Megane R26
Today I was expecting a nice easy, quick correction detail - yet another RenaultSport (have I done the most in the country by now?), so very familiar territory for me. Today's example was a car I've never done before - a DCI 175, but in a colour I know very well, Deep Black, the same as my previous car, a Clio R27.
So anyway, the car in question:
Doesn't look too bad...
However, even covered in a layer of filth, I could see some worrying issues with the paintwork...
Oh no.... this was gonna be a looooong ass day!
Anyway, I cracked on as ever, wheels and arches first with the trusty G101, Smart Wheels and various brushes.
Dirty wheel:
Clean!
Next up the car was rinsed with my pressure washer, hand washed with Dodo BTBM and a lambswool mitt. The car was the de-tar'd with Tardis and rinsed again.
Next up was claying. I'd not used the Bilt Hamber Soft Clay for well over 12 months, but after today, it's going to become my regular clay - love the stuff. AS Reglaze was used as lube:
Taa-daa:
Next, car was washed again and dried, ready for polishing.
I could tell that the paintwork was in a pretty bad way as I was cleaning the car, and from the initial inspection but....
Oh dear lord... it was probably the worst car I'd come across yet. The entire car looked grey, rather than black, and was littered with RDS and deep swirling.
I mean, come onnnnn....
and even under the dim lights, you can see the state of the paint:
Busy, busy day ahead...
After spending the best part of an hour toying with combinations, I finally settled on Menzerna 3.02 worked HARD via Rotary with a Megs Burgundy Cutting pad, stepping up to FCP and a 3M Cutting pad on the bonnet, then refining with Megs 205 where required.
A few correction shots...
Untouched bonnet
Corrected
50/50, no direct lighting... look at the difference in colour!
What an absolute slog... I did an R32 Golf the day before, which was also a nightmare, sometimes I do wonder why I inflict this 'hobby' upon myself at weekends... :sweatdrop:
Unfortunately, the afters do this car no justice at all - must remember my tripod next time! I finished up with:
2x Opti Seal
1x R222 on the paintwork
Pinnacle Onyx on tyres
Optimum Metal Polish on Exhaust
Opti-Seal on wheels and plastics.
3M Glass Cleaner on glass
1 per week for me from now on, I feel like I need a day off, but back to the day job tomorrow!
Oh and let me know if yours needs similar love... Not bad for 10 hours.
Thanks for reading!
Russ.
So anyway, the car in question:
Doesn't look too bad...
However, even covered in a layer of filth, I could see some worrying issues with the paintwork...
Oh no.... this was gonna be a looooong ass day!
Anyway, I cracked on as ever, wheels and arches first with the trusty G101, Smart Wheels and various brushes.
Dirty wheel:
Clean!
Next up the car was rinsed with my pressure washer, hand washed with Dodo BTBM and a lambswool mitt. The car was the de-tar'd with Tardis and rinsed again.
Next up was claying. I'd not used the Bilt Hamber Soft Clay for well over 12 months, but after today, it's going to become my regular clay - love the stuff. AS Reglaze was used as lube:
Taa-daa:
Next, car was washed again and dried, ready for polishing.
I could tell that the paintwork was in a pretty bad way as I was cleaning the car, and from the initial inspection but....
Oh dear lord... it was probably the worst car I'd come across yet. The entire car looked grey, rather than black, and was littered with RDS and deep swirling.
I mean, come onnnnn....
and even under the dim lights, you can see the state of the paint:
Busy, busy day ahead...
After spending the best part of an hour toying with combinations, I finally settled on Menzerna 3.02 worked HARD via Rotary with a Megs Burgundy Cutting pad, stepping up to FCP and a 3M Cutting pad on the bonnet, then refining with Megs 205 where required.
A few correction shots...
Untouched bonnet
Corrected
50/50, no direct lighting... look at the difference in colour!
What an absolute slog... I did an R32 Golf the day before, which was also a nightmare, sometimes I do wonder why I inflict this 'hobby' upon myself at weekends... :sweatdrop:
Unfortunately, the afters do this car no justice at all - must remember my tripod next time! I finished up with:
2x Opti Seal
1x R222 on the paintwork
Pinnacle Onyx on tyres
Optimum Metal Polish on Exhaust
Opti-Seal on wheels and plastics.
3M Glass Cleaner on glass
1 per week for me from now on, I feel like I need a day off, but back to the day job tomorrow!
Oh and let me know if yours needs similar love...
Not bad for 10 hours.Thanks for reading!
Russ.
