McLaren MP4 12C light polish

[Mobilejay]

I want to thank Chris (animes2k) and Scottwax for the referral.



I got the chance to work on the new McLaren yesterday by doing a single step polishing to remove holograms and some light swirling. The car was pretty dirty when I got there due to some crappy weather we had last week, but cleaned up pretty nicely and I applied Body Wrap to the finish for some great protection.

This was my first time to really be around the car and look at it closely. There was one (silver) at the last Coffee and Cars in March but everyone was surrounding the car so I just looked from afar. In my opinion the absolute coolest thing about the car is that there are NO door handles. As Chris put it, "it is like unlocking an iPhone". You slide your hand underneath the top of the door and slide back and it pops open. I have never seen that before and I can`t stop talking about it. VERY cool!



I will post pics along with the process and products used:



This was the car when I arrived Wednesday morning.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5545.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5545.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5546.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5546.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5551.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5551.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5552.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5552.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5549.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5549.jpg)



As you can see, it was pretty dirty inside and out. I first started with the interior which I only have pics of it finished. I used 1Z Cockpit on the little plastic that was inside and Z9/Z10 every where else. A thorough vacuuming and window cleaning and I was finished.

On to the outside. I first started with the filthy wheels by spraying 1Z Wheel Cleaner to break up the dirt and then 3 different brushes and an MF to clean them. When the wheels were done, I foamed the car down with my mix of Dawn/IPA to break up the grime and try to remove some of the previous wax.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5558.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5558.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/DSC_5557.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/?action=view&current=DSC_5557.jpg)

I let the foam sit for about 5 minutes and then proceeded to wash with Dawn. I rinsed the car and washed again with Iron X gel since I ran out of the spray. Not really any iron contamination, so I clayed the vehicle next with the same foam mixture as the lubricant. The paint was pretty clean so not much contamination except for the main areas(roof, hood, deck lid). Once the claying process was finished I re washed the car and dried with WW`s. The car was brought inside a huge garage area where I had plenty of room to work which is nice considering some of the places I have to work.

Under my little flash light you can see some of the imperfections.

This is on the drivers door

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/53dab093.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=53dab093.jpg)

Driver side fender

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/5bef0c94.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=5bef0c94.jpg)

Hood

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/207eae40.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=207eae40.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/77bb22ab.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=77bb22ab.jpg)

Passenger door

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/7f9d4c2a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=7f9d4c2a.jpg)

Inside passenger door

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/8b05155d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=8b05155d.jpg)

A couple of in progress shots

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/d2c96541.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=d2c96541.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/3828da6e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=3828da6e.jpg)

I tried a couple of pad/product combinations and settled for SIP on a Green uber pad with the 3401. The correction wasn`t 100% but with this combination, I removed quite a bit of the imperfections and was able to finish down very nicely. Here are the after polishing/re washing pics.

Hood after polishing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/0801c1eb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=0801c1eb.jpg)

Inside passenger door after polishing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/e8d63a37.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=e8d63a37.jpg)

Another foaming, this time with an IPA wipe down just incase.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/4ab94d94.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=4ab94d94.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/2548c911.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=2548c911.jpg)

The after pics, before applying the Body Wrap

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/8df1e154.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=8df1e154.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/b5caf211.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=b5caf211.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/9e880df4.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=9e880df4.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/c2b9b0e1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=c2b9b0e1.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/f7bff9f8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=f7bff9f8.jpg)

After I inspected in the sun and was pleased with the outcome, I brought her inside and let her cool down before the BW. I took this time to thoroughly inspect the cracks and crevices to make sure no polish crept inside anywhere. Also I spent that time cleaning the interior a bit more, and drying door jambs, wheels, etc. Once the paint was finally cooled down enough I applied the BW a couple sections at a time. I am loving this coating. Very easy to apply(after speaking with Jesse and having him answer a few questions...Thanks Jesse LOL) and very easy off, unless it is super humid like the first time I applied it to a different car. Not the case yesterday though. So here are the final pics with the coating on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/a4ad717c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=a4ad717c.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/c0675c14.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=c0675c14.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/8faf24f1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=8faf24f1.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/03114662.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=03114662.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/0f269658.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=0f269658.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/c14e4264.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=c14e4264.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/2a381e9e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=2a381e9e.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/365436c1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=365436c1.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/0992c9c8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=0992c9c8.jpg)



All in all I was happy with the outcome, considering it took 3.5 hours longer than I had planned but my OCD kicked in and wouldn`t let me leave. LOL Thanks for lookin!



P.S. I was back today(the next day) because I received an email from the owner saying he parked under a tree and had "white crap all over the paint" I was not too far so I ran by and cleaned it up with a quick ONR wash. I have no idea what was on the car but some of it just wiped off and other areas were almost sap like. The white spots were all removed easily with the ONR. Jesse, I hope I did not ruin the coating using that and plus it was a few hours shy of 24. I will be using the Nano wash once it comes in from now on. The pics were taken with my phone so excuse the blurriness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/d630aade.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=d630aade.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/7028bd24.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=7028bd24.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/161b06e6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=161b06e6.jpg)

Back to normal

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/947cde1e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=947cde1e.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/1df06222.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jc10/work%20pics/?action=view&current=1df06222.jpg)

[911fanatic]

Nice job. Wicked car.

[imported_animes2k]

Great job! I didn`t really inspect the car that well while I was there, but it`s obvious that it was in worse shape than I realized at first.

It looks fantastic and the big man is quite happy. I did tell you he can be a little demanding, but it looks like you`ve got it under control!



I`ll get to see it in person next time I`m down there. It was great meeting you, J!

[Mobilejay]

You too Chris, thanks again.

[Scottwax]

Nice work as always!



Hope your customer now understands that trees should always be avoided-and like I tell people here, don`t park within 20 feet of grass either. You never know when the sprinklers will come on!

[mikenap]

Cool car and nice work Jay!

[Mobilejay]

Thanks Mike,



Yes Scott, thats a good idea. I hate sprinklers but never thought about parking near the grass incase they come on. You never know when some places have theirs set to turn on. Good thinking.

[white gecko]

Nice work on a stunning car. The doors can be tricky to open...have to get that slide just right, but the cool factor is through the roof! Thats such a stunning color too. Loved the pics!

[Mobilejay]

Thanks man, yes the doors take a certain technique even when you know how. LOL

[white gecko]

Thanks man, yes the doors take a certain technique even when you know how. LOL



That and never wash with it unlocked and the key nearby! Running water can open those doors!

[Mobilejay]

LMAO yes i noticed that. Once I finished washing, I took the nozzle off and let the water run off the car and the door kept popping open haha. Tripped me out