Horrifying Cadillac CTS

[Scottwax]

I did the estimate on this `03 Cadillac CTS about 10 days ago. From 50 feet away at his complex, I knew it was his car (he told me it had swirls). He just bought the car and the dealership gave him a pretty good price due to the paint-they claimed that is how the car was traded in. If that is in fact true, it stuns me that any dealership would put a car this bad on the lot without even making an attempt to remove the swirls. The car had been repainted on all but the passenger side doors, roof had visible sanding marks under the paint. Obviously it isn`t a car worth spending $1000+ making perfect because there are issues that will require repainting to correct. He said the main thing he wanted removed was the rotary swirls and if anything else came out in the process he`d be more than pleased.



After washing with ONR and claying with Opti-Clay, I got a good look at how truly bad the paint was:



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before2.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before3.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before4.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before5.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before6.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before7.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_before8.jpg



Whoever buffed this car out takes sucking at using a rotary to a new level.



Got busy with Meguiars #105 and a yellow Meguiars polishing pad at 1000-1400 rpms, on the trunk, hood and C pillars, I had to step up to an American Buffing orange waffle cutting pad at 1000-1400 rpms, then back down to the first combo to remove the light buffer trails I was leaving with the cutting pad-buffer trails that were significantly fainter than what was original on the car and I am sure #105 is more aggressive than whatever was used on the car.



This after shot is a pretty direct comparison to the last before shot, I had done the #105 orange/yellow passes and then #205 using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad at 1000-1500 rpms (finishing with light pressure at 1000 rpms).



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_after_105_205_1.jpg



These half `n half shots are after the #105 orange then yellow pad steps:



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_halfnhalf1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_halfnhalf2.jpg



Before:



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_hood_before.jpg



After #105/205 steps



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_hood_after.jpg



#105 only:



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_after_105_1.jpg



#105/205



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_after_105_205_2.jpg



I then took a 30 minute lunch and let the paint bake in upper 90s temperatures. Came back and got busy with 3M Ultrafina using a blue Ultrafina pad at 1000-1800-1000 rpms.



All polishing steps, no wax.



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_final_polish1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_final_polish2.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_final_polish3.jpg

[Scottwax]

I then washed the car with ONR to remove the dust and then waxed it with Clearkote`s Carnauba Moose. Total time on the car was about 7 hours, nothing done on the inside except cleaning the glass. Obviously the paint isn`t 100% perfect but short of a repaint it won`t be. There are still a few light spider swirls remaining in a few areas (only visible at odd angles) that he said he could live with rather than pop for a few hundred $$$ more of polishing. Plus the car sits outside 24/7 and he works at a hospital (cardiac therapy) so the odds the car won`t remain perfect long are pretty high. However, for the time spent and how bad it was to start, I was very pleased with how well it came out and my customer was absolutely thrilled. :)



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_front1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_side1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_rear1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_frontend1.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_side2.jpg



http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/34662003_Cadillac_CTS_frontend2.jpg

[Street5927]

Wow..great turn around. I agree with you on several points....1, you are right that the original "detailer" did not know how to use a rotary and 2, I am also suprised that they would sell that in the condition it is in. Don`t they realize, that they could get more money with a vehicle that is in better condition???

[Barry Theal]

Wow scott ill bet your feet are tired after all chasing all that mess. great job man!

[ohiostate]

Looks good 2 me !!!

[MarcHarris]

amazing work, especially for the time put in. it looked quite horrible, but afterwards you got some beautiful reflections! hope the customer is thoroughly pleased

[corrswitch]

amazing work!



Black is just so hard to maintain.



I noticed the door handle section improved too. Did you hand polish them?

[AGAuto]

Unbelievable work! I still cannot believe you work in those temperatures, when I get all flustered when I start sweating in my garage! Great job on the turnaround, those before pictures made me sick

[Scottwax]

amazing work!



Black is just so hard to maintain.



I noticed the door handle section improved too. Did you hand polish them?



Did them with the rotary. Throttle down, light pressure.

[tenorplayer23]

Like everyone else said............nice job getting it as good as it is!



A relevant question.........



Even a village idiot ought to be able to figure out that the work they`re doing is making things look lousy........so, even w/a repaint from the worst dealer body shop or wherever the panels got painted, HOW did the yahoos let it come out so bad?!? :confused: That kind of work just gives me a headache. Ugh!



The guy was lucky you that you know how to make it right!! :) Great work getting it fixed!



See ya. :wavey

[Envious Eric]

... and my customer was absolutely thrilled. :)

thats all that matters!!!!

[BigAl3]

nice scott! :up

[dmxjg35]

7 Hours :wow::wow::wow: How do you work soo fast in such heat Looks great by the way, I would have loved to see the owners face when he saw the car after you finished

[Scottwax]

7 Hours :wow::wow::wow: How do you work soo fast in such heat Looks great by the way, I would have loved to see the owners face when he saw the car after you finished



I grew up in Phoenix and experienced many a 115+ degree day. More humid here but it was only in the 90s so it wasn`t that bad.



The owner was pretty happy, he thought he was going to have to budget for a paint job.

[imported_d00t]

HORRIFIC indeed! Great turnaround, Scott!