Author Topic: What detailing have you done today?  (Read 529745 times)

Offline jimmydub

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #360 on: 14 March 2016, 16:42 »
I enjoy reading the detailing section and the regular users posts are really insightful. But I don't post much because my old girls 20 year old body work 'aint really up to scratch (excuse the pun) to warrant me going too crazy with time, money and products. She is also my workhorse at the moment so has to suffer lots of dusty tools  :sad:
That said I do still like to take care of her, and she looks infinitely better after a bit of elbow grease.

Yesterday she got a full 'spring' service inside and out including:

1. Quick jet wash followed by two bucket clean (inside doors and jambs also).
2. Hand Polish - Autoglym
3. All external plastics given a lick of cherry blossom  :whistle:
4. Tyres dressed - Quartz
5. Glass cleaned - Autoglym
6. Hoovered, dusted and all leather 'treated' - johnson baby wipes  :whistle:

Doesn't sound like much now and I'm sure you'll all have a laugh!
Winters muck is gone and it makes all the difference with a 20 y/o LC9Z.

No close-ups i'm afraid, too embarrassing!


Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #361 on: 14 March 2016, 17:03 »
She looks absolutely gorgeous Jimmy. :cool: What a great pic and very nice detailing work.  You need to post her more often - get sick to death of seeing Mk6 and Mk7's.

Must be the day for detailing black cars as I've done mine today too....
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #362 on: 14 March 2016, 17:03 »
After a month of abject neglect, I finally washed and waxed it!  Decided to try my new pot of Swissvax Best of Show wax - what a divine smell!  Goes to the top of the list on that score.  Very pleased with the finish, really brings out the pearl flake beautifully.  I know it will be a short-lived wax with a lifespan of about a month but that's ok.  Will get a second coat at the weekend when the first coat has cured.  Did the whole interior yesterday too.

Todays efforts: 

Moistened with pressure washer
Wheel pre wash spray - Bilberry Wheel Cleaner
Snow foamed twice - ValetPro Advanced Neutral
Wheels washed - Wheel Woolies and WoWo Wheel Mitt
Pressure wash
2 bucket wash - DoDo Juice Supernatural Shampoo, WoWo Lambswool Mitt - one for upper panel, one for lower panels
Pressure wash rinse
Open ended hose rinse
Dry with Vac n Blo and WoWo drying towels
Waxed - Swissvax Best of Show - applied with Auto Finesse sponge applicator and buffed off with WoWo Microfibre cloths
Glass cleaned with Gtechniq G6 Perfect Glass and WoWo Glass Cloth
Tailpipes cleaned and polished with Mothers Mag and Aluminium polish
Tyres dressed with Achem Hi Shine Long Life Tyre Dressing

Started off looking like this







Bit of snow foam action


All done and waxed with Swissvax Best of Show






















Deep Black Pearl flake


Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline dipstick

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #363 on: 14 March 2016, 19:27 »
So I picked up my new GTI on 1st March. As instructed, the dealer left it untouched.
I gave it a first detail the first weekend in, consisting of the following;

1. Water rinse
2. Snow Foam (Advanced PH Neutral)
3. Shampoo wash (wo-wo mitt, Supernatural shampoo, 2-bucket wash with grit guards)
4. De-tar/iron fallout (TRIX)
5. Rinse and shampoo a second time
6. Clay (wo-wo clay bar, meguiars quik detailer)
7. Wash alloys (soaked in bilberry wheel cleaner, wash with wo-wo wheel mitt)
8. Dry car (Gyeon towel, wo-wo towel, wo-wo wheel towel)
9. Applied Poorboys EX-P paint sealant and buffed off
10. Applied Collinite 476s wax and buffed.
11. Applied Gtechniq G1 and G2 to all exterior glass and buffed off
12. Applied Chemical Guys Wheel Guard to alloys and buffed off

Apologies for no pics of that effort, I seem to have lost them from my phone!

The Gtechniq G1&G2 took me quite some time to apply really but it is really worth the effort.


Today I gave it a second clean, as I wanted to get some more wax on the car:
1. Water rinse
2. Snow Foam (Advanced PH Neutral)
3. Shampoo wash (wo-wo mitt, Supernatural shampoo, 2-bucket wash with grit guards)
4. Clay (wo-wo clay bar, meguiars quik detailer)
5. Wash alloys (soaked in bilberry wheel cleaner, wash with wo-wo wheel mitt)
6. Dry car (Gyeon towel, wo-wo towel, wo-wo wheel towel)
7. Applied Collinite 476s wax and buffed.
8. Applied Chemical Guys Wheel Guard to alloys and buffed off

Some pics after today's efforts:






I need a pressure washer for snow foaming as the hose one just doesn't quite cut the mustard!


I've got some Poorboys Natural Look Dressing but haven't used any yet... how do you guys apply it? It says to spray it on the bottle but it seems too thick to spray? Would it be good on the honeycomb front grille?
'16 Golf GTI 5dr Carbon Steel Grey
Dynaudio, Nav Pro, DCC

Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #364 on: 14 March 2016, 20:10 »
^^^
Looks fantastic.  Great job.  :cool:

You can't spray the Poorboys dressing, it is too thick.  I tried it once and gave up.  Either apply to the interior trim on a soft sponge applicator, or soak some into a soft microfibre and apply with that.  Leave for a couple mins then buff off with a clean plush microfibre.  It looks like you are using a lot but it's deceptive as a bottle lasts ages.  Gives a lovely oem finish to trim and great on steering wheel too. 

I only use it on the interior but can't see why it would be OK on the grill.  I use an exterior trim dressing for that.
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline dipstick

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #365 on: 14 March 2016, 20:12 »
Thanks Rebecca

What would you recommend for the external trim please?
'16 Golf GTI 5dr Carbon Steel Grey
Dynaudio, Nav Pro, DCC

Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #366 on: 14 March 2016, 21:22 »
Thanks Rebecca

What would you recommend for the external trim please?

Good question.  It's the one thing I've yet to be really wowed by any product.  I've tried all sorts and never settled on anything.  I was set to try Gtechniq Tyre and Trim (only for the trim bits though as I use a great tyre dressing), but someone on another forum, whose word I trust, said they have been disappointed with it.  At the moment I'm using Aerospace 303 which I like and it's also brilliant for the engine bay, or sometimes Auto Finesse Dressle, which is quite good too.  I also quite like Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel but it's very messy to use, especially if you get it on the paintwork.   

If I had to recommend something it would be Aerospace 303 http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/interior/303-aerospace-protectant/prod_366.html

or Auto Finesse Dressle http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/interior/plastic-and-trim-dressings/auto-finesse-dressle/prod_1336.html
« Last Edit: 14 March 2016, 21:24 by Booth11 »
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline dipstick

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #367 on: 14 March 2016, 22:44 »
After a bit of research, I think the AF will be easier to apply than the 303 so will probably give that a go next time around. Thanks  :smiley:
'16 Golf GTI 5dr Carbon Steel Grey
Dynaudio, Nav Pro, DCC

Offline jimmydub

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #368 on: 14 March 2016, 23:42 »
She looks absolutely gorgeous Jimmy. :cool: What a great pic and very nice detailing work.  You need to post her more often - get sick to death of seeing Mk6 and Mk7's.

cheers Booth  :smiley: I'm gonna try out some products over the coming weeks/months so maybe will be a bit more active here. Getting a couple of new, freshly painted panels :lipsrsealed: soon so she's going to have to look her best this summer; lots of cleaning!

Must be the day for detailing black cars as I've done mine today too....

Instantly you guys put my work to shame!  :rolleyes: looking superb, well done!

Offline kalimon

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #369 on: 15 March 2016, 17:21 »
Has anyone used that ridiculously expensive Swisswax rubber treatment?
I think it's £42 but I read a great review of it somewhere.
The way the rubber deteriorated on my A3 was one of the biggest disappointments I had with the car. Don't want it happening again.
Rebecca, you must have tried it surely😄
« Last Edit: 15 March 2016, 17:22 by kalimon »
5 DR Mk 7 GTI PP
Carbon Grey, Dynaudio, Car Net App, High Beam Assist, Rear View Camera. Collected 14/03/16