Question on Products for New Car with Bodywork

[Craigster]

Hello All,

I am new to the forum, a Zaino convert after years of loyalty. Zaino was OK for my silver cars, but I find the whole system lacking for my tastes for daily driver status on dark cars. I am stuck with a new problem and think Meguiar products are the answer.

I have a brand new Malibu Maxx in Navy Blue Metallic. Build date is May 2004. I bought it in July as a swap from a dealer in another area. I'll spare the gory details, but the passenger doors were not completely painted. The paint gun must have ran low, and they cleared over it. You could only see it in direct sunlight (which is probably why they insisted on a rainy day delivery). Well long story short, they repainted the passenger doors, and blended into the fenders. Excellent job of painting and matching, but they did leave some buffer marks that I would like to get out. The 60 day drying period is up at the end of Sept. The car has never seen any wax, and the only noticable swirls are where they buffed the blending areas.

My plan is to use 3m Swirl remover by hand on the passenger side to remove the buffer marks, then clay the entire car, 2 coats of NXT. What I would appreciate is any recommendations, tips, ideas. I am anal in how I care for my cars(which makes it harder to not blow my cork over the whole thing).

Thanks for all your time, help, insight, and listening to my tale of woe. I'll post before's and afters when I am done.

Thanks again, good to meet you all.

Craig

[vwguy]

Hey, another convert from Zaino! My car is a dark metallic blue was well, Zaino gave it a nice glassy look, but NXT really makes the metallics pop. Anyway, you'll find lots of good info in this forum about application, tips, etc. One thing Mike always says is two thin coats are better than one thick coat, words to live by Have fun w/ your NXT!

Brian

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Craigster,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

How hard it will be to remove the buffer marks, also referred to as buffer swirl, will depend upon what they used to instill them. By this I mean, if they used a heavy compound, the buffer swirl marks will be deeper than if they used a finer abrasive. The problem is you have know idea what they used. (Unless you go back and ask).

Besides the 3M product, you might give ScratchX a try following the directions written out here,

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

The 3M Swirl Remover, if it's the one I'm thinking of, works best when applied by machine, I don't' know how well it will work at actually removing the scratches by hand. (Buffer swirl is circular scratches in the paint)

Also, you will never regret purchasing a G-100 polisher, aka the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher. This will take all of the effort out of maintaining your car's finish and especially removing most swirl marks.

Of course you've probably noticed Meguiar's is offering a promotion for forum members this month.

[Marc08EX]

Out of topic but I would just like to ask what's great about Zaino.. I've been reading a lot about it but I don't know.. I just never tried it that's why I would just like to know..

Meguiar's for me is far superior..

[vwguy]

Originally posted by Bri
Out of topic but I would just like to ask what's great about Zaino.. I've been reading a lot about it but I don't know.. I just never tried it that's why I would just like to know..

Meguiar's for me is far superior..

As a friend once said to me "It's cool to say you use Zaino because it's so expensive" I have used Zaino, but I'm back to NXT, here is my opinion: Zaino works great if you have a non-metallic color and your paint is *perfect* otherwise I'd pass on it. If you have no swirls or spider webs Zaino will give you a long lasting glassy finish. If you paint isn't so perfect, it will hide minor imperfections for awhile, but w/in a week you will have the shiniest swirls on your block which isn't a good thing. When Zaino says you can permanently hide swirls w/ their product that's not an accurate statement. I bought into the hype and spent close to $100 on their whole system, live & learn. I can get the same, if not better results w/ NXT and it only costs $15 a bottle. As an added bonus, NXT makes my metallic paint a lot look deeper and warmer.

Brian

[Marc08EX]

I don't know but Zaino doesn't sound so cool to me.. When you hear Meguiar's, you're sure that everyone knows about it and you also know it would give superior results.. I don't know, just me.. hehehe!

[jfelbab]

craigster.

I didn't see anyone mention this but freshly painted body panels should not be not waxed for 3-6 months. Check with your dealer on how long they suggest.

I'd use #80 Speed Glaze with a PC or ScratchX by hand on the doors to remove the swirl marks and nothing else until after they have cured.

[Craigster]

Thank you for all the replies and greetings!

The body shop said to wait 60 days. I checked as many references I could locally and on the web (including calling PPG) and they all agreed that would be fine.

The swirls are not very deep. When I use 3M Hand Glaze from time to time (as instructed by the body shop, who said the oils are good to help the paint cure properely) the swirls are almost gone. Maybe swirls arent the exact term for what I see. It's more like in the areas where they blended the paint, someone used the rotary buffer on its edge instead of keeping it flat.

Bri, Zaino does a wonderful finish when applied correctly. I used it for years on a silver Montecarlo, then on a silver Acura. I've used it ( and will continue until I run out) on my Azure Blue 2003 Mach 1. It has great slickness and "glassy" look on light cars. It goes on easy and comes off that way IF and I mean IF you do the layers exactly the way they tell you. But it is called show car polish for a reason I think. If you have the right color, and keep it covered or in a garage ( like my Mach) then it lasts and looks good, at the cost of many hours, and many $$$$. For Example, a "starter kit" which you need wash, ZFX, Z2/Z5, Z6 is going to set you back about $60 - $70. I also find it disturbing to shell out $9.00 shipping and everytime I need a product. In fact they only started taking web orders recently, you used to have to mail a check and wait.

In the real world, where cars are driven parked, the elements and environment play against the paint more. And I think thats why Meguiars is a better choice. For a fraction of the price and less effort I can have a better looking and longer lasting car, which in the end is all most are looking for. Technology changes, and it's always best to try it and see what works best for you. My choice to use Meguires came from a good friend of mine who has always been invloved in body work, detailing etc. It's his passion and his cars always reflect it. He took my old freshly Zainoed car (Silver Acura CL), and redid it with NXT. I couldn't believe my eyes or hands. I've never seen the metallic pop the way it did, and the finish is staying slick muc longer than Zaino did. All for under $20, wash and wax, and you get to drive the car, instead of watching the layers cure. To me seeing is believing.

(As a side note: I spent some time yesterday reflecting on my cousin that was a fireman in Rescue 2 who was lost in the WTC - life should be lived and enjoyed while we are here - that's another reason I'd rather spend Sunday fishing with my son rather than sitting in the garage carefully spending endlessly hours prepping and layering)

Well, thanks to everyone for listening, sorry if I got too deep and wordy. Its Sunday AM and my coffee is ready, so please excuse my diversions and any typos. I will post before and after when I'm done to help others that may be wondering the same as me.