Spring Clean - Leon FR with Zaino

[n_d_fox]

Seeing as i had the week off last week i decided it was time to spruce up the Leon again. The last Zaino session was November so the layers were 5 months old. There had been subsequent Z8 and Z-CS applications since then and up to about 2 weeks ago but i wanted to strip that all back and go fresh.

So, started fairly early (but not too early for the jetwash to wake the neighbours) start of around 08:30 and a spray down with Megs APC cut 4:1 to loosen off the flies and crud over the car.

Then rinsed and foamed with Megs APC and a spot of SN shampoo, this was left while i cleaned the wheels as i wanted it to start breaking down the Zaino layers present.

Cracked on with the wheels which werent too bad, only a week or so grime and brake dust build up to remove. Gave them a mist of Megs Wheel Brightener cut 10:1 and then used various brushes and a MF mitt to get them clean

Gave the arches a brush over as well, hadnt done them in a while :doublesho

Rinsed the car, wheels and arches down thoroughly then washed 2BM with SN shampoo using a SN sponge for the upper panels and a noodle sponge for the lowers, sills and door shuts - no pics of this stage - forgot but you all know what a wash looks like :thumb:

Left the car wet and clayed using SN clay and Megs Last Touch as lube. Not too much contamination came off which was nice... this was the clay after the bonnet and front wings which i was expecting to be worse

Carried on and did the rest of the car with similar results. Paint was then nice and smooth so rinsed the car again and then dried with a SN towel and PB's waffle towel for the door shuts.

Got a bit back to front at this stage as decided to do the engine bay so gave the whole area a soak in Megs APC cut 4:1 then used a couple of brushes to aggitate before rinsing witht he jetwash. Dried excess water off with the PB's waffle towel and then ran the engine for 10 minutes with the bonnet shut to dry everything else off... applied CG's Bare Bones to area and left to settle with the bonnet down till later.

Before:

After: Wiped off excess Bare Bones after about 3 hours.

 

[n_d_fox]

Gave the car another rinse down to make sure nothing had misted over from cleaning the bay, dried the car off and made mental note to do that stage before washing the car next time :thumb:

Couple of pics of the car pre dry but clean and ready for Z-AIO

At this point i decided to remove the LEON badge from the boot lid so cracked out the better halves hair drier, some IPA and AG's intensive glue and tar remover.

During:

After:

Moving on, fired up the Megs G220 with a polishing pad and some of this lovely goodness

Went over the bonnet and roof first, spreading at speed 2 and working at speed 4, left to cure, checking with a swipe test after 15 minutes but ended up doing the whole car before it was ready to come off. Buffed with MF cloths to leave this

Gave the car a Z6 wipedown then mixed up the Z2 Pro and ZFX for the next stage.

Put down the first layer using a Zaino MF applicator to the whole car and left it to cure until a swipe showed it was ready to come off. Then gave the car another Z6 wipedown before a second layer was applied. Again, left it to cure and gave the car another Z6 wipedown.

At this point i looked at what was left of the Z2 / ZFX in the bottle and decided that there wasnt going to be enough for another complete layer (i actually mixed up more this time but applied too much during the first layer) so decided that Z-CS would be good for the final layer of protection instead of going for Z8.

I wanted to give the Z2 layers time to settle first though so got on finishing off the wheels and tyres. Applied CG's wheels guard to the wheels, left to cure then buffed and CG's New Look Trim Gel to the tyres which was left for 10 minutes and then wiped over with a MF cloth to take the excess product off and take the shine down a touch.

This was the point i finished off the bay by taking off the excess Bare Bones and also cleaned the glass using RainX cleaner and sealant AIO and a DoDo Mint Merkin.

Also gave the exhaust tips a clean and polish using SN fine metal polish, and MF cloth and the MF suede cloth that came with the polish.

Before:

After:

 

[n_d_fox]

This all took about an hour or maybe just over so it was time for Z-CS.

Applied this to the whole car with another Zaino MF applicator. I love the way this product works, its so simple to use and although just leaving it to cure with no buffing still feels a bit odd i love the finish it leaves.

 

[n_d_fox]

Afters:

 

[n_d_fox]

Slightly out of focus

Finished just after 17:00 so time taken was around 8 1/2 hours with a break here and there for refreshments... 4 days later i gave the car a wash down using Zaino Z7 and applied another Z-CS layer.

Thanks for looking... comments welcome, Nige

 

[gezmeister]

Nice work mate

Not sure if i'm keen on the stickers on the rear screen though

 

[n_d_fox]

Nice work mate

Not sure if i'm keen on the stickers on the rear screen though

Cheers...

Personal taste on the stickers... i dont like Marmite

 

[jonjay]

Awesome job!

 

[n_d_fox]

Awesome job!

Thanks buddy, appreciate your feedback

 

[jonjay]

Thanks buddy, appreciate your feedback

How you going to maintain the finish Nige? Top it up with Z7 when you wash or you going to wax?

 

[n_d_fox]

How you going to maintain the finish Nige? Top it up with Z7 when you wash or you going to wax?

Wash with Z7 then i have Z6 as a QD / wipedown product. Z8 as a spray sealant or Z-CS which is what i used as a finishing layer this time but its so quick and easy to use that it makes it viable on a monthly basis.

I did think about a wax but from a durability point of view it wouldnt add anything as whats there now should be good for 6 months. Not even sure a wax would add anything to the finish either.

Only thing i do miss from the waxes is the beading... water beads on this finish but it isnt the same effect. Water tends to sheet more easily and the beads are super small / tight... good, just different.

 

[jonjay]

Wash with Z7 then i have Z6 as a QD / wipedown product. Z8 as a spray sealant or Z-CS which is what i used as a finishing layer this time but its so quick and easy to use that it makes it viable on a monthly basis.

I did think about a wax but from a durability point of view it wouldnt add anything as whats there now should be good for 6 months. Not even sure a wax would add anything to the finish either.

Only thing i do miss from the waxes is the beading... water beads on this finish but it isnt the same effect. Water tends to sheet more easily and the beads are super small / tight... good, just different.

Reason I ask is I been using waxes now since October. Part of my "new" maintenance wash routine bar using a shampoo that contains some wax BUT i stopped using this and started using 3M Quik Wax. I am shocked by how easy it is to apply and it actually adds shine and protection. I do this nearly everytime I wash and I apply it similar to a QD. Process only adds 10-15 minutes on overall but well worth it as I havent needed to top up any base protection since Feb.

 

[n_d_fox]

Must admit that if i dont add something like Z8 or Z-CS after a routine wash i feel like i havent finished.

I used to use DoDo Red Mist but its a tricky product to use properly unless the conditions are spot on.

 

[butler2.8i]

Lovely finish matey, stunning colour