Spent the day doing my First spring detail...lot's inside (updated)- - ->
03-16-2003, 06:44 PM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Spent the day doing my First spring detail...lot's inside (updated)- - ->
So I couldn't resist. Even though my wife had other plans for me and I was supposed to meet TedK (he's considering selling the S4 and we were going to look at BMW's), I chose to spend the day detailing. Besides, I had spent a few bucks over the winter on some new detailing items and wanted to try them out...
Here's the arsenal...New this year are the PC polisher, 3M SMR, Castrol Super Clean Wheel Cleaner and Meguire's #7 Glaze. Missing from the photo is the P21S Citrus Degreaser and the Corona.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0561-vi.jpg">
First I removed the matts, scrubbed them and vacuumed. I wanted to work on the paint with the windows open to air the car out.
I started with the P21S Citrus Cleaner. I had picked up some tacky stuff on the rockers that the P21S took right off. I cleaned the wheels with the Castrol Super Clean and then did the entire car with a light mix of Dawn. I paid extra attention to the lowers as I knew I would be using the PC and didn't want to leave behind any nasty stuff to contaminate the pads.
BTW, the <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/detail/msgs/14058.phtml">hole in the bottom</a> of the mirror housing works great. After I rinsed I used the Griots MF drying towel. Then I went around the car with my shop vac with the crevice attachment and a cotton rag and vacuumed the water out of the grill, the headlight washer covers, the side markers, the window trim, trunk surround and mirrors. I put the vacuum right on the hole in the housing and sucked every last drop of water out of the housing! No more drips!
I was surprised that I didn't need to clay bar. Even the rear bumper was clean!
I moved on to 3M SMR with a white pad. This stuff is tough to work with. I'm betting it isn't designed for machine application because it dried up immediately and was a real crank to remove. To be honest, I din't see the improvement in paint quality I had hoped for with the machine/SMR combo.
I ended up bailing on the SMR and used P21S GEPC with a clean white pad. Good thing I bought two of each pad! The results were more what I was anticipating! Still can be a bit better, but most of the swirls marks were removed with the GEPC. I used Griot's Microfiber rags to remove the P21S. I had ordered a bottle of Menzerna based on feedback here so I didn't mind shortcutting the process today knowing I would be doing it over within a few weeks when the Menzerna arrives.
I kept a terry pad handy for the spots I couldn't get the PC into. As I went around the car I found a few stubborn scratches that required something stronger so I used the P21S Multi Finish Restorer cut with Griots hand polish, repeated the GEPC and moved on.
A word on the PC is worth mentioning...It is fantastic! I never had a worry that I was going to damage the paint. Even after the SMR experience the pad came up feeling very cool to the touch. It certainly improved my detailing routine dramatically and I recommend anyone who is on the fence order one immediately! I used it Saturday, with the stock pad and Butchers Wax, to polish the finish on my kitchen table...killer!
I had washed the pad I used with the SMR and wicked most of the water out by putting it back on the PC and running at 6...the sun dried it pretty quickly so it was ready for the next step...the Meguires #7. This stuff goes on so easily and comes off in a snap with the Griots MF cloth. I keep thinking of boscoj's review of #7 and it makes we feel all warm and fuzzy knowing all those oils and nutrients are at work.
Despite everyone's advise, I tried to apply the Blitz wax with the PC and a grey pad. What a mess! Live and learn... First, there's no easy way to get the wax on the pad. I tried a spatula but the wax was too clumpy. Next, what I did get on the pad was quickly flung off once the pad started spinning. I was tempted to use a can of Zymol Carbon I have sitting around because it is more of a cream then a liquid or paste but I chose to abandon the PC and <b>wax by hand</b>. I'm not happy with that and will seek out a better/different wax that is machine friendly. BTW, I had tried Griots Best of Show wax which is supposed to be machine friendly...it's just a bear to remove...So a good coat of Blitz, removed with another Griots MF cloth, two actually, and the paint was looking good.
I dusted the dash with a California Duster, then got into everyplace I could with a small horsehair brush. I removed the wood trim around the shift lever and did the dash, door panels, center console, inside B-Pillars, backs of the seats, overhead plastic, the back of the mirror and the plastic on the door sills with Harley PolyGuard. A note, I've got some serious scratches on the rockers and traced the cause to the weather stripping on the bottom of the doors...clean these really good! Then I treated the leather with Zymol leather treatment.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0556-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0558-vi.jpg">
I turned to the tires...I used the custom mix I bought from a local concourse detailer. It's finish is about the same as ERV but it cost twice as much and I have to justify the purchase.. I had a few scratches on the center cap on the right rear wheel. I stepped on the cap while rotating and scratched it pretty bad. I used the P21S MultiFinish Restorer and 3M IHG, then some Blitz...all gone!
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0570-vi.jpg">
I also used the custom brew tire dressing on the RS4 mesh on the lowers and the grill...ERV works well here as well.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v10/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0571-vi.jpg">
After doing the muffler tips with <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/detail/msgs/14056.phtml">Luster Lace</a> I returned to the interior and with a clean cotton cloth in each hand I gave the leather and the dash a buff.
Next, Plexus with a terry cloth on the wood trim, headlight X-Pel, guage cluster and the taillights.
Then the windows...Viper MicroFiber glass cleaning cloth and Eiman Fabric. The Viper cloth is so effective that just a light spritz of the Eiman Fabric on the MF cloth is all it takes to clean the glass in and out. Here's a trick...although the Viper MF cloth doesn't leave streaks I have always cleaned the interior glass in horizontal motions and the exterioir glass in vertical motions; this way if there are any streaks you can easily tell if they are inside or outside...saves time.
I finished off with a quick dose of One Grand ShowOff and a clean MF cloth to remove any dust and....
There you have it! Total detailing time about four hours. My wifes Brilliant Black A4 is scheduled for next weekend.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0569-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v16/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0552-vi.jpg">
Here's the arsenal...New this year are the PC polisher, 3M SMR, Castrol Super Clean Wheel Cleaner and Meguire's #7 Glaze. Missing from the photo is the P21S Citrus Degreaser and the Corona.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0561-vi.jpg">
First I removed the matts, scrubbed them and vacuumed. I wanted to work on the paint with the windows open to air the car out.
I started with the P21S Citrus Cleaner. I had picked up some tacky stuff on the rockers that the P21S took right off. I cleaned the wheels with the Castrol Super Clean and then did the entire car with a light mix of Dawn. I paid extra attention to the lowers as I knew I would be using the PC and didn't want to leave behind any nasty stuff to contaminate the pads.
BTW, the <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/detail/msgs/14058.phtml">hole in the bottom</a> of the mirror housing works great. After I rinsed I used the Griots MF drying towel. Then I went around the car with my shop vac with the crevice attachment and a cotton rag and vacuumed the water out of the grill, the headlight washer covers, the side markers, the window trim, trunk surround and mirrors. I put the vacuum right on the hole in the housing and sucked every last drop of water out of the housing! No more drips!
I was surprised that I didn't need to clay bar. Even the rear bumper was clean!
I moved on to 3M SMR with a white pad. This stuff is tough to work with. I'm betting it isn't designed for machine application because it dried up immediately and was a real crank to remove. To be honest, I din't see the improvement in paint quality I had hoped for with the machine/SMR combo.
I ended up bailing on the SMR and used P21S GEPC with a clean white pad. Good thing I bought two of each pad! The results were more what I was anticipating! Still can be a bit better, but most of the swirls marks were removed with the GEPC. I used Griot's Microfiber rags to remove the P21S. I had ordered a bottle of Menzerna based on feedback here so I didn't mind shortcutting the process today knowing I would be doing it over within a few weeks when the Menzerna arrives.
I kept a terry pad handy for the spots I couldn't get the PC into. As I went around the car I found a few stubborn scratches that required something stronger so I used the P21S Multi Finish Restorer cut with Griots hand polish, repeated the GEPC and moved on.
A word on the PC is worth mentioning...It is fantastic! I never had a worry that I was going to damage the paint. Even after the SMR experience the pad came up feeling very cool to the touch. It certainly improved my detailing routine dramatically and I recommend anyone who is on the fence order one immediately! I used it Saturday, with the stock pad and Butchers Wax, to polish the finish on my kitchen table...killer!
I had washed the pad I used with the SMR and wicked most of the water out by putting it back on the PC and running at 6...the sun dried it pretty quickly so it was ready for the next step...the Meguires #7. This stuff goes on so easily and comes off in a snap with the Griots MF cloth. I keep thinking of boscoj's review of #7 and it makes we feel all warm and fuzzy knowing all those oils and nutrients are at work.
Despite everyone's advise, I tried to apply the Blitz wax with the PC and a grey pad. What a mess! Live and learn... First, there's no easy way to get the wax on the pad. I tried a spatula but the wax was too clumpy. Next, what I did get on the pad was quickly flung off once the pad started spinning. I was tempted to use a can of Zymol Carbon I have sitting around because it is more of a cream then a liquid or paste but I chose to abandon the PC and <b>wax by hand</b>. I'm not happy with that and will seek out a better/different wax that is machine friendly. BTW, I had tried Griots Best of Show wax which is supposed to be machine friendly...it's just a bear to remove...So a good coat of Blitz, removed with another Griots MF cloth, two actually, and the paint was looking good.
I dusted the dash with a California Duster, then got into everyplace I could with a small horsehair brush. I removed the wood trim around the shift lever and did the dash, door panels, center console, inside B-Pillars, backs of the seats, overhead plastic, the back of the mirror and the plastic on the door sills with Harley PolyGuard. A note, I've got some serious scratches on the rockers and traced the cause to the weather stripping on the bottom of the doors...clean these really good! Then I treated the leather with Zymol leather treatment.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0556-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0558-vi.jpg">
I turned to the tires...I used the custom mix I bought from a local concourse detailer. It's finish is about the same as ERV but it cost twice as much and I have to justify the purchase.. I had a few scratches on the center cap on the right rear wheel. I stepped on the cap while rotating and scratched it pretty bad. I used the P21S MultiFinish Restorer and 3M IHG, then some Blitz...all gone!
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0570-vi.jpg">
I also used the custom brew tire dressing on the RS4 mesh on the lowers and the grill...ERV works well here as well.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v10/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0571-vi.jpg">
After doing the muffler tips with <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/detail/msgs/14056.phtml">Luster Lace</a> I returned to the interior and with a clean cotton cloth in each hand I gave the leather and the dash a buff.
Next, Plexus with a terry cloth on the wood trim, headlight X-Pel, guage cluster and the taillights.
Then the windows...Viper MicroFiber glass cleaning cloth and Eiman Fabric. The Viper cloth is so effective that just a light spritz of the Eiman Fabric on the MF cloth is all it takes to clean the glass in and out. Here's a trick...although the Viper MF cloth doesn't leave streaks I have always cleaned the interior glass in horizontal motions and the exterioir glass in vertical motions; this way if there are any streaks you can easily tell if they are inside or outside...saves time.
I finished off with a quick dose of One Grand ShowOff and a clean MF cloth to remove any dust and....
There you have it! Total detailing time about four hours. My wifes Brilliant Black A4 is scheduled for next weekend.
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0569-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v16/photos/4/43687/213876/DSCF0552-vi.jpg">
03-16-2003, 11:18 PM
#5
Great writeup! I am seriously looking forward to the big spring detailing this year..
Dying to try out the PC. I wonder if there's anything around the apartment I can try it on? 
Question for you on the GEPC with the PC. Did it actually remove the swirls or fill them? I've noticed that by hand GEPC doesn't seem to be as effective as IHG at hiding swirls so I'm wondering if with the machine it actually removes them. That would be nice.
Question for you on the GEPC with the PC. Did it actually remove the swirls or fill them? I've noticed that by hand GEPC doesn't seem to be as effective as IHG at hiding swirls so I'm wondering if with the machine it actually removes them. That would be nice.
03-17-2003, 04:44 AM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Two thoughts- - >
According to PAC's website regarding <a href="http://www.properautocare.com/p2paincleanl.html">P21S GEPC</a>
<i>"A companion the new P21S Paste Wax, P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser is an equally easy-to-apply pure polish. It improves surface gloss by removing old wax, minor spotting and swirl lines before waxing. The thick, rich, cream wipes on and buffs off with an absolute minimum of effort."</i>
Sounds like it removes them as opposed to filling. My only complaint with GRPC is I hate the screw top. There should be a flip top like on other squeeze bottles...
Second, the PC on a medium setting can be used to polish lacquered furniture, finished wood, stainless steel and a bunch of other things. Be conscious of the speed and the degree of cut on the pad. I am going to polish out my Stainless Steel LYNX gas grill!
<i>"A companion the new P21S Paste Wax, P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser is an equally easy-to-apply pure polish. It improves surface gloss by removing old wax, minor spotting and swirl lines before waxing. The thick, rich, cream wipes on and buffs off with an absolute minimum of effort."</i>
Sounds like it removes them as opposed to filling. My only complaint with GRPC is I hate the screw top. There should be a flip top like on other squeeze bottles...
Second, the PC on a medium setting can be used to polish lacquered furniture, finished wood, stainless steel and a bunch of other things. Be conscious of the speed and the degree of cut on the pad. I am going to polish out my Stainless Steel LYNX gas grill!
