BLACK WOW vs. BLACK AGAIN

[FastZR1]

Background: My daily driver is a 2001 Ford Taurus with 125,080 miles. I've owned her since Aug 2008 and she spends 24/7 outside. I believe the previous owner kept her outside too, due to the condition of the car when I bought her. Anyway, she is my test vehicle that I practice different techniques and try new products on. This is my first official review of any product on AGO.

My lower windshield cowl or trim is plastic and I assume it was black when the car was new. I've used some Armoral when I first got the car (before I ever knew about AG), but it did little to blacken the trim.

I decided to purchase some BLACK AGAIN (http://www.autogeek.net/blackagain1.html) which retails for $9.99 for 8 oz. That works out to about $1.25 an oz. The directions state to apply with a cloth or applicator pad. You need to rub the product in w/ a back and forth motion until a deep luster is achieved. The product is then UV activated.
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9227/dsc01724b.jpg

I also bought some BLACK WOW (http://www.autogeek.net/black-wow-trim-restorer.html) which retails for $24.99 for 4 oz. That works out to about $6.25 an oz. The directions state to use a pea sized amount and rub it into the trim w/ a foam applicator. Wipe away excess with a wet paper towel.
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/8084/dsc01726x.jpg

Here are two pictures of the test area on the passenger side, below the windshield, after being washed and prior to any dressing. Color is faded gray.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4544/dsc01688.jpg
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/784/dsc01689q.jpg

My test subject minutes after applying the products. I left a small area of trim between the products untouched in order to get a good comparison.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4488/dsc01697.jpg

10 minutes after product application. Car is still in the garage so the BLACK AGAIN hasn't been activated by the UV light yet.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/6691/dsc01700i.jpg
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7021/dsc01702jq.jpg

Car was then moved back out into the driveway and the below picture was taken two hours after application. It appears that the BLACK WOW is soaking into the trim.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4484/dsc01718n.jpg

Today, 36 hours after application, the BLACK WOW has really soaked in and the gray trim is starting to show again. The BLACK AGAIN is still looking good. The center stripe that I left untouched is almost gone. It looks like the two products have bled into the center. Not a real problem, but I didn't expect the bleeding.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5208/dsc01722pc.jpg
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3936/dsc01723u.jpg

So, it looks like the much cheaper BLACK AGAIN is holding up a lot better than the expensive BLACK WOW. I'll leave the trim untouched until this weekend when I'll take a couple more pictures and update this thread.

The trim was faded pretty bad so I didn't expect a product could make it look brand new , but I'm happy with the BLACK AGAIN so far. Stay tuned for an update.
Ed

[ScottB]

nice reviews .... have you added any water to see if either streaks or runs on painted surface ???

I use to use Poorboys Trim Restorer for these areas but recently moved to Ultima. I also find Griots Weatherproof dressing works well but seems to have a dye in it and must be removed immediately on areas not meant to be coated.

[FastZR1]

No Sir, I haven't added any water. It will most likely rain before Friday and I'll check the trim after the rain or next wash if the rain misses us.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Holy cow, black again did a much better job! Nice review. :dblthumb2:

[sydster]

:dblthumb2:

[Rsurfer]

nice reviews .... have you added any water to see if either streaks or runs on painted surface ???

I use to use Poorboys Trim Restorer for these areas but recently moved to Ultima. I also find Griots Weatherproof dressing works well but seems to have a dye in it and must be removed immediately on areas not meant to be coated.
I'm with Scott on Ultima as the best trim dressing I've used so far. As far as BW it needs to be worked in with water. It is super black and durable when worked this way, but it takes some effort. Ultima is so much easier. BTW nice review.

[StephenK]

As far as BW it needs to be worked in with water. It is super black and durable when worked this way, but it takes some effort. Ultima is so much easier. BTW nice review.




just wondering if the directions say to work it in using water? i have never used it so that is why i am asking. cause from this review BW got whacked by a little Guido. lol

[cobalt9123]

I'm with them ^^ Ultima is the best looking and performing trim guard I've used. It literally feels like my trim is as slick as my paint when waxed, and beads too!

[Rsurfer]

just wondering if the directions say to work it in using water? i have never used it so that is why i am asking. cause from this review BW got whacked by a little Guido. lol
No it doesn't say to spray water and buff, but I tried it on someone's recommendation and it does work well. BW has been sitting on my shelf collecting dust cause it was streakly, sticky and ran soon after a rain. Now that I know how to use it, it's back in my arsenal.

[FastZR1]

Rsurfer is right. The directions didn't say anything about working it in with some water. They did state that you wipe the excess away with a wet towl, which I did, but I didn't work the product in with that wet towel. I just wiped off the little excess I had.

I'll try your suggestion and apply some more BLACK WOW this weekend and work it in with water to see how that comes out.

Looks like I'll have to get my hands on some of this Ultima stuff too. I'm always looking for a great trim product that won't streak in the rain and will last longer than 5 days. Many of todays cars and trucks have plastic trim in several places. IMO, trim that isn't detailed well, sticks out like a sore thumb.

[Mindflux]

Black WOW Exterior Trim Restorer (http://www.autogeek.net/black-wow-trim-restorer.html)

1m:45s minute mark of that video shows/mentions the guy using water to buff off excess product.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I'm with Scott on Ultima as the best trim dressing I've used so far. As far as BW it needs to be worked in with water. It is super black and durable when worked this way, but it takes some effort. Ultima is so much easier. BTW nice review.
Ron,

Do you apply, wipe, then spray with water to remove excess(like the video mindflux posted)?

or

Do you apply, spray with water and work in product, then wipe?

[Flash Gordon]

I use to use Poorboys Trim Restorer for these areas but recently moved to Ultima. I also find Griots Weatherproof dressing works well but seems to have a dye in it and must be removed immediately on areas not meant to be coated.

Smart move swithcing to Ultima :props:

[OctaneGuy]

I'm sorry I'm replying late to this thread as I just found it, but some clarification needs to be made here. First off, thanks to the OP for posting up this comparison.

On March 29, 2009, I posted this writeup
Titled: Black Wow on Severely Neglected Trim with a Lincoln Mark LT as the subject.
Black Wow Application on Severely Neglected Trim - ShowCarDetailing (http://www.showcardetailing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1579)

Similar to your test, the cowling looked like this
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/bw/DSC05827.JPG

The first application looked great, until within a few hours it fully absorbed
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/bw/DSC05836.JPG

And a few hours later looked like this
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/bw/DSC05841.JPG

Most people stop right here and say..Wow Black Wow is expensive and doesn't last very long instead of thinking...Hmmm...maybe it's a sign that the product is working as intended.

Black Wow is a durable restorer product because it actually absorbs into the trim material and stays there. The bleeding you saw is proof of that.

Each application of Black Wow is actually measured in Sesame Seed sized drops. Originally I thought pea sized was small enough, but later found out that even less was best. Ounce to Ounce, Black Wow costs more, do doubt about that. But comparing amount of product used per application, Black Wow can do an entire Jeep Grand Cherokee with front and rear bumpers, door cladding and roof rack with 1/8th of an ounce and once properly applied the frequency to apply BW is lower than other products. Because BW is designed to absorb into the trim, each application is cumulative and will need to be touched up once in awhile. I suggest keeping your applicator in a baggy and just using the product already on it, to touch it up after 3 or 4 weeks.

From the picture above, a second application looks even better than the first
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/bw/DSC05843.JPG

Another interesting thing is that Black Wow applied 3 times in 1 hour versus 3 times over 12 hours looks completely different. See below. Each application is using a tiny dot of product. On the far upper left, it's the original grey, adjacent is 3 applications in 1 hour, and to the far lower right, it's 3 applications over 12 hours, proving that letting Black Wow absorb makes a difference. I bet that the amount of product you use for those 3 applications will still be less than the amount you use for one application of another product.
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/bw/DSC05867.JPG

Now this applies for SEVERELY NEGLECTED trim. For new trim, one application is usually all you need.

Another thing.

The video on the BlackWow site is a DEMO VIDEO. I made it to show how easy it is to apply, and I included things like cleaning it with 50/50 water/alcohol, and showing how it beads when wet. This was never meant to be a video on the only way to apply Black Wow, though many people interpret it that way.

The preferred way is to apply it and let it soak. Apply BW the day before you plan a car wash and the shine will be gone as will any dust attraction. If you use a foam or microfiber application, you might experience some static discharge. Just moisten the applicator with a bit of water and the static will not build up anymore. It won't affect the Black Wow application.

Here's a Toyota that is never washed but driven every day and neglected by the owner. A month and a week later you can still see Black Wow. This car parks in front of my office every day and the owner allowed me to do my tests on it over a two month period.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs152.ash2/40947_463681401132_157160866132_7016636_4329615_n. jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs180.ash2/44291_463681386132_157160866132_7016635_1284669_n. jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs021.snc4/33388_449394121132_157160866132_6614904_6929913_n. jpg
After it's been touched up two months later.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs361.snc4/44452_466396891132_157160866132_7093625_3864061_n. jpg

I also have a Face Book page for Black Wow here
Welcome to Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Black-Wow/275970195636)

If you have any questions about Black Wow, please feel free to PM me. I always make myself available to my customers. It's strange that I rarely ever get contacted about problems, but have to seek out reviews like this.

Richard Lin

[Old Tiger]

I'm with Scott on Ultima as the best trim dressing I've used so far. As far as BW it needs to be worked in with water. It is super black and durable when worked this way, but it takes some effort. Ultima is so much easier. BTW nice review.
Ron, thanks for your input. Im glad to know your opinion on UTTG. It validates mine.