Audi Clear

L

Laxpunk2006

New member
Last weekend I took care of a friend's Saab because it just bothered me seeing my friend neglect it so badly. Apparently I did a good job because now her mom wants to hire me to do her Silver Audi A4. I've never messed with an Audi but I have heard all about their rock solid clearcoat. I have some experience with my PC but I'm still pretty slow with it and my time will be limited. I should have the car for most of the day but I'll be doing a full detail in and out, so I can't spend the whole time polishing. The Saab took me close to two hours just to go all the way around with SSR 2.5 (repeating some panels.) So since I'm still pretty slow and I know the clear is going to be hard, should I reach straight for SSR 2.5? Is there even going to be a point to try SSR 1 from the beginning? The car is only a year old as far as I know but it isn't treated well so I'm expecting mild swirls, and heavy contaniments that will need claying.



I'm also wondering if on a hard clear if SSR 2.5 will leave a LSP ready surface or if it will need to be followed by SSR 1? Regardless I will also be following with AIO and topping with either S100 or Natty's Blue, possibly even OCW if I'm short on time. I wouldn't expect SSR 2.5 to leave a LSP ready surface but the Saab was so hard it looked fine without a pass of SSR 1. Thanks in advance.
 
I'd start with 2.5 and it will probably leave the finish near LSP ready. Optimum Hyper Compound and a yellow LC cutting pad left the finish remarkable clear and marring free on an '04 S4 I did a few weeks ago. It had moderate to bad swirls.
 
Scott, this is to you in particular but everyone else feel free to chime in as well. This thread http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=70738&highlight=audi has gotten me a little discouraged about doing this Audi. All I have is a PC and 6 inch pads so I'm starting to get worried I won't be able to touch this clear. It probably wouldn't be for another week or two as I work 6 days a week and already have this Sunday (my day off) reserved for me car, so I could order some 4" pads and maybe some Optimum Hyper or something to help me out. However if I'm not going to be able to get this paint right with a PC I don't want to waste my time and her money. I doubt she even expects swirl removal as she doesn't understand things like we do but I don't feel right half assing my work. Will I be able to work with this A4 using a PC? Is there a tougher compound I should plan on ordering along with some 4" pads to make this possible?
 
Ask her what her expectations are. I let customers with Audis know their paint is very hard and difficult to correct. Some opt for no holds barred polishing and others say they don't even notice the swirls and just want it to shine more and the paint to be protected.



Without seeing the car in person, there is really no way to tell how bad the swirls are but with silver, they aren't as noticable and if she just wants it shined up, use 2.5 then something like Vanilla Moose which removes light defects and also has some filling properties. As long as you are up front with what you are doing and the customer is fine with it, that'll give you are really great finish.



4" pads should definitely help. Probably would have helped me today on a black Audi A6 Quattro. Moderate to severe halo swirls and rotary swirls too, along with a poor repaint of the passenger side rear quarter. Clearkote Compound, Hyper Compound both with cutting pads, DACP with a polishing pad....you get the picture!
 
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