Product review: Pinnacle Paint Coating/Synergy

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Hey Geeks! I was contacted by Nick for some testing and reviewing purposes on the new PBL Synergy wax as well as the necessary products to support it. For this review I am focusing on the wax and paint coating and will follow up with the others when I use them. Over here in Germany the weather is identical to the northern U.S. states such as Washington as it is usually cold and rainy. Also having access to the Autobahns with unrestricted speeds may affect polished and coated vehicles differently than that of the slower speeds in the U.S. I will keep track of how well it holds up given the different nature here in Germany as well as my car now fulfilling DD duties and sitting outside 24/7.

Now I have always been a wax/sealant kind of guy but with the current coating offerings coming to market in a rapid succession I think it is fair to say that I am going to get on the coating bandwagon not only because of the superior protection capabilities but because of the crystal clear pop a coating will display. Coatings have a liquid glass like reflection that is unmatched by sealants or waxes IMO. Adding Synergy over PBL paint coating deepens and warms the surface a bit while still giving that glass like reflection.


This was a one step correction with my 3401, Blue Hybrid pads, and FG400 using the “Smack Technique”…
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-university/77155-my-technique-concerning-3401-menzerna-products-hybrid-pads.html


PBL Surface Cleansing Polish
http://www.autogeek.net/black-label-polish.html

PROS:
Thick polish that won’t run off the pad when applied
Very nice working feel/feedback. Feels like a finishing polish
Smells like a female’s hand lotion
CONS:
Nothing I can think of

PBL Paint Coating
http://www.autogeek.net/pinnacle-paint-coating.html

PROS:
Quick and easy mist application
Feels like higher concentration than DP paint coating
CONS:
None that I can think of

Synergy
http://www.autogeek.net/black-label-synergy.html

PROS:
Darkens the look of PBL paint coating
Application is on par with the other PBMG wax offerings.
Has a nice butterscotch/caramel fragrance
CONS:
Does not include a nice wooden box for the price



Wheels
· Wheels cleaned with Wolfgang Uber Wheel Cleaner, CarPro Iron-X, Daytona Speed Master, and Mothers wheel brush

Wash
· Wash with 2BM, CarPro Snow Soap, and Meguiar’s wash media
· Additional decon step with Iron-X to further the decontamination removal
· Thorough rinse down to remove all soap residues
· Cracks and crevices blown out with leaf blower
· Remaining water dried with Green Cobra Ultimate Guzzler
· Bugs removed with Sonax Insect Remover and Lake Country blue wash sponge

Correction
· Clayed with Meguiar’s blue Professional Clay and Last touch Detailer
· Correction with 3401, Blue Hybrid Pad, and FG400 speed 3 and 6-8 passes
· Polish residue removed with Cobra Miracle towels

Coating prep and Coating
· Surface Cleansing polish on black Hybrid pad, Flex 3401, speed 3, 2-3 passes
· Two coats with PBL Paint Coating
· Waxed with PBL Synergy

Miscellaneous
· Door sills with PBL Coating Detailer
· Wheels with PBL Coating Detailer
· Exhaust washed and polished with P21s polishing soap
· Pictures taken with Nikon D3200 and hooded 18-55mm lens

You should hear the bugs hit the windscreen at 150mph!!!

We all love to see dirty BMW wheels getting work!

Before my one step correction. Yes my paint is a bit hammered!

And after one step with FG400...

Synergy setting up

And the afters...

As always, questions comments and critiques welcomed

 

[281]

Awesome review and documentation Mike!

Please share your thoughts after your first wash. It appears to me that that after couple of days curing, Synergy exhibited more gloss then when first applied...

Oh and if I haven't told you lately - Thank you for your service!

 

[EVOlved]

Looks beautiful, nice work!! If only there were even one road where it was legal to go that fast here I'm jealous!!

 

[FrankS]

Nice work Mike! :dblthumb2:

 

[Eric@CherryOnTop]

Awesome job! I'm probably going to find time for my own Synergy review tomorrow. Did you let the paint coating cure before you applied the Synergy?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[FUNX650]

Hi Mike...

Thanks for your review.
It is an exceptional presentation!!
-Nice Shop...:xyxthumbs:

(Per above photo):
You know quite well where camouflage does
its assigned duty;
But there is no way to ever conceal the:
"Beautimousness Marvelousness Wondrousness"
of your vehicle.

-Through your detailing prowess and the products you utilized: It has now reached the "Pinnacle"!!


BTW:
Floor it once for me, next time you're on the Autobahn.

Bob

 

[Dr_Pain]

Good Lord Mike! You had to post this on a day when I feel weak and want to give myself a little reward! That is a beautiful BMW done correctly!

Well done my friend!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Nice work as usual Mike. The rest of the guys over there must hate you!


I noticed a Bimmerfest sticker on the back window? Have you been to Bimmerfest?



:dblthumb2:

 

[David at LC Pads]

Looking Good!:xyxthumbs:

 

[Jaretr1]

At first I saw what appeared to be a service department with American vehicles, and a Police Impala. I was like whaaat? In Germany? Really? Then I realized it is obviously a US Military base.

Car looks great. Must be a treat to drive on the Autobahn.

 

[Tato]

Very nice work, incredible results you got using FG400 as one step.

Congratulations on that one, no doubt your car received the TLC it was needing. Looks very nice mate.

I've read above 2 coats of paint coating, how long you waited between coatings?

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

 

[Angler]

Awesome work, as always, Mike! :drool: Thanks for the excellent write up and beautiful pictures describing your work.

 

[swanicyouth]

Nice as always. Please keep us posted on longevity & water handling of this combo.

I was one of the lucky Synergy winners but I'm waiting to get some body work done before using it in June on my Pathy.

So far, people seem to like this wax. I'm sure it looks great, but my main interest lies in its durability.

 

[Sicoupe]

As always, love reading your write ups MIKE! Fantastic job my friend also one of the sweetest BMW I've seen

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Awesome review and documentation Mike!

Please share your thoughts after your first wash. It appears to me that that after couple of days curing, Synergy exhibited more gloss then when first applied...

Oh and if I haven't told you lately - Thank you for your service!

Thank you James!!

I will surely follow up and review the shampoo when I use it and wash the car.

rops:

Looks beautiful, nice work!! If only there were even one road where it was legal to go that fast here I'm jealous!!

Thank you sir!

It sure is a rush being able to legally plant your foot to the floor and not let up.

Nice work Mike! :dblthumb2:

Thanks Frank!

Awesome job! I'm probably going to find time for my own Synergy review tomorrow. Did you let the paint coating cure before you applied the Synergy?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you Eric!

Sounds good! I will keep my eye out for it.

I did not give it the alloted cure time before application.

Hi Mike...

Thanks for your review.
It is an exceptional presentation!!
-Nice Shop...:xyxthumbs:

(Per above photo):
You know quite well where camouflage does
its assigned duty;
But there is no way to ever conceal the:
"Beautimousness Marvelousness Wondrousness"
of your vehicle.

-Through your detailing prowess and the products you utilized: It has now reached the "Pinnacle"!!


BTW:
Floor it once for me, next time you're on the Autobahn.

Bob

Wow thanks for the kind words Bob! Now I need to pick my jaw up from the floor.

Sure thing good friend. I will bury it in the carpet.

Good Lord Mike! You had to post this on a day when I feel weak and want to give myself a little reward! That is a beautiful BMW done correctly!

Well done my friend!

Thank you Claude!!!

Use this as a little pick me up to get you going.

Nice work as usual Mike. The rest of the guys over there must hate you!

I noticed a Bimmerfest sticker on the back window? Have you been to Bimmerfest?


:dblthumb2:

Thanks Mike!!!

I have attended and showed at Bimmerfest 3 out of the 5 years when I lived in Vegas. I also prepped a 3 series for display in LTMW's booth.

Also have attended and showed at Mfest twice.

Looking Good!:xyxthumbs:

Thanks Dave!

At first I saw what appeared to be a service department with American vehicles, and a Police Impala. I was like whaaat? In Germany? Really? Then I realized it is obviously a US Military base.

Car looks great. Must be a treat to drive on the Autobahn.

Thank you sir! It is a blast to drive the famous Autobahns!

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Very nice work, incredible results you got using FG400 as one step.

Congratulations on that one, no doubt your car received the TLC it was needing. Looks very nice mate.

I've read above 2 coats of paint coating, how long you waited between coatings?

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

Thanks Rafael!! I needed to cut on my car bit harder than I thought so that's why the more aggressive one step.

I applied both coats of the paint coating within one hour of each other. Wanted to get them on within their curing time frame. When I got around to the second coat, everytime I misted the panel the mist was beading. Lol

Awesome work, as always, Mike! :drool: Thanks for the excellent write up and beautiful pictures describing your work.

Thanks Richard!!!

Nice as always. Please keep us posted on longevity & water handling of this combo.

I was one of the lucky Synergy winners but I'm waiting to get some body work done before using it in June on my Pathy.

So far, people seem to like this wax. I'm sure it looks great, but my main interest lies in its durability.

Thanks Steve. I sure will.

I will be on the lookout for your review of Synergy. Are you going to apply Synergy to bare paint to test its durability?

As always, love reading your write ups MIKE! Fantastic job my friend also one of the sweetest BMW I've seen

Thank you for the kind compliments.

 

[addysdaddy]

Hey Mike, you mentioned a darkening effect from Synergy...when I did the white 911 I didn't notice that and typically that's easy to spot on white paint. Anyway, I'll keep that in mind on my next detail. Beautiful job on the Black Beast. Must be nice to be able to get away with a blue hybrid & FG400 as a one step. Like you said and I agree, black is awesome when it's clean.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Hey Mike, you mentioned a darkening effect from Synergy...when I did the white 911 I didn't notice that and typically that's easy to spot on white paint. Anyway, I'll keep that in mind on my next detail. Beautiful job on the Black Beast. Must be nice to be able to get away with a blue hybrid & FG400 as a one step. Like you said and I agree, black is awesome when it's clean.

I noticed that the paint went from a crystal clear pop to a bit darker and warmer look from Synergy.

I did have a minor amount of hazing from that one step but the cleansing polish on the black Hybrid pulled that out. I love black but man does it require TLC!

 

[swanicyouth]

I will be on the lookout for your review of Synergy. Are you going to apply Synergy to bare paint to test its durability?

Yes, after using the Pinnacle prep product. I'm curious to see if this Synergy is more durable than other waxes that are considered quite durable.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Excellent job, Mike! rops:

I did have a minor amount of hazing from that one step but the cleansing polish on the black Hybrid pulled that out. I love black but man does it require TLC!

I'm surprised as the prep polish doesn't have any abrasives, IIRC.