Hello from Turkey

[Bucur]

Hi everyone,

I live in Turkey. I drive an Alfa Romeo 159 TBi. I recently started to apply some Meguiar's products on its black paint. I wish to learn more on how to keep it even brighter from the members of this community. I will post my first question to a relevant topic soon. Thank you for reading my first post.

[greg0303]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Welcome to Meguiar's Online.


You've got a nice ride. We used to have Alfa Romeo cars in USA but Fiat stopped selling them here.

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Thank you for your reply, Greg.

Fiat stopped selling Alfa Romeo cars in the USA because customers over there stopped buying them. IMHO, this is due to the US car market being too sensitive to reliability. Alfa’s are “such stuff as dreams are made on”. In fact, this stuff was not as reliable as most Japanese stuff but when it comes to the sensations that a car can trigger, nothing less than Italian stuff can come close because “without heart, cars would be mere machines”.

After a thorough revamp program for reliability, they are now planning to re-launch Alfa Romeo to the US market and worldwide Alfisti’s, including me; hope that they don’t overdo. If they go as far as substituting dreams by facts for the sake of contemporary mere electro-machine standards, this may well be suicidal for this romantic Italian car maker.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Hello from Turkey

to MOL Bucur

[greg0303]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Definitely Alfa Romeo's performance is one of the most unforgettable.
Even their smaller cars still deliver thrilling experience.

We have Fiat 500 launching in USA after Chrysler's stock take over. I'd love to see Alfa back on American roads as well.

How popular are Meguiar's products in Turkey?

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Rumors are that the new Alfa to hit the US market will be the Giulia which is not yet launched elsewhere.

Meguiar's is not very "popular" at this end because it is in the uppermost segment together with Sonax and Ziebart. Auto-Glym products are also sold but they don't have detailing shops like this trio. The mass market consists of less reputable brands, no-names and one-man-show businesses. I mean, Meguiar's is reputable but not popular.

I am actually a Ziebart customer. My old Alfa 156 was Diamond Gloss protected for 4 years and now, my 159 is. However, I am now using Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer and it became indispensable for me after the first use because my new car is black and the UQD is amazing in removing very light dust, daily, w/o causing swirls.

I am also interested in the Ultimate Quik Wax but I wonder how compatible these products are with the Diamond Gloss layer on my car. If not, I would even consider shifting to Meguiar's for the sake of using them but I can not find an answer to this compatibility question, even here:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47923

Could you please be of help if you have an idea on how I can determine if they are compatible or not?

[greg0303]

Re: Hello from Turkey

I have to ask around as I'm not familiar with this Ziebart product.

Great news about Giulia. Thanks for sharing.

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

to MOL Bucur

Thank you Andrew C.

I have to ask around as I'm not familiar with this Ziebart product.

Great news about Giulia. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Greg0303. I will be more than happy if you can ask. I am almost certain that it is a polymer based sealant but of course, I need an expert's opinion on how compatible it is.

[greg0303]

Re: Hello from Turkey

I spoke to Ziebart and got pretty good explanation (and introduction to a new product).

http://www.ziebart.com/diamond_gloss/

Diamond Gloss is a liquid resin which they bond to the paint's clear coat using heat created by a car buffer. They go slowly panel by panel and spread it really evenly immediately following with machine.

According to them the protection lasts up to 5 years but if experiencing extreme weather condition (snowy winter, super rainy season) you may need to reapply it after 2-3 years.

Diamond Gloss does not work on single stage paint systems. When it sits on top of your clear coat it creates like a second clear coat layer.

The System was introduced by Kirk Ziebart in Detroit, Michigan. Before putting Diamond Gloss the paint surface has to be prepared/ detailed. When they achieve high shine then they lock it in.

Answering your questions:
quick detailers - yes, for quick and easy dust removal,
wax (including spray wax) - no, it's a waste of time, you don't need it, the surface is well protected and does not require any type of wax on top of it.

I hope it helps.

I wonder how this System stands up to Meguiar's M88 Deep Crystal Coating offering long protection, mostly against Asian acid rains.

[therdrman]

Re: Hello from Turkey

welcome to MOL. hope you learn lots from this forum. alot of experts belong to MOL. have fun detailing!!

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Thank you very much for your clear answers. As for the 5 year protection of the Diamond Gloss, there must be a misunderstanding. Here is how it goes, at least in Turkey:

Ziebart provide a written warranty against any failure of the Diamond Gloss, as long as you own the vehicle in question and provided that you get it re-applied every 12 months from the date of the initial application. The annual renewals are offered at 50% discount. Detailing and surface prep are performed before re-applications. Ziebart notify the customer, in writing (now SMS), one month prior to the renewal date. If the customer does not get it re-applied, the warranty expires. Otherwise, if the Diamond Gloss requires repair, it is covered under warranty. Also, customers are allowed 2 free partial repairs per year if they get their car partially painted due to minor accidents/repairs. According to some discussion forums, the warranty seems to be up to 5 years in some countries but always provided that the annual re-applications are performed. I mean, I never heard of a single treatment lasting up to 5 years.

Thank you so much, once again, for the information. Ziebart people at this end refrain from advising on their competitors' products. So do Meguiar's people. Therefore, you have been really helpful because IMO, the UQD is a must for a black car in a dusty country, no matter with what its paint is protected.

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

welcome to MOL. hope you learn lots from this forum. alot of experts belong to MOL. have fun detailing!!

Thank you therdrman. I started learning from MOL before joining and I am now doing so as a registered member. There is so much to read and so many knowledgeable people to consult with that for the time being, I am spending most of my spare time here.

[Rick McDonough]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

[CAShine]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Hello and Welcome to Meguiars. This place is addictive!

[Bucur]

Re: Hello from Turkey

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Hello and Welcome to Meguiars. This place is addictive!

Thank you guys.

I first became addicted to the Ultimate Quik Detailer. I am nowadays addicted to reading other infinite subjects. All this started by having to accept black color on my new ride for not delaying the delivery by 2 months for the sake of another color. Then, dust on black color introduced me to this addictive world.

However; as daily meticulous applications of UQD between once or twice car washes per week keep my paint in showroom condition (w/o swirls so far) and since experts don't recommend attempting to remove orange peel effect from the latest generation OEM paints, especially black, I realize that there is not much else my car needs.