Finally started my Audi S4 (test panel) - M105/205! *pics*

[JackalS4]

I`m rather impressed with the stuff, as of course everyone seems to be!



Just placed a rather large eShine.ca order after a good 6+ months of planning/researching/saving:



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04080.jpg



Also picked up that Mike Phillips DVD on using the PC...was really good and had nice tips, although it seemed a little basic for a guy starting on a hard clear`d S4! But it seems things might end up well after my first test section with the PC XP!



So for my first Audi test panel (1/3 of trunk lid), I did the following:



-- ONR quick detail/wipedown

-- Riccardo blue clay/ONR lube/wipedown

-- 1 pass M205/LC white 4" pad, just because it`s the "rule" :chuckle: (although it did hugely increase the gloss!)

-- 3 hits with M105/LC orange 4" pad, about 3-5 passes per hit (reducing pressure on last 1-2 passes, and not sure i`ll need all 3 hits on the rest of the car, i`ll play that by ear)

-- 1 final hit with M205/white, 3-5 passes, reducing pressure on last passes



All passes were done at speed "5".



Keep in mind, this car appears to have NEVER been polished, much less really cared for! I`ve spent the first year of ownership catching up on maintenance and cleaning it up in and out. With this said, the S4 is a fantasic, relatively reliable and very rewarding car to own! :D



SO, onto the before and after pics of my test panel:



Swirls/scratches visible in the paint (in the shade):

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04095.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04098.jpg



Swirls on entire trunk lid:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04100.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04101.jpg



M105 all finished up in the sun:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04102.jpg



M105 & 205 all finished up!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04103.jpg



50/50 to see gloss difference

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04105.jpg



50/50`s for swirls difference...holy crap go PC XP!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04106.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04107.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04108.jpg





So yeah, really the whole reason I posted this was because of the Audi`s hard clear reputation and my anxiety of how well the PC would do with it.



I was rather thrilled with the results! I feel like I can get the correction I want (90%-ish or so) without a rotary for the time being as I learn.



I`m considering bypassing the Menzerna SIP/Final Nano because the Meg`s stuff seems to do things just fine!



Oh, and i`m very new at the actual machine polishing (though i`ve done a fair bit of reading etc), so if any tips/comments etc go for it!

[Jokeman]

Looks good. If you have the menzerna stuff, do another spot with the SIP and Nano and see which you like better.

[alowe]

Looks good. If you have the menzerna stuff, do another spot with the SIP and Nano and see which you like better.



+1 I would try it out also.

[Chicagoareanew]

I`m new at this too, so I don`t know if I should be giving any advice, but if you have most of the correction done, I don`t think you should use SIP on top of doing 205+105+205, that sounds like a bit much. But the Nano would make it look even better, because the light Menzerna polish I`ve used gave me a great mirror like finish.

[JackalS4]

Looks good. If you have the menzerna stuff, do another spot with the SIP and Nano and see which you like better.



Yeah maybe I should. I`m just about to go out and do another test spot, i`ll try out the Menzerna stuff.



Thanks.






I`m new at this too, so I don`t know if I should be giving any advice, but if you have most of the correction done, I don`t think you should use SIP on top of doing 205+105+205, that sounds like a bit much. But the Nano would make it look even better, because the light Menzerna polish I`ve used gave me a great mirror like finish.



Oh no you misunderstood, I only have the 2 different brands because I wanted to be able to try them out and have backup if 1 of the 2 weren`t very effective.



So my methodology would be either SIP+Nano+LSP, OR M105+205+LSP.



I will give the Nano (and SIP) a try, however I will say the M205 leaves things pretty dang mirror-like! :D

[Chicagoareanew]

Oh, I understand. I`ve been using IP and FPII from Menzerna, so I`d love to see a side by side since I`m going to try 105/205, too.

[Accumulator]

.. really the whole reason I posted this was because of the Audi`s hard clear reputation and my anxiety of how well the PC would do with it.



I was rather thrilled with the results! I feel like I can get the correction I want (90%-ish or so) without a rotary for the time being as I learn.



I`m considering bypassing the Menzerna SIP/Final Nano because the Meg`s stuff seems to do things just fine!





Good work you`re doing there! That`s quick correction for an Audi too.



Even though things seem to look really good, I do think I`d go ahead and give it a final burnishing with the Menzerna. IME M105 and M205 seem to finish out great until you see something make it even better.

[Thats Fresh]

Nice cleanup. I like using Menzerna for the reason that there are several finishing polishes I can use to finish/jewel the paint. Menzerna PO85rd does just that for me (:

[JackalS4]

So I just got back from trying out the SIP and that Super Finish Nano Polish (FPII?) stuff.



Rear-quarter panel as is:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04110.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04112.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04113.jpg





SIP, 3 hits (standard 3-5 passes etc), and i`m not quite getting all the correction I want. Gloss is nice for a cutting polish, but it really does seem M105 has more cutting power (as you might imagine).



3 hits of SIP only:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04114.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04115.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04117.jpg





So I decided to bring the M105 back out and did 2 hits - added to the correction. Brought it from, just an estimate, say 75% to about 85% correction. In this panel, there are a couple more serious scratches that just don`t show up in pics. Didn`t want to go buffer-crazy chasing perfection that to me is a little overkill, so left the correction at about 85%...HUGE improvement though!



Then topped with Super Finish/Nano:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04121.jpg



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04122.jpg





Here is the pic that shows a couple of the tougher marks at the bottom and on this panel there was 1 or 2 scratches under the clear from the previous owner (keep in mind the bottom half of the pic/panel is NOT done yet, look for the "line"!), didn`t want to blindly do a million more passes to perfect this:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04124.jpg



But overall result was so sweet in my mind!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04125.jpg



Final Polish (left) vs. M205 (right):

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/DarkForceJackal/DSC04126-FPvs205.jpg



Since the pic above may not really show much, I will say that my inexperienced eye can`t really notice much of a difference at the moment between 205 & Final`s overall finish/gloss/reflection...even looking closely. In my mind, i`d almost use the two interchangeably. But I will work with both over time and get to know them better and likely end up agreeing with Accumulator & That`s Fresh! :chuckle:



Thanks for all the input! :up

[Thats Fresh]

Nice comparison on the sip/106.



IME Megs 105 has a cut between Menzerna PG and SIP.

[JackalS4]

Nice comparison on the sip/106.



IME Megs 105 has a cut between Menzerna PG and SIP.



If i`d known that, I would`ve probably gone with the PG instead! I knew my car needed some serious cut - hence the 4" pads, XP not the original PC, yellow/wool pads & 105 tricks up my sleeve.



Oh well.



Once I get started with other cars, maybe i`ll use the SIP on less "screwed up" cars... :p



NOW i`ve really gotta watch what I wash with, can`t blame the previous owner once this is all done anymore! :laugh:

[Chicagoareanew]

When I was shopping for polishes, I read the reviews on this site, and the Menzerna Power Gloss got a pretty bad review (albeit, there was only one review) so I wouldn`t worry about the fact that you went with 105 instead.

[Aekon]

i tried 105 for the 1st time this weekend (coming from OHC) and it was WAY better. i was actually achieving a decent level of cut with the PC.

[dschribs]

Jackal



Nice work.



- Did you prime the pads with product at all (KB method)?



- Did you spread the product on a lower speed and then start polishing out the panel or did you just put the product on the pad and start polishing without spreading?



Thanks!

[Accumulator]

Different people seem to have different experiences when it comes to PG vs. M105.