Zaino VS Meguiars Comparison
 

Let me begin by saying that I am the least biased person nor do I have favorotism when it comes to automobile polish. That said I found something very interesting that I wanted to share with forum members.

A bit of backround. My car is a 92 Pearl Black MB and the paint would be considered to be "Good Shape" but not perfect. It has minor surface scratches and a bit of etching (a good eye will see them). When I purchased the car I used a clay bar on the entire car after a dawn wash. Here is where the comparison starts.

I applied the Z1 according to directions and then applied 4 coats of Z5. Finally I've applied 3 coats of Z2 with the last one around 1 week ago. Keep in mind I haven't driven the car in over a week and its kept in the garage.

Yesterday I had a meeting with Meguiars and Mike Phillips was kind enough to do a few comparison tests of three of their products on top of the Zaino that was there. Here is what I found with each product.

Test 1. The first product was the Meguiars Liquid Medallion Premium Paint Protection. This was applied to 1/3 of the hood and was left to sit approximately 1 hour. The wax was very easy to apply and remove, almost as easy as the Zaino although a bit more product was used. After wiping the surface I was not super impressed by the results. It seemed to leave a haze over the paint and didn't have the reflective qualities of the Zaino. Mike stated that is worked best on Black cars from his own testing. Read On.........

Test 2. The second product was Meguiars Gold Class Clear Coat Liquid Car Wax. This was applied onto 1/3 of the hood as well and was allowed to dry 1 hour. This also wiped off very easy, not quite as easy as the Zaino or Medallion but easy enough. But when I finished wiping I stood back in complete shock. You could see a perfect line where the Gold Class and Zaino met each other. The Meguiars was a much much deeper richer and more reflective surface. I couldn't believe it. I've had this product sitting in my garage forever and never though it would look better than the Zaino.

Test 3. The final test used (a new formula product) Meguiars Cleaner Wax for clear coat. This was applied onto 1/2 of my trunk and allowed to dry for 30 minutes. After wiping this product which was extremely easy to remove I could not tell any difference between it and the Zaino. Same reflective qualities and depth of shine. I believe this can be found in most Auto Parts Stores

Please feel free to ask any questions and obviously come to your own conclusions. I've already decided that Gold Class is my favorite and the remainder of the Zaino is for my wifes car! :D

Very interesting. I didn't do a clean side-by-side comparison like yours, but I have a brand new brilliant silver E320 and I too wanted to try Zaino. I washed with Dawn, did not clay it, and over the course of a couple weeks I put on 3 layers of Z5 (used the ZFX so did not need to start with Z1 a/c Zaino's directions), followed by another 2 coats of Z2+ZFX, and lastly another coat of Z2 (no ZFX) last weekend. Used high quality cotton terry, and even microfiber cloth on the last waxing. It's a very impressive shine, but...

During the same time period I also did both my wife's dark blue '99 Volvo wagon and my dark green 95 Ford Explorer with Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (didn't clay either one of them). I used a $20 random orbital buffer from WalMart with a terry bonnett to remove the wax and buff. Each car was only done once, and I can tell you the labor savings was considerable. I have to take into account the fact that these darker colors are going to show a shine better, but the Volvo looks every bit as deep and reflective as the E320. The Ford was a little further gone before its waxing, but it too looked great and even though the E320 kicked that poor guy out of the garage and it is getting fouled with nature's detritus it still looks impressive.

I keep hearing that Mequiar's may not last as long Zaino's, but so far (about one month on the Volvo and a little longer on the Ford) I think I'll stick with the Mequiar's Cleaner wax on the Volvo & Ford and let time determine which way to go with the E320.

beevly,

Certainly a very good point of view. As far as paint protection I might have to agree with you regarding Zaino vs Meguiars. I've had Zaino on my wifes new CRV for 3.5 months and it still cleans up well and is smooth to the touch. I would say Meguiars would last about 2.5 months under the same conditions. Beading is good but after yesterday's talk with Meguiars I realize beading has nothing to do with protection!

Since I'm a little crazy I tend to wax my car at least twice a month if not more so protection is not the issue for me. I'd be curious to see how the Meguiars comes out on your Mercedes though, you might be surprised. By the way the cleaner wax is no comparison to the Gold Class IMHO.

thanks, I did kind of inadvertantly gloss over the differences you noted between the 2 Mequiar's waxes. I was using the cleaner wax, but also have an unopened bottle of the Gold Class liquid which I will try next time on the Volvo & Ford. Both are available at WalMart, very handy.

Could you elaborate on the point that water beading up is not necessarily indicative of a wax's protective properties?

What should I use?
 

My car is badly in need of a solid waing, but I not not have 5 days to accomplish it, I could probably arrange 3 hours. As you can see below, it's black, and it's large. What is my best bet for overall protection and shine?

Also, what are the board's recommendations regarding chrome polish?

beevly,

Well, I can't really say I'm very knowledged in the science and formula's of waxes or as I would call them "protectants". But when I spoke to Mike he stated that beading is not necessarily formulated into a wax/protectant but it can be. He went further to say that in the past they have reformulated their waxes to create the beading of paint however this doesn't necessarily change the amount or length of protection.

My thoughts are that beading isn't a great thing to have on car paint. Personally I would rather have a slick surface that promotes the water to coalesce and run off the car and not create tiny droplets.

I'll try and get Mike to reply to your question in more detail. I wonder if maybe we can get other manufacturers to maybe respond as well so that have several points of view.

Meguiar's Cleaner Wax - New & Improved version
 

Hi all,

Working with Placo1 was fun yesterday. His car is actually "Immaculate" and highly detailed.

In the past, water beading ability has not been a characteristic that is built into our waxes. The reason why is because when the bead of water dries it leaves a water spot, sometimes an etch. The higher or stronger the bead, the more "concentrated" the destructive chemical reaction is, on a smaller footprint, when it etches into the paint.

Recently… Meguiar's reformulated their Cleaner/Wax, (in the Maroon bottle), to wipe on and off easier as well as "Bead" water better and longer, due to customer demand.

About a half hour ago, Mike Pennington, (Meguiar's Director of Training), and I took one of my black demonstration panels, (it's actually a table) with one side painted black, (basecoat clearcoat), the other side straight black lacquer into the training garage and proceeded to restore it's finish.

It was thrashed after being moved down here from Oregon. Lots of deep scratches and light scratches everywhere.

We proceeded to buff it using Meguiar's #85 Diamond Cut Compound, followed by their #82 Swirl Free Polish, both with a rotary buffer, 1400rpm, using the Meguiar's W-7000 foam cutting pad, and the W-7000 foam finishing pad.

After each step we carried the table out into the sun and inspected for a variety of things, like swirl, clarity, thoroughness of scratch removal.

After the two rotary buffer procedures, we went over the lacquer side with Meguiar's #3 Machine Glaze, on a PC, setting 5 using the Meguiar's W-8005 foam polishing pad and on the clear coated side we used the PC, setting 5 new W-8005 polishing pad and the #82 Swirl remover.

All applications were wiped off using the Meguiar's Ultimate Wipe, a microfiber polishing cloth that the fibers themselves have a triangular cross-section unlike the typical round cross-section of everyone else's.

We carried it out into the sun and it had a flawless, swirl free surface.

Now we tested some waxes, nothing to scientific, just applying some waxes, using new foam wax applicator pads, on freshly cleaned and polished black paint.

We tested on each of the sides, Medallion, Gold Class, Meguiar's Cleaner Wax and Zaino #2

Results.

Water Beading
1. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax - Highest beads, water actually "jumped" off while we were sprinkling it on.

2. Zaino #2 High water beads, not as tight, or high as MCW

3. Medallion - Gold Class - not much difference. Note: not formulated to bead water.

Darkest most reflective results

1. Gold Class - very dark, very reflective
2. Meguiar's Cleaner wax - very dark very reflective
3. Medallion - very dark, very reflective
4. Zaino #2 - the least in turning both types of paint dark. Reflectivity good, as good as the rest.

Meguiar's Cleaner Wax can be purchased just about anywhere for around $6.00 for a 16oz bottle. If you want the "Water Beading" feature, make sure there is a "New & Improved" on the front label.

Can be used on any type of paint. Will Clean moderately oxidized finishes, safe for new cars, new paint jobs. Wipes on easy, wipes off incredibly easy. Excellent choice for "Daily Drivers", cars that are continually exposed to the elements.

More tests coming soon, but for $6.00 for the Meguiar's Cleaner Wax and $10.00 for the Gold Class, both in 16oz bottles, at a minimum, they would appear to be a good deal. Can be purchase locally at any auto parts store.

Two thin coats are better than one. After three coats of anybody's product I would question any "layering" effect.

Pretty soon you would be applying coats of wax on top of coats of wax. If your wax isn't as clear as water, then you would be "dulling" the surface.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Mike Phillips
Meguiar's Inc.
1-800-854-8073 ext. 189

I used to use the Meguiar's cleaner\wax but I've noticed it leaves fine swirl kind of marks on my black car when the sun shines on it just right.

The cleaner wax is non-abrasive, chemical only.

It is a blend of chemcal cleaners, synthetic wax and conditioning oils for the paint.

Could be from your applicator or removal cloth.

Typically, for black cars a pure wax like the #26 or polish wax like the Gold Class will leave a more clear finish.

Just something to consider.

For $6.00 a bottle however, the Meguar's cleaner wax is no slouch.

YMMV

Mike

Re: Zaino VS Meguiars Comparison
 

I believe Gold Class tints the finish a little, therefore it stands out on dark paint giving a deep and richer appearance. It is to my understanding that Zaino is formulated to be "optically clear", therefore, its weakness on dark finish is lack of depth; however the reflection is really sharp. I believe Gold Class is the most reflective wax in Meguiar's line, but my only concern is the durability. I believe you will lose that "deepness" after 3 washes. Of course, if you don't mind waxing every month or so this should not be a problem.

Optically Clear
 

I guess since Zaino makes their wax optically clear, there is no way a Major polish and wax comany that has been in the business for over 100 years, working with the Paint Manufactures from around the world could ever make an optically clear wax.

Nope, couldn't happen.

Only a guy who "used" to paint cars can do that.

Not people who work with the paint manufactures. Not people who's core business is producing a "Complete" line nof cleaners, polishes and waxes, including Mold Release Waxes which is "science unto itself".

I guess only guys who used to paint cars can understand chemistry, not Phd Chemists, like ours.

Define "Optically Clear"

In the bottle all waxes are opaque, not clear.

When applied, unless microscopically thin, they still are not clear. #26 is quite clear when applied and it doesn't dry white. It is optically clear.

I will check with one of our chemists about what makes a wax "optically clear" .......... or not.

Mike

Re: Optically Clear
 

Wow. I never meant to imply that a major polish & wax company with long history cannot make their wax optically clear. Sure they can. I just re-read my post again and still not sure how you got this idea. Sorry if I'm not been very clear in the post as I didn't think you would be so sensitive. Maybe optically "perfect" would be a better word.

Yes, I understand all waxes are opqaue in bottle and unless microscopically thin when applied, they are not clear, but what I meant was the reflection from the paint after the wax are buffed off (not while still on the car). Again, I apologize if I wasn't been clear in the previous post.

Again, what I was saying is, Gold Class seem to tint the paint a little, therefore it stands out on dark finish making it look deep and rich. Zaino seems to be more optically perfect; therefore lack some depth but offer sharp reflection. Please remember that this is all very subjective opinion from my untrained eyes. I am not a professional detailer, nor do I work for a major wax company. Just opinion and personal experience from a detailing enthusiast. Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I was just replying to Placo1's post. As he was saying and I quote

" Please feel free to ask any questions and obviously come to your own conclusions. I've already decided that Gold Class is my favorite and the remainder of the Zaino is for my wifes car! "

Thanks.

I use a small cotton rag to apply and cotton towels and old shirts to remove, and maybe don't wash them enough:eek:

I've been on Meguiar's website, and I know that they recommend thick terry cloth towels for removing product.

Optically Clear?
 

Hi all,

William420,

I'm sorry if I came off being sensitive or taking anything you wrote personally, I didn't and I don't.

Read my signature at the end of any of my posts.

I see the word "Optically Clear", or now "Optically Perfect" used in reference to Zaino all of the time, all because Zaino claims it is optically clear.

Which... it may be... what ever optically clear means, and specifically what meaning Zaino attributes to it.

Gold Class and #26 are both very clear waxes. Gold Class is advertised as the most reflective wax in our 100 + year history.

I don't want to start an entire discussion on one of it's unique features, but... suffice to say, it has an ingredient(s) that does something very unique in the world of automotive waxes.

It has to do with its "Reflective" characteristics. Since Meguiar's invented this feature, it is safe to say no other wax has it.

I often see Zaino fans proclaiming how long a coat of Zaino lasts, but in the same sentence admitting how often they apply it. It doesn't matter how long a wax lasts if you apply it often. It just becomes somewhat of a silly argument.

At the upcoming Mercedes workshop, I will let people test anything I have in my office on my black paint panels. We will let the products speak for themselves.

Frankly, I just don't see it. I have applied Zaino, as well as many other waxes on black paint, both single stage and basecoat clear coats over the last 12 years, and in my eyes, Zaino isn't any better than most. It did nothing spectacular just a few hours ago on virgin black paint.

Your mileage may vary...

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for all your information. I was really worried that you took my post the wrong way. I do use a lot of Meguiars products as well.

I know exactly what you meant by how Zaino users priase the durability yet apply additional coats oftenly. I think for a lot of people, the reason is addiction. I am also aware that Meguiars has #20 Poly Sealent which last just as long (if not longer).

Gold Class is indeed very reflective. Personally, I prefer the shine of GC over #26.

I'm really looking forward to the up coming Meguiars workshop and hope to learn many things from you. I do have some questions which I would rather ask face to face instead of typing them on forum (for example: one of my routing is #7 follow by #26 since #26 pure wax. I would like to change to #7 follow by Gold Class instead, but always wonder how much of #7 oils will be removed by Gold Class since it has light cleanser, another question is the difference of quick detailing spray between the consumer line and profesional line #34. I've heard different answers everywhere, and of course some other questions). Looking forward to speak with you! Thanks.

William

I look forward to meeting you.
 

I guarantee it will be a lot of fun and quite enlightening.

I am looking forward to seeing you there.

Now... back to typing....

Mike Phillips
Corporate Writer
Meguiar's Inc

Man I've missed this whole conversation.

William,

Mike did a great job of explaining the differences between the different detailing sprays they have and the final comment was for the best shine use the Quick Shine Enhancer. We tried some on my car yesterday and it did help a bit. I actually never used detailer in the past. I use a duster and then spray an area with a water mist and wipe it off. Works extremely well on properly maintained surfaces.

Keith,

I have a few suggestions to possibly help your car look better. Keep in mind this is my oppinnion based on my own experience. If your trying to get your car to look it's best in a single coat of wax then definitely give the Meguiars cleaner wax a try. The cleaners should help remove most surface contaminants and it will leave a nice shine. If your willing to put more effort into it use a buffer and Meguiars #9 to remove light swirls and surface contaminants. (If you don't have a buffer give the Scratch X a try)Then use the Gold Class as a final step by hand. Something important that I've learned with waxes is that you really do not want to apply very much to the surface of the paint. The thinnest coat possible will make it much easier to remove and still give excellent results.

Everyone,

Just a side note in regards to the Zaino on my wifes CRV. I only applied it once in 3.5 months and it sits outside under a tree every day. It gets washed maybe once a week usually with a drive through car wash or if I'm lucky at the dealership after an oil change. It's strictly a means of transportation and I would consider it an excellent means of determining wax durability. But as you and others say, I'm a bit obsessed with my MB and I'm looking for a product that brings out the paints unique colors and the GC did a better job of that.

www.thewaxtest.org

order the guru report on waxes and read the non bias results.

Johnson Chan,

It's funny you mention that. When I was at Meguiars Mike pulled a copy of it out of his desk. He had highlighted all the main points of each wax and also noted how many mistakes were made when making reference to a wax type.

I don't know if I could believe a comparo like this unless it was done by true enthusiasts. To me a comparison made by Consumer reports and the like, who don't really know the ins and outs of detailing a car, isn't valid. They won't know proper surface prep or the proper order of application nor will they know how much time each product should be allowed to dry. Not to mention the variable in paint types. I guess in my oppinnion I would rather have a trial and error using highly recommended products. Eventually you'll find one your pleased with.

Just my two cents.

Hello Placo,

I noticed that too when reading it. I didnt really pay attention to the small small details, so let me know what he found wrong.

But i did notice one thing, Klasse and Zaino, they used z-1, z5, z2 for klasse they used red bottle (all in one), then silver bottle (high gloss)

count the number of coats, then for regular wax, they did one coat. of course 2 coats is better than 1.

I am a zaino user and zaino fan, i have been even before the waxtest.org report came out. zaino has some tricks to apply it that will make it better. for example, use swirl remover or griots garage #3 to remove all swirls then you can use 1 coat of z5 and go straight to the z2. using microfiber to remove the coats so you dont induce any new swirls when removing the polish. using an orbital buffer with foam pad (really speeds things up) and using ZFX to speed the curing time.

I used gold class when it first hit the market and wasnt impressed, i will have to try the new formula.

as far as durability, it is longer lasting than hi-tech wax or medallian. BTW, after i apply the coats, thats it, i dont touch it up every other week like some zaino users, so i think thats fair.

I been using meguiars to detail my parents cars since i was 10 yrs old or so, but figured to try other products. I figure its like a race, zaino might have been better than meguiars for a while, but when meguiars "reformulates" gold class, meguiars is better, zaino may "reformulate" its stuff and maybe be better in a few years, who knows??

I'd like to try this the next time I use Zaino. Do you wash with Dawn after using the swirl remover? The products like swirl remover not only remove minor swirl marks / scratches, but also fill-in these marks with polishing oils to hide them. If you wash with dawn, wouldn't it strip the oil / polish right off?

I've got 5 coats of Z5, and 2 coats of Z2 on my smoke silver 300E, and while it does have good gloss and leaves the paint surface unbelieveably slick, it did a very average job of hiding imperfections that Gold Class covered in one step with ease.

This doesn't mean that I've given up on Zaino, but just a bit disappointed.

I sure hope it lasts as long as reported.

That's the idea. Oils inhibit crosslinking and true bonding in polymer products. To take full advantage of Zaino durability, DAWN should be used after SMR to remove all the oils & fillers so Zaino can bond to the bare paint. Unless you are using products like FI2 which claims no silicone oil & fillers.

Personally when I prep the paint with SMR, I do not use DAWN. I just give it a good wash with Z7 (if feel energetic, I wash 2 times). My theory is any remaining oils after the wash is insignificant to affect bonding of Zaino. I don't have any problem with this, but then I've never pushed & tested Zaino to the limit (longest I've gone without a coat is just 2 months).

Yes I do wash it after swirl remover. I wash with dawn or use plain water to give it a good rinse.

To be honest with you, i havnt used swirl remover in a while, i use Griots Garage #3. with griots its better for removing swirls and cleanup is easier. there is no greasy or oils to fill n e thing with #3.

i usually rinse with plain water or use dawn, really really lightly wash my car. the reason why i said lightly is because you dont have any wax, or protection, so if you scrub down real hard with a sheepskin mitt, you can put new swirls in.

Off topic, i parked my car and so did this lady right next to me. she gets out of her car and uses the hood of my car to check her hair. she said "your car is really shinny, i can use it for a mirror"

that was one of the best compliments i got

LOL thats pretty funny.

My wife does the exact same thing every morning before she leaves for work. I always catch her looking at the side glasses or C Pillar to check here hair....pretty funny:)

For those of us in snow country, or those of us who don't have the time or desire to wax our cars every month (or oftener!) the long durability of Zaino is a true plus. I last put a coat on in February and it still looks good and beads well. I keep meaning to put another coat on but it just looks so good after I wash it I don't get around to it.

I did put a coat of Gold Class on our new Explorer and it reminded me of what I don't like about that product -- seems to me that it leaves a lot of residue, both on rubber and plastic trim and even on flat surfaces of the paint, which are very hard to remove. I don't have that same problem with Zaino.

Gold Class Results
 

Well I finally completed the coate of Meguiars Gold Class and here are my direct observations after doing the whole car. These observation show the advantages of Gold Class and Zaino.

Zaino Advantages:
1. Super Slick Non Stick Surface
2. Extremely Easy To Apply
3. Even Easier To Remove
4. Great Results with Minimal Effort
5. Lasts just a little bit longer than your average wax

Gold Class Advantages:
1. Brings out the colors in a metallic paint
2. Creates an extremely deep rich look
3. Reflects light better
4. Accentuates the body lines of the car
5. Compatible with many other scratch reducing products
6. Even my wife noticed the difference!

I'm really pleased with the results and I'm even happier knowing how easy it is to get access to this product.

If I remember correctly, your 500E was Zaino'd, wasn't it?

Did you wash the car with dawn before apply Gold Class, or did you just apply the GC right over the Zaino?

Otherwise, you'd be GCing your Zaino instead of GCing your paint, wouldn't you?

Paul,

I guess you can say that I did GC my Zaino'd surface. But I would argue that it doesn't really matter what the surface has on it. If you remember on a few areas of the hood and trunk I had applied other Meguiars products as well. The GC created the same look on all the surfaces regardless of what was on there before.

I also used the Meguiars Quick Shine Enhancer which I have to say really brought out the reflective qualities of the GC and helped create a slicker surface.

I've decided to stop using Dawn unless it is absolutely necessary. I've heard it really strips the paint of many oils that even waxes have a difficult time replacing. I just don't want to take any chances so from now on I'll be using regular car wash shampoo.

Is the Meguiar's Quick Shine Enhancer the stuff in the red bottle? Did they tell you what's in the stuff that brings out more reflectiveness and the 'slick' feel to the paint? Is it simply diluted polishing oils? Well, maybe it isn't, because when I called their 800 number once, they told me that polishes obliterate wax. Just wondering...

Do you recall if there is a similar product in the Gold Class line?

I'm leaving in a few minutes for a business trip to Chicago, but I'm bringing the laptop so I can keep up with the Board. It's worse than a drug addiction. Just kidding. lol

Honestly Paul I would rather have Meguiars answer those questions. When we meet with them in August I'm going to suggest to Mike that we have a question and answer session during the clinic so that these things can be answered properly.

It does work well though. I've used the Meguiars Quick Detailer, the Mothers Detailer and a couple of others and haven't been very impressed.


Have a safe trip.

That was quick! Honestly, I leaving right after I post this.

I guess I'm confusing two products. I thought the Meguiar's quick detailer was the same as the Quick Shine Enhancer.

I didn't even know there was a Quick Shine Enhancer.

Is this in a spray bottle?

I'll be logging back on at about 8:00 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time.

I would looooove to have Q & A time. I'm a detailing junkie. This would be like having a direct conversation with God.;)

QUick detailer is pretty good. i think it works better than final inspection! i know the nozzel is better designed so you can spray in the air and it will fall on the surface whereas with final inspection its a little harder to do. quick detailer is better in terms of shine, slickness, etc. at least to me.

I heard quick wax is a scam. it does not last long, and for the cost per bottle and the amount of wax content per bottle its not worth it. this is what i heard only! so dont kill the messanger boy, lol.

in my opion if you use gold class OVER zaino i think it does make a difference. because you hvae z5, z2 etc. already, then your adding some more to it. to be more fair, i think using dawn to remove everything, then using half the hood with zaino and the other half gold class.

Believe it or not Meguiars has three detailing sprays. They are:

1. Quick Detailer
2. Final Inspection
3. Quick Shine Enhancer

According to Mike the only one that really improves the shine of the vehicle is the last one. The others strictly maintain the finish that already exists.

Johnson Chan,

I think you might be right in regards to putting the GC on the Zaino. It may not be a completely valid test however I really don't want to Dawn the car again just to do this test. Maybe when we have the clinic we can do a comparison there on a clean slate.

I honestly think that if someone was to use two of Meguiars polishing compounds (like #83 and #9) prior to waxing with GC then the results will be better than Zaino and the effort will be nearly the same. The only difference is you may need to wax more often to keep the finish perfect.

placo1,

just remember though, if you use those products, make sure you use it for both sides of the panel.

the reason i mention this is becasue if you use a rotory buffer, or any buffer with abrasives/swirl removing formula, and then do GC, and compare it with zaino z-5 and z-2 applied by hand, then of course GC will look better.

in my opinon zaino looks better with random orbital buffer with yellow foam pad. i guess its because it "burnish" it into the paint. and it will look and last longer.

BTW, thanks for letting me know about the shine enhancer i will have to give that a shot.

Quick Shine Enhancer must be a new product because it's not on Meguiar's website.

Could Someone Summarize for Me
 

You all seem to have a ton of knowledge. My wife drives an 2002 ML 320. She really doesn't put a lot of miles on it, maybe 500 a month. I generally wash once a week. How often and what products should I use to keep it looking perfect. The more detailed the instructions the better.

ColumbusMick:
Everyone seems to have their favorite products/techniques. If you like Meguiar's products, click the banner for the 'free Rx' at the top of the page. The form asks you a ton of questions about your car, where you live, what you are willing to expend in time, then it spits out a tailored-to-you set of products and procedures. Give it a try. Also, under the DIY tab at the top of the page is an article called 'Lee's Detailing FAQ' which is pretty comprehensive, and has worked well for me (click on the photo links by my signature!) :cool:

Hope this helps.

Hi Placo and Suginami-

...just to share some biased detailing experience (20+years of it)

>have spent hundreds of $$$ on the entire Meguire's line including prof body shop products (still have them in the garage and use them on various other vehicles (so they won't be a complete waste)

> I currently use Zaino and prefer it over any and all Meguire's products

> Between product manyfacturers/ specific products, their base formulations/ make-up's appear to be different (layperson's observations)- - so, results pros/ cons will be similar but not the same on any given car or any given day (naturally- they all shine and protect the finish!)

>I've concluded that, all the products protect and enhance the finish- - in the end. . it just depends which one you would like to patronize....no problemo!

...So which product is the best?
>by & cost?
>by longevity?
>by appearance?
>by paint surface? paint manufacturer?
>by car manfacturer?
>by country, city, state, geography?
>by whatever....


Ans. Depends! Have a great day!
-fad