Driven Auto Detail: Belated Recap of 2008!

mshu7 · 04-08-09, 08:25

It's been a while since I've posted any of my work. Much has gone on in my life over the last 6 months.

Last August I attempted to move my mobile operation indoors. I had worked out a deal to move into a building that a guy was in the process of buying. Three weeks after moving into the building and after selling my trailer that I used when I was mobile, the guy let me know he was backing out of the deal and I would have to vacate. Unfortunately, right in the middle of all this I tragically lost my dad (Sept. 23). So at this point I had no trailer, no shop, and I was grieving the loss of my dad. On top of all this, I had been fighting a ruptured disc in my back that was progressively getting worse. At that point I was so over-whelmed by everything I decided to take some time off from work and everything else. In January, I underwent my 4th back surgery in the last 12 years (and I just turned 29).

It was at at that point that things started to turn around for me. On January 23rd, the 4-month anniversary of my dad's passing, my wife found out she was pregnant with our first child. As if the fact that we unexpectedly found out this news on this date wasn't good enough, later we found out that it is due Sept. 28, just days after the 1-yr. anniversary of my dad's passing. Say what you will, but we feel very strongly that this was more than just a coincidence.

The last bit of good news is that after I was released by my surgeon to start working again, I found another shop to move my business into. More info on that in this thread.

Back to last year though, there were a few jobs I never got around to posting with everything going on so I just wanted to share some of my work from last year.

First up, a black 2002 M3. Exterior received ONR wash, Optimum Tire Shine on the rubber, clay, SIP (Flex w/orange pad), and Opti-Seal. Interior received vac, shampooed carpets with Bio-Kleen TLC, plastic/vinyl/leather cleaned with Woolite & water (6:1) and then treated with Optimum Protectant Plus.

Next up is another 2002 BMW M3, but in silver. Exterior received ONR wash, DP Tire Gel on the rubber, clay, Poli-Seal (PC, white pad, speed 5), and then OCW v2. Interior received vac and a wipe-down with Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer.

Next up is a black Infiniti Q45. This received the same treatment as the black M3 above.

Here's a 2005 Lotus Elise. Didn't do much to the exterior because the guy was going to have it re-painted at some point. Whoever had it before him used it as a track car and it showed. None the less, pretty cool car. Exterior received an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, and quick round of Poli-Seal on the Flex with a polishing pad. Interior got a quick vac and 303 wipe-down.

Next up is a blue 2006 C6. Just received a quick ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, and OCW. Interior received a vac and a wipe-down with Meg's Quik Interior Detailer.

The next two Vettes come from the same owner as the blue C6 above. After I cleaned up the blue one, he traded it in on a brand new C6 Indy 500 Edition, which I then gave the same treatment as the blue C6. This particular C6 escorted Emerson Fittipaldi around the track before the race. The other Vette is his prized position. It's a 1960 or '61. He had a full resto performed on it just months prior and I was introduced to him because the place doing the resto called me in to do the final polishing on it before they gave it back to him. The only catch to the whole deal was that it had to look like it just came from the factory (which back then wasn't that great). I just did some light polishing (3M Ultrafina) since it was sprayed with single-stage paint...enough to give it some shine. The reason for the factory look was because the shows he was entering judged on factory specifications. He ended up winning 3 "Top Flight" awards which apparently increased his resale value significantly. These pictures were taken at a local Corvette car show. He asked me to come and freshen up both Vettes for the showing that day.

Next up is a black 2007 Cadillac CTS. I spent about 15 hours just on the exterior. It received an ONR wash, clay, M105 (rotary + PFW), SIP (rotary + polishing pad), 106FA (rotary + finishing pad). It was then sealed with Duragloss #105. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day and the sun never came out.

mshu7 · 04-08-09, 08:30

This car was a referral from one of my very first customers. His friend was in from North Carolina and wanted some paint correction performed on his 2007 Nissan 350Z Nismo. It received an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, clay, SIP (rotary + polishing pad), 3M UF (rotary + finishing pad), and a coat of Collinite 845.

Next is a black 2007 Saturn Sky. Exterior received an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, and a coat of Meg's NXT 2.0. Interior received a vac and Optimum Protectant Plus wipe-down.

Next is a brand new 2008 Infiniti G35x. Exterior received ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, clay, Poli-Seal (PC & polishing pad), and a coat of Opti-Seal. Wheels also received an application of OS.

Here's a different 2008 Infiniti G35xS. This was just got an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, clay and Opti-Seal.

This 2008 Range Rover comes from the client that owns the Noble M12 GTO that I detailed back in 2007. I detailed the RR as well as the Noble (again). RR received an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, clay, and Opti-Seal on the outside. On the inside, a quick vac and a 303 wipe-down. The Noble received an ONR wash, OTS on the rubber, clay, SIP (Flex w/orange pad), Poli-Seal (Flex w/polishing pad), and Opti-Seal. Interior got a vac and Optimum Protectant Plus wipe-down.

Last but definitely not least, a 1992 Porsche Carerra4. This owner contacted me to detail his Porsche, which is his daily driver, because it was going to be used in a movie starring Matt Damon. I thought the guy was full of it at first, but it was no joke. The movie, called The Informant, is coming out Oct. 9th of this year. The owner got in contact with the movie producers through one of the online Porsche forums. They basically rented his car for a period of time while they shot the movie in Decatur, IL. The contract he had with them assured him that the car would not be used in any chases, gun fights, etc. From what I'm told, this car was THE car in the movie driven by Matt Damon. Sure enough, when he got it back he called me out to show me the door jamb where Matt signed it. When I detailed it, I gave it a thorough Optimum Car Wash bath. It then received clay, IP (rotary w/polishing pad), 3M UF (rotary w/finishing pad) and a coat of Pinnacle Souveran. Interior received the full treatment; vac, carpets shampooed with Bio-Kleen TLC, all the leather, plastics and vinyl cleaned with Woolite & water (6:1) and then treated with Optimum Protectant Plus (sorry, I don't have the interior shots uploaded). Unfortunately, it rained most of the day and when the sun finally came out, it was near sunset.

Alright, thanks for looking through my 2008 recap!

kaval · 04-08-09, 08:37

Now THAT'S a recap!

Amazing work on all of them. Some really cool cars you worked on. Glad to see things are picking up for you. The saying that when one door closes, another opens is very true.

gtpaul · 04-08-09, 08:37

All look great! Great work.

PS. the first BMW isn't an M3.

Beematic · 04-08-09, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtpaul

All look great! Great work.

PS. the first BMW isn't an M3.

I was saying that. What a poser.

RDAutosport · 04-08-09, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtpaul

PS. the first BMW isn't an M3.

Agreed, I wasn't sure what was worse, the M3 badge on a non-M3 or the horrible brake dust shields.

Regards,

Rich

mshu7 · 04-09-09, 05:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaval

Now THAT'S a recap!

Amazing work on all of them. Some really cool cars you worked on. Glad to see things are picking up for you. The saying that when one door closes, another opens is very true.

Thanks for the kind words!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtpaul

All look great! Great work.

PS. the first BMW isn't an M3.

Hmm....Didn't even realize that it wasn't a true M3. The owner was a pretty young kid so I guess that would explain it. lol

Pats300zx · 04-09-09, 06:11

Awesome work Mike. Glad to see that things are have turned around for you.

mshu7 · 04-09-09, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pats300zx

Awesome work Mike. Glad to see that things are have turned around for you.

Thanks Pat, I really appreciate it!

NRZ · 04-09-09, 06:49

Nice work!! Sorry about your loss.

The 330i ZHP is the first car, and although no M3 a very rare car that still deserves alittle love now and then. If it wasnt for the ITB on an M3 I would rock a ZHP 4 door in about two minutes - if you could find one!

ffamousamos · 04-09-09, 06:49

On the 07 Cadillac did you tape the moulding running down the center of the doors? I have a 05 CTS and was wondering if I shoudl tape the moulding beofre polishing?

mshu7 · 04-09-09, 07:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRZ

Nice work!! Sorry about your loss.

The 330i ZHP is the first car, and although no M3 a very rare car that still deserves alittle love now and then. If it wasnt for the ITB on an M3 I would rock a ZHP 4 door in about two minutes - if you could find one!

Thanks for the kind words and the additional info on the black Bimmer. What makes the ZHP so special, other than it sounds like it's a rarity?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffamousamos

On the 07 Cadillac did you tape the moulding running down the center of the doors? I have a 05 CTS and was wondering if I shoudl tape the moulding beofre polishing?

I taped the majority of the car, but not the moldings. That said, I was very cautious when polishing around them. Just be careful when you work around it, or if you're more comfortable go ahead and tape 'em up.