As some of you may know, I had my '05 Q45 detailed by "European Detail Specialists" here in Phoenix. They are the outfit that details most of the cars for the Barrett-Jackson auction. One of the members here had his engine compartment detailed by them as a gift and posted pics. It looked great, so I went to them to get my car done. When they were quoting me, the base price included Carnauba wax, which they said would last from 2 to 6 months. They also quoted me an upgrade, using a paint treatment called "Glare", whatever that is. I was skeptical at first, but they said it would last for 1 to 2 years, so I paid the extra (I think it was $75) for it.
I waited a while before posting so I could see how it turned out and how well it lasted.
I bought the car 2 years old, and the PO did absolutely nothing to take care of the appearance. It was covered with those tiny scratches from car washes. They had to be buffed out, which cost a little more. Even so, while they got most of them, they couldn't get them all, as some of the scratches were just too deep to remove without damaging the clearcoat, but they are only visible now if caught at the right angle, and looking hard at it. In general, it came out beautiful.
Man, that stuff is fantastic. I've driven the car in the rain 3 times now without washing it. It looks almost as good as when they finished. I had the car done around 3 months ago, and have only washed it once, using the Mr Clean no-dry car wash system. I can't believe how the dirt, or even dirty water from the roadway when it rains just doesn't stick to the paint. It's White Pearl, and looks great, even after a month since the wash and driving in the rain twice afterward. It doesn't produce a blinding ultra-shiny effect, just a very nice soft gloss that allows the lines of the car to stand out. For me, too much gloss makes sunlight relfect off the paint so much that it detracts from the lines of the car. The pearl really stands out in any light, and while it's subtle, just looks impressive. If I had to specify how I wanted it to look, it would have been exactly the way it turned out.
I don't know what's in that stuff, but it sure works. I know that other paint "treatments" like the old "Polyglycoat" were a ripoff, but this stuff is phenomenal. EDS will also apply another coat after 6 months as a "booster", N/C I think, which I'll definitely have done.
It sure is great to have a nice car that looks good and doesn't get dirty easily without having to kill myself washing, polishing, and waxing it all the time, and especially, that lasts a long time.
If you have a detail shop that uses "Glare", it's worth the money to pay them to detail your car and use it, and not have to do anything but wash it once in a while for 2 years, looking like new all that time.
Good car care product
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szh
- Posts: 15932
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 12:54 pm
- Car: 2018 Tesla Model 3.
Unfortunately, no longer a Nissan or Infiniti, but continuing here at NICO! - Location: San Jose, CA
I can't comment on Glare, but what you said is exactly the reaction I had to the Zaino products ... check out http://www.zainostore.com for more info!
It is good stuff!
Z
It is good stuff!
Z
Re: (szhosain)
Could be the same stuff, just marketed under a different name.Whatever it is, I sure like it. No more sweating my butt off taking care of the exterior.szhosain wrote:I can't comment on Glare, but what you said is exactly the reaction I had to the Zaino products ... check out http://www.zainostore.com for more info!
It is good stuff!
Z
Re: (StarPD)
just have to add my 2 cents here! First of all,if they are advising a booster layer at 6 months,the product is not a 2 year shine/protection plan,but in reality a 6 month one.Natural wax has a very short life,especially in a hot climate,which is why a synthetic sealant is used to prolong the protection-not knocking your detail job,but even if a product were available with a true 2 year lifetime {not needing ANY reapplication for 24 months},most would not be happy with it due to the fact that every daily driver vehicle picks up surface scratches and marring from routine wash/drying and from careless people brushing against your car as they walk by it in parking situations,much less the slobs who mar the paint with their door edges while exiting their vehicle=all this micromarring needs to be polished/buffed out regularly to maintain a beautiful finish,usually 2x year-so any "wax" that lasts much longer than that is useless if you are a stickler for a swirl free finish-- I for one dont want a shiny protected paint finish that looks like swirl city for 2 years before my next detail!
Re: (qship96)
"Booster" coat is not necessary every 6 months, but is free with the first application, so I'll take it. Supposed to last 1 to 2 years, that's better than any wax I've ever used. I keep my car garaged most of the time, and park it away from foot or vehicle traffic so it doesn't get the brushing from passers by or door dings/scratches from other vehicles or shopping carts. So far, after 3 months, it looks just like it did when applied, so I have high hopes for it. I never had a wax of any kind that didn't hold dirty water from the roadway. This stuff seems to repel it, even behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. Oh yeah, and I wash it myself, using fresh clean wash mitts, Mr. Clean "no-dry" wash system, and fresh clean microfiber cloths for collecting residual water and wiping out doorjambs, hood, trunk, and gas filler door openings. I NEVER put a cloth I'm using on the car down, and any that touch anything that could be dusty are replaced with fresh ones. No car wash scratches so far. PO took it to car washes, and while I had most of them buffed out, I will at least not get any more (says with fingers crossed).qship96 wrote:just have to add my 2 cents here! First of all,if they are advising a booster layer at 6 months,the product is not a 2 year shine/protection plan,but in reality a 6 month one.Natural wax has a very short life,especially in a hot climate,which is why a synthetic sealant is used to prolong the protection-not knocking your detail job,but even if a product were available with a true 2 year lifetime {not needing ANY reapplication for 24 months},most would not be happy with it due to the fact that every daily driver vehicle picks up surface scratches and marring from routine wash/drying and from careless people brushing against your car as they walk by it in parking situations,much less the slobs who mar the paint with their door edges while exiting their vehicle=all this micromarring needs to be polished/buffed out regularly to maintain a beautiful finish,usually 2x year-so any "wax" that lasts much longer than that is useless if you are a stickler for a swirl free finish-- I for one dont want a shiny protected paint finish that looks like swirl city for 2 years before my next detail!
If you want to spend time and effort waxing your car regularly, by all means, do so. Some guys like washing and waxing their cars. I did for many years, but no more. I just don't have the energy or time to bother with it, especially since with this stuff, I don't have to.
"Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer cherce".