I've got a black Audi TT. I 've been using the Zaino lineup after 3M SMR with a PC. Swirls were pretty well gone, but with a few washes and winter here now it seems all I have to do is look at the car and I get tiny scratches. Do I need to top the Zaino. I know you can't go back to Zaino after the wax, but it seems like I wax the car every few weeks anyway. Will a wax topper fill the swirls and maybe offer a little more protection. I really like the look of the black and I do see the "candy wrapper" gloss of the Zaino. Maybe I'm looking for a little deeper shine and some hiding power. Any help would be appreciated. P21S is readily available at the dealership and the wife is out of town for a few days...might this be a solution?
Black TT..using Zaino..just look at it and it swirls...
- Thread starter mariola
- Start date
armoredsaint
New member
I feel your pain, I have a Brilliant Black TT too, in terms of the SMR, it's mainly a filler to cover up the swirls and etc. and after a few washes it will be gone, try out Menzerna IP and FP, it's a good polish w/o fillers and it will permanently remove the scratches and swirls. Then GEPC and P21S wax, that's my routine. BTW, when I first read your message, I thought it was mine with the PC,SMR and P21S, great minds think alike 
GoodnClean
New member
Agreed, probably whats happening is that the fillers from the SMR are evaporating and the swirls are returning.
I reccomend a product called 3M PI-III-MG run a search for it and you'll find a lot of threads. You can buy it with free shipping online from 3M. Its an excellent product, it has no fillers so what you see removed is removed and it wont come back. Then you could polish with the GEPC and P21S like armor or you can do the zaino. If the PI-III-MG doesn't work you can move up to DACP (I've heard Audi paint it really hard) but I think the PI-III with a yellow pad, then GEPC with white will give you a flawless finish.
I reccomend a product called 3M PI-III-MG run a search for it and you'll find a lot of threads. You can buy it with free shipping online from 3M. Its an excellent product, it has no fillers so what you see removed is removed and it wont come back. Then you could polish with the GEPC and P21S like armor or you can do the zaino. If the PI-III-MG doesn't work you can move up to DACP (I've heard Audi paint it really hard) but I think the PI-III with a yellow pad, then GEPC with white will give you a flawless finish.
jimmybuffit
That'll buff right out!
Jesstzn
New member
Thing is .. if the prep was done right the fillers from the 3M should have been gone before the Zaino went on .. The Dawn wash should have removed them.
Jesstzn makes a good point, which leades me too...
In general I've found that the more I touch my car, the greater the chance of getting any type of swirl or surface marring. In the summer I try to only wash my car once every 2 weeks, as opposed to one. I never QD, even after a wash. I never QD a dirty or CCD'd car, ever.
In the winter I take my car through a touchless car wash found at my local gas station. It does a great job. They key is not to dry your car with a rag after exiting. You'll just induce new swirls. Touchless washes are good, but not perfect. Some minor dirt is left.
mariola, I think your problem is two-pronged. One, you have a black car. Imperfections show much more. And two, it *sounds* as though you want to have a pefectly shiny car all the time (I know how you feel). This leads to the constant washing, QD'ing, waxing, and zainoing. All this 'touching', especially on black, is killing your poor car. Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.
I would get a good abrasive polish and remove the swirls with your PC. SMR just won't cut it IMHO. I personally use Finesse It 2. It seems as though it's the old school polish on here, but I tell ya, it does the job pretty darn well. Top with zaino, sit back and relax. Don't over wax, wash, and zaino. Just let the car be.
JMHO...
Bill.
In general I've found that the more I touch my car, the greater the chance of getting any type of swirl or surface marring. In the summer I try to only wash my car once every 2 weeks, as opposed to one. I never QD, even after a wash. I never QD a dirty or CCD'd car, ever.
In the winter I take my car through a touchless car wash found at my local gas station. It does a great job. They key is not to dry your car with a rag after exiting. You'll just induce new swirls. Touchless washes are good, but not perfect. Some minor dirt is left.
mariola, I think your problem is two-pronged. One, you have a black car. Imperfections show much more. And two, it *sounds* as though you want to have a pefectly shiny car all the time (I know how you feel). This leads to the constant washing, QD'ing, waxing, and zainoing. All this 'touching', especially on black, is killing your poor car. Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.
I would get a good abrasive polish and remove the swirls with your PC. SMR just won't cut it IMHO. I personally use Finesse It 2. It seems as though it's the old school polish on here, but I tell ya, it does the job pretty darn well. Top with zaino, sit back and relax. Don't over wax, wash, and zaino. Just let the car be.
JMHO...
Bill.
Jesstzn
New member
I'm the same as Bill.. With the black car I have and with the paint polished to swirl free.. a CCD just scratches it.. most say they are fine but most aren't seeing the new microswirls on the old ones .. same with QD.. the only time I use it is if I get minor dusting on the way to a car show. To me using a QD to lift dust is microsanding.
blkyukon
New member
ahunt01 said:
My favorites for black are:
1. PwC and Carnuaba Moose
2. Ex topped with P21S/S100
3. PwC and NXT
All 3 above leave great finishes.
Here are some shot taken today after a wash & QS with month old PwC and NXT. The NXT is holding up well after a month of rain and no washing. It has a nice wet look and is still slick, but if I had to choose, of the 3 above, PwC & CM leaves the nicest finish.
