LawrenceSA
New member
This is one of my favorite local MK3's - a lot of subtle changes that really work well. The car has however received a full re-spray and unfortunately the finish left a lot to be desired - not particularly noticeable from a distance but up close it was a different story.
The usual surface dirt was present
Here we get to see some orange peel
This in itself is not particularly uncommon, however what is, is how varied the orange peel was over the car. As you can see in the pic below, there is a lot of it toward the window side of the bonnet, but then as you move toward the front bumper the body shop has sanded the paint a lot more
Another example - in the reflection of the arch of my garage entrance you can see half with orange peel and half without
As if this was not bad enough, some very deep sanding marks were left behind.
And of course the obligatory swirls and buffer trails
A few of the raised edges took a hammering
The trim was also in need of some love
As did the wheels
Process/products used:
Arches: Rinsed with a HP washer, sprayed with Cyclo APC via a foaming trigger head and allowed to dwell and then agitated with a Mothers Fender Well Brush. This was followed with another HP Rinse. The arches would later be dressed with Glossworx Extreme Tyre Shine
Tires: Cleaned with Mothers Mothers FX Wheel Cleaner and a Mothers Tire Brush and later dressed with Autofinesse Gloss Tire Dressing
Wheels and brake calipers: Rinsed with a HP washer then cleaned using Cyclo APC and a Daytona Jnr and a Valet Pro Boar Hairs brush and dried. The wheels were then thoroughly sprayed with Valet Pro Dragons Breath which was agitated after being allowed to dwell for a few minutes, using the same brushes, and then thoroughly rinsed and dried them. Valet Pro Citrus Tar & Glue Remover was used to remove any tar spots. The wheels were then foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam when the rest of the car was being washed - this would ensure there were no remaining residue on the surface - then they were clayed and sealed with Menzerna Powerlock.
Door shuts, boot shut, window rubbers, fuel flap, badges etc: Cleaned using Cyclo APC with Valet Pro brushed and then HP Rinsed. Autofinesse Tripple was then used to further clean these areas and leave behind some protection.
Wash: Pre-foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam via foam cannon followed by a 2BM wash with Lambswool wash mitts and Glossworx Shampoo.
Dry: ONR at QD strength with WW Drying towels and compressed air
Decontamination: A baggie test was conducted revealing a 'normal'amount of contamination. A 3-stage decontamination comprising Valet Pro Dragon's Breath, Valet Pro Citrus Tar Remover and Autoglym Fine Grade Clay with ONR as lube.
Correction: Menzerna FG400 / Lake Country Orange. The black wing was further refined using Menzerna SF4000 / Lake Country Grey finishing pad
Taping up
Despite washing and decontaminating the paint, polishing further improved the look by removing the layer of ingrained dirt
Protection: Collinite 845 [Autofinesse Tripple used on Door Jambs and under Bonnet]
Glass : Sample Fine Grade Clay / ONR at clay lube strength / Glossworx Glass Cleaner / Streak Free Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloths / Insta Finish Bead Off
Door rubbers, plastic trim : Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner / Optimum Optibond Tire Gel
Interior: Blown out with compressed air / Vacuum / Autofinesse Spritz / BMW Leather Cleaner / Glossworx Leather Conditioner
Engine Bay: Blown out with compressed air / Wiped down with MF Towel and Cyclo APC / Dressed using Glossworx Extreme Tire Shine / Autofinesse Tripple on all painted areas
Exhaust tips: Cyclo CM30 APC / Various brushes / Meguiars NXT Metal Polish
Exterior Trim: Dressed using Optimum Optibond
Onto some after pics
In the garage still
And out in the sun, which was setting rather quickly
Total time spent = 30 hours
As always thanks for looking and any questions or comments are welcome.
:hi:
The usual surface dirt was present
Here we get to see some orange peel
This in itself is not particularly uncommon, however what is, is how varied the orange peel was over the car. As you can see in the pic below, there is a lot of it toward the window side of the bonnet, but then as you move toward the front bumper the body shop has sanded the paint a lot more
Another example - in the reflection of the arch of my garage entrance you can see half with orange peel and half without
As if this was not bad enough, some very deep sanding marks were left behind.
And of course the obligatory swirls and buffer trails
A few of the raised edges took a hammering
The trim was also in need of some love
As did the wheels
Process/products used:
Arches: Rinsed with a HP washer, sprayed with Cyclo APC via a foaming trigger head and allowed to dwell and then agitated with a Mothers Fender Well Brush. This was followed with another HP Rinse. The arches would later be dressed with Glossworx Extreme Tyre Shine
Tires: Cleaned with Mothers Mothers FX Wheel Cleaner and a Mothers Tire Brush and later dressed with Autofinesse Gloss Tire Dressing
Wheels and brake calipers: Rinsed with a HP washer then cleaned using Cyclo APC and a Daytona Jnr and a Valet Pro Boar Hairs brush and dried. The wheels were then thoroughly sprayed with Valet Pro Dragons Breath which was agitated after being allowed to dwell for a few minutes, using the same brushes, and then thoroughly rinsed and dried them. Valet Pro Citrus Tar & Glue Remover was used to remove any tar spots. The wheels were then foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam when the rest of the car was being washed - this would ensure there were no remaining residue on the surface - then they were clayed and sealed with Menzerna Powerlock.
Door shuts, boot shut, window rubbers, fuel flap, badges etc: Cleaned using Cyclo APC with Valet Pro brushed and then HP Rinsed. Autofinesse Tripple was then used to further clean these areas and leave behind some protection.
Wash: Pre-foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam via foam cannon followed by a 2BM wash with Lambswool wash mitts and Glossworx Shampoo.
Dry: ONR at QD strength with WW Drying towels and compressed air
Decontamination: A baggie test was conducted revealing a 'normal'amount of contamination. A 3-stage decontamination comprising Valet Pro Dragon's Breath, Valet Pro Citrus Tar Remover and Autoglym Fine Grade Clay with ONR as lube.
Correction: Menzerna FG400 / Lake Country Orange. The black wing was further refined using Menzerna SF4000 / Lake Country Grey finishing pad
Taping up
Despite washing and decontaminating the paint, polishing further improved the look by removing the layer of ingrained dirt
Protection: Collinite 845 [Autofinesse Tripple used on Door Jambs and under Bonnet]
Glass : Sample Fine Grade Clay / ONR at clay lube strength / Glossworx Glass Cleaner / Streak Free Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloths / Insta Finish Bead Off
Door rubbers, plastic trim : Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner / Optimum Optibond Tire Gel
Interior: Blown out with compressed air / Vacuum / Autofinesse Spritz / BMW Leather Cleaner / Glossworx Leather Conditioner
Engine Bay: Blown out with compressed air / Wiped down with MF Towel and Cyclo APC / Dressed using Glossworx Extreme Tire Shine / Autofinesse Tripple on all painted areas
Exhaust tips: Cyclo CM30 APC / Various brushes / Meguiars NXT Metal Polish
Exterior Trim: Dressed using Optimum Optibond
Onto some after pics
In the garage still
And out in the sun, which was setting rather quickly
Total time spent = 30 hours
As always thanks for looking and any questions or comments are welcome.
:hi:
