My foray into detailing - a rather sorry looking Black B6 S4

[Alister]

Recently bought myself a whole heap of detailing gear as I've always been keen to maintain my car in the best possible condition and like the idea of being able to do some of the basics myself.

A mate of mine had a particularly sorry looking Brilliant Black B6 S4 and offered it up for my first detailing attempt. I knew it was going to be a big job and that it was certainly biting off a fair bit for a beginner but I had a very kind offer of assistance from a friend who has done a bit of detailing in the past, so was a little more comfortable in tackling it.

Here are some pics of the car after a wash but before any paint correction was undertaken (obviously!):

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2028/img5988hd.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/74/img5994h.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9155/img6007u.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/337/img5995r.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7436/img6002.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4351/img6000g.jpg

As you can see - heaps of swirling and plenty of scratches and scuffs, some of which were unfortunately not going to be possible to fully remove.

With some help from an expert, we found a combination of pad and polishing compound that brought the finish up nicely (note the contrast of the guard to the bootlid in this pic):

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4943/img6011o.jpg

Fast forward many man hours later and this was the result - the swirls were gone, the gloss and lustre had returned and the finish was super slick.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3690/img6025y.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/595/img6026k.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/329/img6032d.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/369/img6029y.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/92/img6030f.jpg

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5880/img6039y.jpg

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4520/img6033go.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9655/img6034q.jpg

[Hotel Guy]

looks good!

[readimag]

Nice turn around, looks like a new car again,what polishes and waxes were you using?

[nick71692]

looks good. get some spacers on those wheels and full out the wheel well

[gq9]

What supplies and machine did ya use? Looks good [up]

[Alister]

Thanks for the comments guys - I'm wrapped with the results, particularly given the condition it was in beforehand and the fact it is Brilliant Black.

I used a Bosch GEX150T Random Orbital unit, combined with a range of products from a business based here in Melbourne, Australia called Final Inspection (FI). Damian, who runs FI, has been a supporter of the Menzerna range of products for a long time and is looking to develop a new range of products that use the Menz range as a benchmark. I used the following:

* FI Clay (to start with)
* FI Orange Light Cutting Pad
* FI Black Polishing Pad (inc interface pad)
* FI CAP Medium
* FI CAP Heavy (beta testing version)

After detailing, the paintwork was cleansed to rid it of the oils introduced through the detailing process by using FI Cleanse Regular. The car was then coated in a sealant (FI Seal).

Note that Final Inspection have an online store where the above products can be sourced.

http://www.finalinspection.com.au/store/


looks good. get some spacers on those wheels and full out the wheel well
This is the detailing subforum - not sure whether you read my post but I'm not after tips on how to modify the car to look better as it is not even my car. Will be sure to get my friend to post up in the S4/RS4 subforum if he wants tips on how to make the car look better.

[readimag]

are those prices in USD cause wow, I am glad I dont pay that if they are.

[Alister]

are those prices in USD cause wow, I am glad I dont pay that if they are.

The business is based in Melbourne, Australia, hence all prices are in Australian dollars.

[readimag]

ahhhhhhh well still kind of high, but you are way down there so makes sense.