New Car Dealer Antics + ZPC

yakky · 12-04-06, 05:36

So we picked up a 2006 Honda Element for my wife last week. We picked it up at night and I didn't notice the severe marring on the roof until a week later... Shame on me.

When I first saw it I really started to worry about this turning into a giant hassle. Visions of a roof repaint or trying to get them to give us another one. Then I decided I could reproduce the marks if needed

and hit them with ZPC on an Yellow pad via the PC. The worst spot took 4 passes.

The after pic highlights ZPC's flexibility. It can take out some severe defects yet polishes out quite well. Dust is the only tradeoff.

In the end, it looks great and I'm happy!

exclusivedetail · 12-05-06, 04:25

Very good results on the ZPC & Congrats on the new ride

gmblack3a · 12-05-06, 07:33

Excellent results you got there. Finished down so nice with a yellow pad? Was it a LC yellow pad?

yakky · 12-05-06, 07:47

Meguiars Yellow pad. When I was shopping for new pads Excel and LC did not have a complete set in stock so I went with meguiars. I've been pretty happy with them so far but the only others I have used were 3m.

The roof looked so good afterwards I wanted to polish the rest of the car but the wife wanted to get back to driving it. I'm surprised at the level or orange peel on it from the factory. Lots of room for improvement

gmblack3a · 12-05-06, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakky

Meguiars Yellow pad. When I was shopping for new pads Excel and LC did not have a complete set in stock so I went with meguiars. I've been pretty happy with them so far but the only others I have used were 3m.

The roof looked so good afterwards I wanted to polish the rest of the car but the wife wanted to get back to driving it. I'm surprised at the level or orange peel on it from the factory. Lots of room for improvement

If you get a chance and want to give the rest of the van a polish, just use a light cut pad with the ZPC. Then a few coats of Z2pro and you are good to go for the winter months.

yakky · 12-05-06, 01:14

I got two coats of Z2 on it. I didn't want to spend a 8+ hours polishing it. That would have meant it would be out of service for days.

wannafbody · 12-05-06, 01:49

Couple things- ZPC is more aggressive than many give it credit for. Second if your getting dusting your probably using too much. Use about 10-15 SMALL dots spread around the pad and pread it out on the paint thin and work it for as long as possible.

yakky · 12-05-06, 02:13

I agree, it is amazingly aggresive if you need it to be. The pictures don't do that marring justice. It was BAD. I'm no pro, but its the worst I've seen on any car. I'd say I was putting 3 or 4 dime sized drop on the pad. Its not terrible dusting, nothing like 3m rubbing compount, but much more than mother's power polish. Great stuff regardless, it finishes super smooth!

GregCavi · 12-05-06, 02:54

ZPC is a very crazy polish being able to work out bad defects and still finish clean. Spray a little z6 on your pad to alleviate the dusting issue.

Greg

yakky · 12-05-06, 05:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregCavi

ZPC is a very crazy polish being able to work out bad defects and still finish clean. Spray a little z6 on your pad to alleviate the dusting issue.

Greg

You know I did that at first but didn't re-Z6 after each panel and ZPC application, I think that may be the ticket as it didn't dust nearly as bad at first.