first one in 15 years that wasnt mine... comments welcome

[bshertzer]

I haven`t touched someone elses car for going on 15 years now... used to work in a few detail shops, and really want to get back into this on a part time / on the side type of deal.



my neighbor is always busting my chops for cleaning my vehicles all the time... like when i pull the front seats out of the jetta to sweep everything easier (it`s an 88, so it takes literally 1 minute per seat to remove) i`ve always told her that i`d be more than happy to do hers, but she always refuses, saying that she wouldnt want me in her car. so this time i pushed the issue. i told her when shes gone on vacation, that i`d do her car... top to bottom now, i said this before reallllly looking things over



it`s mid to late 90`s Mercury Tracer that she bought used at least 6 years ago (when i first met her) and i really dont remember seeing it clean. yea, the rain washes most of it away.... but never clean, clean. i know that if it wasnt for the wax at the automatic that it might see once or twice a year, thats prob. about all the "protection" it gets.



my initial plan got slightly diverted due to me getting sick (i didnt get as much done, or as well as i had wanted) but here are the steps i did, and what i used.... as well as the obligitory pictures



all told here`s the breakdown:

i had maybe 8 hours or so into it with all the interruptions along the way

washed

clayed (meguiars blue)

meguiars colorx`d

eagle 1 nano wax (my megs #26 is bad i think - old, it wouldnt come off the car)

vac entire car

woolite all interior plastic

spot clean carpet w/ resolve cleaner

meguiars #40 on dash/door panels

meguiars quick detailed jambs

clay`d wheel covers (cleaners couldn`t touch the brake dust)

dressed tires with stp son of a gun



i know there`s prob. alot better products out there, which i will eventually get into, these are just what i had on hand, or could get rather quickly at a local shop. All of this was done by hand, no buffer (yet) and done outside, in my yard in the evenings after work in the shade of the house.



Before pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00137.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00112.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00120.jpg

[bshertzer]

After pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00043.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00051.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/bshertzer11/Mercury%20Tracer/DSC00009.jpg

[imported_Grouse]

ack sized images



I`m not going to scroll left and right to read your post. Not being rude friend just my eyes can`t take it.

[bshertzer]

sorry... didnt realize the one was huge and messing things up

[imported_Grouse]

thanks mate, looks very nice. Seems like you went all out for a friend.

[Accumulator]

bshertzer-That was a nice thing to do, and it turned out well, nice job.



Gotta admit I was a bit :eek: by the "before" condition though....no wonder she didn`t want you in her car!

[drck1000]

VERY nice Job! Especially on the interior. I don`t understand how people can stand driving in cars that look like that on the inside. I think to most people, cars are just tools that they use to get around and not something they take pride in let alone care for it`s appearance.

[bshertzer]

yea, i was actually very shocked at the condition as well. i never expected it to be like it was beforehand.



i`ll credit this one as being a "learning experience". like i said, with the right tools and supplies i think i could have done alot better, but from where it was... to where it is now... is a 180* turnaround.



thanks for the good words!

[spaceoops]

Jeez. To me driving a car that dirty on the inside would be like being inside a garbage can, intolerable... granted I spend 2h every day in my car commuting, not just the occasional trip to the store.



You did a *nice* job using the resources (including limited time) that you had. Tell us what your neighbor thinks when she sees it!

[imported_mrecktid]

great result without using a buffer!!!



and :bow: at the interior

[bshertzer]

she absolutely LOVED it! i did all of this last week.



i talked to her sunday morning to return her key. they apparently got in around midnight, and she had her son actually back up to shine the headlights on it before pulling in the driveway.



she said that even when she bought it it wasn`t that clean. she was in total amazement. i told her that i wasnt completely satisfied with it, she must think i`m a little *woooo hoooo* . it`s nice and all, and a definate 200% improvement, i just wanted it better (don`t we all though :chuckle: )



the carpet wasnt done in those pics... it came out pretty nice, just sweeping it made a huge improvement.



everyone she works with was very impressed. my neighbor told me that a few of them actually wanted to know if i do this for a living, and if they could get ahold of me to do theirs also :eek: . it looks like if/when i get serious about this, i`ll at least have some initial business

[mikebai1990]

I don`t understand how people can stand driving in cars that look like that on the inside. I think to most people, cars are just tools that they use to get around in...



Wow, that exactly how I feel about those people with dirty cars or peeling/rusting/cracking/flat paint. I just feel bad for the car because it doesn`t have any protection and is just left there to break down... People don`t really care about the car, they just want it to get them where they need to be. With you about not being able to stand a car that`s as dirty as the one in the pictures also.



OP, you really did an amazing job with the car! Like everyone as said, the interior is vastly improved, no dirty crums in the gear shift area :) Great job!!

[DSimmon]

Great job on the clean up there. That`s definately a major improvement. I don`t see how it could have been let to get that bad in the first place, but that`s just me. Amazing what a little passion will show.



And that`s great too, if she`s showing it off to her friends. Word of mouth is good advertising, and it`s free too!

[drck1000]

Wow, that exactly how I feel about those people with dirty cars or peeling/rusting/cracking/flat paint. I just feel bad for the car because it doesn`t have any protection and is just left there to break down... People don`t really care about the car, they just want it to get them where they need to be. With you about not being able to stand a car that`s as dirty as the one in the pictures also.



OP, you really did an amazing job with the car! Like everyone as said, the interior is vastly improved, no dirty crums in the gear shift area :) Great job!!



Even in my "pre-Autopian" days, I NEVER let my car look that bad, ESPECIALLY in the interior. I totally agree with the previous posters analogy of sitting in a garbage can. I mean I don`t keep my interior spotless or immaculate, but that car looked like she left the windows open 24/7!



Now that her car is "cleaner than then she picked it up", I hope that she maintains it better. Or at least starts paying for the OP to detail her car (or at least buy him dinners or something).

[mikebai1990]

Or at least starts paying for the OP to detail her car (or at least buy him dinners or something).



Or maybe buy some detailing products for the OP :)