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Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
20-07-2009, 10:42 PM
Post: #1
Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
This weekend was the turn of yet another black magic Golf V GTI to be pampered. Having recently been 'detailed' I was shocked to see the condition the paint was in. Whilst the swirling wasn't too bad compared to some of the previous examples I have seen, the use of wool pads had left their fair share of hologramming in the rock hard paintwork!

This detail also gave me the opportunity to spend some time detailing with my old man while I had the pleasure of working at his place. Despite him being OCD and avid petrolhead who has always taken meticulous care of his motor cars, it was nice to show him some of the newer concepts and practices he had previously never looked into.


Right then onto the actual point of this post....the detailing Bluebiggrin

Saturday morning started of bright and early, well more like freezing and gloomy, but anyways. The sun eventually did come out and made the task at hand alot more bearable and enjoyable.

Once again very few before pics as my hands were frozen and I wanted to get cracking. Black cars always have a habit of taking alot longer than anticipated and this specimen would prove to be no different.

Dusty paintwork...Wonder whats lurking under there!
[Image: IMG_2564.jpg]

Filthy tailpipes
[Image: IMG_2566.jpg]

Dirty wheels and calipers
[Image: IMG_2561.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2562.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2563.jpg]


The wheels and arches were tackled 1st with the 5:1 APC, Sonax Extreme Rim Cleaner, my new Daytona wheel brush and various other small detail brushes. No photies of the wheels and calipers for now but needless to say they came out good as new as usual.


With the wheels and arches taken care of I set about giving the car a thorough rinse to remove as much loose dirt and dust as possible before attending to all the little details with my trusty detail brushes and a 10:1 solution of APC.

Emblems
[Image: IMG_2567.jpg]

Panel gaps
[Image: IMG_2569.jpg]

Fuel filler
[Image: IMG_2571.jpg]


With all the nooks and crannies taken care of the car was foamed with a Duragloss 901 sample I got from Ken (smells wonderfull mmm) and left to dwell for a few minutes before being rinsed again and then washed. With the wash complete the car was rinsed once more before being given a once over with Meguiars fine detail clay and some QD. The car was relatively free from bonded contaminants hence the lack of any worthwhile clay photies.

Post claying the car was rinsed a final time before being dried and pulled into the sun for a quick inspection.


As I mentioned the car wasn't too badly swirled but suffered from alot of hologramming and marring from it's previous 'detailing' experience. The sun was also almost directly behind the car so I struggled to snap any fantastic defect photo's but here are some of the ones that turned out ok

[Image: IMG_2572.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2573.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2574.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2614.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2580.jpg]

With the initial inspection completed the car was pulled into the garage and taped up before being inspected under the halogens. Not much to see under the lights apart from evidence of previous bodywork being done and the some nasty RIDS.

Hazy paint lacking depth an clarity
[Image: IMG_2602.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2606.jpg]

Some nasty plastics
[Image: IMG_2611.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2612.jpg]


With all the prep work out of the way I turned my attention to finding a polishing combo that would deliver the results. Being metallic black and a VAG product I expected the paint to be rock hard but maybe, just maybe this one would be different. I started off with a mild combo of Menz FA on a 3M polishing pad which, despite leaving a brilliant gloss, did very little in terms of knocking back the minor swirling let alone even touching the RIDS. Post FA on polishing pad I tried :

50/50 mix of FA and SIP on polishing pad...The swirls were laughing at me
SIP on polishing pad...nope, you gonna have to try harder son
SIP on 3M compounding pad...nearly but this is taking forever

With all of these combo's failing to deliver results it was time to haul out the big guns. 3 Drops of 3M Fast Cut Plus on a 3M compounding pad with 2 small drops of FA added for extra lubricity finally yielded some worthwhile results. Having to go as far as a compound and compounding pad on a dark colour meant the need for additional polishing steps prior to finishing....It was going to be a long weekend's detailing after all!

Undeterred and with a combo that was working I set about the paint correction phase in the following order:

FCP on compounding pad followed by SIP on a polishing pad followed by FA on polishing pad.

I didn't snap many pics of the correction phase as I knew I would be pressed for time. Having completed the bonnet however I couldn't resist grabbing a few reflection shots once I made the final finishing passes...

[Image: IMG_2593.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2583.jpg]

Flash shot (the small lines next to the centre of light are my fingers illuminated by the flash)
[Image: IMG_2597.jpg]


Under the lights
[Image: IMG_2588.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2594.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2589.jpg]


Out in the sun to double check the progress.
[Image: IMG_2608.jpg]

Close up
[Image: IMG_2607.jpg]


With the front end complete, the sun long gone and the temperature outdoors plummeting we called it a day and headed on inside for some of my mom's fantastic spaghetti bolognaise and some hot tea and biscuits.


Day 2 saw the need for yet another freezing early start so it was out of bed at 7am and off to the old mans place to get stuck in. After giving the uncompleted rear half a quick dusting it was full speed ahead to compete the correction phase.

Remember the trashed B-pillar plastics and dull lifeless C-pillar?
[Image: IMG_2612.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2580.jpg]

Thats better
[Image: IMG_2623.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2618.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2634.jpg]

True colour and flake starting to pop
[Image: IMG_2624.jpg]

Taillights glossed up and corrected
[Image: IMG_2617.jpg]

With the paint correction phase completed just after lunch time, it was back outside for a final rinse and wash before starting on all the finishing details.


LSP of choice was to be my new Jeff's Acrylic kit (Prime, Trigger and Glos) with trim being treated to 303 Aerospace protectant, tires receiving Meg's Endurance Gel and glass being given a once over with AG's Fast Glass.

With it now being a little before 4pm I snapped some final finished shots before the client arrived to fetch his spruced up ride.

[Image: IMG_2637.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2639.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2642.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2644.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2648.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2651.jpg]


Wheels and calipers good as new
[Image: IMG_2669.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2638.jpg]

Tailpipes in all their glory
[Image: IMG_2668.jpg]


And finally some random reflection shots I liked...
[Image: IMG_2640.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2657.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2658.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2675.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2677.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2678.jpg]

[Image: IMG_2649.jpg]


As always thanks for looking Wink

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

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21-07-2009, 07:09 AM
Post: #2
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Another brilliant detail and write up that we've come to expect from you Dave.

As a matter of interest - how did your process and product choice differ for the B pillar plastics compared to the rest of the paintwork? I'm assuming that it is quite a bit "softer" than the rest of the paint.

P.S. It looks like your old man is as much of a Jag fan as you are a VAG fan.
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21-07-2009, 07:26 AM
Post: #3
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Absolutely amazing work there Dave. Was this the dude's car who called me looking for a detail? If it is, then I have no doubt he is an extremely happy chappy now Bluebiggrin

freerider AKA don



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21-07-2009, 11:28 AM
Post: #4
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Fantastic stuff! as usual Bluebiggrin

Out of interest, how many hours from start to finish?

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21-07-2009, 12:07 PM (This post was last modified: 21-07-2009 12:08 PM by Banshee.)
Post: #5
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Wow - Superb results there Dave !!

2003 Audi S3
1991 Gti II 16v Turbo
1991 Uno Turbo (RIP Vince)
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21-07-2009, 01:57 PM (This post was last modified: 21-07-2009 01:57 PM by dood786.)
Post: #6
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Great work dave
Great work dave

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21-07-2009, 02:37 PM
Post: #7
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Thanks guys, as always I appreciate the compliments Wink

(21-07-2009 07:09 AM)Woodie6250 Wrote:  Another brilliant detail and write up that we've come to expect from you Dave.

As a matter of interest - how did your process and product choice differ for the B pillar plastics compared to the rest of the paintwork? I'm assuming that it is quite a bit "softer" than the rest of the paint.

P.S. It looks like your old man is as much of a Jag fan as you are a VAG fan.

Thanks Sean, appreciate the comments Wink

The plastics are a bit softer than the paint but strangely enough always require significant work to correct to an adequate level. I usually start with a 50/50 mix of SIP and FA on a yellow 3M spot pad worked at around 1300rpms at a fairly brisk pad speed to avoid excessive heat. This normally reduces the hazing and fine scratches to a minimum but the deeper defects almost always remain. From there you can either do multiple passes at medium speeds, or as was the case with these one, step up to 3M FCP on a 3M compounding spot pad and finish it down in steps with SIP and then FA on yellow.

Yea, my old man was always actually Benz nutter but has since been through a Land Rover phase, and is now currently in love with the Jag's Bluebiggrin

(21-07-2009 07:26 AM)freerider Wrote:  Absolutely amazing work there Dave. Was this the dude's car who called me looking for a detail? If it is, then I have no doubt he is an extremely happy chappy now Bluebiggrin

Yup thats the guy and thanks for the referral Thumb

(21-07-2009 11:28 AM)onyx Wrote:  Fantastic stuff! as usual Bluebiggrin

Out of interest, how many hours from start to finish?

Roughly 21 hours if my maths is right (sat 7:30 to 20:30 and sun 8:00 to 16:00) Clap

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

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21-07-2009, 04:31 PM
Post: #8
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Awesome! The paint on the MK5's are brilliant are they not?

Lovely work Carn.

Mike
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21-07-2009, 09:40 PM
Post: #9
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Nice detail. The Werkstadt looks brilliant.
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21-07-2009, 09:45 PM
Post: #10
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Great work as always.
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22-07-2009, 09:42 AM
Post: #11
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Had a chance to try out that Black Hole as yet? Bluebiggrin
Also how are those 'new' LC pads working out for ya....

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22-07-2009, 03:29 PM
Post: #12
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Awesome work boet, wish i could get my "black VAG" to look that good
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22-07-2009, 07:28 PM
Post: #13
RE: Mobile-Image : VAGtastic detail
Thanks again guys Thumb

Onyx didn't haul out the pads yet, I wound up going with the trusty 3M's this weekend past. I've got a new GTI6 in this weekend so I might wind up using them then Wink

@ Springbok thanks man, will be putting it to good use again on this weekend detail.

@ Don, practice makes perfect.

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

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