I've been planing the first detail of 2010 for a while now. Thankfully the forecast was spot on this weekend, so managed to get everything done I had planned too.
The headlights have been bugging me for a while now, so decided to wet sand them and machine polish to see what results I could get. I did pop a thread up recently, but here it is for anyone who missed it:
Before:
As you can see there is alot of UV damage, stone chips and general degradation. Arming myself with:
After some wet sanding (1000, 2000, 2500, 3000) I got a nice consistent cloud:
and a helping of some PO203S on a Menz 80mm white, followed by some PO85RE5 on a 80mm yellow, I was happy with the result:
After a long hard winter (with regular cleans) the car isn't looking too bad, but under close inspection leaves alot to be desired. Next job was to tackle the engine:
After covering the necessary areas with cling film, I got to it with the Autoglym Machine Cleaner. Ive found it is the best product for this kind of job, worked in well with a brush:
After a careful soaking (regular hosepipe gun, no pressure washer):
and a nice dry using the air dryer (pic later on in the write-up) and some Kent microfibres, It came up very well:
The whole car was covered with this layer of dirt:
This is what I used for the wash:
+ the help of Nilfisk C100 and i4D snow lance.
First job was to shift some of the brake dust off the wheels. Weapon of choice was Meguiars APC (diluted 1:4):
(I was planning on removing the wheels and doing the backs, but I'm in 2 minds whether to re0furb. They are 6 years old and are far from perfect. So for the time being, that's a job for the future)
On to the filler cap with the APC:
Then snowfoamed the whole car, and after about 10 mins:
jet-washed off:
then time to finish off the smaller areas:
not forgetting the boot shut:
For the wash, the 2 bucket method was used (obviously) and a wool wash mitt:
For the Claying I used good old born slippy and some Meguiars Clay:
and started off with the higher areas of the car, where there was not a great deal to remove:
the lower half of the car however, was a different story:
After a rinse off with open ended hose, I dryed using my latest toy, the air dryer, and a uber premium, and uber blue towels:
The front of the car is not in that bad a condition because of the regular washes (using the correct techniques), but I was in an accident last year (100% no fault btw) so the rear was re-sprayed. Since the bad weather Ive not had change to attack the swirls on this area, but here they are:
The front is all pretty much the same, very light swirling, and the odd few RDS (So I wont post too many pics of that):
Gave the car a quick ISO wipe-down to ensure it was clean ready for polishing using:
Then onto paint readings:
Most of the car was around 125 to 165. The re-sprayed rear was looking at 95 - 120, and one area around the petrol cap was as high as 227, so obviously some work has been carried out there in the past.
I didn't get a pic off all of the polishes/pads used, but decided that the DAS-6 was fine for the level of correction I was after, and primarily used the Orange and White Menzerna Pads with PO203S and PO85RE5 , with some 3M perfect-it III fast cut plus on a Hex-logic Orange for the tougher area. Here's a pic anyway, with the average amount I use per hit:
and a slow-cut technique, with a pass on 2 to spread the polish, 5-6 to work it in until reached the desired results :
Here is one of the 50/50's on the boot. The rest of the car was no-where near this bad:
(car was taped using 3M 3434 Blue 25mm)
The rest of the car was attacked with the relevant products, and here are a few reflection after polishing:
and no trace of swirls left:
bonnet after enhancement:
pillar:
and the roof:
After another ISO wipe-down, I went for a coating of Dodo Juice Blue Velvet:
thinly and evenly applied:
I usually leave the tape on for the waxing. Not sure if others do, but I find it gives me the best results without having to worry about the edges, with the knowledge am I getting coverage all the way to the edges.
Buffed off and left overnight, a second coat was applied.
After this, the usual fine details were attended too on the exterior using some detailing swaps lightly sprayed with some Tropi-care DC5 detailing spray:
Onto the Interior, first off was to give the car a good hoovering using my Vax 6131:
50/50 of the mats:
The Gliptone set was picked for the Recaro's. In my experience, this is the best product for leather.
The Interior is always kept in great condition using Chemical Guys Natural Look New Shine Dressing and Microfiber applicators.
The windows were cleaned/dressed with Tropi-care Glass Cleaner, and the mats lightly sprayed with Vanilla Orange Air Freshener:
I also popped in the i4detailing sticker Matt sent me with my last order:
Here are some pics of the interior:
To finish the exterior, I used some Autoglym Bumper Care on the plastics:
I took the time to inspect the car now, making sure it was up to scratch, and went over any edges with detailing spray to ensure each panel was finished correctly.
The wheels were treated with Poorboy's Wheel Sealant and the tyres and arches with Meguiars Endurance Gel.
Here are some pics of the finished article, 12 hours (of detailing) after I began:
The exhaust was cleaned/treated with some Peek metal polish:
Thanks for reading.
The headlights have been bugging me for a while now, so decided to wet sand them and machine polish to see what results I could get. I did pop a thread up recently, but here it is for anyone who missed it:
Before:
As you can see there is alot of UV damage, stone chips and general degradation. Arming myself with:
After some wet sanding (1000, 2000, 2500, 3000) I got a nice consistent cloud:
and a helping of some PO203S on a Menz 80mm white, followed by some PO85RE5 on a 80mm yellow, I was happy with the result:
After a long hard winter (with regular cleans) the car isn't looking too bad, but under close inspection leaves alot to be desired. Next job was to tackle the engine:
After covering the necessary areas with cling film, I got to it with the Autoglym Machine Cleaner. Ive found it is the best product for this kind of job, worked in well with a brush:
After a careful soaking (regular hosepipe gun, no pressure washer):
and a nice dry using the air dryer (pic later on in the write-up) and some Kent microfibres, It came up very well:
The whole car was covered with this layer of dirt:
This is what I used for the wash:
+ the help of Nilfisk C100 and i4D snow lance.
First job was to shift some of the brake dust off the wheels. Weapon of choice was Meguiars APC (diluted 1:4):
(I was planning on removing the wheels and doing the backs, but I'm in 2 minds whether to re0furb. They are 6 years old and are far from perfect. So for the time being, that's a job for the future)
On to the filler cap with the APC:
Then snowfoamed the whole car, and after about 10 mins:
jet-washed off:
then time to finish off the smaller areas:
not forgetting the boot shut:
For the wash, the 2 bucket method was used (obviously) and a wool wash mitt:
For the Claying I used good old born slippy and some Meguiars Clay:
and started off with the higher areas of the car, where there was not a great deal to remove:
the lower half of the car however, was a different story:
After a rinse off with open ended hose, I dryed using my latest toy, the air dryer, and a uber premium, and uber blue towels:
The front of the car is not in that bad a condition because of the regular washes (using the correct techniques), but I was in an accident last year (100% no fault btw) so the rear was re-sprayed. Since the bad weather Ive not had change to attack the swirls on this area, but here they are:
The front is all pretty much the same, very light swirling, and the odd few RDS (So I wont post too many pics of that):
Gave the car a quick ISO wipe-down to ensure it was clean ready for polishing using:
Then onto paint readings:
Most of the car was around 125 to 165. The re-sprayed rear was looking at 95 - 120, and one area around the petrol cap was as high as 227, so obviously some work has been carried out there in the past.
I didn't get a pic off all of the polishes/pads used, but decided that the DAS-6 was fine for the level of correction I was after, and primarily used the Orange and White Menzerna Pads with PO203S and PO85RE5 , with some 3M perfect-it III fast cut plus on a Hex-logic Orange for the tougher area. Here's a pic anyway, with the average amount I use per hit:
and a slow-cut technique, with a pass on 2 to spread the polish, 5-6 to work it in until reached the desired results :
Here is one of the 50/50's on the boot. The rest of the car was no-where near this bad:
(car was taped using 3M 3434 Blue 25mm)
The rest of the car was attacked with the relevant products, and here are a few reflection after polishing:
and no trace of swirls left:
bonnet after enhancement:
pillar:
and the roof:
After another ISO wipe-down, I went for a coating of Dodo Juice Blue Velvet:
thinly and evenly applied:
I usually leave the tape on for the waxing. Not sure if others do, but I find it gives me the best results without having to worry about the edges, with the knowledge am I getting coverage all the way to the edges.
Buffed off and left overnight, a second coat was applied.
After this, the usual fine details were attended too on the exterior using some detailing swaps lightly sprayed with some Tropi-care DC5 detailing spray:
Onto the Interior, first off was to give the car a good hoovering using my Vax 6131:
50/50 of the mats:
The Gliptone set was picked for the Recaro's. In my experience, this is the best product for leather.
The Interior is always kept in great condition using Chemical Guys Natural Look New Shine Dressing and Microfiber applicators.
The windows were cleaned/dressed with Tropi-care Glass Cleaner, and the mats lightly sprayed with Vanilla Orange Air Freshener:
I also popped in the i4detailing sticker Matt sent me with my last order:
Here are some pics of the interior:
To finish the exterior, I used some Autoglym Bumper Care on the plastics:
I took the time to inspect the car now, making sure it was up to scratch, and went over any edges with detailing spray to ensure each panel was finished correctly.
The wheels were treated with Poorboy's Wheel Sealant and the tyres and arches with Meguiars Endurance Gel.
Here are some pics of the finished article, 12 hours (of detailing) after I began:
The exhaust was cleaned/treated with some Peek metal polish:
Thanks for reading.
I completely agree. If I stumble on £400 (maybe down the back of the sofa?), I'll pop round and see you. Unless I can 'borrow' that kind of pocket change of Adz?
