Camaro ZL1: A little experiment of mine

[RoadRageDetail]

A customer of mine just had some power upgrades installed and wanted his ride cleaned up before he picked it up. Unfortunately he wasn't at all interested in paint corrections or polishing in general, but this gave me a great opportunity to try out a couple products I've been wanting to put to the test. Supernatural Micro Prime vs. Chemical Guys Blacklight

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4308.jpg

I know I'm not comparing apples to apples here. However, there's a couple things I'm taking into consideration before diving into this:

1. People who have used BL say it has fine corrective properties, perhaps even a candidate as a possible AIO. So lets compare these products to see just how much "fine tuning" each bottle has in store.

2. Even CG say BL ranks pretty low on the longevity scale and is best paired with something like V7 or other sealant/carnauba products to extend LSP life. Since both products could be considered a final step before waxing or sealing, what kind of finish do each leave behind?

If you just want to see some final pics, go ahead and skip the side-by-sides. Just keep in mind there were NO corrections made to the paint so you will see some swirls.

Each product was applied with its own black LC CCS pad to avoid cross-contamination. They were put on with my Flex 3401 at speeds between 3-3.5

While I wish I could have put a good one or two step polish to work, lets see how much corrections are made. I see some swirls, light scratches and water deposits.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4305.jpg

I put down a wide tape line to divide the products so there's quite a bit of a gap between them. I applied Micro Prime to the left, BL to the right.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4309.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4310.jpg

Before Micro Prime:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4313.jpg

After Micro Prime:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4315.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4316.jpg

A few scratches remain visible but it quickly removed all the water spots and corrected/filled the swirls nicely. It DOES contain fillers so this is something to keep in mind.

Before Blacklight:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4317.jpg

After Blacklight:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4318.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4320.jpg

Overall clarity has been greatly optimized. Not all the defects were removed, but I had a very difficult time capturing them with my camera and you'd have to be a detailer to notice them.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4321.jpg

I had a very hard time telling which product did better than the other.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4322.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4323.jpg

I will say this, however: Of the two, I could tell in the pad that some clear was being abraded in the Micro Prime. It behaved much like a polish, practically vanished as it worked into the paint and was an absolute breeze to use. Blacklight really blurred the line between sealant and polish. It did thin out quite a bit when it was time to move to the next section but never changed in texture or appearance. I really had to put some effort to get the effect out of Blacklight that you see in the Micro Prime.

Since I knew I was using the BL and V7 combo before beginning the job, I went ahead and finished the car using those products. If I had more time or quoted the job a bit higher for a basic detail service, I would have stuck with the Micro Prime and probably topped it off with BFWD. No question. I must say that I am NOT disappointed with the results.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4325.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4332.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4334.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4335.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4339.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4342.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4343.jpg

Like I said, not flawless. But the shine was INCREDIBLE standing back knowing that I had not polished a single inch of the paint.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4344.jpg

Dressed up the engine bay:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4329.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4331.jpg

Quick interior cleaning:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4346.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4349.jpg

Yes. The ear protection IS needed on the dyno.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4350.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4352.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4353.jpg

[RoadRageDetail]

Lets see what the sun had to say about this shiny car after the V7 went on, and just what swirls or defects are left visible.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4354.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4355.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4356.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4357.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4358.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4359.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4361.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4362.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4363.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4364.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4365.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4367.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4368.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4370.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4378.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4373.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4377.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4366.jpg

I gotta say. I'm sincerely in awe of what BL is capable of. This is a total game changer in my mind. The only thing I wish is that it had a more slick feel to it. My Miracle Towel slid across it like ice, but to the back of my hand it felt very bare. Since it looks like this one bottle will do dozens of cars, it makes BL very inexpensive. I'm not disappointed in my purchase one bit and will be keeping this in my arsenal.

BTW: What is V7 made of??? Liquid gold? I was putting two sprays on the towel, wiping it down and watching it flash, then turning the towel and wiping it off. Easier than any QD I've ever used.

Can't wait to put this combo on after a round of final finishing. Thanks for checking it out, and stay tuned. I'm sure I'll have more to come.

[snellvilleauto]

Thanks for sharing. Awesome job. I have the same products and have great result from the BL/V7...duribility sucks though. I have Microprime but have yet to try it.

What do you mean by this " I really had to put some effort to get the effect out of Blacklight that you see in the Micro Prime."

[Mc'lovin]

This kind of work (and I have seen very similar ones posted here and in other places) just strengthens my view that nowadays, with the great products out there, you really don't have to rush and use compounds etc. - you can get amazing results with the least aggressive products.

Of course this statement will never be true to all vehicles and all situations, I know that each and every case is an individual one that requires what's best for it. But still, it's great to see fantastic results with mild products.

Great job, and thanks for sharing!


What do you mean by this " I really had to put some effort to get the effect out of Blacklight that you see in the Micro Prime."

I wanted to ask the same question!
Plus another one: Did you prime the pad with BL and Microprime before using it, or did you use a pad conditioner, or just a few drops of product on a dry pad and started working?

[RoadRageDetail]

What do you mean by this " I really had to put some effort to get the effect out of Blacklight that you see in the Micro Prime."

I felt I had to extend the "working time" of BL overall and found that even with medium pressure it wasn't enough to make the slightest improvement in some areas. The Micro Prime was so effortless and simple that it really blew me away in comparison.


This kind of work (and I have seen very similar ones posted here and in other places) just strengthens my view that nowadays, with the great products out there, you really don't have to rush and use compounds etc. - you can get amazing results with the least aggressive products.

Of course this statement will never be true to all vehicles and all situations, I know that each and every case is an individual one that requires what's best for it. But still, it's great to see fantastic results with mild products.

I'm a big fan of my customers getting what they've paid for. If they want their paint to look absolutely perfect, then I will deliver results that are true, and will last as long as they keep up with it. I don't feel these products fit that bill. But they do have their place with jobs like this where the customer isnt concerned with corrections and just wants a clean car. I was able to produce this in just a few hours and that means a lot to me. But just how long it will look like this is what I'm curious about.


Did you prime the pad with BL and Microprime before using it, or did you use a pad conditioner, or just a few drops of product on a dry pad and started working?

No Priming, just a quick mist with a QD and three pea size drops on each pad for each area with both products. Honestly BL worked its way out of the pad altogether a couple times while I was working the rest of the car so I don't think priming would have done much except waste it.

Thanks for the feedback!!!

[Meticulous-Detail]

Why would you spend all that money on Zl1and power upgrades and skimp on the beautification?

[Bobby B.]

The ZL1 looks amazing!

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4359.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/Road_Rage_Photos/ZR1%20Detail/IMG_4329.jpg

[gothamite302]

i just ordered a BL/V7 and a can of GC Lava, curious to see how well it does in texas heat

[RoadRageDetail]

Why would you spend all that money on Zl1and power upgrades and skimp on the beautification?

Can't really say he was "skimping" by not having it perfected right now. He's not done with the mods yet and that means more mechanics and possibly wheel guys getting on it before it sees a limited number of hands all over.

Plus, between us detailers, he was a little defensive when I started pointing out defects. Like I was insulting his prom queen. Old school guys like this have to be gently and gradually told that his car could and should look a lot better. He'll come around.


The ZL1 looks amazing!

I agree! First new gen Camaro that has "wow'd" me!


i just ordered a BL/V7 and a can of GC Lava, curious to see how well it does in texas heat

It was about 98 degrees in the shop here in Houston when I was working on it. I promise you won't be disappointed, but if you are into a velvety or slick texture of the paint, don't expect BL to deliver on its own. V7 will help but you'll need a dedicated wax or sealant to deliver the concourse feel. I'd really like to see a BL, BFWD & V7 tag team. Maybe next time.

[InkedXombie]

i just ordered a BL/V7 and a can of GC Lava, curious to see how well it does in texas heat

That exact combo is doing well for me in AZ.