Black Audi S4 hacked by the body shop

[Rickrack]

This Audi S4 belongs to a friend of mine. I detail the car often and it is always kept in tip-top condition. I have not seen the car since before the winter and was expecting it to be a little worse than usual. I was pretty shocked at the condition it was in when he dropped the car off to me. It was covered in swirls, scratches, buffer trails, pad abrasions, etc. The car went in to the body shop to get the front bumper repainted over the winter and they were kind enough to “detail� it for him. Needless to say, the car needed some help to get it looking good again.



The car is going to be traded in soon, so I was told not to go too crazy with it. He just wanted me to get the car looking halfway decent before he went to the dealership, so I decided to a quick 2-step polishing treatment. I think it came out pretty good for a just a 2-step polish.





The pictures below show what the car looked like under the halogens when I pulled it into the garage:



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails001-1.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails002.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails003.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails005.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails006.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails008.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails010.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails011.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails012.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails013.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails014.jpg

[Rickrack]

Remember, this was not a 100% correction, but good enough to be traded in.



Here are the final results:





http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails040.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails044.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails043.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails045.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails049.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails050.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails051.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails052.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails055.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails056.jpg

[Rickrack]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails060.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails061.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails062.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails064.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails065.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails067.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails068.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails077.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails078.jpg







Total Process:



Washed, extensive cleaning of wheels and tires



Claybar treatment



Body solvent wipedown



Buffed complete exterior with M105 using a yellow Meguiar’s Solo foam pad



Buffed complete exterior with Ultrafina using a blue UF pad



Alcohol wipedown



Carnauba Moose Wax by hand



Super blue dressing on tires



FK-425 on wheels

[stilez]

Results look quite stellar! Detailed black paint in the sun is absolutely unbeatable.





Side note: I don`t think even with the utmost neglectful wash techniques, I could scour a hard Audi finish like that. It looks like they used a snow removal brush or something.



I`m sure Audi will take that sucker back with open arms!

[Eisen Hulk]

This is an honest question....How much better could it have been? That looks damn near perfect to me.

[Rickrack]

Thanks Sean! I don`t know what the heck they used. I am sure the dealer will not be complaining of the condition when it is traded-in!







Eisenhulk- Thanks... There is always room for improvement! :)



I am just waaay too picky sometimes!

[Eisen Hulk]

No problem, Rick. I guess being a newb, you don`t pick up on the minute details, but that`s why you`re one of the pros.



To me, it doesn`t look like it could look any better. Nice work! I really need to step up to a rotary.

[Shelpster66]

Very nice....nothing better that black done correctly!!!



Great job!!!

[awahl63]

Very nice job Rick! The paint is extremely hard and the body shop really did a number on it. Such a shame...

[Rickrack]

shelpdoggSVT- Thanks! Black is definitely the best when detailed properly.







ahwahl63- Thanks! It really is a shame that body shops cannot learn from their mistakes, but that`s what keeps me in business!

[Rickrack]

A few interior pictures...



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails016.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails070.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/rickrack/Black%20Audi%20S4/AprilDetails075.jpg

[imported_artikxscout]

Seriously, how could you do something to a car like that?

[Rickrack]

Seriously, how could you do something to a car like that?







Nothing seems to surprise me anymore ...

[imported_DJ Mayo]

Very nice Rick, looks like 105 / Ultrafina is a pretty killer combo.

[imported_fishbonezken]

terrific and flawless work as always Rick!



what is the purpose of the solvent wipe down after the claying process?