97 White M3

Some things to look for...



I noticed this "marring" once. I can't explain what happened, but there seemed to be a film on top of the Zaino (too much Z1 I suspect), and that film looked like swirls that mirrored my towel movement. After the next wash it was gone.



I use Charisma's on the black acura, and I never saw them marring up the paint or zaino layer. How hard are you pressing? After a few coats of zaino the paint becomes so slick, that washing and drying are very easy. I barely use any pressure with my wash mitt, and hardly press at all with the towel when drying or QD'ing. No need too.



Also, what kind of car wash are you using? This marring could be in a film on top of zaino that you are seeing. How hard are you pressing? Do you use bleach or fabric softener in your towels? Are the towels WHITE?
 
In my particular case:



I used z7 wash, no fabric softener or bleach on the towels, which are Fieldcrest Charismas in the silverose color (pink). They were the ones that they were clearing for $5 each last summer.



The car(s) in which I could see the charisma marring were a 1999 Acura 3.2 TL and 2001 Audi S4, both black! I dont push down that hard.
 
darbh,



The marring is set. I think it may have been caused during a previous wash, and I just noticed it yesterday. It was very sunny here and I got it full view. It looks pretty bad, when I was it I almost had a heart attack.



The weather is going to be good here for the next few days, so hopefully I will get it fixed.
 
DK,



I was using Z7 for the wash, and I did the same thing I always do. I never press hard with my charisma's. I am hoping it's just one of those odd things, and will go away once I fix it.



This car is a dark color (Dark Green) so it looks good when it's done, but is a major PITA to take car of. ;)
 
Z5 should take care of it. Try using Z5 one more time. This time let it dry longer than usual, and buff it off. See what happens. Try this first (even on just a few panels) before you strip down and start over. If something was in between the zaino and car when applied it might not of bonded properly. Also, sal does not like colored towels. They can leave a chemical residue on the pait finish. Take that for what it is worth. Finally, did you cut off the borders and selveges off th towels? These are cotton/poly blends and should be removed before using the towel on your car!
 
I for one do not believe the color of the towel matters, at least not after it is washed several times. Like I stated previously, I cut off all the edges/decoration and did not surge/stitch the edges.

I am starting to remember the circumstance a little better now..... (it was a few months ago)

I z5'd my friend's S4. After I had wiped off the residue, I followed up with some z6 and my charismas. The finish was marring, and I could not do anything to fix it. It looked horrible. I thought I ruined his paint! Anways, tossed another layer of z5 on it and after it dried, everything was fine.

I am probably the only one on this site that does not like quick detailing after every wash. I think it is just asking for trouble. I only quick detail when I am looking for that pop or before adding another coat of z2/5.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by darbh [/i]
... I think that often it is the result of too thick an application of Z.
[/B]</blockquote>
I would have to agree with this. I recently put on a 4th coat of zaino and after the following car wash, I noticed marring of the sealant. It didn't take much towel pressure at all to produce them.

qd'ing with z6 and a microfiber towel "repaired" the marring.

when i just had 2 coats of zaino, i did not notice any marring when drying.

it really doesn't bother me that much since i usually qd after a wash anyway and better mar the sealant than the clear coat.
 
These can possibly leave a film on top of a zainoed car which will mirror toweling. This may look like mars in the zaino but is not.



1. Drying a car with a dirty towel or even worse......a towel that was used to remove Z2 or Z5 that has not been washed thoroughly.



2. Drying the car over rubber or plastic that has greasy dressings on it. This dressing gets on the towel and then on to your paint causing a film, and might take 1-2 washes to remove. In this case you can see the film because it will look like swirls, but when you wipe them the swirls will change and move around on the paint



BE CAREFUL!
 
i've seen the film detailking is talking about...i had it this weekend when i put a coat of z1 and z5 on. It was about 65 degrees and 100% humidity. I suspect the humidity killed the drying time and I didn't let it dry thoroughly. This has happened before since the humidity is always high here in VA. After the next wash it disappears.
 
I am puttting another coat of Z5 on and hopefully that will help.



I can't really strip it down right now. The cold weather is expected to hit next week, and it is supposed to rain starting tomorrow. If I have to I will just wait until spring, then I can go over it with a rotary a few times and get rid of everything.



I let you know how it looks with the second coat of Z5.
 
The second coat of Z5 made it look much better. :cool: I know it's not a permenant fix, but it will have to do until spring. Will probably add another coat of Z5 tomorrow before switching to Z2.
 
DK . . . I love your posts!! Very objective, intelligent, and perceptive. Your description of the "marring that moves with the towel stroke" was spot on. I felt relieved that someone else has experienced it and your description was very accurate.
 
The best part is that Z7 wash is a pretty strong car wash....and usually levels out what ever is on top of zaino causing that film.....
 
I have been searching page after page on here but can't find what I'm looking for. I have a white 97 4 door M3 to polish this Wednesday and I'm trying to see what the clear is going to be like. Hard/soft? I haven't had experience with the older BMW's. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
Well, I have a '06 330xi and the clear is relatively hard. It is not as hard a some others that I have heard about, but it it deffinately harder then the norm.

I hope this helps.
 
I've worked on the new ones and I have noticed the clear to be a little tougher but varies from color to color.

Flash, I wish it was that easy to be thankfull its white. BUT....the owner had some sap or something on the car and decided to take it off. The problem is, there are scratches all over hood, roof, trunk, everywhere. The car is covered in these patches of scratches(ha that rhymes). I will try to take pictures Wednesday if my camera is out of the shop. Thanks
 
Mobilejay said:
I've worked on the new ones and I have noticed the clear to be a little tougher but varies from color to color.

Flash, I wish it was that easy to be thankfull its white. BUT....the owner had some sap or something on the car and decided to take it off. The problem is, there are scratches all over hood, roof, trunk, everywhere. The car is covered in these patches of scratches(ha that rhymes). I will try to take pictures Wednesday if my camera is out of the shop. Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, GL on that. I'm am sure you will do a fine job
 
Oh 97'? Yea I heard those had the specially treated diamond ceramic clears that year, the ones impervious to all polishes and pads!

Good luck on that nightmare!



... seriously, its before ceramic clears were becoming popular with german car companies I think you should be fine.
 
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