My 1st Detail - Sarah's TT

[Sir_Dave]

OKay, so its not specifically my 1st detail, as i've cleaned things properly before, but not since February 2009 (i got made redundant & had nothing better to do than add 4 layers of polish to my 328 Sport) & certainly never with a machine polisher!!

So, onto the victim/vehicle. Sarah's now had her TT since May 2008 (just before her 22nd birthday iirc) and well, i've always said that one day i'd get it properly detailed, just to remove a few of the swirls etc from the previous owner/Audi's servicing. Being a notorious tight ar5e however, i decided not to spend £400 paying someone else to do it, & ended up buying her a DAS-6 kit last year, for her 24th birthday ... with the intention that i clean it shortly afterwards.

Unfortunately, we moved into out flat in June, & i no longer have access to a tap/outside electric, etc, so my cleaning habits have well, stopped. Not 100% through choice i might add, well the BMW anyway, the clio is a shed. So this weekend being sunny, i decided it was time to dust off the polishing equipment and get to work.

Im sure that most of the proper detailers on here will laugh at my efforts, but meh, the car looks ok, so im happy. Bugger me the paint is hard on the TT though :S

The process:

Pressure Washer off all dirt, inside arches, underneath, etc
Wash with one bucket inc. grit guard & sheepskin glove thing
Dry with wonder towel
Clay with Megs clay & quick detailer
Machine polish kit with Menzerna Compounding Pad & P085RD 3.02
Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine wax

FYI, i did try the other pads & PO106FA, but it did absolutely bugger all on the TT's paint, also whilst most of the swirls have gone, i assume i need something with a little more cut for the deeper marks? Was worried about buffer trails with my 1st atempt, so just went for an idiot proof kit ...

Anyway, the pictures, i think its come up pretty well

Before:

After:

I didnt actually realise how deep & metallicy the paint is, 'tis stunning in the sun, certainly not as dull & boring as i thought it was lol ...

Comments & praise welcome, oh & in case you were wondering, yes, i am aware that the steering isnt amazing, but if Sarah had bought a Boxster S at 22 (her other choice), she probably wouldnt be here anymore. Safe chassis FTW.

 

[Ian_182]

Pics of her or gtfo





















Only joking.Guy at work has this dark blue and when he does his the metalic rerally comes out.They almost look like bigger flakes of metalic if that makes sense...

Youv'e done a good job there...

 

[Waitey]

Buy her my V6 one.

225's are for rapists.

 

[Waitey]

Also has it been front ended? Its got facelift lights and 3 bar grill?

 

[Sir_Dave]

Also has it been front ended? Its got facelift lights and 3 bar grill?

Nah, its a 2004 one, just her no. plate AH 52RAH is back to normal spacing as she got pulled over by the po-po for it the other day ...

Wasnt allowed a V6 as her mum has one lol, having two blue TT V6's on the drive would have been a tad silly, especially as we dont have shares in Shell

 

[Budgie]

I'm impressed.

 

[Waitey]

Cat D 225's are for really bad rapists.

 

[Sir_Dave]

FLOL. Coming from the bloke, that owns a pink TT :rasp:

 

[Waitey]

FLOL. Coming from the bloke, that owns a pink TT :rasp:

Its Lilac.

No rapist would drive a Lilac car.

I'm quite attached to it too.

 

[Vish]

That looks awesome! I want my paint to look so deep and swirl free, want to come round and do it? Failsport aftercare

 

[Gally]

Looks fantastic Dave, a better LSP might have been the order of the day, it would have kept it loking cleaner for a bit longer aswell.


Indeed the flake does pop when polishing, that Pearl Blue golf I did was the same, although the Prime acrylic really brought it to life, the polishing did the hard work.

 

[Waitey]

Looks fantastic Dave, a better LSP might have been the order of the day, it would have kept it loking cleaner for a bit longer aswell.


Indeed the flake does pop when polishing, that Pearl Blue golf I did was the same, although the Prime acrylic really brought it to life, the polishing did the hard work.

'pop'

Are you from West Coast Customs?

 

[Waitey]

Looks fantastic Dave, a better LSP might have been the order of the day, it would have kept it loking cleaner for a bit longer aswell.


Indeed the flake does pop when polishing, that Pearl Blue golf I did was the same, although the Prime acrylic really brought it to life, the polishing did the hard work.

'pop'

Are you from West Coast Customs?

 

[TimR26]

Good effort

I need to get round to using my DAS-6 on the R26.

 

[Gally]

Did west coast customs paint your V6 for the previous female owner?

 

[Ian_182]

I was just wondering,are the rotar polishers in halfords any good? there around £40 and me not really being a detailer as such i was just wondering if it would do the job for a basic but better than hand polish...???

 

[Kane.]

That looks 10x better

 

[Gally]

I was just wondering,are the rotar polishers in halfords any good? there around £40 and me not really being a detailer as such i was just wondering if it would do the job for a basic but better than hand polish...???

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polis...-silverstorm-39-rotary-polisher/prod_513.html

Buy something like that instead mate, doing s**t by hand is just pants, you'll realise how better the car will look by machine.

Although a good SRP and wax by hand should never be underestimated!

 

[alex-avfc]

Great results there Dave, you're right I would have normally dismissed that colour as dull as piss but it's come to life there.

I'm currently mid way through polishing my 106, I'm doing it over a couple of days as I find it incredibly tedious!

 

[fUbAr]

Recommending a rotary to a novice?

I would say a DA machine would be much better suited to a novice, and the rotary for someone with experience. Chances of burning through paint with a rotary is high!

 

[Gally]

Common misconception Fubar, if you practice like you would any new tool, equipment you'll be fine. We're not talking about using a 3 stage polish here, he maybe wants to fire some SRP on to his car quickly and by machien is leaves awesome results.

Much better than wasting £40 on a "buffer" from Halfords.

Of course I would rather recommend a DA but for £70 less he could get a silverline and practice.

 

[Waitey]

Did west coast customs paint your V6 for the previous female owner?

Did WCC install Air ride which is stuck on its highest setting in your car for the last owner?

 

[J273]

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polis...-silverstorm-39-rotary-polisher/prod_513.html

Buy something like that instead mate, doing s**t by hand is just pants, you'll realise how better the car will look by machine.

Although a good SRP and wax by hand should never be underestimated!

Im thinking of going for one of these.

Daft question

It says it recommends at 125mm backing plate what else is needed to get up and running do i also need pads aswell with this being a backing plate

 

[Nick172Cup]

That looks fantastic Dave! You should do that to the trophy, could make that look great also!

Can do my Clio whilst your there also Knew Ollie would infect you with his OCD cleaning bug! Lol

 

[Tom@JMS]

Pics of Sarah?

 

[The Boosh!]

Pics of Sarah?

LOL!!

Nice turn around Dave

You didn't need my help afterall!

 

[chris_p]

Looks great mate, now you've got me looking at detailing equipment! I remember how hard the paint was on my old Tt, vag paint is tough! Id imagine it'd be similar on the M..

 

[Gally]

Did WCC install Air ride which is stuck on its highest setting in your car for the last owner?

Sold that M3 yet?

Im thinking of going for one of these.

Daft question

It says it recommends at 125mm backing plate what else is needed to get up and running do i also need pads aswell with this being a backing plate

You'll need polishing/finishing pads and spot pads and a small backing plate plus polishes.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Pics of Sarah?

ROFL. No chance

Nice turn around Dave

You didn't need my help afterall!

Yeah, i just thought id crack on with it, was sunny, so wasnt overly bothered if i was stuck outside for 3 days ...

 

[Tom@JMS]

ROFL. No chance

:dapprove:

 

[philmots]

That looks mint, Dave.

Might get my wallet out..!

 

[Sam@NP]

Fancy doing this to my Trophy Dave

 

[Chris205]

I'm genuinely shocked mate, please dont do this to the trophy, its too good to clean, get the BM sorted though its one of my favourite colours

 

[Sir_Dave]

Fancy doing this to my Trophy Dave

Ha, no chance, i only did this as my life would have been made a misery otherwise

I'm genuinely shocked mate, please dont do this to the trophy, its too good to clean, get the BM sorted though its one of my favourite colours

Dont worry, the polisher wont be going anywhere near the Trophy. Although it does need a clean, so i will be getting my special grit covered sponge & bucket out for it over the weekend. BMW on the other hand, that may get done at some point, although it was done in February just before i bought it ...