What Car Care / Detailing Have You Done Today ?

  • Like
Reactions: NevMan and V6_Man
Looks incredible. Better to be cautious and take your time than be the author of one of those I've just machined my car and what's happened to the paint ...... posts

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man
WOW WOW and WOW!

Was waiting for the outdoor pics.

That really looks incredible @V6_Man

Cheers @A4A4. Coming from someone who has an eye for detail means a lot :salute:

Looks stunning mate! This lockdown has got me wanting to tackle the parents A6 and threads like these make me realise what's possible.

Car looks brand new now, sure you're chuffed with those results.

Sent from my HD1913 using Tapatalk

Thanks @Adam14. Do it, like I said, it will be frustrating when you start but the excitement of getting closer to the finish line is worth all the hardwork. Glad the end results look way better than what I expected when I started the whole thing.

Looks incredible. Better to be cautious and take your time than be the author of one of those I've just machined my car and what's happened to the paint ...... posts

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

Cheers @Taxboy. Exactly why I continued as I knew that the end result would be worth it

:sign wow: Congrats @V6_Man :thumbs up:

Fantastic results, and looking great!

Cheers @SPIKE_S3 :icon thumright:
 
  • Like
Reactions: A4A4, SPIKE_ and Adam14
Let me guess @V6_Man, when your missus saw her car after all this work she didn’t think it looked any different other than clean?
 
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man, Bryant1998 and SPIKE_
Ok folks, so I wonder if you can guide me as to what this is “in” the paintwork - only visible in direct sun?
Is this what’s known as “holograms” - the only thing I’ve done since getting the car a few months ago is to wash regularly and polish it with AG Super Resin Polish. I don’t think those marks wouldn’t have come from hand polishing?
Cheers (hope pic comes out ok)
B52FE2B7 ABA4 4E14 9551 0D7EDB0451AF
 
Ok folks, so I wonder if you can guide me as to what this is “in” the paintwork - only visible in direct sun?
Is this what’s known as “holograms” - the only thing I’ve done since getting the car a few months ago is to wash regularly and polish it with AG Super Resin Polish. I don’t think those marks wouldn’t have come from hand polishing?
Cheers (hope pic comes out ok)View attachment 201877

Never used claybar? What is your wash technique and how many / kind of MF cloths you use when polishing.

AG SRP has fillers And should help with hiding the swirls, holograms and marring.
 
Let me guess @V6_Man, when your missus saw her car after all this work she didn’t think it looked any different other than clean?

You know it mate. Tbh, despite me telling her on numerous occasions, she didn't bother looking at the car and hasn't so far
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan, THQuattro and OCDaveS4
Never used claybar? What is your wash technique and how many / kind of MF cloths you use when polishing.

AG SRP has fillers And should help with hiding the swirls, holograms and marring.
Hi mate - Nope, never used clay. Two bucket wash (megs) with microfibre mitt rinse with Vyair filtered water. Polish with two MF - one on and one to buff off........oh, and just ordinary “detailing” MFs from EuroCarParts...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man
3 years old next week.

Washed, clayed, machine polished, degreased then waxed. Wheels off, brake callipers cleaned, wheels cleaned, de-tarred, re-treated with Poor Boys.

Two weekends work (not fully, but still....)

IMG 0631
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bristle Hound, OCDaveS4, SPIKE_ and 5 others
That bored of sitting in the house I’ve been out and detailed the wheels on the wife’s work Ds3!
Gave the callipers a quick paint whilst at it !
 
Hi mate - Nope, never used clay. Two bucket wash (megs) with microfibre mitt rinse with Vyair filtered water. Polish with two MF - one on and one to buff off........oh, and just ordinary “detailing” MFs from EuroCarParts...

You mean these ones?

EB915316 AACC 4584 AC07 EAA77A5F11A9


If so, I'd suggest changing the applicator pads (specifically for hand polishing) and slightly plush MF towel to buff off.

I have used AG SRP in the past on my black A4 and it is a really good stuff.
 
Ok folks, so I wonder if you can guide me as to what this is “in” the paintwork - only visible in direct sun?
Is this what’s known as “holograms” - the only thing I’ve done since getting the car a few months ago is to wash regularly and polish it with AG Super Resin Polish. I don’t think those marks wouldn’t have come from hand polishing?
Cheers (hope pic comes out ok)View attachment 201877

Hand polishing would not have helped to be honest especially if your not using aat least a plush 380 gsm korean cloth for removal....the spider webs....plus all the visible defects will only be removed via A machine polisher @OCDaveS4
Buy these cloths these are best buffing towels l have ever used wash n dry properly and they'll last you for years
Screenshot 20200425 195517 Chrome
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Pilkington, SPIKE_, OCDaveS4 and 2 others
3 years old next week.

Washed, clayed, machine polished, degreased then waxed. Wheels off, brake callipers cleaned, wheels cleaned, de-tarred, re-treated with Poor Boys.

Two weekends work (not fully, but still....)

View attachment 201878
Looking sweet :icon thumright:. Something about the S5....such a classy car.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JonChalk and Adam14
Hand polishing would not have helped to be honest especially if your not using aat least a plush 380 gsm korean cloth for removal....the spider webs....plus all the visible defects will only be removed via A machine polisher @OCDaveS4
Buy these cloths these are best buffing towels l have ever used wash n dry properly and they'll last you for years View attachment 201889
Thanks for the advice - will definitely get some of those. And yes @V6_Man I have been using the ones you pictured plus those round applicator pads. Lesson learned !
 
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man
You know it mate. Tbh, despite me telling her on numerous occasions, she didn't bother looking at the car and hasn't so far

Oh dear, same here mate...every time
 
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man
Hand polishing would not have helped to be honest especially if your not using aat least a plush 380 gsm korean cloth for removal....the spider webs....plus all the visible defects will only be removed via A machine polisher @OCDaveS4
Buy these cloths these are best buffing towels l have ever used wash n dry properly and they'll last you for years View attachment 201889
Where do you get these from @jassyo06?
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan and SPIKE_
Some engine bay detailing

Before:

380cf1a2652bcb18ad3b85e67a25313d.jpg

d6a1e7e0a2c15fb70f7981a90626ad3b.jpg


I Used:

9bbf70117512581c001c8e3eeb2537dd.jpg


After:

0d22e9d765f4593cc84e122f90b40526.jpg


3046dedcb23efc349c8ebcf084796c8a.jpg

P
L
167b02f8344a1f32fe976311745509bb.jpg

b8ce86c740f83778c81e10dcf09222cc.jpg

3c44c92ea07a3d08915ca73891cb3629.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: THQuattro, Bristle Hound, SPIKE_ and 2 others
Looking really fab @X3man
Yes - second that - look clean before you started but v impressive afterwards!!

I’m not sure I dare tell the Mrs that I’m going to clean the engine bay though - she already thinks I obsess over keeping it clean !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: V6_Man, Bristle Hound and Bryant1998
First wash for a while - been WFH for 5 weeks so car has hardly moved. Neighbour over the back had been using some kind of concrete cutting saw or something and the dust is hellish.
First step was to head to local Morrison’s to use hot pre wash and cold rinse (no brushes to be clear !) to remove the dust then home. citrus pre wash applied by Pump sprayer pressure washed off before 2BM wash with auto finesse shampoo and lambs wool mitt (forget the brand). Wheels done with wheel Woolie and older lambs wool mitt.
Rinse with PW and applied Gyeon wet coat. Learned lesson from last time and rinsed and dried each panel straight away with plush Korean drying towels as recommended by Jassy06 a while ago . Windows and wheels dried with waffle weave drying towels and car plan tyre spray applied.
 

Attachments

  • C5084423-D086-434D-BCF1-A115EF89DB41.jpeg
    C5084423-D086-434D-BCF1-A115EF89DB41.jpeg
    37.7 KB · Views: 254
  • 9D79791A-6346-43F7-B320-A9940B110606.jpeg
    9D79791A-6346-43F7-B320-A9940B110606.jpeg
    35 KB · Views: 243
  • Like
Reactions: THQuattro, OCDaveS4, V6_Man and 1 other person
Just a quick clean to get rid of the bird sh!t and dust, wish I was out driving it
35d2326e5d6e51ecd2bb537d9c212152.jpg

23340cc3095ffd84fa820d8a3fed3bd4.jpg

82e9c7e94c27ec588011059c4d38e48d.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: A4A4, NevMan, OCDaveS4 and 3 others
Looks good! What kind of plate holder/plate do you put on that when you go out !?
 
Unnamed 1

Unnamed 1


Had nothing better to do with my time so I took the 10-ton heated leather seats out and cleaned underneath them, I know you can't see the cleanliness when the seats are back in but it makes me feel better knowing it's spotless underneath. Plus, I found a penny so who's the real winner here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan, THQuattro, Kakatk and 6 others
Car hasn’t been used for about 3 weeks, just been sat in the garage gathering dust. So took the long way around to pick up our Tesco’s click and collect order (never thought that box of nitrile gloves I have in the garage would be used for anything other than car cleaning!). Good to put a bit of charge through the battery and enjoyed the quiet roads with the gearbox set to manual and some flappy paddle action (all on the right side of sensible of course).

Then got stuck into a proper clean. Usual pre-wash and contact wash, followed by a chemical decon with tar remover then Korrosol to get the clear coat back to super slick - you don’t necessarily need to to clay a well maintained car, a good chemical decon does the trick without marring. Then washed again to get any product residue off, rinsed, applied some Turtle Wax Dry and Shine (wet coat type stuff - very good value for money), rinsed again and dried her off. Finished off with a coat of Gyeon Cure to seal the paint. Pic below isn’t the greatest - the light was going, but the paint is now super slippery, has a real nice depth of gloss and is protected. Happy.

B8686930 79D6 453D 92E0 23C4860D52FC


Then onto all the jobs that usually get ignored. Opened up the pano roof and cleaned out the shuts, and went to town on all the door shuts as well (including all the difficult to reach bits you usually pass over), and gave the engine bay a good clean and wipe down as well. All with Surfex HD and a nice soft Detail Factory brush.

After that I got to work on the interior - I don’t really use dedicated interior products (leather seats aside) - a damp MF spritzed with diluted Surfex HD has always worked well for me. Then deep cleaned and protected the leather interior and steering wheel with the holy trinity of Valet Pro Leather Soap, followed by a ‘feed’ with Colour Lock Leather Protector - good product this, for cars with seats that are more than 3 years old and need a bit of nourishment to stop the leather drying out and cracking - it definitely made the leather feel more supple. Then topped off with Colour Lock Leather Shield (anti-friction coating to help limit wear and tear and dye transfer from jeans etc). Really pleased with the results, the seats were looking a tad shiny, but this process has ‘em nice and matt and looking like new. Still love my Rotor Grey interior - it’s holding up well.

76224A61 BAC0 498A 9CEE 1C5EFA35D129


All in, took about 5 hours of blissful zen time. Time for a beer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan, THQuattro, Pinky1959 and 10 others
View attachment 202312
View attachment 202321

Had nothing better to do with my time so I took the 10-ton heated leather seats out and cleaned underneath them, I know you can't see the cleanliness when the seats are back in but it makes me feel better knowing it's spotless underneath. Plus, I found a penny so who's the real winner here.

Loving your work Kayobong - I do have a soft spot for a well looked after MK5 (or is it a 6?) - they are brilliant fun to drive. Got your new wheels on yet pal?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kayobong
Loving your work Kayobong - I do have a soft spot for a well looked after MK5 (or is it a 6?) - they are brilliant fun to drive. Got your new wheels on yet pal?

MK6 mate, wheels not on yet unfortunately, it's number 1 on my list to do after lockdown. Lovely cars indeed, however it's got nothing on an S3! :icon thumright:
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan, V6_Man, Bryant1998 and 1 other person
Looking great. Can I please ask what dilution rate you are using the Surfex and Perl at.

l used some fairy liquid on a wet cloth then dried it off with a old drying towel then used a quick detailer....looked mint.....no clear coat in the engine bay though....even after paying £2400 bangers....lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: NevMan and V6_Man