Zaino comparisions

[ClintonM3]

I am not doubting Zaino as a great product. But is it such a great product that get results that I can never reproduce with other products? I guess what I am saying is, "Is is worth my ~$100 bucks? Can I get the same results with other products. Cause if I can, I probably won't dish out the money to get a set of Zaino. What are other advantages other than the final shine.

I am currently using all 3M products, which I found to be very very good. Swirls are significantly less, with the use of a orbital (but not PC). 3M Machine Polish, 3M SMR Dark, 3M Perfect it Paste Wax (my fave), 3M quick detail spray.

Anyone here have good comparos against Zaino. Between 3M, Meguires, Pinnacle, P21S, Klasse, and etc and etc.

Detail freaks, shower me with your knowledge please.

[Kyle K.]

IMHO, don't waste your money on Zaino. Its a quality setup, but with the stuff you've got, all it'll take is some S100 (same stuff as P21S) and you'll be happy. Honestly, if you're happy with the stuff you've got now I wouldn't worry about a complete overhaul.

If you want to go for a synthetic for durability's sake, there are cheaper alternatives to Zaino such as Klasse AIO, Detailer's Pride, Blackfire, etc etc.

I know I'm going to get crap from a few people for this, but from what I've seen of Zaino its not any better than any of the other high quality detailing products. :dunno

[segal3]

You guys should all read this -

http://www.runlevel6.com/bmw/zaino.html

I didn't find it until just yesterday, but for the month I've been using Zaino, it looks absolutely amazing. And I've only applied 2 layers of the Z-2 coating, and it's lasted, and water still beads perfectly, and I'm sure it'll keep lasting.

Sure, initial investment is a bit high, but you rarely use the expensive products - most of the wash is covered simply with Z-7 Showcar Wash and Z-6 Gloss Enhancer.

http://www.carbonos.com/cars/owners/matt_segal/bmw/1994_740i/images/wash4-19-03/P4190004w.jpg
This was WITHOUT the Z-6 Gloss Enhancer - which would have given it even more depth.

~Matt Segal

[GKGreen]

Personally, I would go for some Poorboy's EX sealant- www.poorboysworld.com , this particular product isn't on hit site, but just email him about it and he will get you pricing info real quickly. It's a great sealant, then top it off with some S100 and you've got yourself a very comparable if not better shine than Zaino, and much more depth than Zaino b/c of the carnauba.

[miami]

First, if you're happy, why change?

Zaino would probably give you little-or-no better shine than what you now have. It probably is slightly easier to apply and remove, and would last roughly 2X as long, but if that's not a concern for you because you're never gonna go 3 months between wax jobs, who cares? It is nice to be able to 'layer' it. (Carnauba just re-melts with the next coat, so layers as such don't work.)

I read segal3's link above - just be aware that the Zaino FAQ page (linked from that page he links) is way out of date - No one I know of uses Z1 Polish Lok any more, since Zaino came out with ZFX instead. ZFX serves the same purpose as did the old Z1 - it just does it better and MUCH faster. (With ZFX you can put on 3 coats of Zaino back-to-back, unlike Z1.) Also, most folks have found that in removing/buffing the Zaino, (good quality!) microfibers are easier to use and give even better results than the all-cotton towels Sal Zaino insists upon. But - all MF ain't the same - you should assume that Wal-Mart microfiber is going to swirl your car fully.

Finally ... $100 for Zaino? Let's see, you only need ZFX, Z2, Z6 and Z7. Looks to me to be more like $50. And, these (or any other wax) do not replace any of your 3M products up till the PI and QD anyway - you'll still need to use SMR no matter what 'wax' you use - 3M, Zaino, Klasse, whatever. (BTW, I don't buy the claim that Zaino's Z5 reduces swirls - almost no one has had success there - stick to the 3M 'prep' stuff you are used to.)

If you want to see full, objective, double-blind testing among wax products, buy the wax-test report

HERE (http://www.gurureports.org/)

and you'll see the side-by-side test results in shine, longevity, beading, etc for many, many brands - if it saves you from even one 'lesser' product it's a good investment of the 10 or 15 bucks.

I will agree with segal - it's amazing stuff. It does tend to turn its customers into evangelists, running about trying to make other converts. But if it weren't so good, how could you explain that reaction? Guys who've been detailing for many years switch to Zaino and get just silly-faced-happy. Commercial detailers will never use it of course - it simply isn't good business to put a finish on their customer's car that will last 6 months!

My mechanic calls his other customers over, whenever I bring my baby in, to see/feel its Zaino finish (and mine's a 1997, not garaged). (On which topic, Mike, about all those customers' greasy hands on my car? ... ummm ... cut that out!)

Have Big Fun!

http://members.roadfly.com/miami/shinyZhood.jpg

[Kramer]

I just got mine in the mail today...will put ito on as soon as I can...
"silly-faced" indeed...