Finally cleaned the car (56k no way)
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:44 pm
This is my post from Detailing World:
What follows is the result of 6 hours work. Didn't get time to go over the car with Scratch-x as I had work to go to later. Anyway here's the pics:
This is what I was up against:
So first I went over the car with the hose, then got out the Gilmour (losing my virginity to it in the process). Used it on setting C and put in about 1/5 Snow Foam. Had a lot of fun with it:
Then after rinsing that off I used some Megs NXT shampoo and the two bucket method. Used my new Sonus wash mitt for the top halves and used my old Meguiars mitt for the wheels and lower halves, then rinsed:
Onto the claying. Started with the roof, then the windows, then worked my way round the rest of the car. Used Sonus Green Clay with Sonus Glyde Lubricant:
Even after claying there was a lot of tar, so I got out the Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover and went over most of the car. When cleaning the wheels, I used a non-scratch sponge, and I also used the Autoglym stuff. After rinsing everything down I got out the Gilmour again. I used the Sonus mitt to work it in this time:
The car had a bad case of rabies:
Dried the car with a Sonus Ultimate drying towel. Then I applied Megs Tech Wax with a Gold Class foam applicator. Buffed it off using a Poorboys Superthick & Plush towel and hey presto. Finished just in time to grab something to eat:
Reflection Shots:
Some of the stars of the show:
To review: I find Megs Tech Wax to be excellent. It smells nice, it's easy to apply and it lasts quite long with good beading. The Megs next wash is pretty average, does the job but could do with something stronger when it runs out. The Sonus Ultimate Drying towel is excellent, as its the Poorboys Superthick & Plush towels - highly recommended. Not so sure on the Sonus Green Clay. It was crap on the roof and left a lot of tar. It did pick up a lot of contaminants on the glass and the sides of the car, but I still had to use Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover to finish the job, which is very very good. The Sonus wash mitt was nice and soft and good for cleaning the car too, and of course the Gilmour which is my favourite. Apoligies for the quality of some of the pics
Some of my paintwork nasties
...
Deep chips on the bonnet:
These were strange triangular dents below my numberplate that weren't there last time I cleaned it:
This is on both sides, at the top corner of each windscreen:
On the side of my door, down to the metal
:
Chip out of the bumpstrip:
Weird chips on mirror:
Scuffs on rear bumper:
Paint cracking under headlamps on both sides:
Now I'm totally anal about stuff like this and will pay to get all this sorted. 3/4 of these defects were there when I bought the car in July. Wondering what can be done by hand, and what needs to be done by a bodyshop and the cost etc. I've got swirl marks and scratches but I know a PC can sort this. Along with the large stone chips shown I got lots of little ones too on the bonnet and the sides of the car.
Sometimes it's depressing washing the car.
What follows is the result of 6 hours work. Didn't get time to go over the car with Scratch-x as I had work to go to later. Anyway here's the pics:
This is what I was up against:
So first I went over the car with the hose, then got out the Gilmour (losing my virginity to it in the process). Used it on setting C and put in about 1/5 Snow Foam. Had a lot of fun with it:
Then after rinsing that off I used some Megs NXT shampoo and the two bucket method. Used my new Sonus wash mitt for the top halves and used my old Meguiars mitt for the wheels and lower halves, then rinsed:
Onto the claying. Started with the roof, then the windows, then worked my way round the rest of the car. Used Sonus Green Clay with Sonus Glyde Lubricant:
Even after claying there was a lot of tar, so I got out the Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover and went over most of the car. When cleaning the wheels, I used a non-scratch sponge, and I also used the Autoglym stuff. After rinsing everything down I got out the Gilmour again. I used the Sonus mitt to work it in this time:
The car had a bad case of rabies:
Dried the car with a Sonus Ultimate drying towel. Then I applied Megs Tech Wax with a Gold Class foam applicator. Buffed it off using a Poorboys Superthick & Plush towel and hey presto. Finished just in time to grab something to eat:
Reflection Shots:
Some of the stars of the show:
To review: I find Megs Tech Wax to be excellent. It smells nice, it's easy to apply and it lasts quite long with good beading. The Megs next wash is pretty average, does the job but could do with something stronger when it runs out. The Sonus Ultimate Drying towel is excellent, as its the Poorboys Superthick & Plush towels - highly recommended. Not so sure on the Sonus Green Clay. It was crap on the roof and left a lot of tar. It did pick up a lot of contaminants on the glass and the sides of the car, but I still had to use Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover to finish the job, which is very very good. The Sonus wash mitt was nice and soft and good for cleaning the car too, and of course the Gilmour which is my favourite. Apoligies for the quality of some of the pics
Some of my paintwork nasties
...Deep chips on the bonnet:
These were strange triangular dents below my numberplate that weren't there last time I cleaned it:
This is on both sides, at the top corner of each windscreen:
On the side of my door, down to the metal
:Chip out of the bumpstrip:
Weird chips on mirror:
Scuffs on rear bumper:
Paint cracking under headlamps on both sides:
Now I'm totally anal about stuff like this and will pay to get all this sorted. 3/4 of these defects were there when I bought the car in July. Wondering what can be done by hand, and what needs to be done by a bodyshop and the cost etc. I've got swirl marks and scratches but I know a PC can sort this. Along with the large stone chips shown I got lots of little ones too on the bonnet and the sides of the car.
Sometimes it's depressing washing the car.
Been a member for maybe 8 months or so. Still loving it!
