WX51TXR vs Leon Cupra (I did dry it off, honest!)

WX51 TXR

New member
I did this car at the start of April, but never had time to post the results… then forgot about posting them altogether! The car belongs to a member of the Seat Car Club, and although it looks completely standard, it’s packing enough upgrades to make it a real dark horse (i.e. 300 bhp+). When it was dropped off, a quick inspection revealed the usual suspects – an army of tar spots and plenty of fine swirls, plus the odd scratch. Here’s a run through of the process…



Wash




Whole car rinsed at moderate pressure using the Karcher

Alloys treated with Meguiars Wheel Brightener cut 4:1, left 60 secs and rinsed with open ended hose

Whole car foamed with Poorboy’s Slick n Suds (4:1 mix in foam gun) and left to dwell for 5 mins

Whole car rinsed at moderate pressure using the Karcher

All trims and inside the arches treated with Meguiars Safe Degreaser cut 10:1

Whole car washed with Blackfire Gloss Shampoo using lambswool (bodywork) and microfibre (wheels and inside arches) mitts, and the two bucket method

Whole car rinsed with an open-ended hose

Whole car dried with waffle weave towels



Clay



Lower panels wiped down with Panel Wipe to remove a heavy build up of tar spots

All paintwork and windows clayed using Meguiars Detailing Clay and Meguiars Quik Detailer

Excess lubricant mopped up with waffle weave towels



Polish



Whole car taped with 3434, then machine polished with PC, using Menzerna Intensive Polish and Lake Country orange light cut pads. One attempt comprising three passes (1st at speed 2 no pressure, 2nd at speed 4 moderate pressure, 3rd at speed 6 maximum pressure) was enough to get everything out, bar some of the scratches, which I returned to with orange spot pads and the same method. I then followed up with Menzerna Final Polish II using Lake Country white polishing pads, as the finish left by the Intensive Polish was good but not perfect. The final polishing step was the application of Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish. This product has no cut, and is essentially a really rich, creamy glaze. I noticed a distinct wetting of the paint when it was applied using a Meguiars foam pad, and this helped to make the paint look much richer and glossier. All residues were buffed with Poorboy’s Super Thick n Plush towels.



Protect



All bodywork protected with Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection, applied using foam pads and buffed using Poorboy's’ Mega Plush towels

Wheels protected with AIO topped with Poorboy's Wheel Sealant, both applied with foam pads and buffed with work towels

All exterior trims treated with 303 Aerospace Protectant, applied using a microfibre pad and buffed after 5 mins with waffle weave towels

Exhaust tip polished with Autosol and protected with Meguiars NXT All Metal Polysh, both applied using Poorboy’s Work Towels

Tyres dressed with Blackfire Long Lasting Tyre Gel



And here’s the pics (sorry no before’s on this one, as I was pushed for time)… possibly the wettest finish I’ve ever achieved?



cupra1.jpg




cupra2.jpg




cupra3.jpg
 
Looks amazing!!! Very, very wet.

I really like the way you give every aspect of your detail even the towels used. It is appreciated.

Need I say again that we really, really miss some incredibly interesting cars here in the States?!?!



Eric
 
I have views alot of your posts recently and i havent commented. Really good work and such nice surroundings to photograph them in to!!



That orange looks really wet!!



Geoff
 
Delightful work - fine photos.



Please excuse my silly questions:



1. When you write cut x:x - is this a ratio of water : product (mixed)?

2. I'm always interested to see how long it takes others to complete a car. How long did you spend on it?
 
D3mon said:
Delightful work - fine photos.



Please excuse my silly questions:



1. When you write cut x:x - is this a ratio of water : product (mixed)?

2. I'm always interested to see how long it takes others to complete a car. How long did you spend on it?



Not silly questions at all. The ratio is indeed water to product mixed. The whole job took me 8 hours, as I also did a full interior detail too (split the job over two days in the end, as I started it one lunchtime and had to finish at teatime to take the kids to the cinema!). :)
 
So is Blackfire Wet Diamond going to be the next big rage.



You and GSR are having some very good results with it.





Great work, that 3rd to last pic looks rediculous...
 
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