i think i messed up big time!

Geektechlive · 06-01-2008, 09:01 PM

I also posted this out on Autopia as well:

i am new to detailing and i even practiced on my wifes red focus before going at it on my black 328xi..

I am using zaino zfx and a PC.

my problem is this... I am putting it on very thin and the odd thing is I have left the z2 and z5 on for up to 1 hour and when i do the "finger swipe" test the zaino still smears. what gives?
I ended up after 1 hour and 30 minutes to moisten a MF towel with Z6 and buff the z5 and then z2 out but i must be doing something wrong.

the last application of z2 i did was by hand and i used the pad that comes with the kit. it actually seemed harder since the z6 dried on the paint and left spots that I had to use more z6 to buff out... which of course left smears.

any thoughts on what i am doing wrong?

Here are some pics...

and another one

how can I get rid of these smears without making more scratches??

SpecC · 06-02-2008, 01:04 AM

bump for you. im not sure at this time what it is, but maybe someone else online can provide you with some insight. i'll check on it again later too

PlatinumEdition · 06-02-2008, 02:15 AM

what speed on the pc are you polishing at? speed might be too low and is not breaking down the polish

Sam12345 · 06-02-2008, 02:40 AM

bump for you

BimmerFan61 · 06-02-2008, 09:43 AM

You are probably putting to much on. Zaino is a bitch to remove and you must put it on super lightly. Dont worry about it. Just leave it and after your first wash or 2 it will be gone.

I would always put Zaino on by hand because with a PC you will probably put too much on.

Rising · 06-02-2008, 11:08 AM

i did a full detail using zaino this weekend. everything was done by hand. results was superb. zaino is a bitch to remove, but z6 definitely helps buff it off easily. btw, mine is AW.

i'm thinking the MF is not high enough quality making it smears more. my guess.

oneshare325 · 06-02-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rising

i did a full detail using zaino this weekend. everything was done by hand. results was superb. zaino is a bitch to remove, but z6 definitely helps buff it off easily. btw, mine is AW.

i'm thinking the MF is not high enough quality making it smears more. my guess.

ok.....

Zaino is about the easiest thing in the world to buff off!! You guys either put WAY WAY WAY too much on or your zfx mixture is wrong...I am going with too much though!

Also to the OP.....did you make sure to get the "old" LSP (wax or sealant) off before you started zainoing? Zaino over a Wax or another sealant could also be the cause....did you clay the car, wash is with a more aggressive soap what did you do before applying zaino?

Rising · 06-03-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneshare325

ok.....

Zaino is about the easiest thing in the world to buff off!! You guys either put WAY WAY WAY too much on or your zfx mixture is wrong...I am going with too much though!

let me requote. maybe i over exaggerated a little. it just takes some elbow grease to buff off, but nothing difficult or out of the ordinary.

Geektechlive · 06-03-2008, 09:31 PM

i bought the zaino kit with the clay bar etc... I washed the car first with dawn and then clay bar'd the whole thing.. made it even more smooth than it was originaly.

i am pretty sure i got everything off from any original wax.. it was only washed by a touchless wash a few times this winter ( took delivery in DEC. )

i must be putting it on too thick... i just must be...

the odd thing was when i was putting it on with the applicator and z6 i woudl finish a door and move to the back door and the front door would be dry looking and the z6 was leaving spots... took a heck of a lot of work and more z6 to get rid of those spots... it almost made me think i was not putting anything on the car but z6.

thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneshare325

ok.....

Zaino is about the easiest thing in the world to buff off!! You guys either put WAY WAY WAY too much on or your zfx mixture is wrong...I am going with too much though!

Also to the OP.....did you make sure to get the "old" LSP (wax or sealant) off before you started zainoing? Zaino over a Wax or another sealant could also be the cause....did you clay the car, wash is with a more aggressive soap what did you do before applying zaino?

smog · 06-06-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanaduguy

the odd thing was when i was putting it on with the applicator and z6 i woudl finish a door and move to the back door and the front door would be dry looking and the z6 was leaving spots...

are you buffing the Z2/ZFX completely off the entire car before applying Z6? i'm pretty sure using Z6 to wipe off the Z2/ZFX would cause smears like those in your photos..

Nahoa · 07-04-2008, 10:29 PM

I've had trouble getting Z-2 applications off. Particularly the hood was left with haze/streaks. Best I could tell after messing with several applications was that it was important to follow Zaino's three layer in 24 hr recommendation and that if it was humid, this even more important. If humid, drying time (even with the ZFX) seemed quite long. Hood was worst due to the flex and the reach. One weekend I'd washed, clay barred, Z-AIO as a very thin base, Z-5, Z-2, and then went for another Z-2 thinking the think Z-AIO couldn't have counted much. Think that was wrong. With the Z-6 wipes in the middle, too much even when spread over a about 36 hours.

BK · 07-04-2008, 11:12 PM

+1 If you use too much Zaino, it is a PITA to remove. Sal Zaino isn't kidding when he says repeatedly that you have to use very, very little product. IMO it works best when you spread it on very thin to make it easier to remove. The second layer is in case you missed any spots spreading it so thin.

haper · 07-04-2008, 11:50 PM

FWIW, my guess in order of likelihood: too much product, incorrect mixture of zfx and z2 or z5, or incorrect use of product.

my last guess is based on a few posts where you say 'using zfx and a PC' - you mixed zfx w/ z2 or z5 and then applied right? what you wrote kinda sounds like you applied just zfx which is the wrong thing to do. and 'putting it on with the applicator and z6', again this might be a mis-understanding on my part but it sounds like you applyed z6 w/ an applicator or you applyed z2pro and z6 at the same time, both of which you shouldn't be doing.

06-01-2008, 09:01 PM	#1
Geektechlive Captain 1188 Rep 826 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: milwaukee , WI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Competi ... [0.00] 2016 BMW X5 [0.00]	i think i messed up big time! I also posted this out on Autopia as well: i am new to detailing and i even practiced on my wifes red focus before going at it on my black 328xi.. I am using zaino zfx and a PC. my problem is this... I am putting it on very thin and the odd thing is I have left the z2 and z5 on for up to 1 hour and when i do the "finger swipe" test the zaino still smears. what gives? I ended up after 1 hour and 30 minutes to moisten a MF towel with Z6 and buff the z5 and then z2 out but i must be doing something wrong. the last application of z2 i did was by hand and i used the pad that comes with the kit. it actually seemed harder since the z6 dried on the paint and left spots that I had to use more z6 to buff out... which of course left smears. any thoughts on what i am doing wrong? Here are some pics... and another one how can I get rid of these smears without making more scratches?? __________________ -- Owner of a 2022 M3 Competition AWD in Individual Voodoo Blue and Fiona Red leather
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06-02-2008, 01:04 AM	#2
SpecC Completely obsessed with detailing 299 Rep 15,442 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i, white Scion tC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco and Davis iTrader: (4)	bump for you. im not sure at this time what it is, but maybe someone else online can provide you with some insight. i'll check on it again later too
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06-02-2008, 02:15 AM	#3
PlatinumEdition Lieutenant 24 Rep 448 Posts Drives: ! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW 740i [0.00]	what speed on the pc are you polishing at? speed might be too low and is not breaking down the polish
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06-02-2008, 02:40 AM	#4
Sam12345 Lieutenant Colonel 106 Rep 1,534 Posts Drives: jet black 335i coupe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: So Cal iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 335i Coupe [0.00]	bump for you __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(e90post.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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06-02-2008, 09:43 AM	#5
BimmerFan61 Captain 25 Rep 662 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: none iTrader: (1)	You are probably putting to much on. Zaino is a bitch to remove and you must put it on super lightly. Dont worry about it. Just leave it and after your first wash or 2 it will be gone. I would always put Zaino on by hand because with a PC you will probably put too much on.
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06-02-2008, 11:08 AM	#6
Rising Colonel 35 Rep 2,597 Posts Drives: AW E90 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [0.00]	i did a full detail using zaino this weekend. everything was done by hand. results was superb. zaino is a bitch to remove, but z6 definitely helps buff it off easily. btw, mine is AW. i'm thinking the MF is not high enough quality making it smears more. my guess. __________________
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07-04-2008, 10:29 PM	#11
Nahoa Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,876 Posts Drives: F25 35i Mineral Silver/Black Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I've had trouble getting Z-2 applications off. Particularly the hood was left with haze/streaks. Best I could tell after messing with several applications was that it was important to follow Zaino's three layer in 24 hr recommendation and that if it was humid, this even more important. If humid, drying time (even with the ZFX) seemed quite long. Hood was worst due to the flex and the reach. One weekend I'd washed, clay barred, Z-AIO as a very thin base, Z-5, Z-2, and then went for another Z-2 thinking the think Z-AIO couldn't have counted much. Think that was wrong. With the Z-6 wipes in the middle, too much even when spread over a about 36 hours.
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07-04-2008, 11:12 PM	#12
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	+1 If you use too much Zaino, it is a PITA to remove. Sal Zaino isn't kidding when he says repeatedly that you have to use very, very little product. IMO it works best when you spread it on very thin to make it easier to remove. The second layer is in case you missed any spots spreading it so thin. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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07-04-2008, 11:50 PM	#13
haper Private First Class 2 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 330ci Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj iTrader: (0)	FWIW, my guess in order of likelihood: too much product, incorrect mixture of zfx and z2 or z5, or incorrect use of product. my last guess is based on a few posts where you say 'using zfx and a PC' - you mixed zfx w/ z2 or z5 and then applied right? what you wrote kinda sounds like you applied just zfx which is the wrong thing to do. and 'putting it on with the applicator and z6', again this might be a mis-understanding on my part but it sounds like you applyed z6 w/ an applicator or you applyed z2pro and z6 at the same time, both of which you shouldn't be doing.
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