Detail of the day

[DETLMAN]

Today we gained a new client and their car had never been detailed before. And its convertible so I am sure you all know what it was like. Here are some before pictures of the interior. These pictures dont even begin to tell the whole story of the typical convertible dirt in all the cracks and crevices.



http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1680-med.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1679-med.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1683-med.JPG

Since this car was in the condition it was we started by brushing all of the carpets and mats to "free" all the stuff that was burried in the fibers.
Next we gave it a good vacuum and then proceeded to clean.

For this car we used APC+ @ 10-1 apc+ does an excellent job on interior cleaning.

After thougoly cleaning everything on the interior we used the air compressor to get all the dust out of the places we couldnt reach.

Next was to dress the interior, we like to use #40 nice sheen and dries to the touch with a more/less neutral smell. After it was all clean and dress we went over with a microfiber towel and a dusing brush to get any tiny things we may have missed before, now a final vacuum and on to the exterior.

Here are some after pictures.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1691-med.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1696-med.JPG

[DETLMAN]

Now for the engine.

Pretty straight foreword here, a little citri gel, a little agitation and the pressure washer = CLEAN !

Before

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1684-med.JPG

After it was all clean we applied some W dressing let it set up and wiped it down, looks NICE !

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1701-med.JPG

Now for the rest of the exterior.

[DETLMAN]

Now its time for the exterior.

This car hasn't been waxed since new and is always outside and the sprinklers have been spotting it for who knows how long.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1686-med.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1688-med.JPG

First thing was to get the cleaners going to work on the dirt, we sprayed the wheels, wheel wells and rockers with citri jel and let it set ( this was actually done before we started the interior )

A good rinse with the pressure washer, rinsed all the jams and the wheels/weelwells, now a good wash. We have been using NXT wash, great product. After washing we gave it a gave it a good clay and dried it off. Now to correct the issues with the paint.

While it was a little tattered it wasn't horrible and the clients weren't looking for a show car so we proceeded with #83 ( DACP ) and a polishing pad on the rotary, most of the rough stuff came out and the shine was increased dramatically. We followed the #83 with #80 ( speed glaze ) on the pc set at 5 with a polishing pad. Then we added the final step NXT tech wax. We used w dressing for the tires. here are the results.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1694-med.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1695-med.JPG

And a reflection shot for the road.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/5100_1698-med.JPG

[Mike Phillips]

Nice job Brian, nice write-up to with excellent pictures.

Do you like the Citri-Gel because it cleans well? or because of the extra dwell time because it's thick? (Or both?)

Mike

[DETLMAN]

Thanks !

both, and it smells good. I dilute it 1 - 1. I guess if it werent for the dwell time I might not use it since apc or the degreaser will clean faster. Also citri jel seems to be pretty foolproof and can be left indefinatly and still rinses clean. When its gone I will switch to safe degreaser ( the yellow one )

[SpoiledMan]

Good job Brian!! I have been watching your work for years and it's always been a pleasure.

Funny thing is, this post answered a question I *just* posed to Mike. Thanks for answering it for me.

[scrub]

Great work!!

What is this "W Dressing"? Is that from the Meguiar's detailers line? Thanks

[DETLMAN]

Thank you! Can I ask what question I answered ?

[SpoiledMan]

Originally posted by DETLMAN a.k.a. SqkyKln
[B]For this car we used APC+ @ 10-1 apc+ does an excellent job on interior cleaning.

This one. I have been using the consumer carpet cleaner and it's not cost effective. I have APC+ and wanted to know what dilution to use. I assume for carpet cleaning it's just spray and scrub with a brush and finish with a dry towel??

[2000]

great job with great photos!:xyxthumbs
did you cover anything under the hood when you used the pressure washer? ever have trouble under the hood with a pressure washer at all? I'm sure your clients left feeling like they had a new car all over again!:bigups :bigups :bigups

by the way, hows the chevelle coming?

[DETLMAN]

On the new cars I dont cover anything. They are pretty well sealed connections and I am carefull around them.

The chevelle is coming but slowly. I started it for the first time Sunday. It needs some serious tuning but it does sound mean!