Hi all - thought this might be of interest to a few of you..
Audi S8 – Protection Detail with full interior and LTT Leather care
The S8 was brought for this chaps Father, and, whilst he was away, he hoped I could clean it up a little as a nice surprise for his return.
Before:
After:
Product
• AutoSmart G101
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoGlym Glass Polish
• AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care
• Belgom ALU
• Chemical Guys Jet Seal
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Dodo Juice SuperNatural
• Lusso Revitalizing Cream
• LTT Auto Ultra Foam
• LTT Auto Ultra Protect
• Meguiars APC
• Meguiars Super-Degreaser
• Meguiars Last Touch
• Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel
• Sonus Green Mild Clay
• Zaino Z8 Grand Finale
Inspection:
A few of the alloys had seen better days; owner considering putting them through a full refurb. However, as they’re partly polished on the front facing, it boosts the cost up quite considerably! I was able to shift the most of but unfortunately some light pitting remained in the inner-groove and deeper into the rim. This would be a full wheel off jobbie to correct this..
Wheels cleaned with AutoSmart G101 (because of the polished surface (Acid is no good here!!)), Super-Degreaser sprayed up and into the arches as well as dousing the tyres before scrubbing..
Door shuts and sills after this.. Again, G101 weapon of choice here with a mix of De-greaser and AutoSmart Tardis to shift stubborn grease deposits.
Today I had the luxury of working with hot water – bonus.
Car given a thorough blast down with the pressure washer..
And then given the first of two snowfoams:
Allowed to dwell whilst I A) filled up wash buckets with Dodo’s Born To Be Mild, B) attacked small areas (petrol filler-cap etc) with a few brushes and C) had a sandwich!
Car then re-foamed to give an extra slick wash with the Born To Be Mild.
Solution > Wash > Rinse > Solution > Wash > rinse and so on..
Meguiars Last Touch was used to aid the claying stages; lubricating the surface allowing the Sonus Green Clay to glide without ‘drag’:
At this point it starts to rain. A final pass with the pressure washer was made to release clay-lube residues and then a quick sheeting of water with an open-hose to remove remaining standing water.
Once inside and dry, it’s time to take a look at the paintwork.
Hmm. Shame it’s not a correction detail!
Mind you, Lusso’s Revitalizing Cream (which is primarily a pre-wax cleanser...) did a good job of tidying up the surface marring and swirls.
Same area as above afterwards:
Boot-lid before/after:
Deeper marks and scratches remain. Impressed with results from a quick pass over though..
(I’d opted for the Yellow 3M Polishing Pad as opposed to the Blue Finishing pad, as, Audi paint is typically rock-hard and I thought it would allow a bit more ‘bite’)
There were some funny old marks and hazes dotted around..
Overall though, it gave a nice finish (…for a protection detail only!)
On the bonnet and both sides, it was evident that someone had had a go with a machine polisher in the past; lovely buffer trials and holograms scattered around.
To give this one a little something ‘extra’ (as at the end of the day I’m an Audi man myself!), I used Dodo Juice’s SuperNatural wax to lay down the protection.
Hazing:
And later buffed up to a lovely shine:
Alloys sealed with Chemical Guys Jet Seal 901:
Tyres then dressed with Meguiars Endurance Gel.
At this point, I was asked if I could do anything with the engine bay. Bearing in mind all of the ‘wet-work’ had been complete, and, it’d be a shame to risk splashing dirt over the wings/glass, I opted for a ‘dry-wash’ whilst still in the garage.
Using AutoSmart G101 to clean, a fine brush to agitate and then ample amounts of microfibres to wipe away the residues. Finished with a buff down and a coat of AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care.
At this point, time is pushing. I thought I’d make the most of the break in the rain we were having, and, take a few outdoor exterior shots. (Interior still to follow..)
A nice day, huh? Looks well though – will give a final wipedown later once the wax has had a few hours to gas.
Back inside and time to start on the interior..
Generally things are in great shape. Plastics and pillars needed a G101 wipedown, pedals a gentle scrub, carpets hovering and scrubbing and then the leather treating with LTT.
Floor mats had seen better days – especially the drivers; a bit worn at the heel unfortunately.
After a dousing in G101 and a light scrub.. Residues wiped with a microfibre.
Here’s something I didn’t know, when the front mats (n/s and o/s) are lifted, it leaves a great big hole! The underside of the mat is heavy with insulation and padding, but, I wonder why this is?!
LTT Auto Ultra Foam used to clean the leather..
LTT Auto Ultra Protect used to protect!
Alcantara was given a damp wipeover with a couple of microfibres.
Glass polished in and out with AutoGlym Glass Polish.
Exhaust attacked with varying different tools and chemicals..
Before:
After:
(Not the best after photo – there were stubborn marks on the bottom-half of the tip that I couldn’t shift..)
A wipedown with Zaino Z8 Grand Finale:
And a few after pictures.. (All inside I’m afraid; raining again outside (plus, its dark!))
Nice ‘clean’ paint – albeit a few deeper swirls and random scratches.
Total time was just under 9 hours. A little longer than I anticipated! Still, at least I’ll know for next time; the A8/S8 is a biiig car!
Thanks for reading. I enjoyed both completing and documenting this detail – RS4 Cabriolet in a solid red to follow shortly!
JimWD
Audi S8 – Protection Detail with full interior and LTT Leather care
The S8 was brought for this chaps Father, and, whilst he was away, he hoped I could clean it up a little as a nice surprise for his return.
Before:
After:
Product
• AutoSmart G101
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoGlym Glass Polish
• AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care
• Belgom ALU
• Chemical Guys Jet Seal
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Dodo Juice SuperNatural
• Lusso Revitalizing Cream
• LTT Auto Ultra Foam
• LTT Auto Ultra Protect
• Meguiars APC
• Meguiars Super-Degreaser
• Meguiars Last Touch
• Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel
• Sonus Green Mild Clay
• Zaino Z8 Grand Finale
Inspection:
A few of the alloys had seen better days; owner considering putting them through a full refurb. However, as they’re partly polished on the front facing, it boosts the cost up quite considerably! I was able to shift the most of but unfortunately some light pitting remained in the inner-groove and deeper into the rim. This would be a full wheel off jobbie to correct this..
Wheels cleaned with AutoSmart G101 (because of the polished surface (Acid is no good here!!)), Super-Degreaser sprayed up and into the arches as well as dousing the tyres before scrubbing..
Door shuts and sills after this.. Again, G101 weapon of choice here with a mix of De-greaser and AutoSmart Tardis to shift stubborn grease deposits.
Today I had the luxury of working with hot water – bonus.
Car given a thorough blast down with the pressure washer..
And then given the first of two snowfoams:
Allowed to dwell whilst I A) filled up wash buckets with Dodo’s Born To Be Mild, B) attacked small areas (petrol filler-cap etc) with a few brushes and C) had a sandwich!
Car then re-foamed to give an extra slick wash with the Born To Be Mild.
Solution > Wash > Rinse > Solution > Wash > rinse and so on..
Meguiars Last Touch was used to aid the claying stages; lubricating the surface allowing the Sonus Green Clay to glide without ‘drag’:
At this point it starts to rain. A final pass with the pressure washer was made to release clay-lube residues and then a quick sheeting of water with an open-hose to remove remaining standing water.
Once inside and dry, it’s time to take a look at the paintwork.
Hmm. Shame it’s not a correction detail!
Mind you, Lusso’s Revitalizing Cream (which is primarily a pre-wax cleanser...) did a good job of tidying up the surface marring and swirls.
Same area as above afterwards:
Boot-lid before/after:
Deeper marks and scratches remain. Impressed with results from a quick pass over though..
(I’d opted for the Yellow 3M Polishing Pad as opposed to the Blue Finishing pad, as, Audi paint is typically rock-hard and I thought it would allow a bit more ‘bite’)
There were some funny old marks and hazes dotted around..
Overall though, it gave a nice finish (…for a protection detail only!)
On the bonnet and both sides, it was evident that someone had had a go with a machine polisher in the past; lovely buffer trials and holograms scattered around.
To give this one a little something ‘extra’ (as at the end of the day I’m an Audi man myself!), I used Dodo Juice’s SuperNatural wax to lay down the protection.
Hazing:
And later buffed up to a lovely shine:
Alloys sealed with Chemical Guys Jet Seal 901:
Tyres then dressed with Meguiars Endurance Gel.
At this point, I was asked if I could do anything with the engine bay. Bearing in mind all of the ‘wet-work’ had been complete, and, it’d be a shame to risk splashing dirt over the wings/glass, I opted for a ‘dry-wash’ whilst still in the garage.
Using AutoSmart G101 to clean, a fine brush to agitate and then ample amounts of microfibres to wipe away the residues. Finished with a buff down and a coat of AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care.
At this point, time is pushing. I thought I’d make the most of the break in the rain we were having, and, take a few outdoor exterior shots. (Interior still to follow..)
A nice day, huh? Looks well though – will give a final wipedown later once the wax has had a few hours to gas.
Back inside and time to start on the interior..
Generally things are in great shape. Plastics and pillars needed a G101 wipedown, pedals a gentle scrub, carpets hovering and scrubbing and then the leather treating with LTT.
Floor mats had seen better days – especially the drivers; a bit worn at the heel unfortunately.
After a dousing in G101 and a light scrub.. Residues wiped with a microfibre.
Here’s something I didn’t know, when the front mats (n/s and o/s) are lifted, it leaves a great big hole! The underside of the mat is heavy with insulation and padding, but, I wonder why this is?!
LTT Auto Ultra Foam used to clean the leather..
LTT Auto Ultra Protect used to protect!
Alcantara was given a damp wipeover with a couple of microfibres.
Glass polished in and out with AutoGlym Glass Polish.
Exhaust attacked with varying different tools and chemicals..
Before:
After:
(Not the best after photo – there were stubborn marks on the bottom-half of the tip that I couldn’t shift..)
A wipedown with Zaino Z8 Grand Finale:
And a few after pictures.. (All inside I’m afraid; raining again outside (plus, its dark!))
Nice ‘clean’ paint – albeit a few deeper swirls and random scratches.
Total time was just under 9 hours. A little longer than I anticipated! Still, at least I’ll know for next time; the A8/S8 is a biiig car!
Thanks for reading. I enjoyed both completing and documenting this detail – RS4 Cabriolet in a solid red to follow shortly!
JimWD
