Audi A3 Sport Turnaround (56K Beware)

[ahaydock]

So here’s what I did this weekend – took about 10 hours over 2 days all in all! It’s a mate’s new car – a MK1 Audi A3 Sport, that he bought and wanted it cleaned up before taking it home.

He also wanted it de-badged and clear side repeaters fitted to tidy up the appearance (which I did - check out the afters), along with some silver front indicator bulbs to take away that fried egg look, but these didn’t turn up in time.

So first thing was to de-badge the car which went well leaving no marks or damage (normally get a bit nervous about doing this especially on someone else car).

Here are couple of before and afters to show the turn around:

The process was as follows:

1. De-Badge.

2. Engine bay with Megs APC 4:1.

3. All door shuts etc with Megs APC 4:1.

4. Pre-soak using Karcher K4.99M and AB Foam Lance with a mixture of APC, SSF and Maxi Suds.

5. PW rinse.

6. Archers with Megs APC, bog brush then PW rinse.

7. Wash using 2-bucket method, Grit Guards and Serious Performance Mitt with Clearkote Shampoo.

8. Wheels soaked with Megs All Rims Wheel Cleaner, rinsed then cleaned with Race Glaze brush and Megs Mitt.

9. Rinsed with PW.

10. Clay using Sonus Green and Megs LT.

11. Soaked again using PW and AB Foam Lance with SSF and Maxi Suds.

12. PW rinse.

13. Dry using Sonus Ultimate Drying Towel and Megs LT.

14. Bodywork with Auto Glym SRP using a Sonus Ultimate Applicator (Yellow Side).

15. Scratch-X was used on some deeper scratches etc.

16. Lights and Plates with Megs Plastic-X.

17. Wheels with Auto Glym SRP using a Megs Foam pad.

18. Glass with Megs Glass Concentrate and an MF (inside and out).

19. Waxed with Collinite 915 using a Megs Foam Pad and buffed with a MF.

20. Window Trim etc with Chemical Guys New Look Gel.

21. Bumpers with Auto Glym Bumper Care.

22. Tyres with Chemical Guys New Look Gel – 1st coat buffed with an MF then a 2nd coat applied.

23. Interior was treated with Megs APC 10:1, then dressed with PoorBoys Natural Look Dressing.

24. Vacuumed using the Dyson Car Kit.

25. Vents spritzed with Chemical Guys New Car Scent, along with a few general sprays.

26. Wheels sealed with PoorBoys Wheel Sealant.

27. 2nd layer of Collinite 915.

The car had not been used until recently, having been off the road for some time and was very dirty inside and out. When using the Karcher around the sills etc – mould flew out everywhere and the dirt from the arches was disgusting – it left big piles of mud! I also sustained a ‘Detailing Injury’ – whilst picking up my mains extension to plug in the Karcher I knocked my shelving unit and my AB Foam Lance fell from the top shelf (several feet), with the brass end catching my forehead. I now have a nice wound, lump and have had a throbbing headache for over 24 hours!!! Oh well…

Some mould around the boot:

After:

The Petrol Cap before:

After:

Soaking with the APC, SSF and Maxi Suds Foam:

The results from the pre-soak and just a PW rinse – pretty impressive as the mitt hadn’t even touched it:

The clay, which wasn’t too bad as the car has low mileage. Most of that came from the nearside lower door panel:

A wheel before:

A wheel after, and despite a good soaking with APC/SSF, Hot Rims, rinsed, a wash, a clay, another SSF soak and AG SRP some of that brake dust wouldn’t shift without the wheel coming off (which I didn’t have time for):

Engine Bay Before:

After a quick spruce up:

The rest of the exterior afters (sorry for the poor light but it was getting dark):

The interior before:

After:

The interior before:

After:

The steering column before:

After:

Thanks for looking.

[maersk]

Good job, more than two beers worth!

[Pincher]

S'ok I suppose - but you missed the pedals

They're still filthy

Only jesting - top work fella

[edo]

bloody good effort.

[fresco1]

Good effort !

You must have been ready for a rest by the end!

Can I ask a quick question? Was the car ever pranged on the driver's rear quarter? Maybe it's just me, but the rear quarter panel looks a slightly different shade from the others, plus the line of the window rubbers looks 'odd'.

Just wondering .... ?

[Jamiekip]

Transformed.... great work!

[ahaydock]

Thanks guys - not sure about the rear qtr panel but I thought the same!

[steelwind101]

Top job, very impressive!

I love seeing drastic befores and afters, those wheels looked like fun to clean up. The silver is nice and relfective and the interior is a huge improvement!

Go to Autopia and look up Davidb's guide. I have been using a Sonus product called Motorkote, i think you will really like it.

Geoff