Dinan M5, Maxima, Passat, my car, the power of ONR

Scottwax · 07-13-06, 11:32

For those wondering about the cleaning ability of Optimum No Rinse....

This Excursion is owned by a regular, last waxed about 7 weeks ago with Optimum Car Wax and it was just back from a road trip to Colorado and back. Single bucket method, just changed out the water/ONR halfway through because of how dirty the Excursion was.

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My sons and I detailed 11 cars for a law firm back in June, got an e-mail from them a couple weeks ago asking we come out and detail 8 more, so here are the first two.

2006 Nissan Maxima. Less than a year old and in excellent condition. Went over it with Clearkote's Vanilla Moose mixed 50/50 with Red Machine Glaze, aka Pink Moose and white Cyclo finishing pads and topped with Poorboy's EX w/carnauba.

2001 Volkswagen Passat. Definitely not in as nice shape as the Maxima, numerous scratches all over the hood and trunk lid, interior was pretty bad too, starting a trend that continued the next two days (horrible Kia Spectra and Saturn-ugh). I guess we did all the higher-ups cars in June and now we get the regular employees who apparently do good enough work to warrant a free detail but also don't take very good care of their cars.

Anyway, back to the Passat. The Maxima was such a blow-off to do, so that despite us doing the details at a set price and only two steps on the paint, I did an extra step on the hood and trunk lid. I started with Optimum's Hyper Compound and orange Cyclo cutting pads and made several slow passes and got out about 85% of the scratches and spider swirls. Not even worth taking sun shots on white paint, they totally wash out with my camera. Some of the deeper stuff wasn't coming out even with wetsanding anyway so I went ahead and did the whole car with Optimum Polish and green Propel lite cut Cyclo pads (much better, IMO than the green Cyclo pads) and topped with Poorboy's EX w/carnauba.

Scottwax · 07-13-06, 11:40

I have decided since I have been so busy this summer I am just going to use a sealant on my own car, even though I do miss the depth of carnaubas. I just don't have the time when averaging 90-100 cars a month (no, not all details!). I detailed it (after I got back from picking up my younger boy in Kentucky and bringing him back) using Meguiars #80, Werkstatt's Prime Carnauba and Optimum Car Wax. On each of the next washes, first one about 2-3 weeks after the initial detail and the next one about 10 days later, I applied a layer of Werkstatt's Acrylic Jett Trigger. Excellent gloss and wetness although I do miss the depth. AJT has such nice tight beads though and a heavy rain pretty much washes my car now. Right now, that is more important to me than depth.

Anyway, here are some pics under various lighting although with a looming obligation, I didn't get any good sun shots. Honestly, it looks blacker in the full sun than in the shade.

01bluecls · 07-13-06, 11:48

LAST PIC OF YOUR CAR ROCKS! Maybe i missed the m5

Scottwax · 07-13-06, 11:52

2003 Dinan M5. Referral from another customer. The car was a bit rough, looks like it hadn't been washed in a while and had rotary holograms on the hood and roof. The interior was decent though.

A few before shots:

The interior was cleaned with water/Woolite and the vinyl dressed with Optimum Protectant Plus and the leather with Turtle Wax Leather Conditioner.

I did all the polishing in the garage but backed the car out during the polishing process to check my progress-should have taken a picture then because as you will see in the afters, I lost the sun all the way to teh edge of his driveway and they were waiting on my son and I to finish so they could go out for the evening (we finished around 6:30 PM) so moving it around was not an option. He wants me to take care of it regulary now, I'll try to get some full sun pics the next time because that metallic blue is just beautiful in the sun.

As you can also see, with the sun behind the car, it didn't make for the best picture taking conditions either. Anyway, the process was Meguiars DACP using green Propel lite cut Cyclo pads and #80 using the same pads (not the same exact pads!) and topped with Poorboy's EX w/carnauba.

Way2SSlow · 07-14-06, 06:06

Scott,

The cars look great as always. I've searched the forum looking for what kind of mit you use with ONR and havent come up with it. Do you use a good ole sheepskin or what?

RickRack · 07-14-06, 06:54

Wow, I can't believe how good the ONR worked on that filthy Excursion! I just bought a bottle and haven't really had a chance to use it except to make some clay lube. When I first saw the picture of the Excursion I thought that it was oxidized and you had polished it.

The Maxima looks deep and wet. I have done a few Maxima's lately and it seems that the paint Nissan is using now is better than of the past. Maybe it's just me? Looks great!

Oh, and you car looks incredible as always!

evenflow · 07-14-06, 07:38

Great Work Scott. I think I am going to have to go ONR a shot now

gav'spurplez · 07-14-06, 07:55

all of the cars look fantastic.

awahl63 · 07-14-06, 07:59

I think Scott uses grout sponges with ONR...Great details as always scott

SR77 · 07-14-06, 08:00

Scott, in addition to what type of washing mitt you use, what kind of drying towels do you use and how many per vehicle? Also, you mentioned that you only use a single bucket, do you only use 1 washing mitt too for any entire vehicle or multiple? Its amazing that you can wash a Black vehicle that size and dirty with a single bucket and not get any marring. Any other washing technique tricks that you use to wash with these no hose washes? Thanks for the help.

Gen2 · 07-14-06, 08:05

Wow... I love the last shot of your car...it looks so black.

Bigpoppa3346 · 07-14-06, 08:12

Wow that M5 looks like a mirror, and great depth on the Maxima. Stunning work.