The Megane weekend detail

[DanFreemanPhoto]

As the Exige was picked up today, all my love is now devoted to the Meg

I wanted to give it a proper decon treatment, as there's loads of tiny back spots everywhere, and the paintwork is relatively rough too (nothing major at all!)

After a wash, it was out with the Iron-X everywhere.

The bonnet actually looked pretty good initially, until I saw all the purple!

That's it for now, as I spent all day cleaning out the garage. Starting again tomorrow morning with some claying to hopefully remove the last of the spots, then SRP (until I order some AF Tripple), then Zaino Z5.

Wheels will hopefully come off too for a full clean and seal.

More to come.....

 

[Bluebeard]

You not machining it mate?

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I might do actually now I think about it. I don't have to finish it tomorrow as the car will probably stay in the garage all week, so I can do some more in the evenings if I don't finish tomorrow for whatever reason.

Does anyone know what the paintwork on these is like to machine polish? Hard/soft?

 

[Bluebeard]

I've only ever done a black 225 and it was fairly soft tbh.

 

[Yellow Dave]

Try and use a tar remover before claying, will make it much easier and pull out a lot more dirt than you'd think is on there. If you dont have one, autoglym intensive tar remover will suffice although there are better out there

 

[Feirny]

Teasing b*stard!

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Man I'm broken. All day at it today. My back is ruined!

First up was claying, didn't take any photos of that as it isn't the most exciting. Certainly removed most of the remaining black spots etc, and paint felt much smoother after too.

Next up was a full clean for the wheels.

Starting out with general Bilberry clean:

Not in too bad a state initially:

Then holy Iron-X!!

Nice and clean ready for drying...

Then a coat of Gtechniq C5 wheel armour.

Then it was on to machine polishing. The car was in a pretty good state already, with just a load of really minor marks, with the occasional deeper marks.

Here's the only after shot I did, you can still see one deeper mark and a couple of other little ones which I struggled to get out, without the rear of going too deep. I'm not really after 100% correction, as I'm not talented enough for that, jus to get the major stuff off.

Tomorrow evening, I have the last side and roof to finish off. Then some Zaino Z5.....then I'm done!!

 

[Bluebeard]

A bad back?? Quit your moaning, I do this for a living!

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I know! And at least this car is over waist height too unlike my previous cars. Must be getting older

 

[Bluebeard]

You had much driving time in the Meg Dan? Any thoughts on it so far?

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I've probably done a couple of hundred miles.
Really like it, granted it feels big and not quite as nimble in the bends, but coming from an Exige....what wouldn't!

It's mapped to 277bhp 330lbft, so still has some go in it. It doesn't 'feel' as quick as it is, but I guess that's because it is much more civilised than the Exige, which is pretty loud in the cabin at full chat.

I hated the gear change in the Meg though. VERY light, and stupidly long. Again, as I'm used to the Exige, anything would feel worse. But the Megane is horrid. Period.
Jay fitted a short shifter for me which really helped. Slightly heavier and much shorter.

Otherwise great car. Looking forward to getting it on track to see what it can really do. No doubt another pissing wet day at Llandow!

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Well it took a lot longer than I was anticipating, but as I havent needed to use the car, I've just kept doing more things in the evenings after work....finishing it off today.

In total:

Washed
Clayed
Machine polished - Menzerna Intensive polish and power gloss on Menzerna polishing pad
AF Tough Prep
Zaino Z2 - three coats

Trim done with GTechniq C4 trim restorer

Interior done with Poorboys Natural Look dressing

Interior glass cleaned with AF Crystal

GTechniq G1 on the windscreen

I think that's about everything!!

I havent got it out of the garage yet as the weather is crap and I can't bear to get in dirty after all that work! So just some shots as is....

The best reflection shot I could get, white really isn't the best for this I'm learning!

I wish the weather was able to do it justice though Oh well....I'll do a top up detail soon enough I guess.

 

[coleman]

Love the look of that.

Is that rear spoiler standard?

 

[The Russian.]

Superb work, great example mate.

 

[gex23]

Love the look of that.

Is that rear spoiler standard?

R26.R spoiler.

 

[Chapppers11]

Good job Dan, car looks proper!

Now drive it. :evil:

 

[MancmanRS200]

Gorgeous car looks ace in white !! I want one and you've done a great job to be honest gotta get mine done

 

[Wick]

Looks cracking mate!

Bet it's like driving a living room compared to the past year of cars.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

You have no idea!!
I still can't over how freaking big the doors are on these things. But at least that means easy getting in and out, which is a nice change after the past two cars.

 

[Jay Payne]

Good job Dan, car looks proper!

Now drive it. :evil:

This............... I am purposly not putting in for overtime on that date we discussed :race:

 

[Stefan.]

Ahh balls, this thread doesn't help me (having spent last few hours looking at r26 megs)

But wow you have done a nice job, looks lovely!!

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Lol. I want to get the car serviced first!

 

[Gally]

Oh my. I love it, I want it.

Stunning work Dan, you should be mega proud of that effort.

Just so you know to get the best out of light colours from a pro pov it involves burnishing/jeweling. It's for the more serious detailing though.

Ceramic sealant is maybe something to look at for the future or a couple layers of Amigo/Ez creme via machine before Z2. Summer detail.

 

[Jay Payne]

Lol. I want to get the car serviced first!

 

[Gaz_]

Stunning that, love them!

Need to do mine, my GW 197 is covered in tar, I've booked a few days off next week hoping to do a full decontamination, but as I have no garage and looking outside, it looks a none starter

How do you rate this C4 trim restorer? I gather its like a semi permanent dressing? Really need to do the grille and the 197's have trims up the windscreen that fade to f**k and need constant dressing!

 

[Rubicon_]

This has probably made my mind up on whether i should get an r26 next. Good work!

 

[coleman]

This has probably made my mind up on whether i should get an r26 next. Good work!

Same, already browsed eBay , pistonheads.

 

[Gray]

Looks lovely, Dan.

storm trooper r26!!

 

[Matt W]

Very nice!

Still want a R26:R

 

[JackJack]

That looks great! Get some more pics/project thread up?

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Stunning that, love them!

Need to do mine, my GW 197 is covered in tar, I've booked a few days off next week hoping to do a full decontamination, but as I have no garage and looking outside, it looks a none starter

How do you rate this C4 trim restorer? I gather its like a semi permanent dressing? Really need to do the grille and the 197's have trims up the windscreen that fade to f**k and need constant dressing!

I'm still very new to C4, so havent had it long enough to see what it's like. After applying though, the trim does look fantastic and new!

That looks great! Get some more pics/project thread up?

It's not really worth it really. I'm not going to fiddle about with this one. A short shifter and new speakers have been fitted, not really worth a new thread

And I doubt much else will change really.

 

[Auto Finesse]

Try and use a tar remover before claying, will make it much easier and pull out a lot more dirt than you'd think is on there.

This is very good advise, one thing to add, make sure you re wash the areas you use the tar remover on thoroughly after use before claying, other wise the tar remover will melt your clay

 

[Inequality Street]

This is very good advise, one thing to add, make sure you re wash the areas you use the tar remover on thoroughly after use before claying, other wise the tar remover will melt your clay

This I didn't know, learn something new everyday! Tah

 

[JD]

To add to the claying adviCe, put clean, old towels around the bottom of the car where you're claying. The bar can become slippy with clay lube, so if you drop it, you don't need to throw it away with this precaution.

 

[The Russian.]

To add to the claying adviCe, put clean, old towels around the bottom of the car where you're claying. The bar can become slippy with clay lube, so if you drop it, you don't need to throw it away with this precaution.

Great advice!!

 

[Lal B3N]

Looks like a great example.

But less cleaning, more driving. I prefer shots of it covered in road grime ha.

 

[Tyler@Ultimate]

looks nice Dan, didn't know you got rid of the exige until now.

R26 looks mint tho.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Yep
I need to grow up now, so as planned...that was my house deposit.

 

[Stefan.]

So when you selling up?

I knew i shouldn't of looked in this thread again!

 

[AllyL]

Great example Want that..