Poor-Boys detail R2D2's X3

[freerider]

We had a bit of a shuffle this weekend, and instead of doing a focus today, we detailed a BMW X3, which was buffed the last time it went to BMW..... I dont think I have seen such bad holograms in my life before! Even R2D2 would be proud of these! And above all the holograms, we had to contend with swirls...... LOADS of them, bird dropping etch marks and RIDS!

These are a few pics taken after the wash and prior to claying.





















One of the bird dropping etch marks

before SIP with wool pad, and finished with SIP on light cutting pad





After





bonnet after polishing, before sealant





Megesh was really getting stuck into the bottom of the doors



One of the RIDS, I managed to drastically minimise it. Again with SIP on a wool pad, followed by SIP on a light cutting pad.

before



after



We then topped off with 4 STAR paint sealant.

Some after pics































Smartwax Rimwax'd wheels





Took the number plate off to polish the rear door properly, you can see the scratches that the holder caused in the paint.







Reflection in the front fender











and Finally

[calypso]

Wow that paint was really f***ed. Awesome turnaround. Dont you think that final X would look alot better if it was an ///M?

[freerider]

(18-10-2008 06:57 PM)calypso Wrote:  Wow that paint was really f***ed. Awesome turnaround. Dont you think that final X would look alot better if it was an ///M?

Most def

[whattingh]

OMG that did look bad. Very well done to get it back.

[springbok]

Hologram City!!

Who had been working on that car? Don, you do so many details of upmarket cars, you should make a point of asking all your clients what their washing/polishing regime is and correlate the results. It would make for some interesting research.

[Carn]

Nice work guys, I am really loving the 4 Star more and more evertime I have seen it in action

[juriebez]

great stuff

Don,

what did you use on the exterior plastics ?

any work done on the headlights ?

Also, how do use to clean and nourish leather interior ?

Thanks

[freerider]

(20-10-2008 07:37 AM)juriebez Wrote:  great stuff

Don,

what did you use on the exterior plastics ?

any work done on the headlights ?

Also, how do use to clean and nourish leather interior ?

Thanks

Exterior plastics was Chemical Guys - O-New car dressing, I used it on my car last weekend when I washed, and will post some pics of what the trim still looks like a week and bit a later.

Headlights normally get a once over with Menzerna - Final Polish (PO106FA) on a Lake Country Polishing pad.

WRT the leather cleaning and conditioning we are currently using Mothers Reflections Advanced Leather care, But only until the Chemical Guys PURE leathercare arrives.

(19-10-2008 08:30 AM)springbok Wrote:  Hologram City!!

Who had been working on that car? Don, you do so many details of upmarket cars, you should make a point of asking all your clients what their washing/polishing regime is and correlate the results. It would make for some interesting research.

That is a brilliant Idea, I will start immediatly

[Pravin]

Awesome results there don. Really looks good. The depth and colour is amazing !!

I see you guys have moved onto the wool pad? How do you rate it ?

[freerider]

(20-10-2008 08:39 AM)Pravin Wrote:  Awesome results there don. Really looks good. The depth and colour is amazing !!

I see you guys have moved onto the wool pad? How do you rate it ?

Thanks man, wrt the wool pad, its the wool pad that you can get from Flex, I just forgot to give it back to the agent here so wedecided to put it to good use and try it out.

It has significantly more cut than the Lake Country cutting pad, and really works some miracles. You have to follow it up with a lighter cut pad though, as it does leave a slight hazing on the area it was used.

[rustbucket]

Holograms??? That is BMW's new 3 D paint you guys just stuffed up...............


Seriously, great job. Loved the before and after work on the bonnet.

Are you guys also just finding it hard to see exactly where you have applied the 4 Star to. That stuff is like invisible when you put it on.

[freerider]

(20-10-2008 09:25 AM)rustbucket Wrote:  Holograms??? That is BMW's new 3 D paint you guys just stuffed up...............


Seriously, great job. Loved the before and after work on the bonnet.

Are you guys also just finding it hard to see exactly where you have applied the 4 Star to. That stuff is like invisible when you put it on.

Jees, we did a Dakar yellow M3 yesterday! and I think I used way more 4star than needed, only because I had to double over a lot of areas, as I wasnt 100% sure if I covered everything

[MeTsU]

Well done guys! FANTASTIC RESULTS!!! I'm pretty sure R2D2 is pretty pissed right now!

[revo]

Excellent job poor boys.
But can the customer maintain that finish?

Black is a real pain to keep looking that good
I need some advice from you guys in this regard.

[crazygolfer]

big ups 2 poor boys...AGAIN another outstanding job
wots this 4star goodies u guys r talking about?

[freerider]

(20-10-2008 10:54 AM)crazygolfer Wrote:  big ups 2 poor boys...AGAIN another outstanding job
wots this 4star goodies u guys r talking about?

LOL, its a paint sealant that carn got sent from a bloke in the states.... JL's detailing, he is a member here.

We have been using it and the results are awesome!

(20-10-2008 10:48 AM)revo Wrote:  Excellent job poor boys.
But can the customer maintain that finish?

Black is a real pain to keep looking that good
I need some advice from you guys in this regard.

Megesh and Myself are available anytime to help out with whatever your black car needs might be

[crazygolfer]

lol,ok i c...that explains y i didnt find it on ur site.hehehe

[revo]

(20-10-2008 01:29 PM)freerider Wrote:  

(20-10-2008 10:54 AM)crazygolfer Wrote:  big ups 2 poor boys...AGAIN another outstanding job
wots this 4star goodies u guys r talking about?

LOL, its a paint sealant that carn got sent from a bloke in the states.... JL's detailing, he is a member here.

We have been using it and the results are awesome!

(20-10-2008 10:48 AM)revo Wrote:  Excellent job poor boys.
But can the customer maintain that finish?

Black is a real pain to keep looking that good
I need some advice from you guys in this regard.

Megesh and Myself are available anytime to help out with whatever your black car needs might be

hmmm... my needs would be, a wash every saturday!
it's getting tiring spending 4 hours every weekend to clean it.
and i'm getting stupid swirls!
I follow all the tips i've read on this site and others to avoid them, but still they appeared

used 3m hand glaze followed by mothers reflections wax on saturday - and it was flippin hot on that day to be cleaning - but it was worth it.
car looks good now.

however, I find that i can't just wash the car and dry.
every saturday it needs to be polished or waxed or it doesn't look good enough.

[springbok]

If it's black and you have a swirl problem, then my bet is on the way you are washing it. You can polish and wax it till the cows come home but if you are not washing it properly you will instill swirls every time.

Can you describe in great detail your washing and drying method?

[revo]

I don't know about great detail, but here goes..

First I use the california duster to remove whatever dust is on the paint (I also do this at least every 2nd day)
Then I rinse the car.
I use chemical guys shampoo for washing, with a microfiber wash mitt.
Got the 2 buckets.
So I start from the top working down, but stop just after half way down. I do this all round the car. Then I do the bottom of the car and bumpers.
Then rinse the whole car.
And dry it from top down with Adams towel.
Wheels are done seperately.

That's about it.

The swirls aren't bad (in my opinion, since I'm no pro).
After I hand polish, the avg guy wouldn't know it was there (i think).

[/align]So is there anything in the washing procedure that I need to change?