Jinxed: Audi A3 Full Detail & Correction + Raceglaze 55

[ahaydock]

I think this detail must have been jinxed as not only did my G220 pack up half way through the first panel; I managed to somehow damage my camera’s LCD screen, and ended up buying a new one! I just want to say a big thanks to Gavin for lending me his Silverline Rotary polisher allowing me to finish off my car.

So after spending most of my spare time doing the cars of Friends and Family, and after 18 months since its first machine polish I though it was about time I machine polished my own car. In fact other than the odd layer of wax it hadn’t seen any sort of Detail since me and Alex L gave it a Zaino Detail in January of this year. I also decided after much pro-longing to remove my wheels and give them a decent clean and seal. The before and afters contrasts are not that impressive as it wasn’t that dirty or badly swirled, and I didn’t get too many correction shots either I am afraid.

I think I tried every possible combination on my G220 and the Silverline before I stuck with Menz IP 3.02 on a Sonus SFX1, followed by Megs #80 on a Megs Polishing Pad. I chose to cleanse the paint with Dodo Lime Prime Lite as I had not used this before and must say I was impressed by this, as I was unsure whether it would add anything over the Megs #80, but in my eyes it really made a difference. Another first for me was the wax, Raceglaze 55. I was very impressed with this wax and it has, IMO, left a fantastic finish. It wasn’t as easy as say a Dodo to work with but the results are well worth it. So here are a few before and afters:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

The process was:

1. Soaked tyres with Megs APC and cleaned with tyre brush.

2. Removed wheel.

3. Soaked rear of wheel in Megs APC and rinsed with PW.

4. Soaked Arches in Megs APC.

5. Soaked Calliper with Megs Wheel Brightener and agitated with a brush.

6. Soaked wheels with Megs Wheel Brightener, let it dwell and PW rinsed.

7. PW rinsed Arches and Calliper.

8. Cleaned the wheel using 2BM, CG Maxi Suds II and Mitt.

9. Soaked rear of wheel in Tar Remover and PW rinsed.

10. Clayed rear of wheel with Sonus Green then rinsed and dried.

11. Polished rear of wheel with AG SRP on a Megs Foam Pad, buffed with a MF.

12. Sealed rear of wheel with Poorboys Wheel Sealant.

13. Dressed arches with Poorboys Natural Look Dressing.

14. Repeated for all wheels.

15. Soaked car in Elites Citrus De-Greaser then PW rinsed off.

16. Washed car using 2BM, Dodo ‘Born to be Mild’ and Serious Performance Mitt.

17. PW rinsed.

18. Clayed car using Sonus Green and Megs Last Touch, including all glass and front of the wheels.

19. Soaked in AB SSF then PW rinsed.

20. Pat dried using a Sonus Ultimate drying towel and Megs Last Touch.

21. Engine Bay cleaned with Megs APC 4:1 and a Elite Terry Towel.

22. Taped car up using 3434 3M tape.

23. Took PTG readings as I went along, comparing before and after polishing.

24. Polished with Silverline Rotary using Menz IP 85RD3.02 on a Sonus SFX1 Cutting Pad. Spread at 900 RPM, working in at approx 1200 RPM before going up to about 1800 RPM, and then working my way back down.

25. Refined the finish using Megs #80 on a Megs Polishing Pad via the Silverline using the above speeds.

26. Polished all hard to reach areas with AG SRP using a Megs Foam Pad and buffing with a MF.

27. Polished fronts of the wheels with AG SRP using a Megs Foam Pad and buffing with a MF.

28. Sealed fronts of wheels with 2x layers of AG EGP using a Megs Foam Pad and buffing with a MF.

29. All Glass cleaned with Megs Glass Concentrate and a MF.

30. Applied Dodo Lime Prime Lite by hand using a Megs Foam Pad and buffing with a Monster Fluffy MF.

31. Applied 2x layers of RaceGlaze 55 wax with a Sonus SFX Hand Applicator and buffed off with a Monster Fluffy MF.

32. Windscreen treated with Rain-X via a Megs Foam Applicator and buffed with a MF.

33. Exhausts cleaned with Fine Wire Wool and AG Metal Polish.

34. Dressed tyres with Megs Endurance Gel.

35. Dressed all trims with Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel and using my Stixx in trickier places.

36. Cleaned interior plastics with Megs APC 10:1.

37. Dressed interior plastics with Poorboys Natural Look Dressing.

38. Vacuumed using Dyson Car Kit.

39. Finished with a few sprays of CG New Car Scent.

40. QD wipe down using Victoria QD and a Monster Fluffy.

[ahaydock]

Here are the rest of the pics:

Wheel Before:

Wheel After:

Tar on the inner wheel:

Tyre Cleaning:

Wheel After:

Soaking in foam:

The clay, not too bad:

PTG Readings:

Rear Bumper 50/50:

[ahaydock]

Drivers Door Before:

Drivers Door After:

Bonnet 50/50:

Engine Bay Before:

Engine Bay After:

Exhaust Before:

Exhaust After:

Calliper Before:

Calliper After:

[ahaydock]

Wheel Arch Before:

Wheel Arch After:

SRP being applied in trickier places:

Race Glaze 55 being applied:

Using my Stixx:

The rest of the afters:

[ahaydock]

[ahaydock]

A couple of interior shots:

Flake:

[ahaydock]

My GF picking our food off the local Chinese menu:

Thanks for looking and sorry for all the different posts.

[RobA3]

Thats looking real good nice job, how about the G220 is it completly knackered.

[ahaydock]

Thats looking real good nice job, how about the G220 is it completly knackered.

Thanks - yeah it was, but Megs UK replaced it within 24 hours no hassle so cannot grumble.

[bpsmith]

Cracking effort fella!

Love the wheels the most as cant believe they came up pretty much as new. I have not bothered in the past with wheels that look like that to start with as assumed they were past it but shall make more effort now I have seen them. The backs I am referring to btw.

Great service from Megs too I have to agree.

[steelwind101]

Fantastic job! That blue is really singing and it seems like you picked up the rotary pretty easily? Yesterday was nice and overcast great for working in, i get all my correction done with Megs Polishing Pad and an SMR, the virtues of soft paintwork!

What sort of durability do you anticipate out of Raceglaze?

Geoff

[ahaydock]

Thanks guys.

Yeah picked up the Rotary easily enough - although I have used a Makita before.

The Raceglaze reminded me of Vic Concours and I am expecting some fairly good durability out of it. Will be interesting to see though - I will keep the post updated