Megane R26
This recently imported EvolutionV was very clean and well presented but the paintwork was very dry, easily marked and lacking clarity and gloss. It was booked in for our Enhancement Detail package and protected with Zaino.
A few befores of the car shortly after being dropped off:
DSC08320 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08323 by RussZS, on Flickr
The owner also requested that a number of the stickers were removed including the Mitsubishi logo on the opposing ends of the spoiler:
DSC08324 by RussZS, on Flickr
We began with the wheels, tyres, arches and calipers.
Initially Auto Finesse Imperial was liberally applied to the wheels, left to work then pressure rinsed to remove as much of the dirt/dust as possible before making physical contact with the wheels:
DSC08326 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08325 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08327 by RussZS, on Flickr
Next Imperial was reapplied then worked with various brushes. G101 was used on the tyres and arches:
DSC08329 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08331 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08334 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08335 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08336 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08337 by RussZS, on Flickr
This was followed with a high pressure rinse then IronX was used on the wheels and arches to safely remove any fallout and brake dust present:
DSC08338 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08339 by RussZS, on Flickr
The wheels were then given a final rinse. Next we snow foamed the car:
DSC08342 by RussZS, on Flickr
and worked around the car with G101 and detailing brushes to clean the more intricate parts where a mitt cannot easily reach/clean:
DSC08344 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08346 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08347 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08348 by RussZS, on Flickr
Then the car was rinsed again and hand washed with Zaino's Z7 Car Shampoo:
DSC08350 by RussZS, on Flickr
After washing and rinsing the car was safely decontaminated using IronX for the fallout and Tardis for tar removal, then moved inside and clayed to remove any remaining contamination such as tree sap:
DSC08351 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08357 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08362 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08365 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08366 by RussZS, on Flickr
Next the Evo was safely dried with CG Wooly Mammoth Drying Towels and Aeolus 901x blower. After this we turned our attention to the stickers which required removal:
DSC08367 by RussZS, on Flickr
Heated gently with a hair dryer:
DSC08368 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08369 by RussZS, on Flickr
Then Tardis and tissue was left to soak for a short while, which safely and easily removed the remaining residue:
DSC08370 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08371 by RussZS, on Flickr
This left a slight outline of the logo but this would be addressed later when the paintwork is polished.
This process was repeated on the other stickers:
DSC08374 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08378 by RussZS, on Flickr
The Lancer and Evolution badges will also need removing and replacing in the future as it had been debadged previously but the new badges were reapplied over the old glue residue leaving a less than perfect badge presentation wise.
Next the thickness of the paintwork was assessed and as expected it was particularly thin:
DSC08380 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08379 by RussZS, on Flickr
The lowest reading we found was 69.1! We decided to proceed with caution on the areas with the lowest readings and it was also apparent that the bonnet and bootlid had been polished before based on the hologramming present on the paintwork.
Many combinations were tested before finding one which allowed a good level of safe correction within the given timescales but also finished down well to avoid hologramming. Some correction shots:
DSC08384 by RussZS, on Flickr
Before:
DSC08392 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08393 by RussZS, on Flickr
Quite apparent difference in colour:
DSC08395 by RussZS, on Flickr
Before:
DSC08399 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08401 by RussZS, on Flickr
Passenger door colour difference 50/50:
DSC08406 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08407 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08408 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08412 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08413 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08418 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08419 by RussZS, on Flickr
Mitsubishi logo fully removed:
DSC08426 by RussZS, on Flickr
The exhaust was polished by hand with Auto Finesse's Mercury Metal Polish:
Before:
DSC08434 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08437 by RussZS, on Flickr
We finished with an Eraser wipedown followed by a layer of Zaino Z2 and Z8 final wipedown.
Some afters:
DSC08458 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08459 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08463 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08467 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08469 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08472 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08473 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08474 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08476 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08488 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08489 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08491 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08498 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08500 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08501 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08503 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08505 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08507 by RussZS, on Flickr
Thanks for taking the time to read this write up and we welcome your comments and feedback.
DSC08513 by RussZS, on Flickr
Russ.
A few befores of the car shortly after being dropped off:
DSC08320 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08323 by RussZS, on Flickr
The owner also requested that a number of the stickers were removed including the Mitsubishi logo on the opposing ends of the spoiler:
DSC08324 by RussZS, on Flickr
We began with the wheels, tyres, arches and calipers.
Initially Auto Finesse Imperial was liberally applied to the wheels, left to work then pressure rinsed to remove as much of the dirt/dust as possible before making physical contact with the wheels:
DSC08326 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08325 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08327 by RussZS, on Flickr
Next Imperial was reapplied then worked with various brushes. G101 was used on the tyres and arches:
DSC08329 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08331 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08334 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08335 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08336 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08337 by RussZS, on Flickr
This was followed with a high pressure rinse then IronX was used on the wheels and arches to safely remove any fallout and brake dust present:
DSC08338 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08339 by RussZS, on Flickr
The wheels were then given a final rinse. Next we snow foamed the car:
DSC08342 by RussZS, on Flickr
and worked around the car with G101 and detailing brushes to clean the more intricate parts where a mitt cannot easily reach/clean:
DSC08344 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08346 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08347 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08348 by RussZS, on Flickr
Then the car was rinsed again and hand washed with Zaino's Z7 Car Shampoo:
DSC08350 by RussZS, on Flickr
After washing and rinsing the car was safely decontaminated using IronX for the fallout and Tardis for tar removal, then moved inside and clayed to remove any remaining contamination such as tree sap:
DSC08351 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08357 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08362 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08365 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08366 by RussZS, on Flickr
Next the Evo was safely dried with CG Wooly Mammoth Drying Towels and Aeolus 901x blower. After this we turned our attention to the stickers which required removal:
DSC08367 by RussZS, on Flickr
Heated gently with a hair dryer:
DSC08368 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08369 by RussZS, on Flickr
Then Tardis and tissue was left to soak for a short while, which safely and easily removed the remaining residue:
DSC08370 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08371 by RussZS, on Flickr
This left a slight outline of the logo but this would be addressed later when the paintwork is polished.
This process was repeated on the other stickers:
DSC08374 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08378 by RussZS, on Flickr
The Lancer and Evolution badges will also need removing and replacing in the future as it had been debadged previously but the new badges were reapplied over the old glue residue leaving a less than perfect badge presentation wise.
Next the thickness of the paintwork was assessed and as expected it was particularly thin:
DSC08380 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08379 by RussZS, on Flickr
The lowest reading we found was 69.1! We decided to proceed with caution on the areas with the lowest readings and it was also apparent that the bonnet and bootlid had been polished before based on the hologramming present on the paintwork.
Many combinations were tested before finding one which allowed a good level of safe correction within the given timescales but also finished down well to avoid hologramming. Some correction shots:
DSC08384 by RussZS, on Flickr
Before:
DSC08392 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08393 by RussZS, on Flickr
Quite apparent difference in colour:
DSC08395 by RussZS, on Flickr
Before:
DSC08399 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08401 by RussZS, on Flickr
Passenger door colour difference 50/50:
DSC08406 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08407 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08408 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08412 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08413 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08418 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08419 by RussZS, on Flickr
Mitsubishi logo fully removed:
DSC08426 by RussZS, on Flickr
The exhaust was polished by hand with Auto Finesse's Mercury Metal Polish:
Before:
DSC08434 by RussZS, on Flickr
After:
DSC08437 by RussZS, on Flickr
We finished with an Eraser wipedown followed by a layer of Zaino Z2 and Z8 final wipedown.
Some afters:
DSC08458 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08459 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08463 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08467 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08469 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08472 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08473 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08474 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08476 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08488 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08489 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08491 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08498 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08500 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08501 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08503 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08505 by RussZS, on Flickr
DSC08507 by RussZS, on Flickr
Thanks for taking the time to read this write up and we welcome your comments and feedback.
DSC08513 by RussZS, on Flickr
Russ.
