Update:See this spreadsheet for test data and updates
Here in alphabetical order are the products I’ve decided to test. In most cases Ill be evaluating two coats of the brand’s paint protector/finish followed by two coats of the its associated top finish or gloss detailer (but only if the manufacturer recommends that it be applied over the base protector/finish). In a number of cases the manufacturer claims the base is all that’s needed to provide protection and gloss. In these cases I’ll take them at their word. I’ve marked those products with an asterisk.
These products cover all of the basic chemistries for synthetic paint protection and gloss enhancers available today: PTFE, Polymers, GlasPlexin, Nano Pro, and Ceramic Quartz.
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection/Midnight Sun Detailer
CQuartz Ceramic Quartz Paint Protection/Reload Spray Sealant
Glare Professional Polish*
HD Nitro Seal/HD Touch
Klasse All In One Cleaner/Polish/High Gloss Sealant Glaze
Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste 2.0* (this is a synthetic finish so I don’t know why they call it a wax.)
Opti-Coat 2.0/Optima Poly Seal
Zaino ZFX/ Z-2 Pro
22ple Vx1 Pro Signature Glass Coat
3M Performance Finish*
With delivery of my multi-coat red Model S coming in April or May I’ve been torn over what of the various paint finishes to use when I have my car detailed upon arrival (yes, I’ll have it detailed before I even drive it). Should it be Zaino? How about Blackfire? What about Glare? Klasse? As nearly all of the manufacturers make many of the same claims it’s hard to make a decision. In fact, the bulls**t factor for these products is beyond belief.
IMHO, as they rely almost wholly on the subjective judgments of the reviewer, none of the online evaluations of the most highly-regarded products are worth a dime. Also it’s hard to know if the reviewers are shills for the product manufacturers. Also, many of the reviews use photographs to show the difference in gloss between the various products evaluated. I also find these useless as often there appears to be little or no difference and even if there is photographs can’t capture it.
So I’ve decided to do my own controlled experiment. One of my good friends has a new red car (the red is a reasonably close match for the Tesla multi-coat red) and she’s agreed let me use it for my experiment. It’s a daily driver, also good for the test I have in mind.
First, I’m going to remove all of the waxes and finishes on the car now. Then I’m going to divide up at least 4 separate test panels (perhaps as many as 8 depending on the number of products I end up testing). I’ll apply, following directions carefully, one product to each test panel.
Second, using a gloss meter (yes, such things do exist), immediately after application, I’ll take several measurements of the gloss of each panel. That will provide a reliable and scientific basis for comparing the gloss each product produces.
Third, for a period of two months I’ll take gloss measurements of the panels in intervals of two weeks. The measurements will be taken after the car has been washed. This should provide some reasonable comparative measure of the durability of the product (or at least its gloss, which is what most of us are concerned about). I’m going to test just the based paint sealants/polish, not the add-on sprays. No waxes will be tested as with the new polymer materials that now seems to be outmoded chemistry for paint protection. I’m also not testing polishes or compounds to remove spiders or scratches. I want to test how these things impart gloss to a new car surface in top condition.
Here’s a preliminary list of the products I plan to test:
Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection
Klasse All-In-One
Glare Professional Polish
HD Nitro Seal
I have these products in hand now, but if anyone wants to nominate other products, please do so and I’ll buy them for the test. I’ll able to test a maximum of eight. I won’t set up the test until the beginning of February, so there’s time for discussion and suggestions about my proposed test approach and the products to test.
Here in alphabetical order are the products I’ve decided to test. In most cases Ill be evaluating two coats of the brand’s paint protector/finish followed by two coats of the its associated top finish or gloss detailer (but only if the manufacturer recommends that it be applied over the base protector/finish). In a number of cases the manufacturer claims the base is all that’s needed to provide protection and gloss. In these cases I’ll take them at their word. I’ve marked those products with an asterisk.
These products cover all of the basic chemistries for synthetic paint protection and gloss enhancers available today: PTFE, Polymers, GlasPlexin, Nano Pro, and Ceramic Quartz.
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection/Midnight Sun Detailer
CQuartz Ceramic Quartz Paint Protection/Reload Spray Sealant
Glare Professional Polish*
HD Nitro Seal/HD Touch
Klasse All In One Cleaner/Polish/High Gloss Sealant Glaze
Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste 2.0* (this is a synthetic finish so I don’t know why they call it a wax.)
Opti-Coat 2.0/Optima Poly Seal
Zaino ZFX/ Z-2 Pro
22ple Vx1 Pro Signature Glass Coat
3M Performance Finish*
With delivery of my multi-coat red Model S coming in April or May I’ve been torn over what of the various paint finishes to use when I have my car detailed upon arrival (yes, I’ll have it detailed before I even drive it). Should it be Zaino? How about Blackfire? What about Glare? Klasse? As nearly all of the manufacturers make many of the same claims it’s hard to make a decision. In fact, the bulls**t factor for these products is beyond belief.
IMHO, as they rely almost wholly on the subjective judgments of the reviewer, none of the online evaluations of the most highly-regarded products are worth a dime. Also it’s hard to know if the reviewers are shills for the product manufacturers. Also, many of the reviews use photographs to show the difference in gloss between the various products evaluated. I also find these useless as often there appears to be little or no difference and even if there is photographs can’t capture it.
So I’ve decided to do my own controlled experiment. One of my good friends has a new red car (the red is a reasonably close match for the Tesla multi-coat red) and she’s agreed let me use it for my experiment. It’s a daily driver, also good for the test I have in mind.
First, I’m going to remove all of the waxes and finishes on the car now. Then I’m going to divide up at least 4 separate test panels (perhaps as many as 8 depending on the number of products I end up testing). I’ll apply, following directions carefully, one product to each test panel.
Second, using a gloss meter (yes, such things do exist), immediately after application, I’ll take several measurements of the gloss of each panel. That will provide a reliable and scientific basis for comparing the gloss each product produces.
Third, for a period of two months I’ll take gloss measurements of the panels in intervals of two weeks. The measurements will be taken after the car has been washed. This should provide some reasonable comparative measure of the durability of the product (or at least its gloss, which is what most of us are concerned about). I’m going to test just the based paint sealants/polish, not the add-on sprays. No waxes will be tested as with the new polymer materials that now seems to be outmoded chemistry for paint protection. I’m also not testing polishes or compounds to remove spiders or scratches. I want to test how these things impart gloss to a new car surface in top condition.
Here’s a preliminary list of the products I plan to test:
Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection
Klasse All-In-One
Glare Professional Polish
HD Nitro Seal
I have these products in hand now, but if anyone wants to nominate other products, please do so and I’ll buy them for the test. I’ll able to test a maximum of eight. I won’t set up the test until the beginning of February, so there’s time for discussion and suggestions about my proposed test approach and the products to test.
Last edited: