I have a buddy who has been saying now for two years he wanted me to detail his Honda Accord for him. He's noticed the increase in scratches and after me explaining what swirls are, noticed those as well. There were parts of the car were you could see a good towel inflicted swirl. Some parts were really bad. He also had bird etching. After setting up two appointments, we finally figured out the best day and time to get her all cleaned up and to the best possible condition. Upon the drop off, we inspected the car to see how bad it truly was.
Some before notes:
* Owner is a really neat guy so never had to do interior but didn't really take care of exterior and is going to begin now!!!
* Car has never been waxed since he got it from the dealer in 2003
* Car was apparently what he said 'black'
* Car had bird etching in it
* The last wash was about 3-4 months ago and at one of those drive throughs (not touchless)
* Does not hand wash the car
* Wheels and Tires have never been fully cleaned/detailed/dressed. Only switched to ceramic brake pads to reduce brake dust but after years of not cleaning them, he was left with what you'll see below
* Parked outside for a good part of 2-3 years through Canadian winter
* My longest and biggest write up as of yet. Lots of pics!!!
* Aaron stopped by after PMing me and asking to come see the PC in action since he lives relatively close. Great guy to meet and talk to. Thanks for the help!!!
* When I say I, I actually mean "we" as Aaron helped out as much as he would allow himself to do. Great learner!!!
Products Used: Hyper Wash Car Wash soap with two bucket and Chenille Mit
2
Water Magnet Blue Clay with
Last Touch 1:1
M80 M83 M66
M07
M16
M21
2 x W - 8006 for M80
1 x W - 8006 for M83
1 x W - 8006 for M66
Foam Applicator for M07
Foam Applicator for M21
Foam Applicator for Black Wow
Supreme Shine Microfibre
Meguiars/ADS Glass Microfibre
Hyper Dressing 4:1 and 10:1
Wheel Brightener 4:1
APC 4:1
Safe D-Greaser 10:1
Rain-X
Black Wow
Process:
Wash with Hyper Wash Soap
Clay
M80 with W - 8006
M83 with W - 8006
M80 with W - 8006
M66 with W - 8006
M07 with foam applicator
M21 with foam applicator
Black exterior plastic dressed with Black Wow
Tires dressed with
Endurance High Gloss x 2
Wheel Wells dressed with Hyper Dressing 4:1 x 2
Interior cleaned with #40 and then dressed with Natural Shine
Engine Cleaned with APC 10:1 and 4:1 and then dressed with Hyper Dressing 4:1 x 3
Engine Dressed with Black Wow (parts near the front)
All windows cleaned with Auto Gunk Window Cleaner with
Meguiars/ADS Glass Towel and Supreme Shine Microfibre and topped with Rain-X
Start Time: 8:00 am
End Time: 7:30 pm
The end results were AMAZING!!!
It turned out that his car was not actually black but instead a Nighthawk colour that has blue metallic flakes. When I called to check with him, he didn't remember this, but after sometime remember hearing the name Nighthawk and then remember what it actually looked like when he picked it up. So you see, it was covered in dirt and everything, to the point where its true colour wasn't showing. It truly amazing to see this colour actually come through and I was amazed at it because I didn't even know it was the true colour myself. I was going on what he told me as it was black.
And now, here's your writeup and pics for you.
Step 1: Evaluate the paint and surface. As you can see, that's bird poop on the side door. When I asked my buddy how long it'd been there, he said a good few weeks or maybe a solid month. Wasn't exactly sure. Either way it left an etching. Barely any reflection in the paint, its dull and not shiny. 
Swirls, Swirls, Swirls and bird poop!!! 
Shot of the hood in direct sunlight and look at those SWIRLS!!! 
Back trunk lid covered in swirls!!!
Look how dirty it is!!!
Paint transfer, scuffs, scratches and swirls, ALL IN ONE!!! Oh did I mention more bird poop!!! 
Dead on shot. Covered in bugs, bugs, bugs, but nothing my Gold Class Bug And Tar Remover can't handle!!! 
BUGS BUGS BUGS!!! 
Rear driver side pillar. Badly swirled!!!
Look at what you can see!!! Or better yet, what do you NOT see here!!!
There is everything. 
More bird poop/etching!!! 
Tires and wheels!!! WOW!!! Worst I've seen or I should say worst I've had to clean!!!
He told me he got ceramic brakes to help with the brake dust and although they reduce the amount of brake dust, if they're not cleaned on a regular basis, that little brake dust builds up to become a lot and then continues to build up and this is what happens!!! 
A dirty engine that had never been touched since he got it from the dealer!!! Not once was it cleaned or wiped!!! 
Step 2: Wash and clay the car!!!
Here is a shot post wash and post clay!!! Looking pretty good.
To bad it took me over 3 hours to wash engine, wash tires, wheels and wheel wells and car!!! 
Water from the tires and wheels!!! Much worse in person!!! 
Step 3: Prep and Test SPOT!!!
Once it was totally cleaned I pulled the Honda into the garage and began prepping it. I taped it up fully and set up my test spot. I was hoping that M80 would do the trick. But unforunately that was not the case here. The car had been neglected for far to long, taken through to many car washes for it to be M80 alone.
So with the test spot set up I went at with M80 with the W - 8006 pad to first see what I could achieve. 
Upon inspection I didn't quite like the results. And so the next step was to go more aggressive and out came my M83 and the W - 8006 pad again.
A pass of M83 with the W - 8006 followed by a pass of M80 with W - 8006 was exactly what I was looking for.
The M83 removed the major swirls that were inflicted on this once lovely car, while the M80 helped in removing the hairlines and other light swirls which was evident not only by my eye but by Aaron's as well.
Below is the completed test. M83 to M80!!! 
Yes, unfortunately some scratches still remain, but that is exactly what they are: scratches and deep ones I might add. 
Those side by side comparisons that we all love so much!!!
For your viewing pleasure!!! 
Step 4: Paint Clean
So once I established what I would be using in M83 followed by M80, I proceeded to complete the entire car. These two steps alone took a solid 3.5 - 4 hours. This car was heavily swirled.
Here is a shot of the hood under the halogens following the M80!!! 
That little white thing on the bottom right is a rock chip right down to the metal!!!
Unfortunately for my buddy I can't fix those. 
Aaron hard at work.
Following M83 and M80, I took M66 to the whole car which is what Aaron below is applying to it right now. Reason. For those fine, micro scratches. Although this paint was really hard, the hardest one I've worked on to date, in some spots it didn't feel as hard and was more susceptible to tiny little scratches and so in removing M80 by hand, I needed M66 to take care of that problem.
As is it did, it was also pointed out by Aaron that M66 helped remove some other finer scratches, which was awesome!!! 
M66 waiting to dry!!!
Excellent job done by Aaron here in applying it!!!
Awesome overlap and small sections!!! 
Once I finished with M83, M80 and M66, I gave the whole car a coat of M07 by hand with an applicator pad, to help bring back that glossy finish and add to its shine.
Now this is where the true colour started to show. Upon drop off, and of all the years I've known my buddy, I've known and seen the car to be black. Mind you, I wasn't looking at cars like I am now, but still, it should have been noticeable that the car is actually not Black, but instead Nighthawk, which is black with blue metallic flakes in it.
The M07 helped restore that colour and beautiful shine!!!
I was so impressed up to this point!!!
Can you see the blue here!!! I tried my best to capture it!!! 
I attempted to capture the blue metallic flakes in this pic!!! 
Linear Mode
