Menzerna FMJ

FMJ - Menzerna's new super wax.
Product Review by Terry Freiberg

Menzerna of Germany is about to attempt something that hasn't been done before. They intend to best the créme de la créme of America's waxes. In the rarified world of concours participants and show car owners, no German wax or sealant has made it into the Zaino-Zymol-Blackfire club. Gaining membership to this group is hard with a capital H.

To be fair, there are some outstanding German products in the marketplace, Klasse® and P21S® to name two. Part of the problem lies in German products being so well balanced. German enthusiasts consider "shine" as only one attribute of a protective wax or sealant. They are equally concerned with ease of application, resistance to abrasion, atmospheric contamination and weathering. German engineers carefully craft their waxes to balance each of these considerations without focusing on one specific characteristic. A wax with a spectacular shine but limited durability would not sell in Germany.

Menzerna hopes to win the hearts of American enthusiasts with a super "wax" they call FMJ. The initials stand for Full Molecular Jacket. FMJ is an advanced, water-based, polymer paint protectant incorporating the latest in German super-polymer technology. FMJ is not in the strictest sense a wax. It contains no carnauba wax, bees wax or German montan waxes. I'm told that this product started with a clean sheet of paper and natural waxes, including carnauba, were rejected early on because of their dependency on a strong petroleum solvent base and their limited durability.

While Menzerna does not disclose where they source their polymers, Wacker-Chemie, Munich is the logical candidate. I have previously described some of the breakthroughs Wacker has accomplished in super-polymer technology in describing BLACKFIRE Products (See BLACKFIRE: What's the Difference?). While BLACKFIRE incorporates the latest generation of polymers released by Wacker, I can't help but think that some of the really cutting edge stuff is reserved for the home market.

At a Glance:

In our opinion, the best paint sealant in the world
Captures 95% of the liquid-like wetness of the very best carnauba waxes
Lasts 6 months or more
Can be layered
Super slippery finish sheets water to reduce water spotting
Easy wipe-on/buff-off application

Pro: A very rich, liquid shine that compliments any color vehicle
Pro: Excellent, slippery feel.
Pro: Great water sheeting ability minimizes water spots.
Pro: It lasts! Wash after wash and month after month!
Pro: Excellent protection from abrasion, salt air, salt water etching,
atmospheric contamination and weathering.
Pro: Can be layered to increase depth of shine.

Con: Requires a polish prior to first time application for best results.
(We recommend Menzerna Final Polish)
Con: Can be hard to buff off if applied to a hot surface.

Menzerna FMJ is VOC compliant in all 50 states.

Available in a 16 oz. package complete with applicator, buffing towel and instructions and a 32 oz. refill only (without applicator, towel & instructions).

For Cars For Motorcycles Accessories

FMJ protects your car's finish like a jacket of transparent armor. This jacket resists abrasion, acid rain, salt air, industrial pollution and weathering. FMJ wipes on and buffs off easily and can be "layered" in multiple coats without fear of yellowing, hazing or discoloration.

What really sets FMJ apart from it's German and American brothers and sisters is the shine. I've seen FMJ on a silver, beige, red and black vehicle (all previously cleaned with Menzerna Final Polish) and was stunned by the enhancement it created. Each vehicle possessed a remarkably clear, emotionally vibrant shine with a shimmering liquidity. Like an Armani jacket, FMJ makes any vehicle in any color look its best!

Look out domestic waxes, there's a new kid on the block!

FMJ comes with a Microfiber Applicator Pad, a Microfiber Buffing Cloth and a color application guide for both hand and machine application.

Use Menzerna's new companion product, High Gloss Acrylic Shield, to add an extra layer of shine or for a quick detail anytime. (High Gloss Acrylic Shield does not come with FMJ)

Customer comments:

"I've been using you guys for some time now for my detailing product needs and I'm very happy with the products and customer service I've received from your company. I just wanted to take the time to say thanks and share some of my results with one of your newer products, FMJ. It's a great product and I've had great success with it time and time again. I wanted to send you this photo of an Audi A4 hood with FMJ on it. The surface was prepped using Menzerna Power Gloss, followed by Intensive Polish and finally finessed with Final Polish II. Again, much thanks for your professional service."
Doug L., Waterford, N.J.

Thank you, Doug, for sharing this photo. You can almost see the squirrels in the tree branches putting on sun glasses to keep from being blinded by the shine!

And more:

"Menzerna FMJ...amazing! This appears to be the shiniest/slipperiest product for use after polishing I have tried to date. Very smooth and slippery when run over with a towel. My Chili Red MINI looks incredible. Brilliant shine...deep..."wet" looking. (I) Just came back from the MINI store and was parked next to a brand new, detailed for delivery, car the same color and the difference was obvious enough for my salesman to ask me who had detailed my year old car. I think that tells the tale.

I can tell you at this point the shine is better than P21S® wax, my former "favorite". Now lets see how it lasts and how well it layers...so far...super pleased...well worth the $$$$."
Jerry, Chicago, IL.

Jerry told us by phone that this photo shows the Mini with one coat of FMJ. He has since put on a second coat but he can't get a good photo because the shine in direct sunlight blinds the metering system in his camera! Thank you Jerry, for sharing your results.

and still more:

"Following your advice, I got from you a couple of weeks ago a complete Menzerna Kit plus Intensive Polish plus a Porter Cable polisher. On Saturday I decided to go over my 2000 black Porsche 996 and finally remove the swirl marks that were bugging me under direct sunlight and fluorescent tubes. After 7 hours going through the 4 steps (Intensive Polish, Final Polish, Glazing and FMJ) I realized that not only the swirl marks were gone but my car is now in better looking condition than when I picked it up at the dealership 4 years ago. I'm still amazed with the results. In the pictures you can see the clouds and everything that surrounds the car with an almost mirror clarity.

Thanks for the advice and the awesome line of Menzerna products."
Ricardo G., Miami Beach, FL

Thank you Ricardo for sharing your results!

From San Antonio:

"I want to let you know how pleased I am with the shine I got from using Menzerna FMJ. It's like no other, very easy to apply and take off. Attached is a picture of my car after a Menzerna detail."

Michael A., San Antonio, TX

and from New York:

"I have been very happy after using Menzerna FMJ. It left my red paint absolutely brilliant in color with excellent slickness and beading. I prepped the surface with clay and Menzerna Final Polish II then ended up with 3 coats of FMJ."

Sean B., Shoreham, N.Y.

Summary:

Comparing American waxes to German waxes is like comparing the Dodge Viper to a Porsche. While the Viper shines in straight line acceleration, few would argue that it is as balanced, sophisticated or real-world livable as the Porsche.

FMJ is crafted in the German tradition of being a superbly well balanced sealant but breaks new ground with it's spectacular shine. Imagine the slippery feel of Zaino®, the liquidity of Zymol® and the durability of BLACKFIRE all rolled into one product!

While no product is perfect, I find precious little with FMJ to fault. The bottle cautions to "shake well before using" but I could not observe any separation within the product. Perhaps this caution applies to product that has set for months. I would take the caution to apply out of direct sunlight seriously. I made the mistake of applying FMJ to a car that had been in the afternoon, Florida sun and had a devil of a time buffing off the residues. I'm sure you wouldn't run into this problem in Germany but if you live in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Hawaii or New Mexico, make sure the car's surface is at "garage temperature".

FMJ is our best winter wax. FMJ was designed to last through Germany's harsh winters. If you store a vehicle during the winter or just want to put a protective winter jacket on your car, truck, or SUV, this is the product to choose.

FMJ is our best coastal wax. The polymers in FMJ are highly resistant to abrasion (wind blown debris), salt air and salt water etching. If you live in a coastal community. FMJ would be our recommendation for keeping your vehicle looking its best.

Product Update 5-01-2005
By Terry Freiberg

I apologize for making these product descriptions too long but I feel compelled to share observations learned from using our products over time. I just returned from a two week trip which coincided with our Love Bug season. I discovered the front of my car peppered with Love Bug splatter which had been baking under the Florida sun. For those readers unfamiliar with this demon, Love Bugs have very acidic body fluids which can etch into the paint in as little as 24 hours. They also stick like glue to painted surfaces. To remove them, I typically use a tar remover with the Safe Scrub Bug Sponge and scour the finish. I had a coat of Menzerna FMJ on my car (I did this 2 months ago) and had just washed the car prior to my trip and wiped it with Menzerna's High Gloss Acrylic Shield. When I washed the car, I was amazed to find that 95% of the bug splatter came right off. The remaining 5% came off using just my car wash soap and gentle rubbing with my natural sea sponge. I did not use any solvent or tar removers and did not need to use my normal bug sponge. In my 18 odd years here in Florida, I have never been able to remove Love Bug residues this easily. I'm not sure which product, FMJ or the High Gloss Acrylic Shield, was most responsible but the combination was extremely resistant to insect smear. If you live or drive in areas with Love Bugs or other flying insects, FMJ and High Gloss Acrylic Shield would be a product to consider.

Follow-up Customer Comments:

" I just couldn't help but come right in after washing my girlfriend's '05 Santa Fe to tell you what I found...

"She had just driven to Daytona from Merritt Island and back a week ago. When she returned I noticed she had killed a massive amount of love bugs. The bumper, hood, mirrors, and windshield were covered with hundreds of Love Bug carcasses. It wasn't for an entire week of baking in our southern sun when I was finally able to wash it. I fully expected to see some etching and I just knew that I would have to scrub these guys off. To my amazement, 90% of the bugs rinsed right off! All I had to do was take a Microfiber cloth and give it a little wipe to get all the residues off. No bug remover was required.

I had clayed, polished, glazed and FMJ'd her vehicle some 3 or 4 months ago. I am fully convinced of the protective properties of Menzerna's FMJ. What a wonderful product!"
Bill B., Merritt Island, FL

FMJ, Menzerna's new super wax
will put a brilliant shine on your bike!

    Yes, I said super because Menzerna FMJ (Full Molecular Jacket) is an advanced water-based polymer paint protectant incorporating the latest in German super-polymer technology. FMJ is not in the strictest sense a wax. It contains no carnauba wax, bee's wax, or German montan waxes. I'm told that this product started with a clean sheet of paper. Natural waxes, including carnauba, were rejected early on because of their dependency on a strong petroleum solvent base and their limited durability.

    FMJ protects single stage paint, as well as clear coated and lacquer finished surfaces, like a jacket of transparent armor. This jacket resists abrasions, acid rain, salt air, industrial pollution and weathering. FMJ wipes on and buffs off easily without yellowing, hazing, or discoloration.

Protect the paint with Menzerna FMJ.

The lower fork tubes on this bike are clear coated and given a protective coating of FMJ.

   This product not only protects, it leaves a remarkably clear, emotionally vibrant shine with a shimmering liquidity. No matter the color, FMJ leaves a deep, wet looking finish that lasts. Not only is the shine second to none, but I also like the way it sheets water.
   Apply a small nickel size drop to a Microfiber applicator or cloth, and spread FMJ thinly across all painted, fiberglass and chrome surfaces. Then, wipe off with a clean Microfiber cloth.
   Note: Do not apply FMJ to surfaces that get hot such as painted or chrome cylinder heads, engine casings, brake discs, headers or exhaust pipes.

After a coat of Menzerna FMJ look at the reflections cast on the garage door

Menzerna FMJ comes packaged with a Microfiber Applicator, a Perfect Shine Buffing Cloth, and instructions for both hand and machine application.

This product meets California's Air Resource Board, Consumer Products Regulations specifying VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) content and limits for an automotive sealant.

Boost This Product With Polycharger.

If you want to boost the shine and create even more protection than what this product already offers, you should consider adding Polycharger®. Polycharger is the world's first Wax Booster™ supercharging your liquid wax, sealant, quick detail spray, tire dressing or interior protectant to provide more shine and longer durability with just a few drops.