A Zymol Sceptic...

[cyberface]

I have always been a driver, not a polisher and simply don't have the patience to spend hours polishing my car. As a result it tends to stay pretty mucky but thoroughly enjoyed!

However I have no garage, it stays outdoors in all weathers, and is now 12 years old. The paintwork is not perfect, there are plenty of little stone chips, and the cool Aventura Green paint has lost a lot of its shine. Hell, as long as it doesn't attract vandals that's cool with me.

After reading the hilarious threads about £4000 tubs of wax and the passions the stuff seems to raise amongst fans and detractors alike, I thought I'd slap some cheap Zymol on my 993 as a quick test - firstly to see whether it actually makes the car look significantly better, and secondly in hope that it may protect the paintwork for some time.

One £10 bottle of what I presume is entry-level Zymol 'cleaner wax' from Halfords and some elbow grease later...






Bear in mind that I don't have the patience to polish cars so it was a rush job. Also it's a 12 year old 993 that's spent most of its life exposed to the elements.

I'm actually quite impressed - the question is... is this due to Zymol being a superior product, or would any wax give me this effect? Also, it will be interesting to see how long the finish lasts...

[agent006]

cyberface said:

any wax give me this effect

The green Cleaner Wax is made under license by some british lot, not by Zymol themselves. I fond it to be pretty poor. Have just given our Boxster the full Meguiars 3 stage treatment this afternoon and i can thoroughly recommend it. Took just over 2 hours and looks better than the day it arrived.

[petros]

Have tried Zymol, Maguiars, Mothers, Harley Wax. Only real difference seems to be in the price... I M H O that is..

[welshchris]

Best thing I ever did was get all the crud off mine using Meguiars Scratch-X prior to polishing with zymol.

The scratch-X (about 8 quid a tube from Halfords) really prepares the paint beautifully for polishing. My car looks better than it ever has since using it.

Chris

[rossco1]

I have recently bought a C4s and given it a wash and wax with Halfords Zymol wash and the cleaning wax and am very pleased with the finish. I will give it the 4 stage treatment in the next few weeks though 1. Wash 2. HD Cleanse (chocolate sauce) 3. Clay bar 4. Carnauba wax either Zymol or Harley as that has a high Carnauba content. I will let you know if there is a significant diferrence (I hope there is) I also would rather be driving than polishing but if it is once or twice a year and the results justify the effort then i'll give it a go.

[CatherineJ]

I use the duck egg blue Zymol product that you can buy from Halfords or Zymol direct. I have used it on a number of cars and the results have been very good (Certainly much better than my previous efforts with Autoglym).

[mustard]

CatherineJ said:

I use the duck egg blue Zymol product that you can buy from Halfords or Zymol direct. I have used it on a number of cars and the results have been very good (Certainly much better than my previous efforts with Autoglym).

Me too! Better for the paint as its a wax rather than a polish

[elitedetailer]

rossco1 said:

I have recently bought a C4s and given it a wash and wax with Halfords Zymol wash and the cleaning wax and am very pleased with the finish. I will give it the 4 stage treatment in the next few weeks though 1. Wash 2. HD Cleanse (chocolate sauce) 3. Clay bar 4. Carnauba wax either Zymol or Harley as that has a high Carnauba content. I will let you know if there is a significant diferrence (I hope there is) I also would rather be driving than polishing but if it is once or twice a year and the results justify the effort then i'll give it a go.

Clay before you HD,

[cyberface]

Photos are off my mobile in fading evening light so don't really do the car justice - it's shinier than it's ever been (this doesn't mean much with my cars) and even impressed me. You can actually see green in the paint now

The thing that interests me really is whether this product actually leaves a layer of wax on the car that lasts more than a couple of days - as that's the only way I can see any of these products having a real beneficial effect on the car's paintwork.

Oh yeah, and even if the whole polishing thing is a waste of time, I have been reminded very explicitly how beautiful the 993 shape is I've been taking those curves for granted, having to rub the damn thing really points them out

[jaseb]

I think one of the best bits is that it smell nice...

[cyberface]

CatherineJ said:

I use the duck egg blue Zymol product that you can buy from Halfords or Zymol direct. I have used it on a number of cars and the results have been very good (Certainly much better than my previous efforts with Autoglym).

That's the one - the bottle I used was the duck egg blue Zymol stuff, bought from Halfords. It smells like bananas, and my hands are still stinking now.

It is also now exceedingly clear that my car could do with a front end respray and a bunch of stone chip fixes... unfortunately given the choice between spending money on bodywork or the next performance upgrade... speed wins every time

[andrew medway]

I have just spent most of the day on my basalt black 996tt. Washed, hd clensed, then clayed, then another clensing (which I am told is the right way round so as not to get crap in the clay)and then application of two coats of glasur.

Car looks stunning, absoloutly great. But the amount of effort! Eaisier to gat a respray. And I don't want to touch it or use it now as I might cock it up!

[loonycat]

cyberface said:

The thing that interests me really is whether this product actually leaves a layer of wax on the car that lasts more than a couple of days - as that's the only way I can see any of these products having a real beneficial effect on the car's paintwork.

I use the Glasur stuff that was apparently developed for Porsches (although this sounds like marketing speak). Two layers applied 24 hours apart (and Miracle will tell you you can do several more than that) keep the paint looking stunning for about 4 - 6 months. If you are a bit sad about things (like me) and want to keep the car immaculate it will still only need about 3 applications a year.

I've only ever used Zymol on my car and since the results are so good can't see the point of trying anything else. Glasur tub is £99 and lasts for 2 years.

Even with a trick digital camera I don't think my photos do justice to how good the car looks in the flesh. Given yours was on a camera phone in bad light your 993 must look fantastic up close. Great effort.


And that's more people polishing their cars. Polishing is good. Everyone should polish

[shed17]

I am glad I am not the only sad one here. Spent yesterday just sorting out the bonnet and front wings, although had clayed the full car and will get round to doing each area.

So as I said:

Clayed
PC and Autoglym Paint Cleanser
PC and watered down Autoglym Paint Cleanser
PC and Sonus No 3 Polish
1 Coat of Carlack68 Glaze (Klasse AIO)
3 Coats of Carlack68 Acryl Wax (Klasse SG)
1 Coat of Pinnacle Souveran

End result is bodywork like silk and no micro scratches

If the weather is OK tomorrow will do the roof and doors!

[andrew medway]

shed17 said:

I am glad I am not the only sad one here. Spent yesterday just sorting out the bonnet and front wings, although had clayed the full car and will get round to doing each area. So as I said: Clayed PC and Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and watered down Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and Sonus No 3 Polish 1 Coat of Carlack68 Glaze (Klasse AIO) 3 Coats of Carlack68 Acryl Wax (Klasse SG) 1 Coat of Pinnacle Souveran End result is bodywork like silk and no micro scratches If the weather is OK tomorrow will do the roof and doors!

Now that really is sad. However, I have found a way to remove stonechhips, if anyone is interested...

[ballcock]

andrew medway said:

shed17 said: I am glad I am not the only sad one here. Spent yesterday just sorting out the bonnet and front wings, although had clayed the full car and will get round to doing each area. So as I said: Clayed PC and Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and watered down Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and Sonus No 3 Polish 1 Coat of Carlack68 Glaze (Klasse AIO) 3 Coats of Carlack68 Acryl Wax (Klasse SG) 1 Coat of Pinnacle Souveran End result is bodywork like silk and no micro scratches If the weather is OK tomorrow will do the roof and doors! Now that really is sad. However, I have found a way to remove stonechhips, if anyone is interested...

Do tell Andrew .. I'm probably setting myself up for 'buy a new car' or something... Like the old Spike Milligan one of the cure for seasickness?



Sit under a tree!(sorry .. I digress!)

[andrew medway]

ballcock said:

andrew medway said: shed17 said: I am glad I am not the only sad one here. Spent yesterday just sorting out the bonnet and front wings, although had clayed the full car and will get round to doing each area. So as I said: Clayed PC and Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and watered down Autoglym Paint Cleanser PC and Sonus No 3 Polish 1 Coat of Carlack68 Glaze (Klasse AIO) 3 Coats of Carlack68 Acryl Wax (Klasse SG) 1 Coat of Pinnacle Souveran End result is bodywork like silk and no micro scratches If the weather is OK tomorrow will do the roof and doors! Now that really is sad. However, I have found a way to remove stonechhips, if anyone is interested... Do tell Andrew .. I'm probably setting myself up for 'buy a new car' or something... Like the old Spike Milligan one of the cure for seasickness? Sit under a tree!(sorry .. I digress!)

No, I am serious here. If you get a Porsche coulor stick (colour and laquer) and apply the colour to the cleaned chip divvet using an artists tiny brush. Then, using another tiny brush, apply the laquer and quickly wipe the surface gently with the cleaned and smoothed edge of a credit car, or similar, flush with the paint surface. Allow to dry for 10 mins or so and buff gently with a scratch remover, (I use Mer). With practice, I have removed stone chips to the point of almost complete invisibility, even looking under strong sunlight.

[ballcock]

I'll be trying that one! .. Lacquer goes on immediately after the colours applied?

[andrew medway]

ballcock said:

I'll be trying that one! .. Lacquer goes on immediately after the colours applied?

Yes, but practice first. You need to flatten the surface with the card at just the right time or it drags or is too hard.

Be careful. I practised on my wifes car first. Oh, I do miss her...

[ballcock]

andrew medway said:

ballcock said: I'll be trying that one! .. Lacquer goes on immediately after the colours applied? Yes, but practice first. You need to flatten the surface with the card at just the right time or it drags or is too hard. Be careful. I practised on my wifes car first. Oh, I do miss her...

Ta .... Could I interest you in my one!!