Zaino Z5 x 3 + A Royal Blue Pearl Acura TL = GLITTER!

[stilez]

I recieved an IM from a troubled new car buyer a couple weeks ago. He picked up his new TL and he said he hasn`t been happy with the finish on it since he purchased it (5k miles now). I told him about my products/processes, showed him some of my work on similar colors, and scheduled the appointment.



I showed up this morning around 9am to a rather clean (or so I thought!) Acura TL. He mentioned again how the surface felt gritty when he put his hand in a plastic bag (had him do that to test contamination) and it really lacked the metallic `pop`. I went over a couple quick things with him and he took off. I attacked the interior first. It was in very nice shape, so nothing too crazy. My finals were:



-Folex to clean leather, rubber, vinyl, and plastic

-Kids & Pets on carpets, pedals, and rubber mats

-Poorboy`s Trim Restorer to protect everything

-Meguiar`s NXT Glass Cleaner on glass

-FK1 #425 on wood, aluminum trim, and in jams





Before

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06799.jpg



After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06818.jpg







The exterior certainly needed some more TLC. I washed and clayed, then surveyed the damage. The whole car was covered in rotary trails and acid rain damage :(. Since the car had already been buffed pretty hard and only had 5000 miles on it, I chose to not go `insane` on the deep water spots, but rather abolish the swirls and bring out the depth of the blue. My finals for the exterior were:



-TOL Bubble Bath wash with FK1 Ultimate Cleaner cut 10:1 as a presoak

-Optimum Clay with TOL Bubble Bath as lube

-TOL Tire Cleaner cut 50/50 for tires and wells (agitated with bug scrubber)

-Meguiar`s Wheel Brightener on wheels (agitated with bug scrubber)

-Power washed clean and WW MF dried



-Optimum Polish via rotary and LC Polishing Pad @ 1200 rpm

-Menzerna PO 85RD via rotary and LC Finishing Pad @ 1500 rpm

-Zaino Z5 x 3 (ZFX`d) on paint, wheels, and windows

-FK1 #425



-Flitz on exhaust

-Meguiar`s Hyper Dressing cut 3:1 in wells

-Wolfgang Tire Gel on tires

-CD2 Engine Detailer on lower black grilles on front bumper





Before

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06797.jpg



After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06814.jpg





Before

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06802.jpg



After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06812.jpg

[stilez]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06815.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06828.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06826.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06821.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06830.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/kappapsi497/2005/Summer%2005/DSC06810.jpg





When the owner returned, he commented something to the extent of "Holy ....". After I explained the acid rain damage again and my reasoning, it didn`t bother him. He said "This is exactly what I was looking for". He noted the metallic `pop` and handed me my payment (Matt, if you are viewing, thanks for the very generous tip). All in all, a very good day.





Total Working Time - 4 hrs. 15 mins





Questions?

Comments?

Advice?

[White95Max]

Looks awesome!

That picture of the tire/wheel must have been taken right after applying the WG gel right? I`ve never seen it turn out that glossy except maybe immediately after application.



You still have you summer wheels on? What kind of tires are you running on those?

[Pats300zx]

Awesome job Sean. The difference in the before and after pics is unreal. I love how the blue flake came out. :clap:

[Thomas Dekany]

Holy Sh..! Looks awesome! :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

[stilez]

Paul: Yep, the pic was after 2 coats.





The summer stuff comes off this week. The tires are nothing grand (Wanli S-1088). They keep me out of trouble (ie: they don`t handle that well, hence, I drive slower).





Thanks everyone.

[White95Max]

Did the tire gloss die down a bit after sitting for a while?

[stilez]

Paul, yep a little bit. Also, it`s in the sun, remember. The shade shots I have (not posted) do not look as glossy.

[Richt]

Wow car looks great, flake pop is amazing! Nice work as ever Sean.

[JeffM]

Looks really good, did you Zaino right after the PO85rd ?

[LightngSVT]

Those result in 4 hours 15 minutes? You are a detailing god!

[stilez]

JBM: Yep.





Chuck: I split the car in 3`s when polishing. It knocks a TON of time off.

[Mitchubishievo]

4.25 hours....just how....seriosuly man I dunno what you do for those kinda of results...INSANE! Awesome job man...just awesome.

[Porkanbeans]

I split the car in 3`s when polishing. It knocks a TON of time off.



Can you elaborate more on this?

[White95Max]

I was just about to post that... please do elaborate. I`m guessing that you mean heavy polish on 1/3, then finishing polish on same 1/3. Then move to the next 1/3 and start with the aggressive polish again?