00 XTerra - 1st Rotary Job

[imported_animes2k]

After picking up my Metabo and getting used to it on a couple of junkers, I decided to give it a shot with this paid job. I used the PC in hard-to-reach spots and didn`t really focus on complete swirl removal, just a basic polish and general cleanup. The interior was the focus for the owner and I spent half the time in there.



Now it was cloudy all day yesterday until I finished polishing... I was apprehensive, but when I pulled it into the sun... ZERO holograms or buffer trails. *PHEW!*



I WISH I`d taken befores - the bumpers and trim plastic were light gray, faded, oxidized, you name it. I only bothered removing the oxidized paint on the metal front bumper, then everything got the Sonus Bumper & Tire Gel and MAN did it do a nice job!



Exterior Process:

- wash

- spot clay (hood, under top basket, which was removed for cleaning)

- FP2 @ 1200rpm w/white polishing pad

- FP2 @ 6 w/sonus green pad

- EX-P followed by P21S



- Z12, IG on glass (wow!)

- Armor All on tires

- TOL blue wheel cleaner

- AIO on bumpers, plastic, window trim

- Sonus Bumper & Tire Gel on plastic trim, step sides, bumpers



Interior Proces:

- vac

- Meg`s APC 1:10 on basically everything (the steering wheel looked like the color was rubbing off, but it was just caked-in dirt!)

- Meg`s APC 1:10 to degrease jambs

- Meg`s Interior Detailer on some stuff

- woolite 1:6 on headliner

- LGCM / APC 1:10 on carpets and seats

- Hosed off , scrubbed rubber mats

- IG on glass



A few not-so-great pix... but whatcha gonna do? :)



http://www.noestudios.com/photo/details/xterra/front.jpg



http://www.noestudios.com/photo/details/xterra/outside.jpg



http://www.noestudios.com/photo/details/xterra/rear.jpg



http://www.noestudios.com/photo/details/xterra/side.jpg



http://www.noestudios.com/photo/details/xterra/interior.jpg



thanks for looking. I am SO all about this rotary thing :)

[imported_truzoom]

That 2nd to last shot is WoW. Great work!

[JasonD]

Car looks great. It looks like you`re getting very acquainted with the Metabo, congrats.



I noticed that you used Sonus Bumper and Tire gel on the faded bumpers. If you liked that, you might want to check out Sonus Trim & Motor Kote for when you get cars like this one again. You will have the same look but it won`t run when it rains, and will last a very long time. You can`t use it on tires, but it`s awesome on hard plastics.

[imported_animes2k]

thanks, truzoom.



Jason - thanks for the tip. I think I may have gotten some of that in my last shipment, but didn`t think to use it! I really should have used this as a before/after example :(



thanks again!

[JasonD]

No problem. I wouldn`t use it for all bumpers, but when you have a vehicle that has so much plastic on it like this one, and it becomes faded, that`s a real eye sore, and the longer you can keep it dark and shiny, the better the whole car will look. A lot of times customers will be disappointed when their bumpers turn back to faded plastic after a quick rain, but that wouldn`t be the case with the T&M Kote.

[stilez]

Truck looks great!





How come you didn`t use the Sonus Gel on the tires?

[imported_hadboosttroy]

Truck looks great!





How come you didn`t use the Sonus Gel on the tires?





probably because it is a whole lotta tire and AA is a lot cheaper :) that would be my reasoning

[imported_animes2k]

well, cost/quantity would be a factor if I had paid for it :) (not quite a free sample)

but it does smell SO good!



I`ve used it on truck tires before and it was just not an easy application - like most any other tire gel - i`ve had the same experience with the Meguiar`s tire gel... Just too thick to get an easy coat on that big of a surface. And then there`s the fact that I myself prefer the more natural look that 303/AA gives.



thanks :)

[imported_animes2k]

almost forgot to ask - those floor mats look awful, but I didn`t want to grease them up with 303 or AA, even though it *looks* great... Any recommendations for a good rubber floor mat treatment that won`t cause dangerous slipperyness?

[stilez]

I usually hit rubber mats with a pretty strong dilution of APC, then agitate, rinse, and air dry. To dress, I usually go with a diluted dressing.





Try AA or #40 cut 50/50, then let sit after spraying for about 10 mins and finally wipe down. I found this to be very effective, pleasing on the eyes, and most of all, safe.

[imported_animes2k]

ah, good call on the watered-down dressing. I`ll have to try that on the mats in the WRX. Thanks :)