Auto Detailing

Wax or Polish?  Carnauba or Advanced Chemistry?

As a kid, Da Guy can remember using Tide on his folk's cars, lots of Turtle Wax and Armor All. When Da Guy ultimately got his own first ride, like most people in those days, he used local pharmacy and super store products to maintain his vehicle and thought that was pretty dang good. Why in the world did micro scratches keep increasing on his paint job, the inside of the windows fog within hours of his detail job, and the dash seem to collect so much dust?  Uh huh, well, now he knows... Many years have gone by since those days. Times, products, knowledge, and yes, a full-time job with a steady income to afford better and more specific products have changed a lot of things.  When Da Guy bought his original Lexus SC300 Coupe back in '95, one of da car jockeys at the dealership told him about Zymöl.  He forked over a small fortune at the time for a starter kit, and the next morning was applying his first round of true quality products on his ride.  Well, he was hooked on using da good stuff on his new toy, and has never looked back at those run-of-the-mill products.

If you're trying to make up your own mind on the complex "wax vs. polish" debate, you should check out comparisons on the web such as Guru Reports, this article on the Factory Five Racing Online Community, this post on the Nissan Sentra Forum, or many other enthusiast forums out there. You'll find lots of references to the latest generation of advanced car care products from dozens of companies.  Da Guy's favorite system is Zaino Bros' Show Car Polish.  He became a convert in the late 90's as this new chemical technology started to come into it's own. Since 2001, Da Guy has stripped the wax off his new rides the day they each arrived home, replacing dealer-applied wax with 3 layers of Zaino before his first cruise around town. He suspects it will be the same on all his future rides as well.  Da Guy is definitely a Zaino kinda guy!

If you're a purist or just in to carnauba wax -- Da Guy still considers Zymöl the best.  It's a lot of work, and you're going to have sore arms, hands, and fingers, especially after that HD-clense when you do the work by hand, but the results are worth it for carnauba enthusiasts. Zymöl.com

You'll also find if you research this topic enough, some like to add "warmth" to the Zaino and other polish looks by applying a layer of their favorite carnauba on top of their polish regime. It probably won't last as long as the Zaino, so you'll get to do it again before not too long, but detailing is sort of an art and all about the look you enjoy. For Da Guy, he spritzs a bit of Z6 or Z8 finish spray sealer over the Zaino Z2 on his ride, and wipes it off with a 100% cotton rag before those special excursions. It looks like a million to him!

Favorite Products -- the ones Da Guy uses these days

Da Guy has tried lots of products over more than 40 years taking care of his family's, own, and friend's rides. He seems to always be trying some little something new, but two product families have definitely become the foundation of his detailing arsenal, namely Zaino and Griot's products. His choice some times are not black and white decisions, but more like "shades of gray" in what product over time, with his experience, appears to generate the best result for his eye. Da Guy remains open to trying and adjusting both products and methods, as reviews and experience grows with new things that come onto the market -- just like his eventful switch from carnauba wax to polish a number of years ago. Here are the key products Da Guy is currently using to maintain his rides. Happy detailing!

Car Cover

• Covercraft Form-Fit is what Da Guy uses to cover his coupe inside the garage -- nice, soft, and subtle. Check out a photo of this in the Coupe Photo Album. There are a number of different types of covers available from Covercraft, so check out their site. Buy it from any number of retailers. AJ-USA has provided Da Guy with some great pricing in the past.

Dry

• California Water Blade. Da Guy knows what you're thinking, but this really does a magnificent job quickly taking most of the water off after washing your car, leaving zero scratches with it's surgical grade material, requiring only a touch up with 100% cotton towels at the end. He would never be without it. Finish with your favorite microfiber waffle weave towel, and you're on your way.
  • Note: Griot's Garage has come out with their "ultimate paint squeegee" and the California Water Blade folks have come out with their Jelly Blade in recent years. Da Guy has tried them both. While they may not squeak, Da Guy still prefers the original California Water Blade without question. It does a superior job every time with just a little bit 'o noise.

Glass, Windows, & Windshields

• Aquapel. A super exterior windshield treatment by PPG Industries, lasting longer and not hazing like Rain-X. Find it online via eBay for best pricing. Buy multiples, as each applicator is for a single use and you'll get a better price break.
• Covercraft UVS100 Heat Shield is da best for inside the front window when you park your ride outside in the hot, sweltering heat. Buy it from any number of retailers. AJ-USA provided Da Guy with some great pricing in the past.
• Duragloss Water Spot Remover #505 does just what it says. It won't take off blemishes left too long that etched into your glass, but it's worth a try before more drastic polishing is attempted.
• Griot's Garage Fine Glass Polish is what Da Guy uses with water spots that won't come off the windows. Try it by hand before resorting to machine.
• P21S Windshield Wash Booster is added to the washer reservoir and makes a difference
• Stoner Invisible Glass does the very best job -- even better than the Griot's Window Cleaner and those that swear by ammonia and newspapers! Look hard and find the non-aersol version to help the environment online or at at your local WalMart or Target. Be sure to "shake it up" before you squirt the stuff and only use a proper microfiber towel that you keep dry to the touch, avoiding streaks.

Interior Car Scent

• Griot's Garage New Car Scent is just like you want it, not some bubble-gum sorta stink :-)

Leather

• Zaino Z9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner works
• Zaino Z10 "Leather in a Bottle" Treatment and Conditioner is fantastic for your leather and oh, that smell!

License Plate Holders

• Skene Design Low Profile Front License Plate Bracket is the perfect solution when you don't want to drill holes in your front bumper

Paint & Polish

• Dr. ColorChip has a paint touch-up system unlike the others
• Duragloss Water Spot Remover #505 does just what it says. It won't take off blemishes left too long that etched into your clear coat, but it will handle many of the nasty spots you can't get off with a normal wash.
• Eagle One Ultra Fine Scratch Remover does a good job as a last resort on those itty-bitty @#$(*@#$ blemishes when you wanna try to fix it up by hand and don't want to pull out all the stuff for a multi-step buffing routine. Give it a go when you've tried everything else, including Zaino's ZPC first. Remember to reapply your favorite polish afterwards to re-protect that paint job!
• Griot's Garage Touch Up Paint Applicators -- useful when you have to fix those blasted little dings and rock chips.  Da Guy never uses the brush that comes inside the touch up paint -- these really help do a more precise job. Keep both sizes on hand.
• Porter Cable 7424 Variable Speed Random Orbital -- when you want to buff out those problem areas, put on multiple coats of wax (heaven, forbid) or even Zaino polish in a single day and avoid those hand cramps, get a "PC". Shop around for the best price.
  • Griot's Machine Polish #1, 2 & 3 are Da Guy's polish of choice when you need to remove those nasty scratches and swirls
  • Lake Country’s CCS Dual Action 6.5 inch Smart Pads™ Foam Pads -- Da Guy has a selection of Orange, White, Gray and Blue
    • Snappy Clean Pad Cleaning Powder and an Edge Foam Pad Conditioning Brush to keep those pads clean
  • Zaino ZPC Fusion is an ultra fine polish, is what he uses for general swirl removal or as the final polish in his regime
  • Wonderin' how to use that Random Orbital? Check out the Buffing with Confidence DVD from the guys that know their stuff over at Kleen Car Auto Appearance
• Zaino Bros' Show Car Polish is Da Guy's normal regime for protecting his paint and ensuring a beautiful shine.  Check out his practical view of exterior Zaino application here.
  • Z2 PRO -- Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Finishes
  • Z5 PRO Polish for Swirl Marks & Fine Scratches -- wow, does a fabulous job on dark colors
  • Z6 Ultra Clean "Gloss Enhancer" Spray -- use as part of the polish process as well as those in-between touch-ups
  • Z8 Grand Finale Spray Seal -- the fancier version of Z6 when nothing but the best spit and polish touch-up is the thing!
  • Z18 Clay Bar
  • Z-AIO All-in-One -- a one-application-does-it-all product for those that don't want to go through the effort of the Z2/Z5 layering like Da Guy does. Amazing results. Also works great on interior clear-coated wood trim.
  • Z-CS Clear Seal -- a new "apply and let dry" seal (meaning, you don't buff it off) for the top layer in your Z2/Z5 regime or on top of your Z-AIO application for a longer lasting polish -- Super!
  • ZPC Fusion - Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover -- try it by hand for smaller problem areas, before you resort to something more extreme, or as the last set of polish if you're being more aggressive with your PC Random Orbital
  • ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive for Z2 PRO & Z5 PRO-- A miracle. Almost no waiting for your polish to dry.

Plastic

• Black Wow is expensive but does a fabulous job bringing the black back to trim areas
• Zaino Z-14 Plastic Magic Cleaner & Polish works to take out fine scratches and make your plastic lenses smooth once again

Rubber & Gaskets

• Griot's Garage Vinyl & Rubber Dressing for helping to keep it aging gracefully, applied with a foam applicator

Sticky Stuff, Bugs, Tar and Other Things that Shouldn't Be There

• 3M™ Adhesive Remover and Surface Cleaner does a super job when nothing else seems to do the trick
• Auto Glym Intensive Tar Remover works when nothing else does. The drawback is you get to re-polish the area you cleaned-up. This English-made product is available from Autopia Car Care.
• Blue Painters Tape is what you should use to protect areas you don't intend to touch, when you're going to do any machine polishing
• Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner works great with Lint Free Towels to get smudges off plastic runner boards, floor mat spots, excess leather conditioner on plastic areas, and the like
• Wax Blaster Wax Remover does the trick when you get your polish in the dimples of your black bumpers and other exterior plastic areas. You really should have masked the area off with blue tape first, shouldn't you have? Available from Autopia Car Care.

Tires

• Griot's Garage Long Lasting Tire Dressing -- "just right" in terms of how shiny it is or isn't. Da Guy uses contoured foam applicators designed for tire dressing (such as Tire Swipes from Eagle One or any number of alternatives).

Tools

• Detail Brush -- For removing built-up polish from those places you should not have put it in the first place, and getting the dust out of your interior air vents. Different sizes and types for different purposes available from Griot's Garage and Autogeek.net.

Towels

• Griot's Garage Lint Free Towels -- disposable, but they will leave a little "white stuff" on your black dash. Terrific for everything else including cleaning up your interior, under the hood or for chemical applications such as buffing off Aquapel -- when it's too messy to use a towel that can be thrown in the laundry with all the others.
• Griot's Garage Microfiber and Foam Pad Cleaner added into the wash cycle with your liquid laundry detergent and microfiber products every few loads, will help remove the residual gunk and make your towels work as they did the very first time
• Microfiber products are the only way to go these days, but BE SURE you don't have cheap bindings on the edges that will scratch. This is a big deal. Many towels that claim to be "100% cotton" use polyester or synthetic threads on the edges -- this WILL scratch your vehicle even though the towel itself won't. Make sure whatever you buy has only silk or cotton on the edges, and if you can't tell, don't buy them. Also, look closely how any "made in xxx" tags are attached. If the tags are going to leave part of themselves in the binding, don't buy 'um, or RETURN THEM. If you can remove any tags completely, you're good to go. Also, look for towels that are double sided (yes, some of the cheaper ones only have a usable mat on one side.) Da Guy has three sources you may want to try:
  • Autopia Car Care has Blue Perl Microfiber Applicator pads that work well for applying your polish or wax -- better than the cotton ones you get from other places.
  • Classic Motoring Accessories Big Blue Towel -- microfiber at it's best. One will do your whole ride except for those really cold and damp days when two will do ya.
  • PakShak -- the best prices on microfiber of all types, and the distributor is in Hawaii of all places. Try their "waffle weave towel" -- it's the Big Blue Towel equivalent mentioned above

Vacuum

• Metro Vac N Go 500 is a great, little, but powerful, 110V 4.5 amp vacuum that will suck up all the dirt and junk inside your ride without the hassle of moving a larger shopvac around your detail area. There are different remarketed versions of this model out there. Shop around and find one with the small hose for greater flexibility when using accessory tools.

Vinyl

• Griot's Garage Vinyl & Rubber Dressing for helping to keep it aging gracefully, applied with a foam applicator
• Zaino Z10 "Leather in a Bottle" Treatment and Conditioner works on your interior vinyl and has a terrific smell to boot

Wash

• A Grit Guard is what you must have in your bucket. Two are even better to help reduce introduction of swirls and scratches as you wash your ride. Get one in the color of your choice from Autogeek.net.
• Optimum No Rinse (ONR) works with a bucket and 2 gallons of water when you have water restrictions not allowing you to wash your ride in the driveway. Da Guy suggests you still go to a coin-op place if your ride is super dirty and you can't wash around your own place, but this works for most of your other weekly washing rituals.
  • HINT: If you're a Zaino kinda person like Da Guy is, and you use ONR, be sure after you dry to wipe down with a normal application of Zaino Z6 or Z8 using a white cotton towel or rag to keep your Zaino look intact.
• Zaino Z7 Show Car Wash is da guy's normal "soap" of choice when hand washing his ride.  Check out Da Guy's practical view of exterior Zaino application here.

Wheels & Wheel Wells

• Griot's Garage Under Carriage Spray -- works like a dream on those SUVs where you have a lot of exposed wheel well area.  What a difference it makes!
• Griot's Garage Wheel Cleaner -- OK for the environment and makes this a simple job with Griot's Wheel Scrubber Brushes or Finger Detail Mitts
• Griot's Garage Wheel Scrubber Brushes -- Reusable synthetic material on a handle that works great getting into most crevices with just enough abrasion to help get through those tough situations. In a package of 3.
• McGuard Wheel Locks -- the only way to go. High quality, made in the USA, and what Da Guy has used on his rides for more than 20 years with unique key designs, chrome and even "black" versions to blend in with your other BMW OEM lug nuts.
• Wheel Wax for your wheels to help make clean up of break dust on your Bimmer all the easier. If you don't want to use another product, Zaino works too, but this seems to do it's job a whole lot better.
• Zymöl Wheel Coat -- After cleaning his wheels that don't have any additional Zaino or Wheel Wax applied (to help with Bimmer brake dust build-up), Zymöl Wheel Coat puts a final shine on his coated wheels with almost no effort.