Polished Bliss: Audi RS4...

[cupra_clark]

Hi guys, been keeping a bit of a low profile recently but decided this would make for a nice write up :)





Car: 3 year old Audi RS4.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C1.jpg





Detailing Service: 3 day Major Paint Correction.







Monday morning began with the pre-foam, using Meguiars APC through the foam lance at 60 degrees:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C2.jpg





This was left whilst I filled up the two buckets for the wheels and then rinsed off at high pressure, taking a good 10 minutes to cover every inch of the car to ensure as much dirt and grime was removed.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C3.jpg





The wheels were then cleaned with Meguiars Wheel Brightener (10:1) and the arches/tyres were done with Meguiars Super Degreaser. No Pics of this stage as I had to put my camera batteries on charge.





The engine was next, which was rinsed at medium pressure after being soaked with Super Degreaser:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C4.jpg





Super Degreaser was used once again for the door shuts. These were left for a couple of minutes...



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C5.jpg





...before being rinsed at low pressure:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C6.jpg





All the exterior trim/badges etc were then cleaned with APC and a Meguiars Slide Lock brush:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C7.jpg





I then washed the car with the 2 bucket method and Menzerna Shampoo (using up old stock) then rinsed.



The first signs of the condition of the paintwork were becoming visible now the sun had come out:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C8.jpg





I then finished off the wash stage by removing some minor tar spots from the paintwork and wheels with Autosmart Tardis and then put the car inside after a final rinse off.



Gloss-It`s aggressive clay bar was then used to remove bonded contaminants from the paint and glass, using Last Touch as lubricant.





Paint depth readings were then taken with all the metal panels showing healthy levels and the plastics were similar:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C14.jpg





Now it was time to assess the condition of the paintwork:



Some areas weren`t too bad, with just some scuffs and the odd scratch or two:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C10.jpg





Other areas were worse, with significant signs of incorrect rotary use over the majority of the car, plus some nasty RIDS here and there:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C11.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C12.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C13.jpg





I then gave the paint a thorough wipe down with Menzerna Top Inspection as I`ve noticed Last Touch (if used during the claying stage) can cause problems with polishing now and again and it can also prevent the masking tape from sticking to the trim properly. The Top Inspection just removes any traces of LT and leaves the paint squeaky clean :)





Correction of the paint was carried out with a Menzerna Polishing Pad and 3M Fast Cut Plus mixed with a bit of Ultrafina. This was worked @180rpm`s with some sections needing 2 hits before I was happy:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C15.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C16.jpg







http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C17.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C18.jpg







Before:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C19.jpg



After:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C20.jpg







50/50 on n/s wing:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C21.jpg

[cupra_clark]

A smaller compounding pad was used for the bumpers and tighter areas:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C22.jpg





The front fog light grills were removed to gain better access to the lower parts of the bumper:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C23.jpg





http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C24.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C25.jpg







Bumper fully corrected:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C26.jpg







I gave the headlights a light polish with Menzerna 85RD RE5 to remove some light bug splat etchings:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C27.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C28.jpg







A 3m Compounding Pad was used for the rub strips:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C29.jpg



It`s important to keep the rotary moving quickly over these parts to prevent heat build up and potential delamination.





The lower halves (including side skirts) were also done with the 3M pad, some deeper marks remained but overall I was very happy with the level of correction:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C30.jpg







After close to 17 hours in total, the first stage of correction was complete.







The second polishing stage was then carried out using a Yellow 3M Polishing Pad and Menzerna PO85RD RE5.





Out came the wool duster to remove all polishing dust once complete:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C31.jpg







Top Inspection was then used again to ensure the paint was free of all polishing oils:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C32.jpg







With the paint and glass now completely free of dust and oils I applied the LSP. This was to be Zym0l Vintage applied by a Blackfire LSP applicator pad:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C33.jpg







This was applied to the whole car:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C34.jpg





It was then buffed off after approx 10 minutes.







Whilst I`d been concentrating on the paintwork, Marsha had some spare time so she sealed the wheels (Blackfire Metal Sealant), dressed the tyres (3 coats of Gloss-It Signature Tyre Gloss), polished the exhaust tips (meguiars NXT Metal Polish) and shampoo`d the interior mats.





The interior was also detailed, including the leather, which was fed with Raceglaze Leather Balm:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C77.jpg





The engine bay was dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C80.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C79.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C78.jpg









The paintwork was then given a final wipe down to remove any fresh oils from the wax "gassing" and then out came the camera for the after pics :D





A quick walk round the car with the Sun Gun to show the true condition of the paintwork (temperatures had dropped significantly so there were still a few very light smears after the wipe down and I wasn’t prepared to marr the finish by trying to buff them off again):





Roof:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C35.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C36.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C37.jpg

[cupra_clark]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C38.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C39.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C40.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C41.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C42.jpg



Bonnet:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C43.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C44.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C45.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C56.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C46.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C47.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C48.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C49.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C50.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C51.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C52.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C53.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C54.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C55.jpg

[cupra_clark]

Then out came Rich`s SLR and I tried to do my best David Bailey impression :D





http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C62.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C70.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C69.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C61.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C63.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C64.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C67.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C68.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C66.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C65.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C75.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C76.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C74.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C58.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C59.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C60.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C73.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Clark_VTR/RS4-Black/C57.jpg









Total Work Time: Approx 33 hours (Including a 1am finish on Tuesday!).







Thanks for reading :)





Clark

[imported_Moutee]

Awesome job on that Audi! Thanks for the thorough write-up too. :)

[Thomas Dekany]

Good to see the write up here on Autopia as well. Love your work (as you know):2thumbs:

[imported_DJ Mayo]

Can I have your camera and camera skills? Your pictures are always looking awesome. Great detail and writeup. Thanks

[04v8s4]

Excellent work. Great pics and writeup. Thanks!

[somebody]

Your write ups and work are always top notch. Great job once again.



Brandon

[sixty7mustang22]

Absolutely beautiful. Nice work.:bigups

[TSC17]

Great work on an awesome car!

[XRL]

So pretty...



I love how HUGE that engine looks in the bay. It`s like "How`d they fit THAT in there!?"

[mikey]

Incredible work as always! :xyxthumbs

[Type[R]+]

I still think it`s amazing the time and effort you guys put into a detail!

Job very well done mate!



Did you get to take the Audi for a drive?

[cupra_clark]

+;1219210`]I still think it`s amazing the time and effort you guys put into a detail!

Job very well done mate!



Did you get to take the Audi for a drive?



Not this particular one but I`ve driven a couple before, We`re pretty lucky with the cars we have to collect/drop off (including a Lambo Gallardo :xyxthumbs) but in all honesty if we can avoid driving customers cars then we will - mainly because we prefer them to see their pride and joy freshly detailed in the studio and it would be pretty gutting if someone was to crash into you whilst in charge of someone elses car!