Many of you may not think this was bad but let me assure you that it sucked worse than probably 90% of the details I've done. Getting dried concrete off paint and fenderwells is a real PITA!
The backstory: The owner of this car is one my best customers. When you think of a true car guy, this guy comes to mind. His collection includes 3 Ford GTs, one in the Heritage Gulf scheme and a matching Saleen Mustang. His stable also includes a Challenge Stradale, 360 Modena, Gallardo, and his latest is a Lambo Superleggera that he is trading in the Gallardo for. Those cars are just the tip of the sphere however. He just recently found a GT3 RS that he's flying down to Pensacola to negotiate on as well as well as a Bentley Flying Spur and a Rolls Royce Phantom. To say he's a car officianado would be grouse understatement. The great thing is that he tracks many of his cars as well and is into motorcycle racing. Great guy to sit around and have a post detail drink with and talk cars. Anyway, on to the detail and what was wrong with it.
The 330xi is his wife's DD and as such, is probably one of only 3 cars in his stable of roughly 25 that has stayed around since I started caring for his cars 5 years ago. The city was doing road work in their development and as with many cities they did a half assed job. Dried concrete was all over the place and then rain hit. He called last thursday asking when I had an open slot and I said monday morning so the appointment was made. He warned me from the beginning that it was caked in concrete on the fenders as well as a kind of greyish haze all over the rest of the car as well.
After doing a little research and talking with Todd from Esoteric Detail (thanks again Todd!) I formulated a plan to use distilled vinegar in a chemical sprayer to help break the chemical bonds. After 4 hours of washing, yes 4 hours of washing, two completely trashed claybars, 1.5 gallons of Vinegar, and 6 ounces of Megs APC I was finally able to polish. Being that it is a DD, the owner stressed that cleaning up the surface was his chief concern and that being said I went to work with my
Flex rotary and a LC white polishing pad and Optimum Polish II. It brightened up the paint a lot and it was then sealed with Poorboys Nattys Red which made the paint pop quite a bit. In the end, the look on his face when he saw it was priceless! I was not able to move 100% of the concrete from the fenderwells but I believe that given enough time, it will wear off and I told him that if he wants to put the car up on his 2 post lift in his warehouse that I'm more than happy to come and take off the rims and get off all that can be removed. He was thrilled non the less and has me coming to do his Superleggera once it is in OH.
Tools Used:
Chemical sprayer from Lowes
1.5 gallons of Distilled White Vinegar
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash via foam gun mixed with Megs APC
Megs APC
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash again
Plastic Razor Blades
Megs Clay
Optimum QD (Thanks for the advice Todd!)
Gilmour Foam Gun
Optimum Metal Polish on rim and exhaust
P21s Wheel Gel on wheels
Megs APC on tires and wells
Various brushes
Lowes GS to wash
Optimum Polish II
LC 5.5 inch pads
3m Perfect It backing plate
Flex Rotary
Poorboys Trim Restorer on all trim
Poorboys Nattys Red as LSP
Now on to the pics!
Before
After
You did a great job on that mess..
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