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My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
06-05-2010, 07:00 AM (This post was last modified: 07-05-2010 10:06 AM by PaulVW.)
Post: #1
My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
I did most of this work towards the end of February, but I changed jobs and moved to Cape Town in the mean time and therefore only found time recently to put some words down.

As in the past, I welcome any advice, feedback or comments, as I am still very new to this.

My next detailing attempt was done on a white 2004 VW Polo 1.9 TDI 2-door Highline. This is a car of a friend and ex-colleague of mine and the car was in need of some serious TLC...

Firstly some random before pics

Exterior
Lots of road grime and some swirl marks were already visible...

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The engine bay was also rather dirty.

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Interior
The interior was a bit of a mess. Throwup The seats and carpets were very dirty and seemed like it wasn’t cleaned in years! (Luckily the owner will not be able to see this thread:roflBluebiggrin

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Detailing:
1. 1st Wash Down


Following what I learned (mostly from David’s threads), I started by removing the wheels and giving the car a complete was down using a diluted APC solution and Meg Gold Class Shampoo. At this stage I still used the Karcher Foaming Lance but my next detail will be done on the “next level” as my “Carn Special” foaming lance is in the post...

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Some contamination most probably from industrial fall out (Sasol Gas Liquor), bird droppings & household enamel paint was visible after drying...
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2. Chassis & Wheels
I cleaned the suspension components and wheels with Sonax Extreme Rim Cleaner and APC. After drying, I sprayed a generous amount of Adams - Invisible Undercarriage Spray on all the suspension parts. I finished the rims off with the CG Wheel Guard and the tyres with Megs Hot Shine Tyre Gel. I also cleaned the engine bay with APC.

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3. Interior Clean
After the wash down I refitted the wheels and moved the car into my garage and called it a day.

The next day, I first vacuumed the complete car, where after I used a very mild APC solution to clean the trim panels and inner parts of the doors. I found some old stains on the carpets and seats which were easily cleaned with the Adams Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. I also cleaned the loose carpets using the same process.

Some after pics of the interior:

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4. Polishing & Waxing
After the interior was sorted, I inspected the paint work under some fluorescent lights. The damage on the bonnet was the worst...

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After taping the car up with some blue tape, I followed a 4 step process to try and correct the paint work. I first clayed the complete car using an Adams clay bar and lube. Thereafter I applied two Menz products (SIP & Final Finish) using my newly acquired Megs G220 DA polisher and LC pads. Finally, I gave it a good layer of Collonite wax by hand.

The results were pretty amazing:
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The garage was again in a mess!
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Product of choice:
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5. Final touches
I gave the car a final wash down using Megs Gold Class shampoo. After drying, I used Megs Gold Class Trim Detailer to make the black parts look nice again. (I can’t wait for my Aerospace 303 which is also in the post...) I also used Megs Plasti-X to sort out the faded number plates and lights. Finally, I used Mothers® Glass Cleaner to clean and polish the windows.

Some random final after pics

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Summary:
This work took me about a week to complete (only working weekends and evenings after work). The owner was very impressed and immediately drove the car back to Pretoria into a rain storm, covering it with dirt again...Rofl

What is really amazing is that most of this dirt rinsed off with normal tap water – the Collonite really offers a very good protective layer which is easy to clean.Clap

The owner was so impressed that he asked me to also detail his fairly new Land Rover Discovery V8 HSE. This will be my next thread but I must say, trying my hand on a R650k vehicle was a bit intimidating...Uhoh2

Thank you for looking!
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06-05-2010, 07:23 AM
Post: #2
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
What great work, love the the wheels off attention.
But just as the thread got interesting, the pics failed. Can anyone else see them? And also what those funny looking things on the fenders?
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06-05-2010, 07:49 AM
Post: #3
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
(06-05-2010 07:23 AM)calypso Wrote:  What great work, love the the wheels off attention.
But just as the thread got interesting, the pics failed. Can anyone else see them? And also what those funny looking things on the fenders?

You are right - I just checked the first few pics initially, but it seems like not one of my "after pics" are showing. I suspect it is a problem with the host site Iono . I will try and sort it out...

The things on the fenders are magnetic bowls to keep the wheel nuts in. They have rubber bases which I clean frequently in order not to scratch the paint, but they are great for keeping the nuts in a safe place. This is all obsolete kit from my rallying daysBluebiggrin
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06-05-2010, 08:04 AM (This post was last modified: 06-05-2010 08:08 AM by Jughead.)
Post: #4
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Yeah ... I also cannot see the after pics ... but from what I can gather with the amount of effort you put into this detail it would be awesome ... Clap Clap Clap

Carn ... get an "OCD smiley" or something Bluebiggrin
... this deserves one for the wheels bit (so far that I can see)... Rofl Rofl Rofl I dream of doing that one day ...

My brother has the same polo (i think Thinking ) .. so will be sending him the link as well ... He aint a believer ... YET!!! Bluebiggrin
So this should sway him a bit ... Bluebiggrin

I was also wondering what that was on the fender ... looked like a VW badge ... Icon9

Awesome job !!! Awesome !!! ... Thumbsup2
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06-05-2010, 09:09 AM
Post: #5
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Great work Paul.... ClapClapClap Cant wait to see the final pics...
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06-05-2010, 09:11 AM
Post: #6
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Yeah i cant see the pics either... Awesome work!

[Image: Waxonwaxoff2.jpg]
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06-05-2010, 10:10 AM
Post: #7
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Excellent job...especially liked the pics of the mag wheel transformation Thumb
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06-05-2010, 11:38 AM
Post: #8
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Inspiring work. Love the work on the arches. did you use the Sonax product and apc on the arches or just apc?
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06-05-2010, 12:39 PM
Post: #9
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
Thanks for the comments guys! Glad you guys like the part about the wheels Bluebiggrin

Still trying to fix the other picsThinking

(06-05-2010 11:38 AM)Rayner Wrote:  Inspiring work. Love the work on the arches. did you use the Sonax product and apc on the arches or just apc?

I did spray a bit of Sonax in the arches as well, but TBH, I think it is the APC that did the trick. I found the Sonax only works really well with brake dust - not for general cleaning and that area had more of a greasy dirt than brake dust.
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06-05-2010, 06:49 PM
Post: #10
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
From what I can see, another top shelf effort Paul with great attention to detail Thumb

Removing the wheels is always nice as it adds that extra element of thoroughness to a detail. Sadly however the number of clients who are willing to pay for the service are few and far between (in my experience anyways).


Pity about the rest of the pics...Hope you get the problem sorted ASAP Bluebiggrin

David : 083 642 2118
www.mobileimage.co.za

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06-05-2010, 10:34 PM
Post: #11
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
I don't think I have ever seen a detail where all 4 wheels have been removed prior to washing. 10/10 for a great job. Loved the wheels and also that device for storing the bolts. Where did you buy it?
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07-05-2010, 10:14 AM (This post was last modified: 07-05-2010 10:18 AM by PaulVW.)
Post: #12
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo
(06-05-2010 06:49 PM)Carn Wrote:  From what I can see, another top shelf effort Paul with great attention to detail Thumb

Removing the wheels is always nice as it adds that extra element of thoroughness to a detail. Sadly however the number of clients who are willing to pay for the service are few and far between (in my experience anyways).


Pity about the rest of the pics...Hope you get the problem sorted ASAP Bluebiggrin

Thanks David,

The problem with the pics is sorted. It was my own bulk uploading / incorrect numbering mistake... Hammerhead

I can't wait to try my new products - which my wife collected from the PO yesterdayClap

Yeah, I fully agree on the wheels and underbody clean. It takes about the same time (or even more) as polishing the complete car but most people don't appreciate it as much. (The other problem is that that area also gets very dirty very quickly and easily again so it is really not worth the effort Plthumbsdown but it look cool)
(06-05-2010 10:34 PM)springbok Wrote:  I don't think I have ever seen a detail where all 4 wheels have been removed prior to washing. 10/10 for a great job. Loved the wheels and also that device for storing the bolts. Where did you buy it?

Thanks springbok!
I think Makro stocks those wheel nut dishes nowadays. Otherwise try ATS Motorsport but be preparred to be ripped offArgue
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07-05-2010, 02:18 PM
Post: #13
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
Brilliantly done Paul, excellent results.

i like those magnet thingies

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07-05-2010, 04:22 PM
Post: #14
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
(06-05-2010 07:00 AM)PaulVW Wrote:  ...
The interior was a bit of a mess. Throwup The seats and carpets were very dirty and seemed like it wasn’t cleaned in years! (Luckily the owner will not be able to see this thread:roflBluebiggrin
...

I hope you've made sure if this!!! HammerheadBluebiggrin
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07-05-2010, 04:30 PM (This post was last modified: 07-05-2010 04:34 PM by PaulVW.)
Post: #15
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
(07-05-2010 02:18 PM)dood786 Wrote:  Brilliantly done Paul, excellent results.

i like those magnet thingies

Thanks Naseem Thumb
Yeah, those things are nice, especially if you need to change your wheels every stage in some desserted gravel service park...
(07-05-2010 04:22 PM)DieOubaas Wrote:  
(06-05-2010 07:00 AM)PaulVW Wrote:  ...
The interior was a bit of a mess. Throwup The seats and carpets were very dirty and seemed like it wasn’t cleaned in years! (Luckily the owner will not be able to see this thread:roflBluebiggrin
...

I hope you've made sure if this!!! HammerheadBluebiggrin

Blah
Hey, where are the days when Guests could not view the images?Plthumbsdown

BTW - you have to be a detailer to join this forum - not a client of a detailerRofl and owning a water magnet which was given to you as a present and which you have never used does not countNono
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08-05-2010, 09:09 AM
Post: #16
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
(07-05-2010 04:30 PM)PaulVW Wrote:  Hey, where are the days when Guests could not view the images?Plthumbsdown

Guest's can't view them, that's probably why he registered on here Spit

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10-05-2010, 06:42 AM (This post was last modified: 10-05-2010 06:46 AM by PaulVW.)
Post: #17
RE: My time with the dirty white... Polo (now with after pics!)
(08-05-2010 09:09 AM)Carn Wrote:  
(07-05-2010 04:30 PM)PaulVW Wrote:  Hey, where are the days when Guests could not view the images?Plthumbsdown

Guest's can't view them, that's probably why he registered on here Spit

I guess I better watch what I say then - I don't want to loose my only customer Wavey Bluebiggrin
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