Ford Fiesta Zetec S
Having been subjected to several bodyshop visits within the last year or two, the Fiesta was in need of a good tidy up.
The work was carried out on the owners’ car whilst they were away – not a bad surprise to come home to, hey?
Product
• 3M Glass Cleaner
• AutoSmart G101
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoSmart BioBrisk
• AutoGlym Vinyl and Rubber Care
• BlackFire Wet Diamond
• Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Elite Mild PolyClay
• Menzerna 85RD 3.02
• Menzerna 203s
• Meguiars Last Touch
Shortly before setting off:
…doesn’t look like a great day to be working!
As expected, upon arrival, it was still raining.
A few general befores:
Wet-work was done in the waterproofs. It didn’t stop raining for the best part of the morning.
Engine was sorted first: G101, various brushes and a light rinse.
Wheels: Megs Wheel Brightener and G101 up into the archs/tyres
Washed down with Born To Be Mild and contaminants lifted with the Elite Poly Clay bar.
Severity of defects:
Paint readings were all over the place. 300+ on most panels.
Due to some nastier marks, the bonnet received a few hits with 85RD 3.02 and a compounding pad. Refining down with 106fa and a polishing.
Before:
After:
Bonnet 50/50s:
Before and after:
With that out of the way, I continued to work down the N/S of the car and work my way back.
Before and afters:
A random bonnet 50/50 thrown into the mix:
Taking a wee break from machine work, I turned more attention to the engine bay. Dressing appropriate areas with AutoGlym’s Vinyl and Rubber Care.
Tailgate before and after: (note the ’grey haze’ disappearing which was caused by the mass of swirls)
Light clusters polished with Menz 85RD 3.02 and an Orange Hexlogic spot pad. Lots of clarity being put back into them…
Testing my new ‘portrait panning’ techniques with the camera and sporting my new safety-wear!
After the machine work was complete the paint received an IPA wipe to remove all oily traces left by the polish residues.
BlackFire Wet Diamond was then used to seal the paintwork.
Tyres were dressed. Glass was cleaned inside and out.
After a bit of light interior work and some seat cleaning, the car was shaping up nicely.
Water extracted whilst cleaning the front two seats:
Glass with 3M’s Glass Cleaner:
And the sun shines for the finished article.
Much better.
Thanks for reading,
Jim
Having been subjected to several bodyshop visits within the last year or two, the Fiesta was in need of a good tidy up.
The work was carried out on the owners’ car whilst they were away – not a bad surprise to come home to, hey?
Product
• 3M Glass Cleaner
• AutoSmart G101
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoSmart BioBrisk
• AutoGlym Vinyl and Rubber Care
• BlackFire Wet Diamond
• Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Elite Mild PolyClay
• Menzerna 85RD 3.02
• Menzerna 203s
• Meguiars Last Touch
Shortly before setting off:
…doesn’t look like a great day to be working!
As expected, upon arrival, it was still raining.
A few general befores:
Wet-work was done in the waterproofs. It didn’t stop raining for the best part of the morning.
Engine was sorted first: G101, various brushes and a light rinse.
Wheels: Megs Wheel Brightener and G101 up into the archs/tyres
Washed down with Born To Be Mild and contaminants lifted with the Elite Poly Clay bar.
Severity of defects:
Paint readings were all over the place. 300+ on most panels.
Due to some nastier marks, the bonnet received a few hits with 85RD 3.02 and a compounding pad. Refining down with 106fa and a polishing.
Before:
After:
Bonnet 50/50s:
Before and after:
With that out of the way, I continued to work down the N/S of the car and work my way back.
Before and afters:
A random bonnet 50/50 thrown into the mix:
Taking a wee break from machine work, I turned more attention to the engine bay. Dressing appropriate areas with AutoGlym’s Vinyl and Rubber Care.
Tailgate before and after: (note the ’grey haze’ disappearing which was caused by the mass of swirls)
Light clusters polished with Menz 85RD 3.02 and an Orange Hexlogic spot pad. Lots of clarity being put back into them…
Testing my new ‘portrait panning’ techniques with the camera and sporting my new safety-wear!
After the machine work was complete the paint received an IPA wipe to remove all oily traces left by the polish residues.
BlackFire Wet Diamond was then used to seal the paintwork.
Tyres were dressed. Glass was cleaned inside and out.
After a bit of light interior work and some seat cleaning, the car was shaping up nicely.
Water extracted whilst cleaning the front two seats:
Glass with 3M’s Glass Cleaner:
And the sun shines for the finished article.
Much better.
Thanks for reading,
Jim
It's my main 9-5 now...
