imported_fishbonezken
10-13-2007, 01:57 AM
The car is a Mauritius Blue Audi A4, when the car came in at night, it was IMMACULATE, the back of the wheels were clean, the paintwork, SPOT ON!
No swirls, the paintwork has been sanded to remove orange by a renowned detailer here in Malaysia about 11 months ago. Nothing but perfect reflections. Upon closer inspection there were watermark etchings on the roof and the owner pointed out to me smaller watermark etchings on the upper part of the door.
This is before the car has been washed, it is also worth mentioning that the owner takes great care of his car and hand washes it himself, and I think he did an amazing job keeping the swirls away.
Absolutely swirl free
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0111.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=674&u=11231162)
Absolutely minimal orange peel.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0211.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=675&u=11231162)
And on to the detail, sorry didn’t have as many process pictures this time.
Interior
Mats were removed, and carpets were vacuumed, the driver’s mat were cleaned with Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner (4:1)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0110.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=691&u=11231162)
Leather seats were firstly vacuumed in between the seams, using a nylon brush to whisk out the dirt particles. Front seats were cleaned with Meguiar’s Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner using a terry towel, followed by an application of Meguiar’s Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner, you can see the foam is a bit dirty afterwards, this helped to remove any residue that was missed by the Aloe Cleaner step.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0210.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=693&u=11231162)
All vinyl and plastics in the interior was wiped with Meguiar’s Quick Interior Detailer. I first purchased Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner for the interior, but found it to be a bit too oily, and the owner wanted a matte finish on his interior, so the QID was used instead. The pleasant neutral smell of this product was great.
A cotton bud soaked with QID was used to clean gaps and Meguiar’s triple duty brush was used to help remove some particles embedded deep between crevices.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0310.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=692&u=11231162)
Exterior
Wheels and Tires
Tools and chemicals for the job
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0311.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=676&u=11231162)
Meguiar’s Super Degreaser(4:1) for tires, Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner(4:1) for wheel wells, Meguiar’s Hot Rims Multi-Piece Wheel Wash for the wheels, and a variety of brushes. Specks of tar on the face of the wheel were removed with Ambersil’s Tar Spot Remover spray. A sponge with a nylon mesh was used to clean the wheel wells.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0411.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=677&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0711.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=680&u=11231162)
Tar on the multi-link arm( not sure what it is actually called…) removed with the same tar remover.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0511.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=678&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0611.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=679&u=11231162)
Paintwork
Firstly the car is soaked with Meguiar’s Hyper Wash to dissolve heavy dirt (if any ïŠ). Then rinsed off, followed by a wash with the two bucket method using Meguiar’s Shampoo Plus.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0811.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=681&u=11231162)
After washing, the car is clayed with Perma Glass No.2 Clay, most of the contaminants were on the lower panels of the car. Diluted Shampoo Plus was used as clay lubricant.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0911.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=682&u=11231162)
Whole car is then rewashed again and rinsed off. The car is then blotted dry with a Meguiar’s Water Magnet towel to prevent scratching the surface.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=683&u=11231162)
Here is a picture to show the near perfect condition of the paint.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1111.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=684&u=11231162)
The owner’s main concern was actually the watermark etchings. I tried to capture them, the watermarks are circled in black in the pictures below.
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm110.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=670&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm210.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=671&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm310.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=672&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm410.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=673&u=11231162)
Firstly the mildest combo was tested ( Optimum Polish on a finishing pad with a rotary buffer), this did not removed the watermark etchings. The next step up the aggressiveness scale was Meguiar’s #83 Dual-Action Cleaner/Polish used with a polishing pad. The test spot was hit with this combination twice, no difference. The final and most aggressive step that I could do was Meguiar’s #85 Diamond Cut Compound used with a wool pad. A first hit gave no difference, a second hit only reduced the appearance of the etching very very slightly.
So I contacted the owner about the problem and told him that I do not have the safety net of a paint thickness gauge and wasn’t too sure if the clearcoat is extremely hard or the watermark has etched really deep, so we both agreed to just give the car a finishing polish to cleanse the paint and provide a light polishing to remove any light defects and marring that could be caused by the claying process.
A professional detailer that I have infinite respect for told me that the watermark has etched really deep into the paint, and that removing them would mean cutting deep into the clearcoat, he suggested to just remove light paintwork flaws and leave the watermark etchings alone.
Optimum polish being worked in.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1611.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=685&u=11231162)
After polishing the car is glazed with Meguiar’s #7 Show Car Glaze by hand, followed by Meguiar’s #21 Synthetic Sealant via Random Orbital Buffer, and finally topped off with Finish Kare 1 Pink Wax by hand.
All chrome pieces were polished with Meguiar’s NXT All Metal Polish
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1711.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=686&u=11231162)
Front grille cleaned and dressed with Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner. Vinyl moldings at the front windscreen also received Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner to remove tape residue.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1811.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=688&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1911.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=689&u=11231162)
Tires dressed with Meguiar’s Hot Shine Tire Spray
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/2011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=690&u=11231162)
No swirls, the paintwork has been sanded to remove orange by a renowned detailer here in Malaysia about 11 months ago. Nothing but perfect reflections. Upon closer inspection there were watermark etchings on the roof and the owner pointed out to me smaller watermark etchings on the upper part of the door.
This is before the car has been washed, it is also worth mentioning that the owner takes great care of his car and hand washes it himself, and I think he did an amazing job keeping the swirls away.
Absolutely swirl free
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0111.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=674&u=11231162)
Absolutely minimal orange peel.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0211.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=675&u=11231162)
And on to the detail, sorry didn’t have as many process pictures this time.
Interior
Mats were removed, and carpets were vacuumed, the driver’s mat were cleaned with Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner (4:1)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0110.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=691&u=11231162)
Leather seats were firstly vacuumed in between the seams, using a nylon brush to whisk out the dirt particles. Front seats were cleaned with Meguiar’s Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner using a terry towel, followed by an application of Meguiar’s Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner, you can see the foam is a bit dirty afterwards, this helped to remove any residue that was missed by the Aloe Cleaner step.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0210.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=693&u=11231162)
All vinyl and plastics in the interior was wiped with Meguiar’s Quick Interior Detailer. I first purchased Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner for the interior, but found it to be a bit too oily, and the owner wanted a matte finish on his interior, so the QID was used instead. The pleasant neutral smell of this product was great.
A cotton bud soaked with QID was used to clean gaps and Meguiar’s triple duty brush was used to help remove some particles embedded deep between crevices.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/i0310.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=692&u=11231162)
Exterior
Wheels and Tires
Tools and chemicals for the job
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0311.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=676&u=11231162)
Meguiar’s Super Degreaser(4:1) for tires, Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner(4:1) for wheel wells, Meguiar’s Hot Rims Multi-Piece Wheel Wash for the wheels, and a variety of brushes. Specks of tar on the face of the wheel were removed with Ambersil’s Tar Spot Remover spray. A sponge with a nylon mesh was used to clean the wheel wells.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0411.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=677&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0711.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=680&u=11231162)
Tar on the multi-link arm( not sure what it is actually called…) removed with the same tar remover.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0511.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=678&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0611.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=679&u=11231162)
Paintwork
Firstly the car is soaked with Meguiar’s Hyper Wash to dissolve heavy dirt (if any ïŠ). Then rinsed off, followed by a wash with the two bucket method using Meguiar’s Shampoo Plus.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0811.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=681&u=11231162)
After washing, the car is clayed with Perma Glass No.2 Clay, most of the contaminants were on the lower panels of the car. Diluted Shampoo Plus was used as clay lubricant.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/0911.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=682&u=11231162)
Whole car is then rewashed again and rinsed off. The car is then blotted dry with a Meguiar’s Water Magnet towel to prevent scratching the surface.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=683&u=11231162)
Here is a picture to show the near perfect condition of the paint.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1111.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=684&u=11231162)
The owner’s main concern was actually the watermark etchings. I tried to capture them, the watermarks are circled in black in the pictures below.
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm110.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=670&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm210.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=671&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm310.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=672&u=11231162)
http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/11/23/11/62/wm410.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=673&u=11231162)
Firstly the mildest combo was tested ( Optimum Polish on a finishing pad with a rotary buffer), this did not removed the watermark etchings. The next step up the aggressiveness scale was Meguiar’s #83 Dual-Action Cleaner/Polish used with a polishing pad. The test spot was hit with this combination twice, no difference. The final and most aggressive step that I could do was Meguiar’s #85 Diamond Cut Compound used with a wool pad. A first hit gave no difference, a second hit only reduced the appearance of the etching very very slightly.
So I contacted the owner about the problem and told him that I do not have the safety net of a paint thickness gauge and wasn’t too sure if the clearcoat is extremely hard or the watermark has etched really deep, so we both agreed to just give the car a finishing polish to cleanse the paint and provide a light polishing to remove any light defects and marring that could be caused by the claying process.
A professional detailer that I have infinite respect for told me that the watermark has etched really deep into the paint, and that removing them would mean cutting deep into the clearcoat, he suggested to just remove light paintwork flaws and leave the watermark etchings alone.
Optimum polish being worked in.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1611.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=685&u=11231162)
After polishing the car is glazed with Meguiar’s #7 Show Car Glaze by hand, followed by Meguiar’s #21 Synthetic Sealant via Random Orbital Buffer, and finally topped off with Finish Kare 1 Pink Wax by hand.
All chrome pieces were polished with Meguiar’s NXT All Metal Polish
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1711.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=686&u=11231162)
Front grille cleaned and dressed with Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner. Vinyl moldings at the front windscreen also received Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner to remove tape residue.
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1811.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=688&u=11231162)
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/1911.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=689&u=11231162)
Tires dressed with Meguiar’s Hot Shine Tire Spray
http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/23/11/62/2011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=690&u=11231162)