I took full advantage of the good weather today to detail the exterior of my good mate Rich's Bora. (member on here - T30RA)
Those of you that know the car / rich, will know that for the last 12 months the cars lay pretty much dormant whilst the engine conversion has been progressing.
Since being back on the road the last few days, it became apparant that the exterior needing "getting at" to do the car full justice.
As time was tight today, we settled on the exterior detail only, the full underbody and interior refresh can wait till another time.
Rich arrived at mine about 8.15, and left it with me for as long as it took.
Initial inspection showed the biggest problem being, reasonably heavy contamination of the paint, with the upper surfaces feeling the dryest to the touch, which let little shine if any to show. The wheels were black with brakedust, a surefire sign Rich has been enjoying 270bhp!!
Most of the panels were showing swirling and some random deeper scratches which i was gonna have a go at shifting.
First job, clean the wheels with some new alkaline based foaming wheel cleaner, sprayed on the wheels, left to dwell for 2 mins then pressure washed off. Arches and lower parts of the body were sprayed with tfr and AS G101, then pressure washed off. The car was washed then with chemical guys super suds and sheepskin wash mit, dried with a wafflee weave drying towel.
All the panels were then clayed with Bilt hamber detailing clay, using water as lube. Both front and rear screens were also clayed to remove contamination.
In all 4 "chunks" of clay were used, proving how bad it was. The car was then pressure washed off and dried before machine polishing.
The boot, roof and bonnet were Machine polished with Megs #83, then Megs#80, which removed most of the swirling, and a fair chunk of the scratches. Because i knew the car had had paintwork, i was loathed to go any harder on the paint incase it was thinner in places than it should have been.
The upper edges of the wings, doors and rear 1/4's were machined using just megs #80. The car was washed and dried before the actual waxing could take place.

The following was done.
1 x coat of clearkote red moose machine glaze
2 x coats of poorboys ex-p sealant
1 x coat of Nattys red paste wax
The wheels were then cleaned using Megs QD and a microfibre cloth, arches and tyres treated with Autosmart highstyle. All exterior glass cleaned with Autoglym No.6 glass cleaner.
I was too quick this morning to take any before shots.. :bang: , but managed to get some, just before Rich came back to pick it up.











Sorry for the laborious write up, just trying to illustrate what goes into an exterior detail.
Hope you like?
Matt

 

Looks great chap, nice nice flake pop there as well.

Here is one of mine if you got a spare 5 mins
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/...pic.php?t=4212

 

Cracking job on the Twingo. I wish i'd have had more time to take some "during" photos because the state of the clay was horrific.

Your photos seem much clearer than mine. I dont know if photobucket compresses the image somewhat, cos on the camera and PC the VW ones are much much clearer and sharper???

Got a white 3dr to do in the next few weeks, just before it gets laid up for the winter and my neigbour wants her 306 doing as well!

 

good work ill see you on sat about a time

 

awesome stuff guys

 

No Probs Rich. I look forward to doing yours!

 

Nothing wrong with your pics matey, look good to me.
I resize all of mine before i upload them.

Make sure you get some progress pics of the 3dr up, will do one of mine as soon as i get it back.

 

top job matt, when can you fit mine in

 

I gotta get RS-Rich's 3dr done for him, poor blokes been waiting weeks!

Then we'll have a go at the shonky Evo for you!

 

What about my new one?

I'd do it myself but BMW paint is a right cunt!

 

and me Matt, and me........

You can do mine too, when it is in one piece again!!