2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Grigio Silverstone by Richie's Custom Detailing

[Richie's Custom Detailing]

I was contacted by my client after taking delivery of his 2012 458 Italia. He was extremely disappointed with the overall condition of this car at the time of delivery. I was called in to bring the cars overall appearance to a proper state, so let's get on with it.



After retrieving the car.

All rubber trim would need attending to. Notice the compound residue.

Every crevice of this car had compound residue in them.

A thorough wash and decon was carried out.

Wheels cleaned with Sonax.

Spotless.

The car had some LSP so it had to be stripped away.



Beading.

No beading. The lower half of the hood was covered with PPF...more on that later.

The rest of the wash was carried out with a multi step process.

Taped off and ready for the correction phase.

More residue around the emblem.

Now the defect removal.

Some RIDS on the roof.

Corrected.

Passenger rear quarter before.

Corrected.

Time to address the area around the emblem.

Dialed in.

Lower rocker panels needed some work.

50/50

Corrected.

More RIDS.

Gone.

 

[Richie's Custom Detailing]

The rear bumper had some serious RIDS.

Corrected.

More defects.

Corrected.

Time to replace the emblem.

Glass needed some work.

Spotless.

Exhaust tips were a little rough.

During.

Done.

Afters.



Some shots inside.

Now remember the PPF mentioned earlier?



These defects are caused due to installer error and lack of pride in your work. This installer has been doing this for seven years and still can't get it right. If I did the install it would never leave with defects like these.

Sun shots.

 

[David Fermani]

Great work Richie. I bet it looked like a completely different car after your work.



Question: Are any of those defects in the PPF correctable without replacing the section? I've run into these on several occasions and haven't come even close to fixing them.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Very nice! Haven't seen you around in a while.



Gotta ask, what does the car do when in "car wash mode"? Never seen that before...

 

[maxepr1]

Looks good Richie!

 

[maxepr1]

Very nice! Haven't seen you around in a while.



Gotta ask, what does the car do when in "car wash mode"? Never seen that before...

Charlie, it leaves the car in Neutral with the parking brake NOT set. So when you take your $200k F car to car wash the chain drive system will pull it through without any problems.

 

[mikenap]

Very nice! Haven't seen you around in a while.



Gotta ask, what does the car do when in "car wash mode"? Never seen that before...

Curious about this too. Top-notch write-up Richie, very well documented!

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Charlie, it leaves the car in Neutral with the parking brake NOT set. So when you take your $200k F car to car wash the chain drive system will pull it through without any problems.

Wow... Talk about a travesty! Condoning the use of a swirl-o-matic with a car like that

 

[Uber Auto Conditioning]

Great work Richie. I bet it looked like a completely different car after your work.



Question: Are any of those defects in the PPF correctable without replacing the section? I've run into these on several occasions and haven't come even close to fixing them.

I'd also like to know the answer to this. As an installer, can you explain how this happens and how it can be avoided. I have seen much worse than that and have always wondered what exactly the person is doing wrong during installation.



Great write up, that color is sex.

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Beautiful detail as with all of your details! :bow



I also love that color, looks great.



As far as how the car was delivered, if that residue is from the factory, it seems like they can't make these cars fast enough and they just don't really care. :cry1::cry1::cry1::cry1::cry1:

 

[blucpe]

Beautiful detail as with all of your details! :bow



I also love that color, looks great.



As far as how the car was delivered, if that residue is from the factory, it seems like they can't make these cars fast enough and they just don't really care. :cry1::cry1::cry1::cry1::cry1:

great work bringing it back to where it should be. how on earth does a dealership allow a car of this stature be delivered like that? it's a travesty.

 

[JohnKleven]

Spectacular work Richie. Next you'll have to rip off that 3M and replace with some Ultimate film.

 

[imported_DetailDan]

I'd also like to know the answer to this. As an installer, can you explain how this happens and how it can be avoided. I have seen much worse than that and have always wondered what exactly the person is doing wrong during installation.

+2 Richie.

 

[Richie's Custom Detailing]

Doesn't look like Richie cares about replying to people in his threads.

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!!



You Sir have just won "The Master of the Obvious" award for 2012.



Thank you for playing and good luck next year!

 

[autoconcierge]

Doesn't look like Richie cares about replying to people in his threads. Stop wasting your time praising him and asking him questions.

I find it interesting that no such comments are ever directed at Paul Daltons threads when he does not "Reply" to every question directed his way......................... wonder why that is?................... and he does not "Share his procedures" with anyone either.

 

[Richie's Custom Detailing]

How self-flattering by comparing yourselves to Paul Dalton. LOL. Big difference between not replying to "every" question and not replying to none and then on top coming here in your own thread and making smartas comments. Why even waste your time posting your work here?

Genius, last time I checked this section is called "Click & Brag" not "Tell Everyone How To Do It"



Nobody twisted your arm to post in my thread. I could care less if I get 1000 replies or 0 replies.



There are bunch of guys on here and other sites who like to fluff up there write ups and come off as gurus or they are trying to promote a product or products.



I post up my work for what it is and if people enjoy it great. If not, I'm fine with that as well. I could really care less what a bunch of detailers on a web based forum think of me. The only people whose opinions matter to me are my family, my friends and my clients.



***** and moan all you want, I will still post my work here and do so without posting the products or processes I use. So if you have a problem with that then don't read the threads I post, which is what you should have done in this case.

 

[DaGonz]

What a terriblly unprofessional attitude you have. Unfortunately your arrogance only makes YOU look bad.

Actually, you are coming across as a complete anal sphincter. Who peed in your Cheerios to set you of on this tangent?

 

[DaGonz]

So you think its professional to post your work and totally ignore people who are praising you and asking questions about it?

I went through a quick scan of your 175 posts on Autopia... not once did you offer a click and brag photos or your method of correction. I may not be one of the most prolific posters here, or get to do exotics as others have done, but I have posted some of my work... let's see some of yours.

 

[autoconcierge]

Is there a reason for avoiding my question?



I mainly come here to learn and teach wherever I can which really isn't much. Do I need to post my work to be validated some how? If I did, I would certainly reply to people's comments. If anything, people who post their work and don't respond to questions about it should be validated. Just because someone works on nice cars and takes nice pictures doesn't mean they should sit on their high horse and look down at people asking a simple question or trying to learn from them. Try looking at the OP's 290 post history and see what you can make conclusion on.

There are good reasons why Richie, myself and others do not post "Why, how, what". It has been covered over and over and over and over and over and over...................you are late to the party and obviously did not get the memo.



As for comparing...................the work speaks for itself, to that there is no dispute. I always have wondered why when someone wants a question answered they feel they are ENTITLED to all the answers, well where are the people giving Richie and I tips?..................as I high-lighted above and DaGonz has already noted you come here to get something not to give anything as if you are "Learning" and are a "Newbie" what are you going to teach Richie or myself?.



I am sick to death of 20 something guys who have little life experience, much less any years in the trade "Dictating" what someone should do because they feel they are owed something.........................owed what a kick in the butt. If someone has legit reasons(And we do) not to post some or all of the things we do to maintain a competetive edge(AS we do this occupation FULLTIME and pay ALL our bills with what we make) have someone "Learn" what you do then set up shop and take food off your table and your "Entitled" attitude would change "Doublequick" my friend.

 

[DaGonz]

Is there a reason for avoiding my question?



I mainly come here to learn and teach wherever I can which really isn't much.

Learning or teaching?

Do I need to post my work to be validated some how? If I did, I would certainly reply to people's comments. If anything, people who post their work and don't respond to questions about it should be validated. Just because someone works on nice cars and takes nice pictures doesn't mean they should sit on their high horse and look down at people asking a simple question or trying to learn from them. Try looking at the OP's 290 post history and see what you can make conclusion on.

There are plenty of people who post what pads and products they use, what they did, etc.



It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that technique is something that is unique to the individual, and that there are plenty of "how to" videos out there to watch and learn from..