This car was a low-mileage example--51k miles, but it's led a neglected life. It belonged to the customers father and she inherited it. She asked me to "make it look right". This is what we ended up with:
Interior was a mess, but I didn't take photos. "Grimy" is an understatement. The paint had every defect known to man--scuffs, heavy swirling and RIDS, some severe bird crap etching (which was through the clear)--it was just dull, dull, dull.
Before:
Swirls:
Lame attempt at a 50-50
After in my driveway
...and delivered to the customer's driveway
Process:
I could have tripled the effort I put into it, but it wasn't in the customer's budget. Thus, correction was 1-step (well, 1.5 step)
-Wash w/ Meguiar's Deep Crystal wash (I love the suds and smell of this stuff)
-Turtle Wax Liquid Claybar (could have skipped this step--I'll stick w/ using this stuff to strip LSP off of a car, though)
-Clay
-masking tape
-SIP applied w/ Griot's polisher and Griot's orange pad. Buffed in 'til clear, then jeweled down w/ a spritz of water.
-Nu Finish (un-garaged car)
-Megs Ultimate QD
-Zymol Protectant on tires
-Wheels and wells cleaned w/ old wash mitt and separate bucket of soapy water. I've grown to love this easy, effective method.
-Headlights done w/ a pass of Mother's Pre-Wax Cleaner by hand, some 1500 grit paper, and SIP w/ the buffer
-Interior done w/ Armor All APC, Armor All Leather gel, Simple Green, and elbow grease.
~6.5 hours
Customer was shocked at the results and now I'm doing their 4Runner this week and possibly their '85 380SL Benz in another month. w00t!
thanks for looking
Interior was a mess, but I didn't take photos. "Grimy" is an understatement. The paint had every defect known to man--scuffs, heavy swirling and RIDS, some severe bird crap etching (which was through the clear)--it was just dull, dull, dull.
Before:
Swirls:
Lame attempt at a 50-50
After in my driveway
...and delivered to the customer's driveway
Process:
I could have tripled the effort I put into it, but it wasn't in the customer's budget. Thus, correction was 1-step (well, 1.5 step)
-Wash w/ Meguiar's Deep Crystal wash (I love the suds and smell of this stuff)
-Turtle Wax Liquid Claybar (could have skipped this step--I'll stick w/ using this stuff to strip LSP off of a car, though)
-Clay
-masking tape
-SIP applied w/ Griot's polisher and Griot's orange pad. Buffed in 'til clear, then jeweled down w/ a spritz of water.
-Nu Finish (un-garaged car)
-Megs Ultimate QD
-Zymol Protectant on tires
-Wheels and wells cleaned w/ old wash mitt and separate bucket of soapy water. I've grown to love this easy, effective method.
-Headlights done w/ a pass of Mother's Pre-Wax Cleaner by hand, some 1500 grit paper, and SIP w/ the buffer
-Interior done w/ Armor All APC, Armor All Leather gel, Simple Green, and elbow grease.
~6.5 hours
Customer was shocked at the results and now I'm doing their 4Runner this week and possibly their '85 380SL Benz in another month. w00t!
thanks for looking
