[whokilledkaji]

Okay... Somebody needs to tell me more about Zaino... I hear it's good stuff, but I need a little convincing before I try to procure some in Japan...Better than wax? Safe for a dark silver Cooper S?

[umberto]

I switched to Zaino 2 months ago...I had been using Meguiar's NXT....here's what I just posted an hour ago on the MINI forum here in the US on www.northamericanmotoring.com


Two month follow-up report on Zaino

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Well, I was disappointed with the durability of NXT and was looking for something longer lasting, so after listening to BradB and others, I did switch to Zaino 2 months ago.....very glad I did.

I decided to track how fast the Zaino degrades vs. how fast the NXT degraded, so I was trying to grade the slickness and water beading of each product over time. I had 2 coats of NXT when I judged that product. Then stripped it with Dawn and put on the standard 2 coats of Z5 and 3 coats of Z2.

The NXT started out as a 10 in slickness and 10 in water beading....this was great!!!...but, after one month, even with 2 coats, the grade for each of these categories was 0!! Very disappointing.

The Zaino started out as a 9 in slickness and 10 in water beading...this was great too! Then came the one month follow-up: the slickness was still holding its own at a 6 (pretty decent) and the water beading was still fantastic at a 10.This was so much of an improvement over the NXT.

Now for the anxiously awaited 2 month report:

The slickness after 2 months for some reason has increased to an 8 ( my wife couldn't believe it and judged it as 10 ) and the water beading is still a 10. I washed the car yesterday and the water just gets repelled off the car...its amazing. Then while Z6'ing it after, I lost a micro-fiber cloth as it slid off the car on to the ground ....the car is slick! Yesterday, before I washed Umberto, I was driving around and ran into a friend I hadn't seen in months and the first thing he said was 'Wow, what did you do, just wax the car?' So without any doubts, I'm glad I switched to Zaino..the extra work of doing 5 coats of Zaino compared to doing 2 of NXT wasn't much of a big deal...perhaps it was even fun ( sick? ). The NXT is a good product and easy to find and easy to use, but Zaino wins hands down.

I will see you'all again for the 3 month report. I am going to try to come up with a more objective way to measure/assess the slickness, such as how much weight needs to be added to the end of a towel placed on the hood...oops, bonnet...to make it slide off. I'll keep you posted.

[jonw440]

Zaino is a great bunch of products. The only downfall is the mixing od additives or cure accelerators needed in some products.
I found Klasse All In One and Klasse High Gloss sealant glaze protects, looks and last like Zaino without the trouble.

[kgouin]

I love Zaino and will never use anything else! You can really see your reflection on your MINI after applying Zaino. It gives your car a wet, glasslike finish. It is absolutely beautiful! It really is no big deal to add the additive. You just put some drops of the accelerant into the Zaino that you have in a little container thing and shake it up. I like being able to use Zaino in direct sunlight because it takes a lot less time to dry. You also use VERY little of it. I used probably one ounce for three coats last weekend. The best part is how long it lasts. Last October, I applied two coats of Zaino and I did not apply more until May and I was amazed at how shiny my MINI stayed and how it was still beading up really good at the end of the winter. On the Zaino website they state that one coat will last six months and two coats will last nine months. I would highly recommend using Zaino, along with their product called The Perfect Tire Gloss. That is great for your tires as well as all the black trim on the outside of your MINI.

[MarkPe]

I tried Zaino for the 1st time last weekend. I took a few before and after photos which I have uploaded into my gallery.

Before


After



Hope these help in making your decision to use Zaino!

[obehave]

Well I'm thinking Liquid Glass does a pretty good job too.

[whokilledkaji]

Okay! I'm getting ready to order some Zaino!!!

Now... I wonder what products I'll need... There seem to be a lot of choices... Can you guys that are using Zaino give me some advise on which products will work well with my totally (roof too) dark silver Cooper S?

Thanks!

[CoryB]

Quote: Originally Posted by whokilledkaji

Okay! I'm getting ready to order some Zaino!!!

Now... I wonder what products I'll need... There seem to be a lot of choices... Can you guys that are using Zaino give me some advise on which products will work well with my totally (roof too) dark silver Cooper S?

Thanks!

The easiest way is to order the starter kit ZKIT-1 or 2 depending on whether you have a leather interior (2 contains the leather treatment stuff)

If you'd rather order a la carte, you'll need ZFX, Z2Pro, Z5, Z6 and Z7 to do the exterior. If you need clay bars, you'll have to add those in too. And you get 1 free applicator since the order is over $25.

[AndytheScientist]

I originally got some to try and just went for the z2pro, nothing else, no additive, no z1 nothing. The Z2pro works fine on it's own, all i do is wash and dry the car thoroughly, apply the z2pro with a pad, then stick the car in the garage for a couple of hours to dry, then polish off. I think you only really need the polymerisers if you want to do alot of coats in a short space of time. Personally i've just been doing one coat per week for the last 3 and the car looks stunning. If you don't have a garage, want to speed up the process (or do it in the cold) then you might need the z1 or the zfx. If the car is new and has no swirl marks then if you wash it correctly you should not need the Z5 yet either. This is only to fill in swirl marks afaik. I think I'll just stick with my z2pro for now, as it's getting to the point where 1 or 2 more polishes and that'll be it for the winter, however i'll definatly be ordering some of the Z-6 gloss enhancer for when I start over again next year, if i'm fealing generous i might get some zfx but probably only use it occasionally if i want to do multi coats. The rest of the time patience should do me fine.