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Hi Everyone,
I've been spending some time browsing the forums learning how to tackle my assorted paint issues and wanted to share my efforts and successes to encourage others with similar issues-- improvements can be made, even by hand!
The Vehicle:
Wagon: 2004 Volvo V70 2.5T
Paint color: Platinum green metallic
Clear coat: Yes
Paint issues:
-Water spots and water etchings from sprinklers
--Damage primarily on passenger front fender/hood and door
--Previous attempts to remove water spots/etchings: Vinegar wipe down, but no change to water spots/etchings
-Three other small areas, including a spot, a stain, and a scratch/bird poo etching
Other issues:
-Water spots/etchings on passenger side of windshield and passenger door window
-Black plastic trim faded and dull
Notes:
-Since this car is a daily driver and outside 24/7 the goal here was vast improvement, not necessarily perfection.
-I've also posted a topic about ScratchX versus ScratchX2 (with comparative test in post #4) where some of these photos have already been posted:
Process and Products:
Day one:
Paint:
-Wash: Meg's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
-Clay: Meg's Smooth Surface Clay Kit
-Wash: As above
-Dry
-Test spots (Meg's ScratchX versus Meg's ScratchX2)
-Clean/Correct: Meg's ScratchX2
-Wax: Collinite 476s
--Note: I chose not to polish the paint before waxing because I was pressed for time and rain was forcasted for the next day.
Day two:
-Wash: Meg's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
-Dry
Windows:
Polish: Autoglym Car Glass Polish
Trim:
-Restore color: Meg's Gold Class Trim Detailer
-Protectant: Meg's Exterior Trim Detailer
-Wax: Collinite 476s
--Note: Since trim dressings can have a shorter life span (especially during rainy seasons), I thought I'd try to prolong it by adding a protectant and wax.
Before Paint Correction:
The water spots/etchings were difficult to photograph given the metallic paint color and the cloudy day.
Before wash process (the water spots are a little easier to see as the dirt is sitting in them):
The clay (From roof. This was actually "cleaner" than the areas with water spots/etchings. The misshapen/black areas were used around the rain diverters.):
After wash-clay-wash-dry process:
Water spots/etchings on passenger side hood:
Water spots/etchings on passenger door trim and paint:
Spot on rear passenger's side roof:
Stain on front driver's side roof:
Scratch and bird poo etching on mid-driver's side roof:
ScratchX2 Paint Test Spots:
See post #4 in this thread for more information:
Test spot close-up (Standing at passenger front fender, looking towards driver's side. Note trim fading below windshield):
Product location in grid:
Sx1-Sx2
Sx2-Sx1
In other words, ScratchX2 was in lower left and upper right quadrants.
Both products worked to remove the water spots/etchings with just one pass.
After one pass, under the tape:
50/50 on hood (left uncorrected, right corrected):
After Paint Correction (before wax):
Hood:
Passenger door (before trim detail):
Spot on rear passenger's side roof after one pass:
Stain on front driver's side roof after pass one:
Scratch and bird poo etching on mid-driver's side roof after pass two:
So, as you can see the water spots/etchings have been eliminated in the paint and the other issues have been reduced. At this time, I am satisfied with the level of correction achieved and I'll wait until spring for further corrections.
Before window correction:
Water spots/etchings on passenger door window:
After window correction:
Reduced water spots/etchings on passenger side of windshield (I was unable to correctly photograph the after of the passenger side window):
The water spots/etchings are reduced, but still visible depending on the angle of the light.
On the windows that did not have water spots/etchings, the glass polish worked wonderfully to remove all streaks, haze, and other visibility-reducing issues. It was a little trippy driving after polishing the windows-- it was so clear it was like they weren't there.
Before Trim Detail:
Passenger window trim:
Fading trim below windshield:
Faded plastic side trim:
After trim detail:
Passenger window trim:
Trim below windshield:
Plastic side trim:
After full car shots:
Well, that's all for now!
I hope you enjoyed seeing the results as much as I did!
As has so often been said, the car now looks better than it did when we bought it!
Happy detailing!
Take care,
volvie!
I've been spending some time browsing the forums learning how to tackle my assorted paint issues and wanted to share my efforts and successes to encourage others with similar issues-- improvements can be made, even by hand!
The Vehicle:
Wagon: 2004 Volvo V70 2.5T
Paint color: Platinum green metallic
Clear coat: Yes
Paint issues:
-Water spots and water etchings from sprinklers
--Damage primarily on passenger front fender/hood and door
--Previous attempts to remove water spots/etchings: Vinegar wipe down, but no change to water spots/etchings
-Three other small areas, including a spot, a stain, and a scratch/bird poo etching
Other issues:
-Water spots/etchings on passenger side of windshield and passenger door window
-Black plastic trim faded and dull
Notes:
-Since this car is a daily driver and outside 24/7 the goal here was vast improvement, not necessarily perfection.
-I've also posted a topic about ScratchX versus ScratchX2 (with comparative test in post #4) where some of these photos have already been posted:
Process and Products:
Day one:
Paint:
-Wash: Meg's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
-Clay: Meg's Smooth Surface Clay Kit
-Wash: As above
-Dry
-Test spots (Meg's ScratchX versus Meg's ScratchX2)
-Clean/Correct: Meg's ScratchX2
-Wax: Collinite 476s
--Note: I chose not to polish the paint before waxing because I was pressed for time and rain was forcasted for the next day.
Day two:
-Wash: Meg's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
-Dry
Windows:
Polish: Autoglym Car Glass Polish
Trim:
-Restore color: Meg's Gold Class Trim Detailer
-Protectant: Meg's Exterior Trim Detailer
-Wax: Collinite 476s
--Note: Since trim dressings can have a shorter life span (especially during rainy seasons), I thought I'd try to prolong it by adding a protectant and wax.
Before Paint Correction:
The water spots/etchings were difficult to photograph given the metallic paint color and the cloudy day.
Before wash process (the water spots are a little easier to see as the dirt is sitting in them):
The clay (From roof. This was actually "cleaner" than the areas with water spots/etchings. The misshapen/black areas were used around the rain diverters.):
After wash-clay-wash-dry process:
Water spots/etchings on passenger side hood:
Water spots/etchings on passenger door trim and paint:
Spot on rear passenger's side roof:
Stain on front driver's side roof:
Scratch and bird poo etching on mid-driver's side roof:
ScratchX2 Paint Test Spots:
See post #4 in this thread for more information:
Test spot close-up (Standing at passenger front fender, looking towards driver's side. Note trim fading below windshield):
Product location in grid:
Sx1-Sx2
Sx2-Sx1
In other words, ScratchX2 was in lower left and upper right quadrants.
Both products worked to remove the water spots/etchings with just one pass.
After one pass, under the tape:
50/50 on hood (left uncorrected, right corrected):
After Paint Correction (before wax):
Hood:
Passenger door (before trim detail):
Spot on rear passenger's side roof after one pass:
Stain on front driver's side roof after pass one:
Scratch and bird poo etching on mid-driver's side roof after pass two:
So, as you can see the water spots/etchings have been eliminated in the paint and the other issues have been reduced. At this time, I am satisfied with the level of correction achieved and I'll wait until spring for further corrections.
Before window correction:
Water spots/etchings on passenger door window:
After window correction:
Reduced water spots/etchings on passenger side of windshield (I was unable to correctly photograph the after of the passenger side window):
The water spots/etchings are reduced, but still visible depending on the angle of the light.
On the windows that did not have water spots/etchings, the glass polish worked wonderfully to remove all streaks, haze, and other visibility-reducing issues. It was a little trippy driving after polishing the windows-- it was so clear it was like they weren't there.
Before Trim Detail:
Passenger window trim:
Fading trim below windshield:
Faded plastic side trim:
After trim detail:
Passenger window trim:
Trim below windshield:
Plastic side trim:
After full car shots:
Well, that's all for now!
I hope you enjoyed seeing the results as much as I did!
As has so often been said, the car now looks better than it did when we bought it!
Happy detailing!
Take care,
volvie!
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