Honda S2000 (Red)

[imported_Dave KG]

Two cars from one owner this weekend - the first of these was this solid red Honda S2000...



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dscf3781.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dscf3780.jpg



The car was a little mucky on arrival, but what was bother the owner was the swirl marks in the paintwork so it was booked in for a paintwork correction and protection detail. Bryan and Stuart carried out the pre polishing preparation work to this car. The wheels were pretty mucky...



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/DSCF3783.jpg



During the cleaning process, ensuring the insides are cleaned as well (required Autosmart Tardis owing to tar covering the insides...):



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0007.jpg



The paintwork on this Honda was seen to be fairly badly swirled, and there was also a notable amount of deeper marks across the paint to add to the swirls that were there! Some before shots of the paint:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0013.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0014.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0016.jpg



Paint thicknesses on this car raised an eyebrow - some thicker regions pointing to respray work, but also some rather thin regions as well. The thickness gauge coming into its own and proving its worth with very regular use throughout the detail to check the safety of the correction process to ensure the clearcoat was not comprimised... I expected on the thin regions that some deeper marks would have to remain.



We kicked off on the bonnet for assessing what was required for correction... Menzerna PO106FA Final Finish on a Meguiars W8006 Polishing pad applied as follows:





Spread at 600rpm

Begin working at 1200rpm

Work until residue clear at 1500 - 1800rpm

Refine at 900rpm for a couple of passes





This yielded the following:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0024.jpg



Swirls removed, but many RDS still visible and correction I would judge hear at about the 80% level... so step up to Menzerna PO85RD3.02 Intensive Polish, carefully noting the thicknesses being removed the the amouont of paint there existed to play with.



So - Menzerna PO85RD3.02 Intensive Polish on a Meguiars W8006 Yellow Polishing pad, applied as follows:





Spread at 600rpm

Begin working at 1200rpm

Work until residue clear at 1500 - 1800rpm

Refine at 900rpm for a couple of passes





This was then checked for correction, and I was happy this was removing 95%+ of the deeper marks as well. In some places, a second hit of Intensive Polish was used for fuller correction, but in others I deemed the paintwork too thin to risk this and erred as is sensible in these cases on the side of caution and also allowing for future correction work should it be needed.



After refining with Menzerna PO85RD Final Finish on a Meguiars W9006 finishing pad as follows:





Spread at 600rpm

Begin working at 1200rpm

Work at 1500rpm until the residue clear

Refine at 1200rpm for a couple of passes

Burnish at 900rpm for three or four passes





we find the following finish on the bonnet where two hits of Intensive Polish were possible...



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0037.jpg



Still not 100% correction as a couple of deeper scratches running down the bonnet were left again to preserve paint thickness - soft paint on this car, two hits of Intensive Polish shifting around 20um which is a lot of paint! Safe in this circumstance, but not something I would aim to go beyond for the sake of a couple of marks especially as this car may need to be polished again in years to come.



Moving onto the side, we see again severe swirls and many RDS:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0026.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0028.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0046.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0047.jpg



Thinner paint, with some sub-100um readings prevented me from using any more than a single hit with Intensive Polish here so I would estimate correction at the 85 - 90% level on these panels... After correction and refining:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0051.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0056.jpg



Note the sills, before:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0029.jpg



and after dedicted polishing using a 4" polishing pad:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0032.jpg





Other side of car before:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0057.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0058.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0059.jpg



And after:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0063.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0064.jpg



Gloss and depth of the red in the garage lighting was impressive after the refining stage:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0066.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/2008_1206S2KFigaro0086.jpg



(Fast Cut not used on this car - but was on the Figaro next to it, see separate writeup :))



With the car protected, Valentines Concours wax was the order of the day for protection of the paint following an IPA wipedown.. Two layers were applied 12 hours apart. Wheels protected with Smartwax Rim wax after being polished with Meguiars ScratchX by hand to remove some scratches from them.



Glass cleaned using Autosmart 20/20. Trim with Black Wow. Tyres with Meguiars Hot Shine. Arches with Meguiars All Seasons Dressing...



And the after shots outside the unit - not sunny, but at least it was dry :):



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dsc_0280.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dsc_0281.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dsc_0285.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/Dsc_0289.jpg



and some arty shots - click on link to see:



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/DSC_0277.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/DSC_0282.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/DSC_0286.jpg



http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/S2KFigaro/DSC_0288.jpg





A good detail this one, enjoy working on the S2000 as I like the shape... Slightly disappointed at being restricted in correction level in places, but can`t have it all ways alas and the general gloss retunred to the car made up for it :)

[Thomas Dekany]

Stunning work as always Dave. Love that red.

[V_Eight]

Looks amazing!

[Optimum Auto]

Very very nice!!!! Looking at those pics makes me wish i never sold me s2k.

[Cleaning Fool]

Can I get an amen brother!...Thx for showing the speeds of the rotary, valuable info...PS..I see you still love 85RD

[Eisen Hulk]

Top notch work, Dave.

[lostdaytomorrow]

Looks great.

What are the black things in front of the headlights on the bumper?

[VR8]

Looks great.

What are the black things in front of the headlights on the bumper?



Headlight screen washers. Shoots a jet of water on the headlight after you go muddin! :lol



Congrats on what looks like some serious recovery. Shame on the owner.

[tom p.]

Dave, that`s simply smashing. Brilliant effort! You really turned it around :)

[trhland]

as allways fantastic!!!!!!

[imported_rydawg]

Excellent work Dave!

[Jake11375]

Lovely job!