[ishmaelali]

I just bought the whole zaino kit and cleaned the interior of my car. I want to complete the whole exterior process, but I'm having trouble finding out where to buy materials to:

1. Wash the car with (MF sponge, MF Mitt, small cotton towel 100% made in USA, ?)
2. Dry the car (16*16 MF cloth, cotton towel 100% made in USA)
3. Remove polish (small MF cloth, small cotton towel 100% made in USA)

I went to walmart and found these materials, but I wasn't sure if they would scratch my new baby (blue 335i coupe). Someone, please help!

Where is a good place to buy everything (walmart, target, autozone, etc).

[328i]

Originally Posted by ishmaelali

I just bought the whole zaino kit and cleaned the interior of my car. I want to complete the whole exterior process, but I'm having trouble finding out where to buy materials to:

1. Wash the car with (MF sponge, MF Mitt, small cotton towel 100% made in USA, ?)
2. Dry the car (16*16 MF cloth, cotton towel 100% made in USA)
3. Remove polish (small MF cloth, small cotton towel 100% made in USA)

I went to walmart and found these materials, but I wasn't sure if they would scratch my new baby (blue 335i coupe). Someone, please help!

Where is a good place to buy everything (walmart, target, autozone, etc).

Do not buy MF mits and sponges, they tend to trap dirt and scratch your car. Here is what you need:

Microfiber Kit from Detailed Image

For drying use the waffle weave towels. For removing wax you can use the ultra plus, and the all purpose towels are great for removing polish or general cleaning.

For washing, I love grout sponges. They dont scratch, and they rinse clean very well. Pick up two, one for upper panels and one for lower panels that get dirty. An extra spare or two never hurts to have.

Grout Sponge

Finally, you should pick up two or 3 of these Grit Guards, they do an excellent job of keeping dirt particles in the bottom of the bucket, so you will be washing the paint with a clean sponge every time.

Grit Guards


Get 2 or 3 five gallon buckets from Home Depot/Lowes and you'll be all set.

[dday]

Don't buy your MF from a store. All MF is not created equal order from a specialist site and get some quality stuff.

http://www.detailersdomain.com
http://www.adamspolishes.com

[ChuckBMW3]

Check out autogeek.net. They are currently having a labor day sale with 15% entire purchase + free shipping + free gift on order over $95 (ends Monday at midnight). Hope that helps

[ishmaelali]

Thanks for the responses guys but dang, I didn't think towels would cost that much. I was cool with spending over 100$ on Zaino products, but wasn't expecting this stuff to total the same amount. A friend of mine told me I could use 100% cotton towels made in the USA after washing them in the washing machine....what to you guys think?

[dday]

Originally Posted by ishmaelali

Thanks for the responses guys but dang, I didn't think towels would cost that much. I was cool with spending over 100$ on Zaino products, but wasn't expecting this stuff to total the same amount. A friend of mine told me I could use 100% cotton towels made in the USA after washing them in the washing machine....what to you guys think?

Don't use cotton, nowhere near as soft as MF. Honestly you can pick up all the towels you'll need for about $50-75, in the grand scheme of things what's $50? You'll have these for years.

Here's what I'd do on a budget: (btw use promo code LABOR2010 on Adam's for 15% off and "labor" promo code on Detailers domain for 10% off plus free shipping.

Car wash wash+mit+drying towel $35: http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-384-a...wash-trio.aspx
2 buffing towels $12: http://www.detailersdomain.com/thene...lushtowel.aspx
3 Extra MF for door jams, interior etc $12: http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-...bertowels.aspx
2 Glass Towels $8: http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-...asstowels.aspx

TOTAL: $67 (Shipped Cost with discounts above $65)

If you don't have MF applicators for the products you'll need that too, also as mentioned a bucket with a grit guard is nice.
ex: http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-382-a...guard-lid.aspx

[ishmaelali]

You are talking my language. Quality for a good price, including shipping. I think I'll pull the trigger today.

Thanks again, everyone. I've learned a ton about detailing cars in the last few days.

[328i]

Originally Posted by ishmaelali

Thanks for the responses guys but dang, I didn't think towels would cost that much. I was cool with spending over 100$ on Zaino products, but wasn't expecting this stuff to total the same amount. A friend of mine told me I could use 100% cotton towels made in the USA after washing them in the washing machine....what to you guys think?

As said above, don't use cotton. You probably spent almost $50k on that brand new shiny BMW in your driveway, is it really worth it to save $50 or so dollars and potentially swirl up your brand new paint? Keep in mind once it is swirlled up removing the swirls gets much pricier than preventing them, a quality detailer will charge around $300 at minimum, if you want to do it yourself the supplies will cost just as much plus a couple days worth of work. Is that worth the risk? To me it isn't but to each their own!

Originally Posted by dday

Don't use cotton, nowhere near as soft as MF. Honestly you can pick up all the towels you'll need for about $50-75, in the grand scheme of things what's $50? You'll have these for years.

Here's what I'd do on a budget: (btw use promo code LABOR2010 on Adam's for 15% off and "labor" promo code on Detailers domain for 10% off plus free shipping.

Car wash wash+mit+drying towel $35: http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-384-a...wash-trio.aspx
2 buffing towels $12: http://www.detailersdomain.com/thene...lushtowel.aspx
3 Extra MF for door jams, interior etc $12: http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-...bertowels.aspx
2 Glass Towels $8: http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-...asstowels.aspx

TOTAL: $67 (Shipped Cost with discounts above $65)

If you don't have MF applicators for the products you'll need that too, also as mentioned a bucket with a grit guard is nice.
ex: http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-382-a...guard-lid.aspx

The detailed image deal I posted is much better. You are getting a total of 2 drying towels, 5 ultra plush, and 12 general purpose. The kit you posted has half the number of towels. One drying towel and wash cloth plus a tiny bottle of soap for $35 is highway robbery. Not to mention I've bought microfibers from many places and Detailed Image had some of the best quality ones.

Also, OP, use the coupon code e90post for 10% off at detailed image, I forgot to mention that.

[ishmaelali]

Thanks for the follow up. I'm going to individually price some items and see if it comes out cheaper (since I don't think I need 2 towels, 12 individuals, etc.).

Good thing you posted again, I was going to buy the other tonight.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by dday

Don't buy your MF from a store. All MF is not created equal order from a specialist site and get some quality stuff.

http://www.detailersdomain.com
http://www.adamspolishes.com

Are you kidding? That detailersdomanin.com site is actually trying to sell two five gallon plastic buckets and a grit guard for $120 because the buckets are on wheels!!! That is such a ripoff!

I want to meet folks who bought that so I can finally unload that oceanfront property I have in Arizona....

BTW...the Zaino system comes with one 5 gallon bucket and grit guard with the special "spin-off" lid ...

[ishmaelali]

OK - so I added some items to my cart.

1 waffle weave towel (13.99)
2 grout sponges (10.78)
1 grit guard (8.99)
6 all purpose MF towels (11.94)

+ coupon code E90Post
+ shipping (8.11)

= $53.81

I wasn't sure if I needed the ultra plush towel (bc the zaino product are all polish), so I didn't include it. Before I pull the trigger, does this sound about right?

[ishmaelali]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Are you kidding? That detailersdomanin.com site is actually trying to sell two five gallon plastic buckets and a grit guard for $120 because the buckets are on wheels!!! That is such a ripoff!

I want to meet folks who bought that so I can finally unload that oceanfront property I have in Arizona....

BTW...the Zaino system comes with one 5 gallon bucket and grit guard with the special "spin-off" lid ...

I bought the smaller kit with just the z2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, etc. It didn't include the bucket and grit guard, but they offered one for 10$ before paying and I declined. Now I'm wishing I didn't! Lost about 10$ by not doing that.

[ishmaelali]

well i couldn't wait so i bought it!

[crazydrummer]

Save yourself in the long run. Go ahead and get that detailed image package, great deal and the best towels I've ever used. Also get 1 grit guard from them. Then go to home depot and get 2 buckets, a 6 pack of grout sponges, and meguiers gold class car wash and your all set for 18+ months.

[dday]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Are you kidding? That detailersdomanin.com site is actually trying to sell two five gallon plastic buckets and a grit guard for $120 because the buckets are on wheels!!! That is such a ripoff!

I want to meet folks who bought that so I can finally unload that oceanfront property I have in Arizona....

BTW...the Zaino system comes with one 5 gallon bucket and grit guard with the special "spin-off" lid ...

I agree that item is expensive but lots of their other stuff is very reasonably priced.

[dday]

Originally Posted by ishmaelali

OK - so I added some items to my cart.

1 waffle weave towel (13.99)
2 grout sponges (10.78)
1 grit guard (8.99)
6 all purpose MF towels (11.94)

+ coupon code E90Post
+ shipping (8.11)

= $53.81

I wasn't sure if I needed the ultra plush towel (bc the zaino product are all polish), so I didn't include it. Before I pull the trigger, does this sound about right?

You'll prob want to pick up a couple of the more plush towels for wiping off sealtant/polishes. the plusher towels are generally softer and pick up more product more easily.

[328i]

Originally Posted by ishmaelali

OK - so I added some items to my cart.

1 waffle weave towel (13.99)
2 grout sponges (10.78)
1 grit guard (8.99)
6 all purpose MF towels (11.94)

+ coupon code E90Post
+ shipping (8.11)

= $53.81

I wasn't sure if I needed the ultra plush towel (bc the zaino product are all polish), so I didn't include it. Before I pull the trigger, does this sound about right?

Grab atleast 2 waffle weave towels. I have about 15 lol but its nice to have two as usually one isnt enough to dry a car fully, and occasionally if you drop one you want to have another one to use since the one you dropped will have to be washed before you can use it again.

[TOGWT]

Pakshak sells both 100% cotton micro fibre and Microfiber towels

[ishmaelali]

Originally Posted by 328i

Grab atleast 2 waffle weave towels. I have about 15 lol but its nice to have two as usually one isnt enough to dry a car fully, and occasionally if you drop one you want to have another one to use since the one you dropped will have to be washed before you can use it again.

Cool, I grabbed one more. Shipping today so I will be detailing my car this weekend!

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by TOGWT

Pakshak sells both 100% cotton micro fibre and Microfiber towels

I would second Pakshak.com and their MF Waffle towels and edgeless MF towels. Ranny is a pretty helpful guy as well if you got questions.

[crzylildude]

If there is a CostCo in Dallas... that's the best place to buy the microfiber towels... it comes in pack yellow in color... it will last you for 6 months... it is really cheap tho...

[Bobble]

I agree on the second WW towel for drying and DI in general for towels great quality.
On the buckets, donuts shops get their apples and such for fritters in 3 or 4 gallon buckets and sometimes will either give them away or sell them for a buck. I've got like 3 of them. If you know anyone in the restaurant business they get lots of stuff in 5 gallons buckets and often are free, got 2 five gallon green pickle buckets that way. Just be resourceful, oh and grout sponges Home Depot/Lowes.