My 1st efforts at a mini-detail.......

[Cub.]

It seems this weekend was 'flamer cleaning' weekend. Steve from R-Sports did his, Dawn (Magpie V6) did her's and I had a stab at my very first 'detail'.

Made a school boy error, not taking photos before hand. Suffice to say, it was 'dirty' at best, 'filthy' at worst.

I'm no expert (in honesty its the first time I have done anything more than cleaned it) but set to work and did the following;

- Cleaned and snow foamed
- Clay barred it
- Resin Polished
- Waxed

Results (unfortunately I only had my iphone, but Tank on here took some with his SLR which he is sending to me):

I'm pretty happy with the results, time and effort well spent I feel. Won't leave it as long before attacking it again to keep it in tip top shape.

Oli

 

[adam248]

That looks great I like flame red.

 

[CaptainSlow]

That looks great, really satisfying colour when polished up!

 

[Chris205]

Nice colour, fail on lack of tyre dressing though

 

[Cub.]

Nice colour, fail on lack of tyre dressing though

Indeed

Didn't have any, and by the time I realised I didn't have any, the shops had shut!

Lessons learnt for next time lol.

Thanks for the comments guys, keep them coming - good and bad, and pointers for improvement welcome!

 

[plymcl172]

come on that's a bad reason for not using tyre shine. you should have had some ready before you started !

lovely, lovely car though, the only minor and I mean really minor is that exhaust ! Sorry !

 

[Cub.]

come on that's a bad reason for not using tyre shine. you should have had some ready before you started !

lovely, lovely car though, the only minor and I mean really minor is that exhaust ! Sorry !

Cheers, don't apologise mate, the exhaust was on the car when I bought it.....I'm waiting to see what appears from Fred in the exhaust department, and may get a new bumper (bumper has slight scuff from a clown in tescos) and go more 'stealthy' in the long run.....keep it as OEM as possible.

And on the tyre shine front - I promise to keep copious amounts of tyre shine in the cupboard, so I never fall short again...

 

[Will.]

Looks great. Flamers really shine when clean. Just like pearl blacks.

 

[Kane.]

Larvly.

 

[plymcl172]

Its a stunning car and I am so glad someone like you has kept the standard wheels on. I am a rare breed that love the standard wheels on any colour 172

The exhaust on a 172 has to be under the bumper for me it just looks right. I got rid of my twin exhaust that came with the car(yes sticky out chav style) and the back end of mine look miles better !

on the tyre shine front I am using AG tyre shine at the mo and yes there prob is better but its good and stays on for ages and is a great 'quick fix'

 

[Cub.]

Looks great. Flamers really shine when clean. Just like pearl blacks.

Cheers guys, considering its 10 years old in April, its not looking to bad on it, from a paint perspective.

On with the ITB's in the summer, then I need to start the interior...........

 

[ch!ppen]

Can't beat Flamers

 

[VIICarCare]

Oh my! thats gorgeous!

whats she lowered on? running spacers?

Need to get a new style rs badge for mine.

 

[Cub.]

Oh my! thats gorgeous!

whats she lowered on? running spacers?

Need to get a new style rs badge for mine.

Thanks Dawn! She is lowered on Bilstein B14's, with Eibach 15mm spacers all round. Yeah, the 197 RS Style badge was the first thing I did, the 'Halfrauds' one made me shudder......

How is yours behaving, all good I hope!

 

[plymcl172]

what splitter do you have on it ? k tec ?

 

[Cub.]

Can't beat Flamers

Yours makes me want a cup spoiler like a fat kid yearns for cake......

 

[Flat Eric]

Proper loving this colour lately! Looks mint

The 172 wheels in silver really suit it

Well done on getting it looking that clean ;-)

 

[Kyly]

Looking good!! Fancy a drive to wales and cleaning my baby? ha

 

[Cub.]

what splitter do you have on it ? k tec ?

Yeah, the K-tec one. In hindsight i'd probably have gone for the Fabia splitter, but I bought it before really getting involved in CS, so was uneducated on the cost difference....

Haven't cracked it yet though - result!

 

[Cub.]

Looking good!! Fancy a drive to wales and cleaning my baby? ha

Lol, you want someone better than me cleaning it - speak to 'he of arch gap' aka Gally! I'm a mere beginner!

 

[Kyly]

Lol, you want someone better than me cleaning it - speak to 'he of arch gap' aka Gally! I'm a mere beginner!

Well for a beginner you've done a real good job! Got specks of tar on mine which I cannot shift! they are everywhere!

 

[Matthew]

That looks bloody mint pal.

Spacers on a 172 with OE wheels is the thinking mans way too...

 

[ch!ppen]

Yours makes me want a cup spoiler like a fat kid yearns for cake......

Just to annoy you

clio by chippen172, on Flickr

 

[Cub.]

Just to annoy you

clio by chippen172, on Flickr

God I need that cup spolier. I'm off to constantly monitor the 'parts for sale' section.

You at CS12? If so, we should try and get some photos sorted, be like mirror vision!

Clearly you are a fellow 'thinking man' as per matthews post above ^^^^^^!

 

[Cub.]

Well for a beginner you've done a real good job! Got specks of tar on mine which I cannot shift! they are everywhere!

Cheers, I attacked the front bumper with some tar and bug remover, and plenty of 'feverish hand action' lol.

 

[ch!ppen]

God I need that cup spolier. I'm off to constantly monitor the 'parts for sale' section.

You at CS12? If so, we should try and get some photos sorted, be like mirror vision!

Clearly you are a fellow 'thinking man' as per matthews post above ^^^^^^!

Haha! I'm not sure yet. Will have to see. If i do though we'll grab some pics!

 

[Kyly]

you attacked it? was it that bad? haha.

 

[Cub.]

you attacked it? was it that bad? haha.

Haha, lol. It wasn't that bad, but yeah, I maybe went a little OCD on making sure it was tar speck free....didn't want to seal anything under the wax! The clay barring amazed me how much more dirt comes off a 'clean' looking car.

 

[Kyly]

I'll deffo be giving this a bash! not that i'd do a good job!

 

[Cub.]

I'll deffo be giving this a bash! not that i'd do a good job!

Dr Pepper - 'whats the worst that can happen.'. I'm sure you will do a good job, thread needs photos though. Lol

 

[Kyly]

Na no photos! I'll be putting yours to shame :butt: HA

 

[Gally]

Nice job mate.

Shame you didn't de-tar before claying as it can inflict a lot of damage to the paintwork
.
Of course the Srp will help hide most of these marks it's worth noting for the future.

 

[Jamie_182]

good job there looks very tidy!

 

[Cub.]

Nice job mate.

Shame you didn't de-tar before claying as it can inflict a lot of damage to the paintwork
.
Of course the Srp will help hide most of these marks it's worth noting for the future.

Mmmm, i'm confused. I did de-tar? I used Tar and Bug remover for about 1 hour on the front during the clean. Then clay barred. Was that a no no?

 

[jenic]

Never been a massive fan of flame red but that is very nice!

 

[Chris.B]

The last pic. Ooft. Lovely colour.

 

[Gaz_]

Perfect

 

[Cub.]

Perfect

Cheers Gaz. Appreciate the comments - good and bad.

 

[Gally]

Mmmm, i'm confused. I did de-tar? I used Tar and Bug remover for about 1 hour on the front during the clean. Then clay barred. Was that a no no?

Sorry mate you didn't mention it in the OP. If decontamination is done correctly you clay bar should be pretty clean.

I'm sure it was a lot better than if you hadn't have de-tarred.

 

[Cub.]

Sorry mate you didn't mention it in the OP. If decontamination is done correctly you clay bar should be pretty clean.

I'm sure it was a lot better than if you hadn't have de-tarred.

You're right, I didn't mention it in the OP - sorry. Yeah, had a full going over with tar and bug remover. The clay bar was pretty clean, but I was still amazed it got anything more off, as the car looked spotless prior to clay barring. The fact it took anything more off amazed me! I didn't have to use very much of the clay bar, as it wasn't getting very dirty at all. I assume that is a good sign?