Ultimate Polish Job

Posted by murmini Mon, 10 Jul 2006 14:38:00 GMT

Over the years, much heated discussion has been exchanged on the various mini boards regarding the ‘best’ car polish. I have no intention of contributing to yet more conjecture, but I can at least report my own experience with the Zaino products.

I had some time between when I ordered my mini back in July 2004 and when I took delivery and I read a lot of comments about specific waxes, polishes and paint treatments. Many mini, owners reported excellent results with Zaino. I also learned a lot about the kind exposure to the elements the car had experienced waiting in rail yards, the salt-laden air in docks and general environmental pollutants acquired during vehicle transportation prior to being received in the vehicle preparation plant in Spartenburg, South Carolina. So part of any true first cleaning and polishing task would need to include removing all this gunk that had already been embedded in the paint. Zaino does a wonderful job of documenting the complete process on their website.

The first step is to remove the vehicle preparation wax and prepare the car for its first treatment. Zaino recommend Dawn hand washing liquid as its first full wash due to its high alkali content which removes the carnauba wax, paraffin and silicone oils used in vehicle prep. So once all that is washed and rinsed off the next task is to ‘clay’ the car with a pliable, synthetic product that feels like modeling clay. Zaino calls it the Z-18 Clay Bar. The clay, when used with a decent car washing liquid, allows one to remove the finest particles from the paint surface. After the claying, you can feel how improved the car paint finish is. All of the brake particles and rail yard dust that had attached itself to the paint is gone. Its an easy process and takes less that 30 minutes on the mini. It must be done with plenty of mildly soapy water to lubricate the surface. Again, there are great directions with the clay bar.

Now that the vehicle paint is clean, free of contaminates and completely smooth, your ready for your first application of polish. Note, I say ‘polish’ not wax. Car waxes are much harder to apply and create build-up over time. This is a polish, not a wax!

Zaino’s process involves mixing the polish with a curing accelerator. They provide you with a small mixing bottle and the accelerator. You simply add 10 drops to about 2 ounces of polish and then shake for about 90 seconds.

When applying the polish, you allow it to ‘haze’ which takes about 20 – 30 minutes in average temperatures and then buff to a shine. To finish off, you can apply a misting coat of gloss enhancer and then when that is buffed, continue with another two or three coats of polish.

It is an easy polish to use and buffs out very well with what seems like a minimal of ‘elbow grease’. The result? . . . Amazing… incredibly reflective quality and a wet looking finish that is truly remarkable. Hmm . . . . .now to do the wheels!