Audi S3 (8L) in black - Dodo Juice Supernatural

[Jimmeh]

How I miss my S3! Having previously owned 2 A3’s and the S3, you’d of thought by now I know this shape off the back of my hand. Wrong! I still managed to spend 13 hours on it, that’s the clean/prep stages and a minor correction. Some 85% correction was achieved with 106FA (..*waiting on my 203s*)

Product!
• 303 Aerospace Protectant
• AutoGlym Glass Polish
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoSmart G101
• Autosol - metal polish
• ChemicalGuys JetSEAL109
• ChemicalGuys New Look Trim Gel
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Dodo Juice Limeprime
• Dodo Juice Supernatural
• Meguiars All-Season Dressing
• Meguiars Super-Degreaser
• Menzerna 106FA
• Zaino Z8

Pre-detail:

Post-detail:

I first saw the car at Kettering’s “Audi in the Park” show last month – a fellow Audi-Sport member that I’d known for some time. The car was wearing the Blackfire kit, and, I began to wonder if it even needed the work! Overall, it appeared to be a well presented/looked after car. It has however been ‘mopped’ at some point in its life. Typical bodyshop ‘doings’ and buffer-trials all over the place. We’ll touch this a bit later..


Inspection photos:

A few rough areas on the paintwork were seen through the dirt once the sun was out... A series of random marks down the driver’s side and the usual kamikaze bugs dotted around on the front end.

Wash: ValetPRO Snowfoam. Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild. Two buckets with grit-guards

I must say, I was impressed by the water repellent that had been applied to the windows! Nothing would stick to it, not even my foam

The front end had G101 sprayed liberally all over it – helped to loosen the embedded flies from the bumper/grill and mirrors

After the foam was taken off, signs of Blackfire’s protection were promising!

Re-foamed and washed.

Small sponge used for the under-carraige:

Rinsed, and, again, I’m mighty impressed with the Rain-X (or equivalent!) that is on the windows:

S3 was moved into the garage for the claying stages; the sun was beaming down and I wanted to avoid watermarks if possible. (Quite warm today!!)

Claying wasn’t too bad – the above was the worst I could pick up (roof)

 

[Jimmeh]

Rinsed.

Open-hosed to remove majority of standing water..

Which left this:

Easy!


Dried with the Miracle Dryer. Now, at this angle, it looks stunning already!

However, flip-reverse it and put it in direct sun-light, we’re left with this lot:

Roof was in a bad way!

Hazy patch on driver’s door:

Good. Well.. At least there’s something to get stuck into!

Some higher than normal paint readings around.. The bonnet, tailgate and both rear quarters had seen fresh paint.

Plenty to work with here..

Working my way to the passenger side..

Before:

After:

Fiddy fiddy

Rear quarter reading:

As opposed to the door:

 

[Jimmeh]

A shame really, but, once polished, you could see a colour difference between the two panels:

Passenger door before:

Passenger door after:

Up and on to the roof (original paint..)

Before and after:

The bonnet was lovely and, well, lovely and hazy!

50/50:

Before:

After:

I had to add a little Limeprime to the equation here to extend the work time. The pad was drying up and didn’t want to play ball.. Colour transfer to the pad (only from the bonnet..) odd!

Nice and sharp now.


50/50 along the driver’s side:

Love the black/blue/white combination going on here.. Tempted to leave the tape on!

Taken back outside to rinse (dust build up in nooks and crannies etc)

Dried off again and put back in for the night..

Glazed with PoorBoys Black Hole via DA and a 3M blue finishing pad:

Dodo Juice Supernatural:

And that’s the end off day one!

Exhaust tips were badly pitted. Struggled to fully recover them, but, Autosol and wire-wool didn’t do a bad job.

50/50

Nipped round the corner to check my progress.. (when I see the sun and a clean car, I get a bit trigger happy – I do apologise)

 

[Jimmeh]

You’ve probably just spotted the area on the tyre that wasn’t dressed. Aye, that was facedown on the floor at the time, later went back and corrected this

So, tyres dressed with ChemicalGuys New Look Trim Gel. Alloys sealed with JetSEAL109 and a final Zaino Z8 wipedown..

Obligatory ‘thumbs up’ shot.

Excellent. A nice transformation here - enjoyed this one thoroughly.

So, does anyone want to buy an Audi A4 Avant? ( I need my S3 back!! )

As per, thanks for bearing with me.

Jim

 

[chrisn900]

what a fabulous job done on that car
want to come and do mine, ha ha ha
think i'll buy an electric polisher and tidy my a3 up,was a company car so not been very well loved

 

[<tuffty/>]

Nice one mate... I recognise that car ;P

Nice to see the white spots gone huh Jase...

<tuffty/>

 

[rickparmar]

Nice

is it Jasons car ?

 

[Jimmeh]

It is, Rick.

Tuffty, I saw the white specs on the tailgate that time at Kettering.. However, they had been removed by the time it came to me. I think between Jase's and A3_Tom's efforts they were able to shift the nasties.

 

[S3 HODGE]

Wow nice Job Jimmeh.

Jase = Lucky ******! :icon_thumright:

 

[voorhees]

I have spent a fair bit on trying to attain the paintwork as I have seen on the photos on the detailing section and always have been left wondering why for the wedge I have paid,it seems to fail...(why me ? springs to mind) but what Jim has done and his accurate (bit too accurate sometimes boo hoo) account of my cars paintwork history is superb.
I travelled 300 miles in all with help from mates (Daz,Mick) but it was thoroughly worth it and will do it again when needs be.
thanks Jim

 

[A3Tom]

Thats a quality job for sure

I have to say when I saw the car at Audi's In The Park I thought the paint looked great (apart from the random white spots), damn my untrained eye!.

Cracking results though, if I upgrade to an S3 its got to be black.

Great results on a tidy looking car!

T

 

[voorhees]

Tom,apart from the unknown origin specs the cars paintwork was good in my eyes now its just a different car,a few mates come around today to have a butchers and were gobsmacked at the glass like finish.

 

[quattrojames]

Very very nice

 

[NHN]

Another very good job, looks very nice.

 

[Jimmeh]

Thanks all.

As I said to Mr Vorhees as the time, a lot more could of been done! One or two bits left me scratching my head and, given the time, it could be near 100%.

In terms of what was acheived though, I'm quite pleased. An epic turnaround thats for sure..

I don't think I'll upload the video Jase, A) its not great quality, and B) you can hear your mate talking about the "starring in a porn film" at the beginning lol.

Might upload some higer res pics later on.

Did you find the Dummies Guide much use??

 

[Nilz]

Jimmeh, you have once again done an excellent job, the 50/50 shots are amazing!!!

Well done mate and keep up the good work.

Jase, mate, bet you are smiling like a cheshire cat with the car looking that good!!!

 

[voorhees]

I don't think I'll upload the video Jase, A) its not great quality, and B) you can hear your mate talking about the "starring in a porn film" at the beginning lol.

Might upload some higer res pics later on.

Did you find the Dummies Guide much use??

Mike is like a young Victor Meldrew/Bernhard Manning....porn film oh dear!

yeah hi res would be excellent.

the guide is superb thanks

 

[voorhees]

Jase, mate, bet you are smiling like a cheshire cat with the car looking that good!!!

will pop up on wednesday so you can have a close up Nilz....tiz sweet

 

[A3Tom]

I can see some overtime coming on to get my car done

 

[jojo]

Great work Jim, thought I recognise that car, don't park next to me Jase at ADI.

 

[S3fan]

Excellent job.....let's hope he looks after it now

 

[LordNelson]

Wow....very nice job....good effort. think the electric polisher is now on my wish list.

 

[jesters3]

Always love 50/50 Shots.

Anyhow on to your work, I have the 106 and 85, do you use the 85 and then finish off with the 106? Also do get that finish how many passes of the 85 and 106 do you do and at what speed? Sorry for the Q's just curious, as I just can't seem to get rid of my swirls. I use the 85 first on a Orange CCS pad and then the 106 on a white CCS pad. For the passes I go till it is clear and then buff off - is this correct?

 

[FazS3]

Cracking job, car looks awesome!

 

[S3 Rav]

Jim great work as always. S3 IMO looks cracking still now especially when clean. Jase..time to maintain in now. im sure i'll see it shinning if im around cov this weekend.

 

[Jimmeh]

Thanks all. (higer .res photos to follow later this evening)

Always love 50/50 Shots.

Anyhow on to your work, I have the 106 and 85, do you use the 85 and then finish off with the 106? Also do get that finish how many passes of the 85 and 106 do you do and at what speed? Sorry for the Q's just curious, as I just can't seem to get rid of my swirls. I use the 85 first on a Orange CCS pad and then the 106 on a white CCS pad. For the passes I go till it is clear and then buff off - is this correct?

106FA Final Finish.. 85...? Are we talking 85RD or 85RD 3.02? (intensive polish or final finish)

If it is indeed 3.02 (IP) then yes, I'd work that first (if required.. (always start with lowest cut)) and then finish with the 106FA OR 85RD.

Per panel, I'd say about 5 minutes? I like to spend a long time on the burnishing/finishing stages (~900rpm) with just the weight of the machine.

I apply the polish onto the pad, dab onto work area and spread around a bit (to try stop splatter..) Machine turned on on Speed 1 (my SIM180 rotary doesn't have the Speed/RPM graph, so, unfortunately, I can't tell you what rpm I'm working at) and fully spread the polish so its nice and even. I'd usually step up to 1.5 with smooth passed further spreading the polish. Then I go to speed 2.5 with a bit of pressure to work the abrasive and cut into the paint. Several passes after, I knock the speed to 2 1.5 and then 1 for the burnishing process. (no pressure)

I can't comment on the CCS pads im afraid. I was hoping to pick some up with my most recent order (Sat here beside me about to be opened ), but PolishedBliss didn't have them in stock.

There are several machine polishing guides dotted around the internet, best bet to read through a few times and see if you can work out where you're going wrong? Are you using rotary? Or, DA?

HTH - Jim

 

[Jimmeh]

 

[Ash B]

Great write up as always. Very good work done there! Jay the car looks the business.
My car calling out for a detail aswell as other things lol

 

[A3ster]

I wonder if I can leave work early today to do mine

 

[jesters3]

Thanks all. (higer .res photos to follow later this evening)



106FA Final Finish.. 85...? Are we talking 85RD or 85RD 3.02? (intensive polish or final finish)

If it is indeed 3.02 (IP) then yes, I'd work that first (if required.. (always start with lowest cut)) and then finish with the 106FA OR 85RD.

Per panel, I'd say about 5 minutes? I like to spend a long time on the burnishing/finishing stages (~900rpm) with just the weight of the machine.

I apply the polish onto the pad, dab onto work area and spread around a bit (to try stop splatter..) Machine turned on on Speed 1 (my SIM180 rotary doesn't have the Speed/RPM graph, so, unfortunately, I can't tell you what rpm I'm working at) and fully spread the polish so its nice and even. I'd usually step up to 1.5 with smooth passed further spreading the polish. Then I go to speed 2.5 with a bit of pressure to work the abrasive and cut into the paint. Several passes after, I knock the speed to 2 1.5 and then 1 for the burnishing process. (no pressure)

I can't comment on the CCS pads im afraid. I was hoping to pick some up with my most recent order (Sat here beside me about to be opened ), but PolishedBliss didn't have them in stock.

There are several machine polishing guides dotted around the internet, best bet to read through a few times and see if you can work out where you're going wrong? Are you using rotary? Or, DA?

HTH - Jim

Spot on Jim, I'm using a DA as I'm still a novice and won't be going rotary for quite a while! I've read the various guides I've found on then net (detalingworld, detalinguniversity, polishedbliss etc) and try to do as is but just can't seem to get it right grrrr! Reading what you have posted it is the same process that I am using however I'm thinking that I am not concentrating enough on one panel at a time to that end I may not be cutting the paint correctly. I will check which polishes I have; as I bought the trial pack off cleanyourcar. Effectively I use the white one first then the purple one. Hmm maybe I'm not exterting enough pressure....I will have to try again.

Thanks Jim!

 

[Jimmeh]

How bigger work area are you working? Keep it small.. around 12" or 15" sqre. Give it another go, make sure the abrasives are being fully broken down. Let us know

 

[Jimmeh]

the guide is superb thanks

Not sure if this will be of interest to any of you, but, the guide Jase and I speak about is my "dummies guide" (a 'how-to' look after the car after the detail..)

See what you think - http://www.whitedetails.co.uk/files/dummiesguide.pdf

Thanks.

 

[heli_madken]

Thats excellent Jimmeh really good, just sent it to a couple of work colleagues just to show I am not the only one who goes on about the two bucket method!! they already think I have OCD! but then I wonder how many of us actually have

Incidentally do you think there is any mileage in grit gaurds in the bottom of the buckets or are they just a gimmick?

 

[Jimmeh]

Thanks heli. There's a more in-depth guide to the wash stages on my site if you want a link? PDF download..

the grit-guards, in my eyes, work well. Stops the circulating detritus making its way back up into the fresh 'in-use', water. I always stop and take a look at the build-up in the bottom whilst I empty the buckets.

 

[rasA4]

Excellent work, it must be true what they say about black cars hard to keep clean?

 

[WX51TXR]

Hard graft pays off again - ditto what I said on the Porsche thread. :icon_thumright: