Protection Detail - Vauxhall Signum + Lupo Gti Pics

[Branter33]

I had this car booked in for Saturday over the weekend. I had originally planned to get an early start on this, but due to a night on the bevvy, I didn't get round to starting till 2! But this was fine as I had the car for as long as I needed.

The car in question is a Vauxhall Signum, it has a 2.2 and although it doesn't really look that big... It is! The car itself is mega wide and the interior feels massive both in the front and back. So I knew it may require a bit of time.

The car is just used to get to and from work, so the car was in pretty good shape to begin with, although there is a couple parking scratches that I'd like to tackle at a later date. All that was wanted from the detail was a genral tidy up, to put a bit of life back in the paint and get it all protected. This means that it will also be a lot easier for them to keep clean in the future.

So onto the befores...
As stated, there wasn't much wrong with the car, just general dust and road grime. The only place that I reckoned would need an extra bit of attention was the wheels.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1773.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1775.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1776.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1777.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1780.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1774.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1779.jpg

And a wee sneaky peak of my mates newly acquired Lupo Gti ;)

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1778.jpg

So onto the detail...

As usual, the first port of call was the wheels.. Which had quite a build up of road grime, and some yellowing in the corners. So I chose to go with a stronger mix of AS Smart Wheels, which was sprayed on, left to dwell for a minute, then agitated with a variety of brushes. This was repeated as necessary.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1781.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1782.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1783.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1784.jpg

All the wheels came out really well actually.

Then it was onto the foaming stage, so on with AS Snow Foam. As it was dwelling on the car, I went round all the seals, panel gaps etc, with a brush, to remove all the dirt and a couple of mouldy spots.

The car was then rinsed an washed using CG Maxi Suds and the 2BM. The usual stuff. Then I applied AS Tardis to the lower panels, to remove the tar. The car was then washed again using the 2BM and dryed using a waffle weave towel and AS Tango.

Already at this stage, the paint was beginning to get some life back into it.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1787.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1791.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1793.jpg

Then the lads decided they would go and pick us up a bit of late lunch while I brought the car in and got it ready for the LSP stages.

Then 15 minutes later I had myself a roll and sausage and a couple cans of coke to keep me going from the local chippy. I then battered on with the car whilst my mates dined on there 'Fine Cuisine' in the resident detailing chairs! :p

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1851EDIT.jpg

For the next stage I went with a current favourite of mine, Clearkote Red Moose Glaze. As it has fillers, so since I wasn't doing any correction, would mask some of the defects. Also the gloss it adds to the paint (regardless of colour) is really outstanding.

I applied this using a Red Finishing Pad, spreading with the machine off, stepping up to speed 2-3 for 1 or 2 passes to get an even covering, then finally working in for about 3 passes on speed 5.

This is the car only with the glaze applied :y:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1819.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1823.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1824.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1855.jpg

As you can see, this puts a good bit of depth back into the paint.

Then it was on to the wax, I went for Chem Guys XXX wax, in the hope that it might be a bit more durable. Applied in thin layers using a German Applicator (soft side) and then left to cure for about 20 minutes, then buffed with a clean MF.

Finally onto the last touches...

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1864.jpg

The wheels were sealed with Poorboys Wheel Sealant and Rubber Sheen applied to the tyres.
The plastic trims were treated were treated with Meguiars.
The windows polished inside and out, along with mirrors, using AG Glass Polish.

Totally forgot to get any pictures of the Interior, though it wasn't too bad to begin with. The dash, trim, etc were wiped down with a damp MF. APC was used on a couple more stubborn marks. There was nothing put on the trim after cleaning, to try keep it looking natural. Other than that, a good hoover and it was sorted.

Finally I rolled it outside and gave it a final wipe down with AS Tango. Quite satisfied with how the car turned out considering how late we got started. Although there were a couple defects I would have liked to tackle if I had more time.

Total work time was about 5 hrs.

Now the finished product...

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1905.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1907.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1906.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1916.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1908.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1913.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1911.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1914.jpg

Cheers for looking :y:

All comments welcome.

Max

[Branter33]

As said in the title, I've got a few pictures of my mates new Lupo Gti. Its silver, only got about 40'000 miles on the clock and only modification is it's lowered on KW Coilovers.

I gave this a clean the week previous, again with just a protection detail. But were hoping to get a bit of time to get the full works on the car. Probably after he has had the wheels refurbed.

As the car was there and I had the camera with me, I couldn't resist. Remembering this has been driven for a full week, so could do with a spruce up. I will get a thread up when I eventually get round to giving it a full detail.

I went for a pretty arty look on the pictures so let me know what you all think :y:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1797EDIT2.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1921EDIT.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1806EDIT1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1923EDIT2.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/branter33/IMG_1923EDIT3.jpg

Hope you all like :y:












I do love this car :oops:

[Wayne]

Great work branter:y: paint looks very glossy, love the pictures to:) got my dads vauxhall astra estate to do next which is virtually the same size as the vauxhall you detailed attacking it with my new toy makita 9227cb done most of the bonnet already come up pretty well, haven't gone through any paint at all, will post it up in this section when done:y: what cars you got next for detailing?

[James]

Sweet as always matey :)

[Branter33]

Great work branter:y: paint looks very glossy, love the pictures to:) got my dads vauxhall astra estate to do next which is virtually the same size as the vauxhall you detailed attacking it with my new toy makita 9227cb done most of the bonnet already come up pretty well, haven't gone through any paint at all, will post it up in this section when done:y: what cars you got next for detailing?

Thanks a lot bud :y: Superb, how do you find the Makita? I've used one a couple of times, but never bit the bullet and bought one as yet.

I've got the Vectra VXR I done prevoiously to get done at some point... but other than that and my mates Lupo I don't really have many definites. Got plenty interest, that I'll need to follow up but the majority of occasions it merely stays 'interest'! Which is a shame as I've had a few potential customers with some Really nice cars, that have just never got back to me. That is the problem with dealing with mainly younger people :n:


EDIT: I've still got pictures from a wax top up I done on my pals car to post up, with some more adventurous afters :P

[Branter33]

Sweet as always matey :)

Cheers bud :y:

[Krys_23]

Good as ever Branter.. Loving the lupo's too :y:

[Wayne]

Thanks a lot bud :y: Superb, how do you find the Makita? I've used one a couple of times, but never bit the bullet and bought one as yet.

I've got the Vectra VXR I done prevoiously to get done at some point... but other than that and my mates Lupo I don't really have many definites. Got plenty interest, that I'll need to follow up but the majority of occasions it merely stays 'interest'! Which is a shame as I've had a few potential customers with some Really nice cars, that have just never got back to me. That is the problem with dealing with mainly younger people :n:


EDIT: I've still got pictures from a wax top up I done on my pals car to post up, with some more adventurous afters :P

Find the Makita pretty good, heavier than the g220 but alot quicker at correcting panels and get very good gloss with my dads paint and cuts a bit more than the g220, i love both machines great having an option of which one to use though:y:

[Branter33]

Good as ever Branter.. Loving the lupo's too :y:

Thanks mate :y::y:

Find the Makita pretty good, heavier than the g220 but alot quicker at correcting panels and get very good gloss with my dads paint and cuts a bit more than the g220, i love both machines great having an option of which one to use though:y:

Yeh it really does cut down the work time, especially on the bigger panels like the bonnet.
You should try using the Menz PO85RD Final Finish but on a Finishing pad, using the makita on a fully corrected panel and it just adds that wee bit extra gloss :p:y:

[Dan]

Good work mate. Are you renting that unit or is it borrowed?

[Branter33]

Good work mate. Are you renting that unit or is it borrowed?

Neither. Its my works unit. As I work for a family business, I get use of the warehouse whenever I want :y: Which is a great bonus for cleaning cars, specially when the weather turns.

[bide_furio]

so lucky to have a space like that! great job too! really good skills!