Audi B5 S4 that needed some serious work

[TXR32]

Hey Gang,

Thought i'd post up a job that my friend and I tackled yesterday. It was a lot of work and this car's paint was trashed. We got some great results although the paint is still nowhere near perfect when you inspect it up close. It really needs a re-spray for that type of results, but we saved the client quite a bit of money by having us correct it over a re-spray.

Below is the steps and products we used.

Wash
Dish Soap
IronX
ONR in final steps

Clay
Meguiar's medium clay (pink/red stuff)
Used IronX on a few spots to lift the rust out of paint chip spots.

Correction
Porter Cable 7424 XP
Meguiar's D/A
Lak Country Yellow Pads
Lake Country Green Pads
Lake Country Orange Pads
Lake Country White Pads
Lake Country Grey Pads
Meguiar's #105
Meguiarr's #205
Compound for tail lights and headlights.

LSP
Meguiar's #21 layered in two coats.


As I said above. This car's paint was trashed, but the pictures we got show some great before and after's when it comes to removal of heavy swirling and scratches. Hope you enjoy viewing.


Car washed/De-greased, ironX'd and clayed:

01 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Hood Before:

1 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Hood After:

2 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Door Before:

3 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Door After:

4 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

8 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Completed:

10 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

11 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

12 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

DSC02275 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

DSC02277 by Mark Popovac, on Flickr

Full set is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/6601974...th/7990360959/

[DetailersDomain]

great job!

[TXR32]

Thanks man!

[Jesstzn]

Nice work

[TXR32]

Thanks man. A lot of tips I've picked up from you I passed on to my partner. Woolite being one of the major ones, but also just the little things that makes jobs like this a little less painful. Also the conversation of using a foam gun came up and I again referred back you and how to make your own home-made foam gun

[GiveEmHell]

You should never use dish soap to wash a car.
Maybe it's okay for a one time detail like you did here but over time the harsh cleaners can destroy and fade a paint finish.
Always use a high quality car shampoo.

Just some advice.
Good job though

[TXR32]

You should never use dish soap to wash a car.
Maybe it's okay for a one time detail like you did here but over time the harsh cleaners can destroy and fade a paint finish.
Always use a high quality car shampoo.

Just some advice.
Good job though

I humbly disagree when you use a mild soap in these cases. The car had a layer of wax on it when we started so thus why we'll start with a de-greaser like dish soap when correction is involved. The final washes were done with a high quality wash (Optimum No Rinse) and for maintaining the finish we've recommend to the client to indeed use a high quality car shampoo.

[Mr. Angier]

I'm with giveemhell. dish soap is a no no. There are plenty of high quality shampoos out there that will strip wax. For example, this is what I use: http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemica...P410/16-oz-S1/

[TXR32]

I'm with giveemhell. dish soap is a no no. There are plenty of high quality shampoos out there that will strip wax. For example, this is what I use: http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemica...P410/16-oz-S1/

Old habits die hard I guess for me since I've done it for so long and never have had an issue with my many repeat clients over the years when we do a full detail (clay correction, etc). I have the product you linked and use it when a car is heavily soiled but I wouldn't buy it again as there are much better products for less $$ available IMHO.

I appreciate the feedback guys. It makes us all better detailers in the end.

[Jesstzn]

I humbly disagree when you use a mild soap in these cases. The car had a layer of wax on it when we started so thus why we'll start with a de-greaser like dish soap when correction is involved. The final washes were done with a high quality wash (Optimum No Rinse) and for maintaining the finish we've recommend to the client to indeed use a high quality car shampoo.

I use Blue Dawn on every full detail .. have for years .. no issues .. I like a good wax/grease free surface to start on ... once the correction is finished I also do a 50/50 water / IPA wipe prior to the LSP.

[GiveEmHell]

Ya know what, that makes sense though if its a full detail.
I guess as long as you know there's a layer of wax then it's okay because you want it off anyways.
Learn something new everyday! Haha