229 replies to this topic

[GFWilliams]

Todays job has been to replace the discs and pads and give the callipers a coat of paint. Going to re paint the callipers as I think they'll look better in gloss black.  Next job will be coil overs, then winter project is the wishbones and bushes etc getting a refresh.

 

Before:

 

After:

 

And after taking them up the road

 

[Andy_VX]

Autofinesse, I heard about them through gfwilliams. Just spent a fortune but look forward to trying their products!

[Andy_VX]

Sorry, this was supposed to be a reply to an earlier post. Brakes look good though! 👍

[Andy_VX]

What pads did you go for? And what paint did you use?

[GFWilliams]

Autofinesse, I heard about them through gfwilliams. Just spent a fortune but look forward to trying their products!

 

The products are great, and all smell so nice! I'm going to be machine polishing the VX this weekend I think

[Andy_VX]

Sweet, I went for snow foam, triple polish, and passion wax plus some extras. Is it best to spray snow foam straight onto the car with the jetwash or get the car wet first? Going to clay it Saturday then start with polish and wax.

[GFWilliams]

Sweet, I went for snow foam, triple polish, and passion wax plus some extras. Is it best to spray snow foam straight onto the car with the jetwash or get the car wet first? Going to clay it Saturday then start with polish and wax.

 

I'm no detailing expert mate but think you snow foam, let it settle for a few mins, jet off with water, then snow foam again, then use a wash mit and water (two buckets etc) to go over it.

[GFWilliams]

ps. is there anything better than a nice evening drive?

 

[pete-r]

Sweet, I went for snow foam, triple polish, and passion wax plus some extras. Is it best to spray snow foam straight onto the car with the jetwash or get the car wet first? Going to clay it Saturday then start with polish and wax.

  I'm no detailing expert mate but think you snow foam, let it settle for a few mins, jet off with water, then snow foam again, then use a wash mit and water (two buckets etc) to go over it.

Wash mit is, in my honest opinion, not the way to go these days. I detail cars as a hobby and have found the best way (and fastest way) to do a proper job as follows (zero bucket method!): Rinse Iron x. Dwell. Rinse Tar remover. Dwell. Rinse Foam. Dwell. Rinse Foam. Use clean mf towels to wash the car, when used put them aside to launder. Rinse Clay. Dry Polish Seal Wax Drive it! That's just the body so add in glass polish, wheels, pipes, roof etc. Also when machine polishing the VX, normal paint gauges don't work so err on the side of caution and use a jewellers polish with a soft pad, I would rather leave any heavy swirls on the car than risk taking all the paint off! It all sounds like a lot of work but spraying and letting it dwell isn't exactly taxing, and you want to touch the car as little as possible as you wash it. The bulk of the correction I do for people is fixing 'love marks' from washing.

Edited by pete-r, 13 August 2014 - 10:08 PM.

[Andy_VX]

ps. is there anything better than a nice evening drive?
 

 

Couldn't agree more, that time of day is always when I enjoy the car most, so much fun on a sunny evening around the forest. Where did you take these?

 

Sweet, I went for snow foam, triple polish, and passion wax plus some extras. Is it best to spray snow foam straight onto the car with the jetwash or get the car wet first? Going to clay it Saturday then start with polish and wax.

 
I'm no detailing expert mate but think you snow foam, let it settle for a few mins, jet off with water, then snow foam again, then use a wash mit and water (two buckets etc) to go over it.

Wash mit is, in my honest opinion, not the way to go these days. I detail cars as a hobby and have found the best way (and fastest way) to do a proper job as follows (zero bucket method!):
Rinse
Iron x. Dwell. Rinse
Tar remover. Dwell. Rinse
Foam. Dwell. Rinse
Foam. Use clean mf towels to wash the car, when used put them aside to launder. Rinse
Clay. Dry
Polish
Seal
Wax
Drive it!
That's just the body so add in glass polish, wheels, pipes, roof etc.
Also when machine polishing the VX, normal paint gauges don't work so err on the side of caution and use a jewellers polish with a soft pad, I would rather leave any heavy swirls on the car than risk taking all the paint off!
It all sounds like a lot of work but spraying and letting it dwell isn't exactly taxing, and you want to touch the car as little as possible as you wash it. The bulk of the correction I do for people is fixing 'love marks' from washing.

That's very interesting Peter, it seems there's a new way to do it every time I look into it!! I really enjoy detailing so always open to new methods, I will have to give that a go soon. Im just never sure if I should spray the foam straight on or wet the car first. Seems like the foam won't be as effective if the Car is wet as it runs off quicker I suppose.

I must admit I normally do the two bucket method after snow foam has been applied.I then give it a good dry with mf towels. Then I use either use a spray wax or a glaze called poor boys black hole which I've found to be good. My favourite correctional polish has to be scratch x though, it's amazing! Then I use autoglym HD wax.

Have to see how well the autofinesse stuff is, certainly has good reviews!

Edited by Andy_VX, 14 August 2014 - 01:21 AM.

[pete-r]

I think that's true in terms of the foam running off the car, but doing the rinse, iron x, tsr removal stages makes the foams job a lot easier. Get a few clean towels, say 6 for a VX, and once the foam is on I rinse the towels to wet them. Then use them like a sponge but I fold them in 4s and flip to a clean side as I go. Once done I use the next towel etc until I'm done. The difference I'm getting in terms of not putting swirls into the paint is huge, the mitts are better than sponger maybe, but they still get crap tangled in them. The less you touch the car the less polishing is needed, especially because you can only really compound a VX one or two times because you can't tell how thick the paint is. When polishing keep a close eye out for paint transfer. I did a full job on an MR2 in June and got the paint pretty much perfect, hardly a mark in sight and all the swirls were gone. Looked at the car again last week and it's full of swirls because the owner loves to wash it twice a week with a lot of elbow grease. Problem now is the clear coat is getting thinner due to the polishing there's only so much polishing can be done.

Edited by pete-r, 14 August 2014 - 05:35 AM.

[bunsenburner]

I've bought a new car recently and I thought I'd try and look after the paintwork this time (I'm not really much of a washer tbh). I have 2 questions for you detailing guys. What is the best way to remove tree sap safely? Oil, alcohol, something else? Secondly once the car has been waxed properly how long does it last? Is is good for a few light washes without having to rewax? Thanks

[turboluca]

Sap !!!!!! Hate the sh*t!!!!

[pete-r]

Tar remover is usually good for sap, though you can get specific products for it unless you park under trees a lot it seems an unnecessary expense. Wax will last a good while he the car is in a garage, but if used daily and outside maybe two or three weeks. I don't use wax much any more, a good sealant will last months if applied properly on a well prepared surface, and you can always way on top if you want.

[GFWilliams]

 

ps. is there anything better than a nice evening drive?
 

 

Couldn't agree more, that time of day is always when I enjoy the car most, so much fun on a sunny evening around the forest. Where did you take these?

 

 

 

 

 

Taken in the Surrey Hills

 

 

 

 

[Andy_VX]

To the guys discussing detailing I've started a new thread as to not hijack this one. That top photo looks like it could have been taken in France, very nice indeed! Can we start a photo shoot event please!? Everyone gives you a set amount for a shoot? Could be a great idea for the calendar and should be a nice little earner as well as getting to know some of the VX guys.

[Rickwoo118]

Loving that first picture. Looks like it's taken in Tuscany or similar. Didn't know Surrey was so nice?

[GFWilliams]

To the guys discussing detailing I've started a new thread as to not hijack this one. That top photo looks like it could have been taken in France, very nice indeed! Can we start a photo shoot event please!? Everyone gives you a set amount for a shoot? Could be a great idea for the calendar and should be a nice little earner as well as getting to know some of the VX guys.

 

More than happy to organise an event of some sort. I'm going down to the new forrest for a blast on saturday morning btw

 

 

Loving that first picture. Looks like it's taken in Tuscany or similar. Didn't know Surrey was so nice?

 

With my job you get the hang of finding nice places!

[Andy_VX]

Oh are you, feel free to drop in at mine. I live in new milton. Drop me a pm if you fancy it, was going to give the car wash but up for talking cars / going for a drive.

[wowzer]

Love the early Porsche .. I must admit I like your VX standard looking in that collection