HEADPHONES

Like Hannibal from the A-Team used to say "I love it when a plan comes together"

Here's some extra reading that educated me many moons ago Bear in mind these are VERY OLD and new products like ceramic coatings and drying aids are around but it's good sound information that's quite detailed and gives a good understanding of the basic principles written by one of the most respected people on detailing world at the time Dave KG. In fact I've not seen anyone there that has put so much info out since! Safe washing technique https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=222657&highlight=Wash+guide Basic information on bonded contaminants and clay https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4829&highlight=Guide Fallout remover information https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=168433&highlight=Iron Polishing guide http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/images/misc/dapolishing.pdf Can be done by hand to a lesser degree and ALOT slower and hard going. Protecting the paint https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4915&highlight=Guide

As far as looking after the paintwork, or to be specific, the clear coat on the paint, rarely will you find 2 people who use identical steps/products. The principles I think can be categorised into the following. 1. Prevent inflicting damage/scratches during superficial/basic washing. 2. Removing tar 3. Removing iron fallout 4. Removing other miscellaneous bonded contamination that makes the paint feel "bumpy" with clay/clay cloth /clay mitt 5. Paint cleanser to remove ingrained dirt that is so fine you can't feel it. 6. Polishing and/or filling imperfections in the clearcoat once it is clean 7. Protecting the clearcoat from the elements to make future washing easier........and show off lovely water beading I do steps 1 to 7 once a year or so due to family commitments. Normally I just do step 1 then goto step 7 sometimes just applying the Last Stage Protection in the form of a drying aid where you spray a specific product onto the wet car after washing/rinsing and dry the car to spread the product onto the paint. The Turtlewax Hydrophobic Spray Sealant can be used like this. Last week I didn't have time for steps 2,3,4, bit still had a little time spare so used an All In One product "Autofinesse Tripple" that deep cleans the paint, lightly polishes the paint, temporarily fills in minor defects and swirls and adds a little protection. Autoglym Super Resin Polish is another example of this. My applicator pad would go black after just doing half the door! Then a couple minutes spent applying the Turtlewax spray sealant at the end. So pretty much what you've already planned. If I didn't have kids I'd use a tar remover every couple months and fallout remover maybe twice a year. I've two other white cars and the fallout really stands out as little yellow specs embedded in the rear hatch. The orange paint masks this well

It's a 2005 DE zed. Ordered it new with the full Nismo N1 Aero kit comprising a whole fibreglass front bumper, side skirts, rear spats and wing. Got some led rear clusters off Zmanalex in 2007. Got the Nismo LMGT4 rims in 2007. No other mods since then really. Just enjoy driving it, and detailing it. As you already know, when the light hits that orange paint, the glow is outta this world which is why I reckon you'd be missing out on a visual treat each time you arrive and leave your zed if you cover it up. As a coincidence I just applied Autofinesse Tripple by hand to the zed last week. A lovely All In One product that gets the this up from our club detailing fanatic Ilogikal. Then I topped it off with Turtlewax Hydrophobic Spray Sealant which goes on like thin baby oil and wipes off easy leaving a slippery slick finish that has class leading durability according to many detailing channels on YouTube (also cheap as chips ) It's also known as Seal n Shine in US.

You and me both

Was it Topgear exhausts in Stockport by any chance?

Was at my local Longlife exhaust franchise yesterday. Wife's Mini exhaust was blowing from midpipe somewhere. The original 2006 Mini exhaust corroded and died in 2015 so had a stainless steel cat back customised for £375. Had a new center silencer made and fitted free under lifetime warranty. Not sure why it failed at just 5 years though While there I got 2 quotes for the zed. £760 fitted for Scorpion Y pipe and cat back with rolled tips, or £900 custom made Longlife system. Came home and looking around the back box of the zed all seems fairly solid still. Even at the flange connecting back box to mid pipe things seemed solid. What aftermarket exhausts have you had fail on you and how old were they at failure? Also, anyone got an original 350z exhaust older than 15 years?

My Zed only spends a few days a year in my garage normally for some detailing in the evening. It's my daily and it's a bit of a faff moving our weekend family car out and getting the zed in so the zed lived outdoors for all of it's 15 years. To be honest. As long as there's not overhanging trees with heavy bird bombings and sap, all it needs is regular washing and maintenance. Not even a ceramic coating. Just some wax or spray on sealant every month or so. A good paint decon once or twice a year. The paint will feel smooth and pristine. It'll be dirty when you can't be bothered to clean it. It'll be a glowing orange fireball when you can. Plus, without a cover, even after 15 years ownership, I still walk past it and say to myself "Damn....... that's a mighty fine car with a mighty fine orange paint job" I don't think I'd be walking past going "Damn......check out that mighty fine dusty car cover"

I got the clear too. On the garage shelf waiting for an opportunity to polish headlights before applying

What gets done at 8000miles that costs £1580? New brakes? Surely it'd be just coolant and brake fluid change at the most

Welcome to the OC The Nismo looks mean and purposeful just stationary let alone at full pelt

Nice little kit that. Everything you need bar the drill in one affordable package. Try to update us yearly on how the UV coating holds up. Ive tried the similar Turtlewax pack and the coating only lasted a year or so. Same with Gtechniq C4. Gonna try a clear wrap after polishing next time.

A paintless dent removal guy will get to the door ding in seconds. Literally a couple of minutes and it'll be much better. If the paint hasn't been damaged past the clear coat you can then polish out any superficial marks. Up here in Manchester there are loads of small dent guys operating from home. I drove to one on a Saturday morning he popped out. Popped in his widget between glass and door. Ding popped out. I parted with a couple of twenties and he popped back in to finish his coffee.

Welcome to the OC We never get tired of photos of new members cars so when you're free, post some up

Mighty fine 370z Post up some pics of how that paint looks at night too

Good to have you back.... again. You're the original Mr Boomerang! We can't get rid of you. Just keep coming Looking forward to your next Zed chapter

Some nice concaveness going on with those rims.

A true fan........ returning with a second Zed

Can't beat some nice beading If it's as easy as you report, it only needs to last until the next wash and you can give it another "blast" as long as it doesn't work out too expensive for you.

I got sent this top tip today and cracked up If you glue a dead wasp to your palm, You can slap your boss at the back of his head as hard as you want and act like you saved him.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who washes the car at night Round my way the council fitted rubbish LED street light replacements. They must be 2w or something as the street looks so much gloomier. This was years ago so I reckon like all technology things have moved on and you and Coldel are luckily getting the new stuff.

Looking good there ready for Valentine's Day. Ps good shout on the alcohol swabs. My missus always has plenty of those in and I'm almost out so saves me buying more

So we've all probably noticed how the driver's door will often swing shut if left partially open. We've also all heard of how delicate the finishing material is on the interior door handle. After 15 years ownership I wondered why it is that my interior door handles haven't scratched to kingdom come. It's because often I don't actually open the door to the max meaning I hop on and it closes itself. Then on opening from the inside I normally push on the handle with a flat palm so no scratching from fingernails. So the self closing doors do have a plus point of sorts

According to my uncle in the far East, it's not a Zed or a Zee....... it'll always be a FAIRLADY