple times very lightly and made sure I had the surface dust free. I the qd and my mf towel was still clean, I could not believe it, with zaino it always came back dirty after a couple swipes in some spots and I would end up using a couple towels to qd the car. Now I only used on and do not see any swirls I added, unlike the zaino after I qd, I do not have to add anything else. I did not know what to do with myself yesterday as I usually would have been adding more zaino, now the car looks as good as when I was done waxing it. In no way am I bashing the zaino. It is a great product, the durability is awesome, but I don't need it. My car is a weekend toy and has only seen the rain once in 2.5 years. On my dad's carbon metallic envoy, the metallic just jumps out at you with zaino. The color hides swirls very well even though it is dark. If my car was not black, I probably would still be using zaino. I loved the way it looked on my black car, but could not stand the constant swirls. I plan on trying some souveran very soon, to see how it looks compared to the s100 and I will try to get some pics on a nice day to show the true finish of a car. The only thing I was somewhat disappointed was that I seemed to lose a little reflectivity with the car. It does not apear as reflective, but does look much deeper. Sorry for going on and on. Thanks for everyones help and suggestions when I was looking for an alternative.
 
I'm know you're not the only one that has experienced the same results by switching. I also started with Zaino and then went to Meguiars Gold Class (MUCH MUCH DEEPER) and am now using S100.



I kept the Zaino and I use it on my wheels and engine bay since I like the way it looks in these areas and it offers the best protection.
 
jpws,



Thanks for sharing that with us.



I experience similar things when using Zaino, but I still use it from time to time when the mood strikes. I go back and forth between a variety of products (don't really care about the "bonding issues" ppl here tend to make such a huge fuss over), but I find myself using Z less and less.
 
Interesting. Seems like VM, sealant and S100 is become the new 'Klasse/S100' combo on Autopia, to steal a line from Josie and the Pussycats.
 
jpws6 said:
So is it normal to lose some reflectivity when switching from zaino to a wax such as s100?
Click to expand...



:nixweiss I've never used Zainos, so I can't really say, but when I top Vanilla Moose and Final Polish (a polymer sealant) with S100, reflectivity seems slightly less (probably most people wouldn't notice), but it looks wetter and deeper.
 
After using both products IMO opinion the you will lose reflectivity with S100 in comparison to the Zaino. I think Zaino provides the highest reflective qualities of any wax I've used.



Scott,



I've noticed the exact same thing when applying S100 Wax over SEPC. I love the look of the SEPC and when I apply the wax I notice the reflection is dulled slightly but the metallic is brought out just a tad. I actually prefer the look of just SEPC but can't bring myself to keep the paint unprotected. Have you updated your test results of VM and it's protective capabilities?
 
MBZ 500E said:




Scott,

Have you updated your test results of VM and it's protective capabilities?
Click to expand...



The Expidition I waxed on March 19th is still beading nicely. I am waxing it again tomorrow, since she wants it waxed every 2 months.
 
I had a 97 black Cad when I started useing Zaino. I too felt the Z5 didnt hide the swirles and they would come back. After changing to a99 black Cad. I got a PC and did the SMR ect. before doing Zaino. What a difference. Only needed a little Z5 and it has lasted so much better than before.

As has been stated before the secret seems to be in the prep.

I read that some other things are better on black than Zaino but I am not knowledgable enough to know the difference.
 
kempie said:
I had a 97 black Cad when I started useing Zaino. I too felt the Z5 didnt hide the swirles and they would come back. After changing to a99 black Cad. I got a PC and did the SMR ect. before doing Zaino. What a difference. Only needed a little Z5 and it has lasted so much better than before.

As has been stated before the secret seems to be in the prep.

I read that some other things are better on black than Zaino but I am not knowledgable enough to know the difference.
Click to expand...



I was almost going to put the zaino on again, but was out of several of the zaino products and did not want to do all the work with the pc and then have to go back and use the pc again if the swirls came back with the zaino. Like I said, the zaino seemed to scratch and swirl very easy, it seemed like all I had to do is drive the car and I would get swirls. It is good to know that you have had better luck with the zaino by using the pc beforehand incase I want to go back to it. I am using eagle one qd also and that doesn't seem to do anything to enhance the finsih like z6 would with the zaino. I am hoping when I try the souveran and a better qd it will add some more pop to the paint.
 
One question. Have you tried Zaino since the FI2 and SMR'ing? If you've gotten rid of the swirls, you'd have nothing to hide. Just wondering.
 
Deanski said:
What is SEPC?



Deanski
Click to expand...
S100 SEC (Shine Enhancing Cleanser) and P21S GEPC (Gloss Enhancing Paint Cleanser) are essentially the same product (a very mild polish). "SEPC" is a blending of the two acronyms, either by intent or typo.



So, SEC == GEPC == SEPC . . . all the same thing.



Tort
 
hondaaccord02 said:
but when I top Vanilla Moose and Final Polish (a polymer sealant) with S100



Who makes Final Polsih?
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Car Polishs is the name of the company. I posted a review of Final Polish in the Review forum, just do a search for final polish and it should pull up the thread and a link.
 
Oh yeah, Zaino and dust...Best of friends. I use Zaino and probably plan to keep using it until my supply is gone. What I really like best is its butter smooth slick feel, and it seems to last a good long time. The shine is great but no better than other good quality products. And the dust...Oh man, Zaino is a super dust magnet. I like it, I use it, but cant understand its cult like following, especially with its high price. Lets not get into Z5's worthless swirl hiding ability, even with layering. :nixweiss
 
Avalanche said:
Oh yeah, Zaino and dust...Best of friends. I use Zaino and probably plan to keep using it until my supply is gone. What I really like best is its butter smooth slick feel, and it seems to last a good long time. The shine is great but no better than other good quality products. And the dust...Oh man, Zaino is a super dust magnet. I like it, I use it, but cant understand its cult like following, especially with its high price. Lets not get into Z5's worthless swirl hiding ability, even with layering. :nixweiss
Click to expand...



I was very suprised at how much dust the zaino attracted when it was supposed to repel dust?. I was expecting the s100 to be much worse, but it is a lot better than the zaino like I said.
 
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