Detailed: 2008 Acura TL Type-S - Nighthawk Black

**OCDinPDX** · 09-01-2009, 04:04 PM

The owner of this `08 Acura TL is quite possibly the pickiest client I`ve ever had. Normally that`s not a good thing but in this case it was as he had been vigilant in trying to keep the swirls at bay. He did a pretty good job because the paint on these cars is so stinking soft, you breathe on it the wrong way and it swirls.

It only had 4,300 miles on it so the car was in almost-new condition anyway.

I had this car for a week because we were trying to organize pick-up around the rain which proved to be fruitless. It got rained on before he could get it home and I thought he was going to kill something.

Anyways...I borrowed a Flex from a friend for this job and really like the machine. The Flex combined with Lake Country CCS pads and Menzerna polishes and the swirls didn`t stand a chance.

Process:

Wash
Initial wash Dawn and Griot`s Microfiber Wash Pad.
Dry with MF Waffle Weave towel

Wheels & Arches
Clean Wheels off car (per client request) with Griot`s wheel cleaner and Microfiber Mitt
Clean wheel arches and suspension components with APC 4:1
Dress with Griot`s Undercarriage Spray

Clay
Clay entire car with Griot`s clay and Speed Shine as lubricant

Polish
Flex XC 3401
Menzerna SIP & LC Orange
Menzerna Micro Polish & LC White
Re-wash vehicle with Griot`s Car Wash to strip any polishing oils to provide best LSP adhesion

LSP
One coat of 4-Star UPP hand-applied with microfiber applicator pad
Cured for 90 minutes and removed by hand

Total Time Spent: 18 hours

Here are the BEFORE pictures...

Even the exhaust tips were clean!

What the owner called `terrible swirls`...

And on the hood...

Despite that, the paint had good reflection from the get-go.

He lives in Salem (about 40 miles south of me) so bugs on the grille were expected from the drive up.

The interior was an easy clean-up.

The engine wasn`t bad, either.

Okay...let`s get down to brass tax. First approach was the wheel arches and wheels per client request. He wanted the backsides and barrels of the wheels cleaned and the arches done, as well.

I started at the rear and worked forward.

Anybody who has dealt with this stupid felt-like arch trim knows what a biatch it is to get clean.

First step...APC like crazy.

Then blast with pressure washer...

After cleaning...

While the arches dried, I paid attention to the wheels which, like the rest of the car, were in damn good shape.

The backsides had only light dusting...

An easy clean-up!

By the time I finished up with the wheel, the arch had dried enough to be dressed.

The front brake calipers were painted so I hand-polished them.

Day one of paint work was claying. The car had been clayed less than six months before but the client requested it. I got almost no contamination but did net a marginal improvement in smoothness.

Did I mention it was the midst of a heat wave? This was at 10:30 AM...

Being my first run with the Flex, I used the right front fender as a test panel. Here I am with an LED MagLite checking for holograms after running the SIP with an LC CCS Orange.

The SIP combined with the soft paint lead to hazing that needed to be finished down properly.

Seen here after Menz 106 and an LC CCS White.

Taped off for polishing.

Say no to crack, kids...

A tease...

With polishing complete, I moved the TL out to wash it again. I did this mainly due to the dusting factor and to strip away the mineral carriers of the Menzerna polishes.

And now...AFTER!!

Say goodbye to swirls!

And the piece de resistance...clouds (and a plane) reflected in the hood.

Thanks for looking!

**RaskyR1** · 09-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Nice work on the TL! One of my favortie colors too! (My girl has an `05 RL in the same color)

**Ronkh** · 09-01-2009, 04:56 PM

As usual, a great job !!!

(and a great write up)

No swirls, no crack.

**Redwings97** · 09-03-2009, 06:56 PM

nice work - great write up.

**Stephan** · 09-03-2009, 07:24 PM

Fanatastic write up and nice work. I wish I had more clients who were that maticulous about their cars.

**occupant** · 09-05-2009, 08:05 PM

Spectacular.

That car is so clean, I had to wipe down my monitor to appreciate it fully!!!

**glen22** · 09-06-2009, 10:21 AM

NICE JOB

Thanks for all the shots .
I use the same products and pads . They make it so much more enjoyable and you can`t go wrong with black either great job.

**OCDinPDX** · 09-26-2009, 02:31 AM

Whoops...spaced on this thread.

Thanks for the compliments, everybody!!

**9D4E420** · 09-26-2009, 09:54 AM

Looks great! I bet it looked even better in person.

**OCDinPDX** · 09-27-2009, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by 9D4E420

Looks great! I bet it looked even better in person.

Thanks. It still looks good. I saw it just yesterday as the owner had some very minor soap scum he wanted removed but even then, it still looked AMAZING.

I did this job in early July and it had 4,300 miles on it then. It`s now at 4,700 I believe. He really doesn`t drive much so the car just sits in the garage 99% of the time.