A few recent details E320, Towncar, Outlook

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 08:11

I find myself with a rare day off due to a reschedule this morning so I figured I'd toss up a few recent details. As most detailers go this time of year I'm swamped down trying to get everything out as well. But I'm having a lot of fun. a new client of mine that keeps bringing me a lot of cars (the same guy with the ML3200 Brought me a E320 to clean up. The thing looked like it got into a fight with a bager in a bush. The scratches were umm... well wow..

Some befores

Processes including alot of wetsanding and polishing out.

Engine bay

And some afters

Then the Town car was a fathers day present. They have a 120 lab that loves to go with them everywhere. I got the meet the dog and it's just a big sweety (bob and tom reference here LOL) unfortuantly it's really done a job on the leather. So that was the main concern. The paint was in fairly good shape to begin with. so just minor stuff on the outside. But the inside took most of the day. Unfortuantly the husband came home early from work before I was able to get the car done and kind of ruined the suprise but really loved it anyways. Apparently he had booked a detail on the car the next week when he had to take the car in for servicing anyways with the local dealership. (thank god I got to it first)

Some befores

a couple of process pics of getting the leather back in shape.

talk about a chore!!!

The Afters....

And then the Saturn Outlook. This got alot of buzz at the new your Auto Show last year. I didn't realize the size of this beast until it arrived. (I thought it was in the same bracket as the Vue but I'm pretty sure you can fit a vue in the back seat of this thing LOL) It had some good scratches on it. Apparently it got brushed against the back corner by the garage....

Before's:

and the afters:

Anyways. Sorry for the lack of process pics. Apparently I'm falling into old habits of not taking alot of them. But if interested I can walk through the process of each of these. I love being busy. and this is a great time of year to be a detailer. I should have a bunch more to post up here soon. Finding the time to actually process the pics is becoming harder by the day.

Thanks for looking

Jake

MuttGrunt · 06-23-09, 09:26

beautiful work. your interior's come out GREAT! what did you use on the Lincoln b/c it looks 10 years younger. The MB paint went from looking like a cat-fight to mercury

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 09:42

The interior on the Lincoln was a friggin bear. I started out with some woolite 10:1. It basically took off the top layer of grime. So then I switched up my emulsifier and it took off a couple more layers. So I ended up going with letting the woolite soak in for a couple of minutes and then hitting it with the steamer to get it all back to clean.

The MB had to get wetsanded down. After inspection I just couldn't see any way around that. And it's still not perfect by any means. (no touch up paint so rock chips were still present) but it looks a 1000 x's better now. Customer was very happy with the results.

bigltc · 06-23-09, 03:16

Love the Town Car! My neighbors take their lab with them everywhere with very similar Before pictures. lol.

bufferbarry · 06-23-09, 03:45

jake your work is really getting solid by the post. every detail i see from you is better and better. after seeing this one i can tell your very passionate and your working your *** off. great job on all three cars. im really starting to like your threads. outstanding! by the way i loved that 50/50 of the lincoln rear seat! that a great website shot! top notch bro!

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 04:39

Thanks Barry. Means alot. And I tell ya taking the stress out of trying to run a volume shop has really made a huge difference for me. I like being able to take the time needed instead of having to worry just how quick I can get it out to get the next one in. I don't make near the amount of money anymore but I find it much more enjoyable this way and I stated before this year was my time to really up my game. I think it's paying off. Really wish i didn't drop my camera though. Makes taking the close up's impossible right now to capture the reflections the way I want. Might have to switch back to the P&S Kodak I have. These details I've gotten lately have really made it fun for me again. I love pushing myself to get some new skill I didn't have previously. Trying out new processes and various product combo's for both exteriors and Interiors. The lincoln was my first attempt at using woolite on leather. I think for lightly soiled leather it's a good way to go. Obviously this was a bit beyond that. But a bottle of woolite is about $4 where as the current product I'm using is closer to $65/gallon and the emulsifier I have is over $250/bottle. I like getting the results I can the cheapest way possible to my wallet. But don't take that wrong. if I don't get the results I demand out of myself then out comes the cash until I find something that does work right. And lately there have been a ton of great new products that aren't out to rob you of your profits that are working great for me. I think once I get to the point that I like I'll try to get into a shop again with employee's and teach them how to be me. I've gotten tons of offer's lately on really great locations But I'm not at a point just yet that I want to get back into all that. Maybe next year.

grungy · 06-23-09, 05:26

Jake - that TownCar was pretty trashed inside. I see you used the steamer, but did you go direct with it or use a MF towel to aid the Woolite? You definately have a great gift for this and your end result shows the hours put into the client's vehicle.

Scottwax · 06-23-09, 06:03

Excellent work on all three, the Town Car and Outlook interiors were TRASHED! I hate doing interiors for dog people. Hate dealing with the hair and the smell and knowing in two weeks the interior won't look like it was cleaned...but it is job security, amirite?

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 06:20

LOl exactly scott.. I know the dog is a family member and will always go for rides... So i can see this car coming back a few more times in probably the same condition. As for the steamer I didn't use a MF towel but I did use a little attachement with a soft nylon brush on the end. I use the MF when I steam out the dash and such like that... I felt the brush was needed to aggitate the grime out of this mess.