Black Ferrari -paint care

Zymol Carbon.

-Joe

 

I use Meguiar's 3 step process for wax but replace their #3 step with their Tech Wax instead. This comes on the recommendation of Barry Meguiar himself.

For detailing mist, I use the Meguiars "Tech" line also in the flourescent green bottle.

Not to mention, it is SO easy to use, that I can do the ENTIRE 3 step process in an hour. In an hour, it is SHOW quality...

Others swear by Zymol and Zaino and the rest. But I can get BETTER results in less time with the "Tech" stuff, IMO. Not to mention, the stuff is VERY reasonably priced. By saving time on the waxing, it allows more time for polishing the underside of the car. ;-) Believe me, I am anal about my car...

See for yourself. This is an '87 328 with 70k miles on it. This pic was taken at the END of the day of a "meet/drive", while driving, after having had put in 3 hours of solid driving. As you can see, the Gallardo taking the picture is showing up in the reflection pretty well, considering he was in the other lane!!!
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Oh yeah.....

I WILL be getting a professional detail and clay bar in the spring right before I take her back out on the road.

Interesting tidbit - The guy that does a lot of nice details in town uses Tech Wax for his final application too.

 

I had my black barchetta detailed by the Paterak Bros. before it was featured in a R & T shoot. They charged 1800 dollars to hand polish, and then wax, using PS 21 products. I now use Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax and my red Diablo looks as good as it can get. I've stopped using those other fancy waxes and polishes. And you can buy it almost everywhere better auto parts and detailing products are sold. It made a difference in my life.

Seriously, that's all true. The other thing with black cars is to be even more scrupulous about your washing technique, the cleanliness of your mitt or cloth, the mineral content of your water, the coolness of the painted surface and the shade/not sunlight in which you wash and dry the car. All factors in any paint treatment, just more so with black. Just because somebody claims to be a professional detailer does not mean they will do a great job. And, even if they do other high-line cars, that doesn't mean anything if the owners are not critical.

 

Zaino--Zaino--Zaino
Have put 9 coats on my blk/tan 430 since July.Smooth as glass no swirls-2K mi.Takes less than an hr to do.
First Dawn liq wash -then Z1 followed by Z2 polish (thin layer)-then use Diapers to hand rub off-In between each time I come back from a drive I use the Z lnstant cleaner.Nothing like a Zaino black Ferrari!

 

ZAINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Clean soap and mitt, clean microfiber towels to remove the wax. Results are in the technique. No difference in Zaino, Griot's, Mequire's, Mother's, or Zymol (for me). NXT is easiest to use. 50K miles, never "detailed" by a pro.
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You mean I'm actually supposed to wash these things?

 

My biggest problem have been water spots - the Mr. Clean car wash thing solved that. ( I have two black cars too)

 

I vote for Zaino. I agree that the results aren't significantly better than with other waxes, but it lasts a hell of a lot longer. I put a few coats on my car in June and water still beads on it now, in November.

You can learn to wax from many places: http://www.properautocare.com has a great set of tutorials and general information (as well as great customer service and a good selection of products). http://www.autopia.org is a forum centered around detailing, they also have a great product review section. It's a good place to go to get good advice, a lot of professional detailers hang out there.

Be careful, you can get sucked into this. I bought a random-orbital polisher last summer and spent an entire weekend using it on my BMW.

 

I second NXT, i find it to be no worse then Zaino, and ideal for black. Its also readily available at most big box retail auto stores.

 

I use products from www.swissol.com amd have found them to be superior to anything I have used or seen before.

 

I own a 2005 - 575M. I've been detailing cars as a hobby since high-school (+20 yrs. ago) and like a woman with her cosmetics and hair-care, I've tried nearly every single product imaginable.

I travel to Italy and Germany 3 times a year and have searched-out European car care products that we can't get here.

I've been on the quest for the Holy Grail of black car paint care products FOREVER.

I've found it. It's a formula called SYNERGY. It's applied to your car after it's been washed, but NOT dried. About 2oz. applied to a special sponge applicator on a WET but CLEAN car (in the shade + on cool paint, obviously). It's then hosed-off and you dry your car as you normally would. The whole process adds another 10 minutes to your cleaning time - THAT"S IT!

I was turned-on to it by the person who details my cars. This is the only place you'll find it: http://www.californiadetailing.com/ Ask for Jim.
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You may want to watch an owner wax his Ferrari. Or, every now and then, some of the Fchat groups hold a detail day, where they do exactly that, show you how to wax your Ferrari.

There are a few tricks of the trade that must be learned, how you apply the wax is important, how you wipe wax off is important and what cloth towel you use is very important as well. Buy a stack of microfiber towels to get yourself ready. These detail type of posts can turn into a book easily with a dozen of products that every owner swears by. Though I personally use Meguires NXT and a professional detailers grade carnuba, I can use the many products and systems as mentioned above to get the same results, with a variance of how long the product will last on the car.

Black will test your mettle as a detailer, it shows everything. You are not a detailer until you can master black. When you look in that paint finish and see flawless glass... then you know you are doing.

 

Part of your swirl marks could be existing wax or polish on the car. Lets say you used "Turbo Wax" six months ago, then went over the top last night with another brands, you can get swirl marks from the two waxes more or less smearing together. Wash your car with Dawn dish washing detergent, this will strip any wax or polish off your car (added bonus..no more dish pan hands!). Then when you polish it, your putting the virgin coat on so to speak, now you don't have Carnuba working against Silicone, etc. Don't use dish soap at any other time unless you plan on re-polishing. I use Zaino products, plus Zaino Gloss Enhancer after every wash besides, love the stuff, love the smell of it too!
Other things.. I prefer a Chamois, but if you use towels, make sure they are 100% cotton. Some of the man made fabrics will put ultra fine scratches in your paint.

 

What are you waiting for...? Hennessy Porsche of Atlanta has a black/black F430 with red stitching, shields and red calipers for under $220K...!

 

When I bought the black F last year (my 1st black car) & purchased the full Griot’s line of products including synthetic chamois, clay, Speed Shine, etc. I’m very happy so far.
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