Need Help Detailing my Silver Audi

[Setec Astronomy]

Accumulator.



Wouldn't it make sense to stick with the product Audi recomends. It looks like they have required its use for 10-15 years

I'm not trying to stir the pot here...but that TSB is dated 1994...there is no way to tell from that whether FK is still recommended by Audi. Just as an observation, all those FK TSB's are old....while all the ones at AutoInt are newer...oh wait...FK now has a 2004 VW TSB. If you notice, there are Mazda and Hyundai TSB's at FK....but there are newer Mazda and Hyundai TSB's at AutoInt. If you look closely at the FK documents...some of them have parts blanked out, dates, last names....

 

[Setec Astronomy]

All in all, IMO the two systems are so similar that there's probably no real diff between them and I'm probably just wasting bandwidth discussing them at such length

I dunno...that FK Step 1 really has an unpleasantly strong mineral spirits odor, that was difficult to get out of my wash pad...which seems way different than the AI Step A.

And note that I almost always take them "in the plastic". They're still contaminated.

Why do you think that is? They let them sit outside before they put the plastic on? I would think it would go on before they got outside the building...but maybe the paint is still outgassing.

 

[Winston Wolf]

I checked on the Audi TSB and it is an active TSB something like grandfathered in. If they were to update the year Audi would have to issue a TSB for each model for each specific year. The current Finish Kare Audi TSB is good for all models all years.



I was told Audi started using the Finish Kare System after a massive cleanup in Indiana where Kelloggs belched Iron oxide from their smokestacks during a plant overhaul. The cloud of iron oxide landed on 7500-8000 audi cars in a holding area down wind causing major damage. They used the Finish Kare Decontamination System with 100% success.



Accumulator as far as "Business" I find it highly suspicious that that a manufacturer who specifically states not to use oxalic acid products would switch to something that does. Thats fishy Business. I may be wrong but I thought I read that Ron Ketchum used to work for Finish Kare up till a few years ago.



I just like to make sure what I am using is 100% safe and 100% effective.

 

[Accumulator]

I just like to make sure what I am using is 100% safe and 100% effective.

NO argument from me on that! Everyone can take your/my opinions on this one and come to their own conclusions.



One thing that occurs to me is that a product that is effective in the cases *I* have used ABC might not be as effective for somebody else working with a more contaminated car. I was not dealing with anything really nasty.



Oh, and FWIW, I'd bet my life that an *awful* lot of Audis are sold without any decontamination work being done at all, even when they need it. Heh heh, I've been around some Audi dealers' new car prep areas, and some folks might be surprised at what really does/doesn't go on

Originally posted by SetecAstronomy

Why do you think that is? They let them sit outside before they put the plastic on? I would think it would go on before they got outside the building...but maybe the paint is still outgassing.

Nah, the pait isn't outgassing, they just don't cover the whole vehicle (there are exceptions with some high-end models that come "in a bag"). There can be quite a buildup of contamination at the edges of the plastic and on the other exposed areas. Seems like the lower areas of the vehicles aren't covered that well at all, and those might be especially exposed to contamination during rail transport.



The stuff new cars go through can be pretty There are a *lot* of brand new, high end cars that I wouldn't take for any price. By the time the customers see them they're already major detailing projects. This can be a real pain with Audi's hard clear.

 

[Bill D]

Heh heh, I've been around some Audi dealers' new car prep areas, and some folks might be surprised at what really does/doesn't go on .

Most definitely. I was horrified with what I saw at the dealer where I got mine when I was waiting for my plates at the time

Originally posted by Accumulator

(there are exceptions with some high-end models that come "in a bag").

Now that's what I'm talking about! :up :up :up I know any true,diehard Autopian would jump on that if it were a delivery option in a heart beat

 

[05Sleeper]

Now, my biggest problem is, I have to try and match the darker, re-painted bumpers to the rest of the car... ANY ideas how I can do that with wax/sealents?

 

[Accumulator]

Heh heh, I'd do it by having the painter redo the bumper covers. Seriously. A good shop should do it for free. Big hassle though, huh?



But otherwise try doing the bumper covers in something that does't darken the finish (#16/P21S for wax, UPP for sealant) and do the rest of the car in something that *does* darken (#26 for wax, BF for sealant). I dunno if the differences will be enough to satisfy you though.

 

[sweetgirl]

Hi everyone.Im completely new to this forum. I just bought a 2004 silver audi and ive been reading through this thread because I wanted to find out how to make it look really shiny and glossy. i dont have much experience with cars so i dont really know what all the abbreviations of the different products and steps etc..refer to. could someone give me a very basic explanation of the steps to take to get the car looking how i want it? and is this something i can do on my own or do i need to take it somewhere to get it done if im not an expert or semi expert on this kind of thing. oh yeah the car has a few little black 'chips' i guess you would call them on the outer edge of the hood.

 

[Accumulator]

Sweetgirl- Welcome to Autopia!



You can probably do the work yourself if you buy the right equipment (polisher, inspection/work lights, microfiber towels, products). It might, however, be best to have a *good* pro get it into shape and then just concentrate on keeping it that way. The problem is finding a good pro. The vast majority of "detailers" are utter hacks who will take your money and mess up your car...sad but true.



So my short answer would be to decide whether you want to spend a few hundred dollars on detailing stuff (easy enough to spend a bundle just on what you need to wash properly) or to spend a bit more having somebody good get the car looking great.



Depending on where you're located (i.e., your proximity to somebody we can safely recommend), that might be an easy decision as there are people who are simply great at this stuff.



The black spots are indeed paint chips. They can be touched up to where they'll be less obvious, but this seldom (in my case, "never") turn out so well as to be invisible.



Sorry this isn't the sort of response I think you're after...a full how-to would simply be too much to provide here. It's sorta like "I have an acre of land, how should I build my house on it?" But then I can go on for pages about just how to wash



Audis have hard paint, and that makes it tricky to get it looking great. And the silvery trim has a somewhat fragile finish so you need to be careful around that. Not the easiest car to start doing this stuff on. (Note that I've had a scad of silver Audis, currently have two.)



I'd see if you can connect with one of the pros here and have them get your car looking great. Maybe you could get a good idea of what's involved from talking it over with them.



EDIT: If you do decide to do it yourself, yeah...we can help you decide what to get and how to use it, so please don't feel like my response is some kind of "don't try this at home" blow-off.

 

[DM101]

Wash, Decon if nessary, clay, polish! , glaze optional with usung wax, then wax or sealant.

 

[Accumulator]

Wash, Decon if nessary, clay, polish! , glaze optional with usung wax, then wax or sealant.

Heh heh, it's that little "polish!" bit that makes the whole thing so complicated...

 

[Alexshimshimhae]

could someone give me a very basic explanation of the steps to take to get the car looking how i want it? and is this something i can do on my own or do i need to take it somewhere to get it done if im not an expert or semi expert on this kind of thing.

firstly, welcome, secondly alot of the abreviations are posted in the Car detailer and product thread at the top under Decoder ring type list...anything that's not listed there you can always ask (SORRY ACCUM BUT going to have to call you out on this one) Accumulator--he's like the dad you wish you had to teach you everything lols..



In terms of DIY...as always--Accums got it--Me personally umm...I'm kind of a "get your hands dirty" kinda guy so decided to do it on my own--but it *IS* quite a bit of work (and a work out lol).