Vlad's 2003 A4 Black, Exterior detail (Oct 8, 06)

[DetailersDomain]

Okay check it out, pictures don't show it well, but this 2003 A4 which has seen some Utah winters is now here in NYC, it needed some major TLC!

Check out some of the pictures.

Before:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0002-1.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0003-2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0001-1.jpg

After:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0028-3.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0018-2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0021-2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/IMG_0024-3.jpg

[vlad]

you guys did an amazing job. utah really did a number on my paint but it looks terrific now. not to mention the engine. that's the first time it's been cleaned (as you probably can tell). i think i even gained a couple hp [hail]

i think my next car will definitely be white though [:o]

[JBM]

how much do you guys charge?

[DetailersDomain]

Typically something like this would be $200. Exterior plus engine.

But we are running a special right now.

Vlad great to meeting you this weekend.

[wootang00]

phil,

could you tell me what you used to acheive this look step by step? thank you.

[DetailersDomain]

Sure.

1. Clean the engine, spritz some P21S Autowash on the dirty engine and hood. (engine should be warm)
2. Used a soft brush to loosen up the dirt on some of the strut mount, behind the engine, covers etc...
3. Spray it down to clean all of the P21S and dirt off.
4. Wipe the engine bay down with an MF waffle weave towel.
5 Close the hood to let the heat dry it out completely.
6 Wheels, clean the wheels with some P21S Wheel cleaner gel formula, with a sponge and some brushes clean the wheel.
7. Spray down the wheels to remove all the P21S Gel and dirt.
8. Wash the car, used Adam's Car Wash, and some new Schmitt Wash Pads. Rinse the car with the Firehose nozzle.
9. Used the Foam Gun to spray Adam's Car wash on it, used the Schmitt to wash the car, make sure you go from top to bottom. (make sure there is plenty of suds to keep the mitt moving.
10. Rinse the car off (used the firehose nozzle)
11. Spritz Adam's Detail Spray on the car before drying. Dry car down with MF Waffle Weave towel.
12. Clay the car with Adam's Clay Bar, used Adam's Detail Spray as a lube. Use plenty of it.
13. Used Adam's Swirl and Haze plus Adam's Revive Polish on a Green Pad, spread on a panel and start at 3 and go to 5.
14 wtih the PC on 5 move the PC along the panel at a nice slow speed. Make sure the polish is broken down and then you are ready to wipe off.
15. repeat that step on all the panels.
16. Applied Revive Polish on setting 5 on the white side of the pad.
17. Use the PC with a finishing pad (black side), and apply Adam's Butter Wax on speed 3.
18. Wipe off.
19. Dress tires with Adam's VRT
20. Dress the engine with Adam's VRT and Adam's In and Out.
21. Cleaned windows with Adam's Glass Cleaner
That should be all the steps.

If I missed something let me know.

I hope that helps.
Phil

[EBG 18T]

phil - how long does the VRT last on the tires?

[DetailersDomain]

Depends on environment the car is in, when I have it on my car garaged plus daily driving 2 - 3weeks depending on weather etc... If its raining of course not long, if it sits outside 1 week etc... it really all depends. Sorry to be so general.

On the engine it lasts for a very very long time.

[MaRsTaInAgE]

Looks tiite! Hey Phil, does that jizz fling at all? I wouldn't mind trying something that stays shiny with no fling. Been battling that for years now. I prefer spray but foam apps. with a liquid works too....for low profile of course.

[DetailersDomain]

what do you mean by jizz?

[OpenSkye]

wow the exterior detail on this a4 looks AMAZING...[eek]

[DetailersDomain]

Thanks!

[rkdiddy]

Great job and thanks for the write up.

What are the benefits of the foam gun over the wash bucket?

I purchased the schmidt mit but was a little unimpressed. I'm use to dipping my sponge into my soap bucket and then going over to my car and squeezing the water/suds out onto the car. With the schmidt, I didn't feel like it absorbed/created a lot of the suds. I felt like when I rang it out on the car to create suds it was just soapy water that came out.

^ not sure if that makes sense???

Thanks.

[DetailersDomain]

The Shmitt is great you will get use to it if you give it a try.

If you want you can always apply the soap directly on the Shmitt and use it that way.

It creates tons of suds if done right. Pretty much your first impression was what most feel, but in the long term you will get less stuff clog in there and in turn less scratches and mitt marks that you would get from a sponge or a wool mitt.