Presidential Detailed: 2002 Honda S2000

[PresdntialDtail]

This car provided a very good learning experience for me, the owner said it was in rough shape, and it was. I looked it over, noticed there was lots of swirling and the finish was kind of hazy. It had been sitting under a cover for nearly a year with no use. I figured it would be the run of the mill swirl removal on soft Honda paint as usual...WRONG!! Turns out the ENTIRE front half of the car from the doors forward were repainted with superman strength clearcoat. I tried everything I have including M105 on a Burgandy Solo Wool multiple passes with NO LUCK! I couldnt believe it. I was ready to give up and came to the conclusion the swirls were UNDER the new clear/paint. Well I was wrong again..

I posted up this thread, 2 passes with M105/Wool, no luck... , looking for advice. No one knew what to tell me except for "iamwaxman" aka Kevin. He informed me of a new method on how to use the M105 and get two to three times more cut!

Originally Posted by iamwaxman

Since you've already got the M105 and the wool pad (plus plenty of others)...

Go ahead and try this:

1. Prime the pad THOROUGHLY.
Rub it in with your hand. It'll take a bit more than you're used to applying.

2. Apply a bead of M105 to the surface, pull it in, and polish at low speed (1000 rpm).
Try 2-3 passes, or until the M105 is just starting to dry.

3. Using a fine mist, spray the surface with water.
Do not add additional product- Just re-polish with what's already in the pad.

I think you'll see a 50% improvement in the cut, but you'll probably see an increase in swirling (it can be easily removed).

After trying this method (count it as one cycle), spur the wool pad (blow it clean with compressed air if you have it).

I won't PROMISE a better result, but I am pretty sure you're going to GET a better result.

And I went into the garage and followed the directions precisely. FIRST TRY ALL SWIRLS ARE REMOVED!!! I couldnt believe my eyes! Not to mention the fantastic gloss it leaves once finished down!

Well anyways, on to the pictures!

Exterior:
Dawn Soap Pre-Wash
Optimum Car Wash-Final Wash
DD "Uber" Red Drying Towel
DD "Uber" Wool Mitt
Dual Buckets with Grit Guards
3m "green" Masking Tape
Adams Professional Clay Bar
P21S TAW
Meguairs APC+
Meguairs Hyperdressing
Megs M105/Megs Solo Burgandy Wool(new method) x2
Menzerna PO85rd/LC FLAT Black 5.5"
Menzerna Top Inspection
Tons of Uber MF Towels
Black WOW
Griots Garage Wheel Cleaner Gel
Swissvax Pneu


LSP:
Lusso Oro applied with Uber Foam Applicator

Tools:
Dual Work Lamps
Dewalt Hi Speed Rotary
World's Greatest Boar's Hair Wheel Brush
Foam Pad Cleaning Brush
DD Detail Sponge
The Wheel Well/Fender Brush
The Spoke Brush
Canon Rebel XTi
Craftsmen 295MPH Vac/Blow
E-Z Detail Wheel Brush
Swissvax Wheel Brush

BEFORE:
























The headlights were in rough shape, well take care of those later.




The owner spilled about a quart of oil on accident while performing an oil change, now my duty to clean it up! haha!

[PresdntialDtail]

IN THE HALOGENS..














50/50 after SIP/orange SIP/yellow wool, M105, yellow wool M105/burgandy wool with 2 passes! It just wasnt removing the big ones..




Before..


After..M105/Burgandy x2

[PresdntialDtail]

NOW after "iamwaxman"s advice..

Originally Posted by iamwaxman

Since you've already got the M105 and the wool pad (plus plenty of others)...

Go ahead and try this:

1. Prime the pad THOROUGHLY.
Rub it in with your hand. It'll take a bit more than you're used to applying.

2. Apply a bead of M105 to the surface, pull it in, and polish at low speed (1000 rpm).
Try 2-3 passes, or until the M105 is just starting to dry.

3. Using a fine mist, spray the surface with water.
Do not add additional product- Just re-polish with what's already in the pad.

I think you'll see a 50% improvement in the cut, but you'll probably see an increase in swirling (it can be easily removed).

After trying this method (count it as one cycle), spur the wool pad (blow it clean with compressed air if you have it).

I won't PROMISE a better result, but I am pretty sure you're going to GET a better result.

BEFORE:


AFTER 1 PASS:




BEFORE:


AFTER 1 PASS:


I ended up doing the whole car with this method twice on each panel to ensure every scratch was removed..
















Pulled it out in the sun..

[PresdntialDtail]

Headlight Before:


50/50 with M105 on a "3 finger" green pad:
This was a night and day difference, the camera didnt seem to capture it as well.


Unfortunately, it was almost 12am when I finished and I was trying to get it done so the customer could leave, so I was not able to get as many after shots as Id like. The owner was amazed how the car looked when he came over, it was literrally glowing even at night!

Here are a couple afters I managed to get, the owner said he would take some more for me when he gets a chance...










Please forgive me for the lint, its time to invest into new MF's.

[weekendwarrior]

Great job. It's kind of cool when you struggle with a car, learn something new, and end up with great results.

[TSC17]

Good job Billy, and thanks for sharing your info. I worked on a car with PFW/105 a few days after Kevin's advice, and too found it was finishing much nicer by slowing down to 1000rpm.

[lt1_man]

Great job, I will remember the trick with M105

Brandon

[Scottwax]

Wow, damn fine job.

[PresdntialDtail]

Thanks guys, I wish I had some more after pictures. Ill request them from the owner, im sure he wont mind! haha!

[RickRack]

Looks great!

I'm surprised you were able to go from M105 straight to 85rd...

I have also found that M105 works best at slower rpm's. I usually gather M105 with my pad and spread it quickly until there is no polish visible on the panel. Then, I work a small area with the amount of product in the pad for multiple passes. I have polished for well over a minute with M105, unlike others that state it has a short working time. It almost seems as if you are dry-buffing, but if you look closely, you will see a *very thin film present on the panel, which means you are working the product and not dry-buffing. When the product flashes off, it will begin to dust. Either stop, or add a light spritz of distilled water for extended working time...

Again, great job!!!

[zoomzoom mazda5]

Looks awesome the way it came out Billy, great advice from Kevin also. I will keep in mind about this detail!

[PresdntialDtail]

Originally Posted by zoomzoom mazda5

Looks awesome the way it came out Billy, great advice from Kevin also. I will keep in mind about this detail!

Thanks! And thanks for offering to help out!