Corvette FRC, G37, 750i, my Maxima

Scottwax · 08-30-09, 09:40

1999 Chevy Corvette FRC. Owner contacted me through another board I go to. Wanted the Corvette detailed so he could sell it (just bought an M5). Overall it was in pretty good condition and didn't need too much.

Wash/engine wipedown: Optimum No Rinse
Clay: Opti-Clay
Polish: Meguiars #205 with a yellow Meguiars polishing pad via G110
Wax: Clearkote's Carnauba Moose
Vinyl: Woolite/water to clean, Optimum Protectant Plus to protect
Carpets and seats: Cleaned with BioKleen's Traffic Lane Cleaner
Tires and fenderwells: Armor All

http://www.youtube.com/watcv=Xy4iEfp649Ah?

Scottwax · 08-30-09, 09:51

Last polished my car in November 2007 when I bought it (touched up the hood in March 2008). Otherwise all I have done is wash it (mostly ONR) and tried out waxes and sealants as well as Optimum's coating. Overall, for it being such a long time since I polished it, the paint wasn't too bad. Mostly minor cobwebbing and random light scratches and scuffing.

Polishing steps:

1. The hood, trunk lid and some areas on the sides I used Meguiars #105 using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad at 1000-1400 rpms.

2. Whole car with #205, again with a Meguiars polishing pad at 1000-1800 rpms, finishing out with light pressure at 1000 rpms.

Took these pictures after the above two steps since I'd probably lose the sun before the 3rd step.

Even though I could see no holograms from polishing, I still finished the car with 3M Ultrafina using a blue Ultrafina pad at 1000-1800-1000 rpms. This is the only shot that day after all three steps-you can see the shade at this point covers more than half the hood:

Wax:Carnauba Moose
Tires/fenderwells: Armor All

Took these pictures the next day:

Swirl free but you can see my paint isn't pefect-typical Nissan paint, chips pretty easily.

Scottwax · 08-30-09, 10:03

2008 Infiniti G37. Onwer contacted me for an estimate after his car got some paint transfers after it was valet parked. The casino had said they'd pay to get the car detailed, apparently a few body shops were giving very high estimates knowing someone else was footing the bill when the car really wasn't that bad-at least the parts with the minor paint transfers.

What was bad as how the car was buffed after some previous body work...

Since the casino had already sent me a check to cover the detail and since the interior was in really good shape (really just needed the mats cleaned), I traded out the interior detailing for spending more time on the trunk lid and the C pillar and top of the rear fender on the passenger side.

Wash: ONR
Clay: Opti-Clay

Polishing: Meguiars #105/Meguiars polishing pad @ 1000-1600 rpms, #205/polishing @ 1000-1800 rpms, finishing at 1000 rpms.

The rest of the car had light to moderate spider swirls but since the casino wasn't popping for a full correction and the owner had tickets to a concert that night, this wasn't a full on correction.

Whole car polishing: Meguiars #205/polishing pad at 1000-1800 rpms, finishing at 1000 rpms, 3M Ultrafine with a blue UF pad, 1000-1800-1000 rpms.

Rewash with ONR to remove poishing dust.
Sealant: Optimum Opti-Seal
Tires/fenderwells: Armor All
Glass: Clearkote's Quikshine

That is not a huge scratch on the rear fender, it is the sunlight peaking through the fence.

Scottwax · 08-30-09, 10:14

2006 BMW 750i, owner found me through a referral from a BMW board, so whoever that was, thanks!

Wash: ONR
Clay: Opti-Clay

Will the crappy body shop polishing never end?

At least it wasn't as bad as the G37.

Polishing: Meguiars #205/Meguiars polishing pad at 1000-1600 rpms, finishing at 1000 rpms and a few minutes later:

The car really needs about a full day of deep polishing but since the car is a daily driver, the owner just wanted me to just amp up the gloss.

Went over the whole car like I did the trunk lid. Keeping the owner's budget for the car in mind (I think they have a baby on the way), I opted to do the finishing polishing using my G110 and #205/yellow polishing pad instead of UF-which requires more time to do right and clean-up. After polishing. I let the car sit in the sun while I grabbed some lunch. After I returned, I rewashed the car with ONR and looked it over and touched up one small area via G110/#205.

Wax: Carnauba Moose
Tires/fenderwells: Armor All
Glass: Quikshine

Only a few afters, the car just wasn't in a great location to get more than a few angles.

Guitarist302008 · 08-30-09, 11:19

They all look nice, but that Infinity and BMW really jump out at me!

dickwitham · 08-31-09, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitarist302008

They all look nice, but that Infinity and BMW really jump out at me!

x2, that Infinity is gorgeous!

NRZ · 08-31-09, 07:45

That Corvette fixed roof coupe is rare and beautiful, looks nice. I would have a hard time selling that for a M5.

lawrencea · 08-31-09, 09:14

Great work ! Im going to have to get some Carnuba Moose, id like to try it . It seems to me that you like useing it.

mshu7 · 08-31-09, 12:54

Great work Scott!

How long did you end up having the Optimum Coating on your paint? What were your final thoughts on it? Any particular reason why you removed it?

Is Opti-Clay an true OPT product or just something your distributor sells. I've never seen it or heard of it, that's why I ask.

Again, all the vehicles look great.

tdekany · 08-31-09, 01:13

Fantastic work Scott!

Scottwax · 08-31-09, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshu7

Great work Scott!

How long did you end up having the Optimum Coating on your paint? What were your final thoughts on it? Any particular reason why you removed it?

Is Opti-Clay an true OPT product or just something your distributor sells. I've never seen it or heard of it, that's why I ask.

Again, all the vehicles look great.

I applied the coating in January so I had it on my car 8 full months. I never meant to do a full 3 year test on it, plus I didn't get my car that perfect the first time I polished it when I got it and wanted to hit it hard wtih the rotary. I was seeing a few areas that would need reapplication but that is due to a few things:

1. I did not prep my car for the coating, it was kind of a spur of the moment decision. I had originally planned to just apply it to my hood, front bumper and mirrors but I liked the look so much I kept going. I applied it right over all the wax and Opti-Seal I'd been piling on the car for the previous 14 months.

2. I had opened and used some of my first sample on a fender I got the year before (to practice using a rotary on) and then didn't use it on my car for a few more months after that. I opened up the bottle and exposed it to air as well-apparently the shelf life after opening like I did is greatly reduced (which is one of the reasons the product is now in a syringe).

3. I was going back over each area with an MF towel (to make sure I didn't have any streaks) a bit too soon so I probably didn't lay the coating on as thick as it should have been.

I just used the coating today on a customer's BMW 328i and I believe I really have the application down now-got a great, super dense MF applicator that Victory (the motorcycle company) sells and it works very well applying the coating with nearly the ease that you can apply Opti-Seal. Plus, I polished the car and rewashed it as well.

The main reason I didn't put the coating back on my car after polishing was because I knew I had the 328 to detail and wasn't sure if I had enough coating left for both cars. Secondary reason was I was bumping up against dusk while finishing up my car.

I have applied it to both of my parent's cars and my Dad either washes conventionally or uses ONR, kind of goes back and forth between the two.

All in all, I've been really happy with the coating. The beading is truly excellent and you really notice the slickness when washing the car. Honestly, for complete lack of proper prep to ensure bonding, I thought the durability was outstanding.

Opti-Clay is a true Optimum Product, which is why it isn't sold here since Clay Magic would probably sue Optimum. My distributor bought a lot before Optimum stopped offering it for sale in the US. Pretty good clay, very tacky compared to a lot of other clays. Does a really nice job removing crap from the paint.

toyotaguy · 08-31-09, 04:02

Look great scott!!!

I think the body shops still need to screw up peoples cars...I mean, thats more business for us right? lol Its so sad to see a nice repaint come out looking like crap until we get a hold of it!!!