FinerDetails of a LCR

[FinerDetails]

Phil made the journey upto to Rochdale today to have his Leon Cupra R detailed. Phil had requested a tailored package detail as he felt the car needed some minor swirls removing. He looks after his pride and joy, hand washing, hand waxing and owns a range of detailing products to keep it looking spick and span.

Here's the LCR on arrival from Staffordshire

After a brew and a chat with Phil, its always nice to get to speak to my customers before diving into Detailing their car, we had a walk round the LCR, discussing any defects Phil was already aware of and also to give me chance to have a closer look at the job. With that done I washed down the car, and dried to see what was hiding under the nice dust layer.

Three words: OMG!

Following a further discussion about how Phil had been caring for the LCR I started the detailing program.

I first clayed the whole car, using clearcoat clay, and a car wash solution, re-washed and dried. We then moved the car into the garage and out of the sunlight.

Next followed a couple of gruelling hours of Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner Polish, and some scratch X as well on some panels. (Phil had a go with the PC and using DCAP too).

A break for lunch (yes it was taking this long, and yes Phil got fed too!) and then applied a nice layer of NXT to the whole car. Whilst this was curing, glass polish all round, and Megs DC1 on the alloys, followed by Megs NXT Metal Polish and left to cure, applied and removed to whole set.

I then removed the NXT (letting Phil experience the ease of use). I then spit shined Megs number 16 to the whole car and left to cure. Whilst the wax was curing I began to apply Megs Endurance Tyre shine to all the tyres, removed the glass polish, applied a second coat to the tyres, and then began to remove the Number 16.

6 hours, 5 PC pads, 4 applicators and 8MF cloths later the LCR now has this appearance:

Thank you to Phil for his business, and I'll see you and the LCR at Oulton Park.

PS: I will be checking you've improved that detailing technique! lol

 

[Molehill_Mike]

That looks amazing, my car is in need of some serious TLC like the above....

Mike

 

[Empi5]

Well I learnt alot today, I take alot of pride in my car, and i was under the impression that i was doing no harm to my car in the way that i clean/polish/look after it.

God was i wrong, i never quite realised the extent of the swirling, and to be honest there is nobody else to blame but me.

Id approached a number of detailers, but i never got the vibe that made me comfortable in leaving my car with them, I knew from the start Iain was an enthusiast, and that was enough for me.

The hard work that went into making the car look like it does was un believable, and I cannot praise Iain highly enough for his efforts. All through out the detail, i was learning the ways of the trade and he was only too happy to share his knowledge.

I definitly have come away, knowing where ive gone wrong and Im determined not to make the same mistakes again.

So a big thank you to Iain, Ive learnt a lot, and ive got my car looking like it should.

Nice sandwiches too !

 

[CH1]

wow, that looks fantastic! I was wondering how you got on.

I'm particularly interested to see how the swirls and minor scratches appeared afterwards... (I have some minor scracthes on my own car thats black too)

Iain any close up shots of the front bonnet, bumper after detailing like the shot 'before' ?

 

[BHP Addict]

looks top class lads.
You will only get a finish like that from someone special.

I'd be well impressed.

 

[FinerDetails]

Well I learnt alot today, I take alot of pride in my car, and i was under the impression that i was doing no harm to my car in the way that i clean/polish/look after it.

God was i wrong, i never quite realised the extent of the swirling, and to be honest there is nobody else to blame but me.

Id approached a number of detailers, but i never got the vibe that made me comfortable in leaving my car with them, I knew from the start Iain was an enthusiast, and that was enough for me.

The hard work that went into making the car look like it does was un believable, and I cannot praise Iain highly enough for his efforts. All through out the detail, i was learning the ways of the trade and he was only too happy to share his knowledge.

I definitly have come away, knowing where ive gone wrong and Im determined not to make the same mistakes again.

So a big thank you to Iain, Ive learnt a lot, and ive got my car looking like it should.

Nice sandwiches too !

It really was an absolute pain in, I mean, pleasure! It was good to meet you Phil, and I'm pleased you went away with so much as well as the Detail results.

 

[FinerDetails]

wow, that looks fantastic! I was wondering how you got on.

I'm particularly interested to see how the swirls and minor scratches appeared afterwards... (I have some minor scracthes on my own car thats black too)

Iain any close up shots of the front bonnet, bumper after detailing like the shot 'before' ?

I mate, sorry we didn't take mega close ups afterwards. IMHO (I don't have any other ones) the car was about 95% free of swirling, and scratches. I wasn't prepared to ensure or guarantee 100% as it just wasn't going to happen.

With all honesty, and detailers will appreciate, the depth at which the swirling was, 100% renovation is a very risky business.

If you contact Phil I am sure you would be happy to prove a close up pic?

Cheers

Iain

 

[ZBOYD]

Very nice, you'll have to give mine a once over sometime, for all this good PR your getting.

 

[FinerDetails]

Very nice, you'll have to give mine a once over sometime, for all this good PR your getting.

Mark, you have my email addy, PM me your mobby or I'll send you mine, and we'll have a chat

 

[Empi5]

wow, that looks fantastic! I was wondering how you got on.

I'm particularly interested to see how the swirls and minor scratches appeared afterwards... (I have some minor scracthes on my own car thats black too)

Iain any close up shots of the front bonnet, bumper after detailing like the shot 'before' ?

With the damage that i had already done, it would be near on impossible to rid the car of 100% of the swirling, but the work that went into today, the shine is so much deeper, and i kid you not my neighbours tonight have come up to me to say , what have you done to your car, it looks so different. Made my night,

 

[FinerDetails]

With the damage that i had already done, it would be near on impossible to rid the car of 100% of the swirling, but the work that went into today, the shine is so much deeper, and i kid you not my neighbours tonight have come up to me to say , what have you done to your car, it looks so different. Made my night,

your testimonail is now published too, thank you for your time and feedback

lol@neighbours! Mine just ask when I will polish it way or another daft Q! Mind, they see so many cars now, not sure theyr have realised only two of them actually belong to me

 

[CH1]

I mate, sorry we didn't take mega close ups afterwards. IMHO (I don't have any other ones) the car was about 95% free of swirling, and scratches. I wasn't prepared to ensure or guarantee 100% as it just wasn't going to happen.

With all honesty, and detailers will appreciate, the depth at which the swirling was, 100% renovation is a very risky business.

If you contact Phil I am sure you would be happy to prove a close up pic?

Cheers

Iain

Cheers Iain. I wish you were nearer to me. My car's black too, my only concern really is minor scratches and recently picked up some red paint and scratched off black on my rear bumper, maybe I can post some pics to see what you think and if it could be improved or rectified to 98 -99.9% I have pics in this car detailing thread if you want to take a look I can find them. Thanks -thats one shiney car!

 

[FinerDetails]

Cheers Iain. I wish you were nearer to me. My car's black too, my only concern really is minor scratches and recently picked up some red paint and scratched off black on my rear bumper, maybe I can post some pics to see what you think and if it could be improved or rectified to 98 -99.9% I have pics in this car detailing thread if you want to take a look I can find them. Thanks -thats one shiney car!

Nearest person I am aware of to you would be Swindon area......

TBH the pics I posted of the swirling are not close ups as such. Most swirl pics that detailers post shown approx an 8 inch area. To be able to post a whole bonnet legth shot is not my idea of fun.

VAG paint is very hard paint to work with. Using a rotary polisher may allow complete 100% repair of this level of swirling, but the depth of clear coat removed to achieve this is a major concern.

For these reasons I prefer to ensure I keep within the limits I an used to.

I have seen your pics, and feel the car could be improved, machine polishing always does that anyway, and the experience wont go to waste for you either

 

[CH1]

Nearest person I am aware of to you would be Swindon area......

TBH the pics I posted of the swirling are not close ups as such. Most swirl pics that detailers post shown approx an 8 inch area. To be able to post a whole bonnet legth shot is not my idea of fun.

VAG paint is very hard paint to work with. Using a rotary polisher may allow complete 100% repair of this level of swirling, but the depth of clear coat removed to achieve this is a major concern.

For these reasons I prefer to ensure I keep within the limits I an used to.

I have seen your pics, and feel the car could be improved, machine polishing always does that anyway, and the experience wont go to waste for you either

Thanks.
Swindon? thats almost 100 miles away!
Sensible advice on not going beyond the limits to completely rid a car of swirls..TBH I was wondering how many mm of paint would wear away after several uses of a PC and with which pad.
Thanks again. I will try and find a someone nearer if poss. if not may have to make that 100+ mile trip!

 

[FinerDetails]

Using something like Menz IP using a cutting pad and a rotary 3/4 mm could be removed.

Unfortunately for me to make the journey south wouldn't be too good unless we can arrnage a sort of detailing day and get a few people together and make it value for money to cover costs

 

[CH1]

Cheers. Didn't mean for you to make trip southbound but for me! Yeah, maybe if enough interest is generated maybe a detailing event could be done somewhere middle of the country in east/west midlands then it may be worth someones time and be central. I'll see what round in this region first.

 

[FinerDetails]

Cheers. Didn't mean for you to make trip southbound but for me! Yeah, maybe if enough interest is generated maybe a detailing event could be done somewhere middle of the country in east/west midlands then it may be worth someones time and be central. I'll see what round in this region first.

Thats fine, you'll shortly see more info available on the site about me so keep your eyes peeled

 

[Knigh]

Using something like Menz IP using a cutting pad and a rotary 3/4 mm could be removed.

Unfortunately for me to make the journey south wouldn't be too good unless we can arrnage a sort of detailing day and get a few people together and make it value for money to cover costs

The results are great and having seen the results I am up for a detailing day in the "south".

Anyone else?

 

[FinerDetails]

The results are great and having seen the results I am up for a detailing day in the "south".

Anyone else?

It might be worth dropping a post reply into here:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86879

 

[FinerDetails]

here's them close ups some peeps wanted to see:

Iain