I got a black 07 coupe about two moths ago. I did the zaino thing with great results (I'd post pics if I was smart enough to figure out how).
Dawn, Clay, Z7, Z2, Z6, Z2, Z6, Z2, Z6, Z8.
It looks great and nobody but me notices, but if you look at in in the direct sunlight and look very close, you can still see very fine scratches, etc.
My question is: can you ever get a black car to the point where you won't see imperfections in direct sunlight?
Also, there are a lot of posts on the initial zaino application, but what process should I use from here. It is kept in the garage and only driven on nice days.
very fine scratches can also be called spiderwebbing if they resemble, well a spiderweb. If you're looking at the finish and look where the sun hits the paint, do you see very fine circles around it ?
Typically these sort of fine scratches can be caused by a number of things, but good washing habits and materials can greatly minimize them.
I noticed you used Z2 but no Z5pro. If you own some Z5p USE it. It's made for just this sort of minor defect. It won't remove them, but it will fill and hide it to where you can hardly see them. Being an owner of a black coupe, black motorcycle and metallic blue SUV, I'm used to working on dark cars.
For maintenance, I just wash as needed, dry using an electric leaf blower and spritz with some Z6 detail spray. Once every month or so I spray it down with some Z8 grand finale spray to keep the paint popping.
You need to a lot of work to get them perfect. I would use ZPC, Z-AIO and follow it up with CS/Z8. Watch how you wash and dry and only use the best supplies. Other than this there is not much more you can do. You may need to use a rotary and a more aggressive approach if the defect are more than mild. Sounds like you are on the right track though.
Here's what I think are the normal stages of development of black car owners:
Hey - I'll never have to wash it - it's black!
Whoops, road dirt is actually light colored - I have to wash it more than a white car !
I'll keep it clean with the brush and soap at the local 25-cent wash place. What's a "swirlmark?"
Oh - THAT's what a swilrmark is -- I have tons of them!: I'll get a PC and rotary
... years of machine buffing every day, desperate to maintain the perfect finish. Eventually buff through the clearcoat. Then go out and buy a new car.
Realization that that the finish cannot be perfect. Learn good wash technique, buff out to 95% perfect, and use "fillers" to hide the rest.
Unkown what comes next - I haven't advanced any further yet.
That's the world according to bugman
Don't spend too much time going through stage 5. It really can get to be an obsession. You'll have to move on to stage 6, where you finally learn to relax, and live with a few minor imperfections. For many of us, this actually requires prescription medication.
I have LMB which is almost as bad as black.
You should definitely get some Z5P.
If you don't mind spending some time, the prep is the place to start. Get a PC7424 and some ZPC.
After that it's on to the sealant.
Two or three of each Z5p and Z2P, Z6 in between, ZCS topped off with Z8.
I like to Z5 or Z2 once a month to revive the shine. Once it's washed and dried the hard work is done, and a quick coat of Z is a piece of cake.
Proper washing techniques will help minimize scratching.
Best of luck, black is tough.
as to your question about what to do now, wash with Z7 (using supplies and technique recomended by Zaino and people here) and use Z6 or Z8, also as others have said Z5 may hide those fine scratches you mention
do not use any power tool or use abrasive until you have exhausted other alternatives
Here's what I think are the normal stages of development of black car owners:
Hey - I'll never have to wash it - it's black!
Whoops, road dirt is actually light colored - I have to wash it more than a white car !
I'll keep it clean with the brush and soap at the local 25-cent wash place. What's a "swirlmark?"
Oh - THAT's what a swilrmark is -- I have tons of them!: I'll get a PC and rotary
... years of machine buffing every day, desperate to maintain the perfect finish. Eventually buff through the clearcoat. Then go out and buy a new car.
Realization that that the finish cannot be perfect. Learn good wash technique, buff out to 95% perfect, and use "fillers" to hide the rest.
Unkown what comes next - I haven't advanced any further yet.
That's the world according to bugman
Don't spend too much time going through stage 5. It really can get to be an obsession. You'll have to move on to stage 6, where you finally learn to relax, and live with a few minor imperfections. For many of us, this actually requires prescription medication.
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Black Car Question (zaino)
